Whole30 + Dairy Free Queso Nacho Cheese
Whole30 + Dairy Free Queso Nacho Cheese Recipe – a 4 ingredient paleo cashew queso cheese sauce that is made in your blender! Gluten free, grain free, sugar free, clean eating, real food.
You are not going to believe how delicious this dairy free + whole30 queso nacho cheese sauce is! It tastes EXACTLY like queso, but is made from cashews and just 3 other ingredients in your blender!
It comes out silky smooth, cheesy tasting with a little bit of a kick. Ready in just 5 minutes!
Ingredients in Whole30 Dairy Free Cashew Queso
All you need is 4 simple ingredients, and your high speed blender to make this queso.
-
- raw cashews (if you have a high speed blender you don’t even have to soak them!)
- bone broth (link to my homemade version, which gives it the most flavor!)
- diced green chiles (the whole can, don’t drain out the juice)
- taco seasoning (link to my homemade version, which is sugar and chemical free!)
Combine everything in your blender, blend on high for 90 seconds, and it’s ready to go! If you hav a high speed blender there is no need to soak the cashews. My blender does a great job of breaking them down and getting them silky smooth.
If you don’t have a high speed blender, soak your cashews overnight in water, or do a quick soak in boiling water for 1 hour. Will make the cashews much softer and easier to blend up.
Copycat Siete Nacho Cashew Queso Recipe
I got the inspiration for this recipe when I saw Siete released a dairy free nacho cashew queso. Blew my mind! I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. Only problem was, it kept selling out online, and no stores near me carried it.
Rather than waiting forever to get my hands on some, I decided to make my own! I consulted the label on the Siete cashew queso, and tweaked a few other recipes I saw online. Got the recipe perfect, and now I can enjoy it at home for a fraction of the price of buying it!
Serving Whole30 + Dairy Free Queso Nacho Cheese
The great thing about this queso is you can enjoy it room temp or warm! Regular queso gets chunky and gross when it’s not served warm. But this cashew queso can be room temp and still creamy and delicious!
If you want it warm, you can heat it on the stove or in the microwave. If microwaving, be sure you stir it every 10 seconds. If you let it boil too much it gets hard and chunky on the edges. You want to gently bring it to heat.
You can enjoy it with Siete Tortilla Chips, my favorite grain free paleo + clean eating tortilla chip that is made from cassava flour and cooked in avocado oil. Even though Siete Tortilla Chips are made with whole30 compliant ingredients, you’ll want to wait to enjoy chips until after your Whole30 since chips are not whole30 compliant. Instead you could use cut up veggies or homemade kale chips!
This queso is also great drizzled on your favorite mexican dishes, like a burrito bowl or tacos!
Watch Recipe Video (0:33 min)
Watch Recipe Video Demo (2:22 mins)
Whole30 + Dairy Free Queso Nacho Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 cup organic raw, unsalted cashews
- 1/2 cup organic chicken stock, link to my homemade, which is the BEST!
- 1 teaspoon taco seasoning, link to my homemade, which is sugar and chemical free
- 4- ounce can organic diced green chiles, the chiles AND the juice in the can
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in your high speed blender. Blend on high speed for for 90 seconds,
- Serve room temperature, or heat on the stove to serve warm. If heating in the microwave, do it in 10 second intervals stirring after frequently to avoid it getting chunky.
- Use as a dip or sauce on your favorite Mexican dish.
- Will keep in an airtight refrigerator for 7 days.
Notes
This post contains affiliate links, thanks for the love!
37 Comments on “Whole30 + Dairy Free Queso Nacho Cheese”
I try to avoid cashews… can this work with Macadamia nuts?
You can try, but I don’t think it will work. Cashews are so soft and velvety, which is why they work for this queso. I think macadamia nuts are going to be too hard. But try soaking overnight to get them super soft. If you try please let me know, I’m so curious to hear if it turns out!
Hi Natalie,
Do you think it would be okay if I switched out the chicken stock for vegetable stock?
Absolutely! Same quantity. Will make it vegan!
Omagoodness this was delicious. Is it possible to freeze? I hate to waste a drop of it 😄
Holy heck this was so delicious. I am so thankful to have found this recipe! I’m the only one eating it, wondering if I can freeze it?
You know, I’ve never tried freezing this! We always eat it all before I get the chance, haha!
It *should* work though. I’d thaw and stir? It’s possible it could separate oddly though since it’s nut based. If you try let me know how it goes!
Holy Queso, this is freaking delicious! I absolutely love dairy and this did not miss one bit of flavor as is! I did end up adding 2 T. Nutritional yeast and a sprinkle extra of each smoked paprika and turmeric for deeper flavor and “cheese” color, but it’s delicious even without the additions. I drizzled it over cauli crust beef tacos with your coleslaw recipe and some pico. And again the next night with your sheet pan fajitas. What a flavor bomb!! Cant get enough! How does that saying go? “I’ll put that sh** on anything!!” Yummo! A new family favorite! I love every single recipe I’ve made of yours!
