Skip Chipotle’s Gritty Queso and Make These Velvety Vegan Cheese Recipes Instead

When it comes to plant-based cheese dip and queso, there is honestly nothing worse than gritty, non-gooey “cheese” that lacks in flavor. Plant-based queso should be sumptuous, rich, warm, and velvety, and when you taste it, your mouth should ignite with a blast of umami flavor.

So when we heard that Chipotle was releasing its own line of queso, we were curious but unsurprised when multiple consumer reviews of the new dip were less than stellar.

“There’s a grainy consistency to it; like someone had made a roux but didn’t bother to stir it,” wrote Brand Eating. And they weren’t the only ones to express disappointment.

“General consensus? It was slightly spicy, gritty, and lacked the gooeyness of standard queso,” reported Buzzfeed.

So what do we here at One Green Planet do when we hear there’s a new, mediocre product out on the market that we can’t eat anyway? We explore our Food Monster App, with 8,000+ plant-based recipes, to find four out-of-this-world amazing vegan recipes to make instead! Seriously, skip the sub-par Chipotle goo and whip up some of our tried-and-true plant-based queso dips instead. You won’t be sorry.

Start off simply by mastering this basic recipe for Queso Dip by Maggie Jones.

Cashew cream is lightened up with puréed cauliflower and a small amount of carrot for extra veggie-based creaminess and color. The result, while certainly distinguishable from the real thing, is perfectly satisfying. As an added bonus, it’s accidentally gluten-free and intentionally low fat!

We’re just getting started. This Loaded Queso Dip by Kirsten Kaminski is sure to satisfy!

Potato, onions, vegetable broth, and spices join together to create the perfect creamy base which you can then top with anything you want! Stick to these traditional queso toppings or go for a fusion dip, up to you!

This Fat-Free ‘Cheese’ Sauce by Brandi Doming tastes just as creamy and indulgent as any other recipe.

Who says that you need dairy, loads of fat, and tons of sodium to make the perfect cheesy sauce for dipping, mac and cheese, or even baked potatoes? If you have a nut allergy, then this fat-free cheese sauce made from zucchini (yes, zucchini), potatoes, and spices is perfect for you. Drizzle it over grain bowls and vegetables, use it for dipping nachos, and add it to burritos for that delicious cheesy flavor.

It doesn’t get more versatile than this Green Chili Nacho Cheese Sauce by Sara Hohn.

If you’re interested in finding some more delightfully cheesy vegan recipes, then we highly recommend downloading our Food Monster App, which is available for both Android and iPhone, and can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. The app has more than 8,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to ten new recipes per day. You’ll find resources on how to make your own vegan cheese, what kinds of delicious plant-based cheeses are available to buy in stores, our favorite different vegan cheese recipes, and more. Check it out!

Lead image source: Queso Dip