Nut-Free Oat Vegan Queso

I’m crazy for nachos, so this budget-friendly Nut-Free Oat Vegan Queso is my new favorite recipe!

This vegan queso is like magic; because it transforms oats, some spices, and a little organic cornstarch into a creamy cheesy sauce!

Nacho cheese, queso, or whatever you want to call it, is my favorite treat. I love the creamy consistency over vegan chili, air-fried tortilla chips, or even over burritos or enchiladas.

It’s so versatile. I really think my oat queso is the best vegan queso, it is beyond a doubt the easiest to make!

More Oat Recipes

Oats are indeed magic, and I even wrote a whole book of recipes for them, OATrageous Otameals.

The book is out of print, but you can still get copies through Virtual Vegfest, and if you leave a note, I will sign it for you!

My Steel Cut Oat Risotto uses sun-dried tomatoes and mushrooms to bring the flavor.

And I use steel-cut oats to make my oat sausage crumbles that I use on pizzas, salads, and more. Curry Cashew Savory Granola is another great topping for salads.

Is queso vegan?

Queso actually means cheese, so most queso is not vegan.

With that said, most vegan restaurants have a vegan version of queso.

Does vegan queso contain nuts?

A lot of vegan queso recipes do contain cashews to make it extra creamy.

This recipe uses no cashews and gets its creaminess purely from rolled oats.

Are all oats gluten-free?

While oats don’t naturally contain any gluten, they are often cross-contaminated with gluten during harvest and processing.

If you eat gluten-free, like I do, just look for oats marked gluten-free.

What is vegan queso made of?

• 2 cups water
• 1 cup rolled oats – make sure the bag is marked gluten-free if you can’t have gluten
• 1/2 cup nutritional yeast – this gives it its cheesy flavor
• 1/2 teaspoon organic cornstarch – this with the oats is what thickens the sauce up
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon jalapeno powder, optional but it makes it really good!
• 1/2 teaspoon salt or salt substitute
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon lactic acid – adds sharpness and is 100% vegan and gluten-free!
• Pinch dry mustard powder – adds a little extra sharpness

How to make oat vegan queso

It’s so easy to make this vegan cheese sauce and it takes less than 15 minutes start to finish.

Blender Cooking Method:
Blend all ingredients until smooth. If you have a high-speed blender like a Vitamix or Blendtec continue blending until thick – listening for the sound to change as a sign it’s thick.

Stovetop Cooking Method:
Don’t have a fancy blender? After it’s smooth, pour into a saucepan, cook over medium heat, whisking until it thickens.

The photos below show the stove-top method:

Add all the dry ingredients to your blender. I’m using the small container on my Ninja blender.

Blend until smooth. (Note if you use a high-speed blender just keep blending and it will thicken up from the heat the blender creates.)

Pour the blended oat mixture into a pan over medium-high heat. Whisk constantly so the bottom doesn’t burn, the oats will thicken and sink to the bottom as it cooks.

It will thicken in about 5 minutes or even less. I know it looks a little lumpy, but don’t worry. The next step will smooth things out.

Blend the cooked mixture to make it smooth. Hint: don’t wash your blender from the first blend, so you only have to wash it once!

How do you store queso

If you don’t eat all your queso, store in a container with a lid in the fridge. It should last for about 3 days.

Remember, you can always make a 1/2 recipe to make just what you need. Since it takes no time to make that’s the way I do it!

Can you reheat vegan oat cheese sauce?

You can reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop. Either way, you will probably need to thin it out with some extra water or plain unsweetened nondairy milk.

Since the sauce will be thick, you will need to gently fold in the liquid as it heats. I recommend using a pan that’s larger than you think you need. That will minimize any splashing.

More queso & chili recipes:

If you aren’t a fan of oats you can try my potato queso: Vegan Torchy’s Queso Copycat Made with Potato and Homemade Rojo Sauce, my Instant Pot cauliflower queso, or my bean queso. They all make a fun dinner!

Queso pairs amazing with chili and the two together make an amazing dip! So try one of these:

• Lots of Beans and Grains Slow Cooker Chili
• Vegan Instant Pot Cranberry Bean, Millet and Bulgur Chili
• Vaquero Bean Tempeh Chili Recipe

And don’t forget a treat for your best friend: Pumpkin Cranberry Dog Cookies!