Yeah! I am so happy you liked my queso Emily! Isn’t it amazing that you don’t miss the dairy at all? Serving it with tacos, coleslaw and pico sounds very delicious!
Run and make this now… you will not regret it. This may be my very favorite dip/sauce of all time and I am a condiment girl. I could eat this with almost anything!
I love that you pair the sheet pan fajitas with queso Marissa. Oh my that sounds delicious!
Yay it worked! Yummy recipe, thank you!
I too said, “yay!” when I tried it the first time. I was so excited. I am such a queso fan and wanted a healthy version.
As always, hit the spot PERFECTLY! Delish! Thank you!
I am so happy you liked my dairy free queso Kara! So glad it hits the spot and is delish. Yeah!
this queso is a game-changer for me! I had to go dairy-free this year which has been a challenge since I LOVE CHEESE. I no longer feel like I’m missing out on true texmex with this queso in my life!!
Yeah! I am so glad my queso is a game changer for you Nicole! Giving up dairy can be hard, but there are so many good dairy free subs available now. You can do it friend! So glad you no longer feel like you are missing out. That makes me so happy.
Hello… I have made this recipe several times and I keep sharing it with others. They love it also !!
So rewarding to make healthy delicious choices ! Keep up the good work, love following you
Thank you so much for sharing it with your friends, I love that Rhonda! It is a fantastic feeling to be able to make delicious and healthy foods!
I don’t know what kind of magic this is, but the queso is insanely good!!!
I am so happy you like my queso Caitlin! I’m not sure why it tastes so good either, but I agree with you it’s delicious!
Can you substitute the cashews for another night like almonds, pecans, or walnuts?
I have not recipe tested any other nut other than cashews Mary. Cashews become almost a cream base which is why they are ideal for the creamy base of the queso. I honestly do not think any other nut would work. I sure hope you try it and like it!
This “queso” is So. Freaking. Good!! I think it blew my husband’s mind that it’s Whole30! It’s delicious as is, but we wanted a little more spice & cheesiness so I added an extra 1/2 tsp of taco seasoning and 3 tbsp nutritional yeast. Soooo incredible!
I am so happy you liked my queso Kate! Even better that it was hubby approved! I love your addition of extra taco seasoning and nutritional yeast. That sounds delicious.
I made this tonight to go over your crispy salsa verde chicken and baked potatoes (we’re on Whole 30 right now). It is SO good!!!! We have enjoyed all of your recipes that we’ve tried. Thank you for making healthy eating so easy and delicious!
I am so glad you liked my queso Sarah. Even better that you have enjoyed other recipes of mine. I love it! Serving the queso over the crispy verde chicken and baked potatoes is a genius idea! Sounds like the most delicious dinner ever!
This is delicious! Great dip for veggies! Love it warmed up!
I am so happy you liked my queso Gina! I agree, it is a fantastic dip for veggies! Thanks so much for the feedback, I really appreciate it.
Ugg….I have everything except the canned chilies! Suggestions for substitutions? I have pico de gallo, green tomatillo salsa, pickled jalepenos slices – all Whole30 compliant.
I think any of the items you listed above would make a delicious substitution for the canned chilis Deb. Just go with the one that is your favorite. The recipe will work without the chili’s but they do add a nice pop of acid to the flavor. These days we are all having to make do with what we have available.
Queso is one food item that I miss dearly since giving up dairy and this DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Perfect to serve at a party of keep one hand for your meal prep dishes.
I do think it’s worth mentioning that I do not have a high speed blender. I just added an extra minute or two to the blend time and it came out perfectly!
I am so happy you liked my queso Emily! Seriously, it is one of my favorite recipes. I can’t believe it is dairy free! That is fantastic that it worked in a regular blender. Thank you so much for the feedback!
I normally eat dairy, but I am doing a whole30 and wanted compliant nachos. I have tried other cashew cheeze sauces before and they were very disappointing, so I was skeptical when I found this recipe. Boy was I wrong – this queso is fantastic! I can’t get over how delicious it is, and will definitely be making it again. Thank you for such an easy and unbelievably tasty recipe!
Yeah! I am so glad you like my queso sauce Calenda. I too tried so many different recipes and they were so disappointing. It took me quite awhile to get this just right. I am SO happy you liked it too! Thanks so much for the feedback, I really appreciate it!
Thank you Natalie for sharing your recipes. This Queso was so yummy! Hubs loved and my teenage boys loved it too. I made it exactly as instructed and it turned out perfectly.
Joan – I am so glad you liked this! Isn’t it amazing how yummy it is without dairy? I am so glad your teenage boys loved it. That is quite a compliment. So happy this turned out well for you.