best vegan cheese

What’s the Best Vegan Cheese?
Dairy-Free Buyer’s Guide

When making the switch to a plant-based and dairy-free lifestyle, it’s no secret that cheese is one of the hardest animal products to give up.

Whether you crave something with that creamy taste, that salty cheddar crumble, or that mozzarella melt, you’ve likely been looking for a non-dairy replacement product.

In this article, we’ve broken out the crackers and sampled the best vegan cheese on the market and ranked them accordingly.

Read on if you want to know the creamy cream of the crop when it comes to dairy-free cheese.

Our Top Products

PRODUCT

PRODUCT DETAILS

OUR #1 RATED

Bragg Premium Nutritional Yeast

Bragg Premium

​(Editor’s Choice)

  • A healthy alternative to parmesan cheese
  • Packed full of B vitamins
  • Sugar and salt-free
  • check​Excellent vegan recipe enhancer

OUR #2 RATED

NOOCH IT! Organic Dairy-Free Cheese Product

NOOCH IT!

  • Delicious parmesan replacement
  • Perfect for sprinkling over your favorite foods
  • Doesn’t need to be refrigerated so can be taken on the go
  • checkA healthier alternative to hard-cheese

OUR #3 RATED

Follow Your Heart Provolone Slices

Follow Your Heart Provolone Slices

  • Incredible texture
  • Fantastic taste with none of the waxy mouthfeel
  • Perfect in sandwiches (see also ‘Jimmy John’s Vegan Options‘) and as part of other recipes too
  • checkUnique flavors not found with other brands such as provolone or pepper jack

1. Bragg Premium Nutritional Yeast (Editor’s Choice)

If you’re a vegan who likes to cook, then you need a healthy supply of nutritional yeast in the cupboard.

Packed full of flavor and nutritional benefits, this wonder ingredient has been the not-so-secret weapon for many of my favorite vegan recipes.

Sugar and salt-free, it can be added to almost any dish and used to improve the flavor.

Bragg Premium Nutritional Yeast

PROS

  • A healthy alternative to parmesan cheese
  • Packed full of B vitamins
  • Sugar and salt-free
  • checkExcellent vegan recipe enhancer

​CONS

  • Can lose flavor fast if not stored correctly

As it’s made from yeast, it has that buttery tang that adds a cheesy quality to most dishes and has long been used as a parmesan alternative. Bragg is one of the originals and certainly one of the best.

2. NOOCH IT! Organic Dairy-Free Cheese

Parmesan is another cheese that can be used as an ingredient to improve the taste of most foods — sprinkled over almost any dish it has a rich and salty, cheesy flavor that is hard to emulate.

Well, until Nooch It came onto the market at least. This dairy-free hard cheese is primarily made from cashew nuts and nutritional yeast and is used to top off pasta, pizza, popcorn, veggies, or any other foods you feel could use a cheesy kick.

NOOCH IT! Organic Dairy-Free Cheese Product

PROS

  • Delicious parmesan replacement
  • Perfect for sprinkling over your favorite foods
  • Doesn’t need to be refrigerated so can be taken on the go
  • checkA healthier alternative to hard-cheese

​CONS

  • A little too high in salt for some
  • banA relatively simple recipe you could make to taste for yourself

It’s a delicious alternative to real parmesan, and quite honestly, most would find it difficult to tell the difference.

3. Follow Your Heart Provolone Slices

Follow Your Heart offers a range of different cheeses with the taste and texture you’ve been on the search for.

While all their cheeses are equally good, it’s the smoked gouda and provolone that are truly unique and utterly irresistible.

Dairy and soy-free, this is another vegan cheese that also happens to be an excellent option for those with allergies. Made from coconut oil (see also ‘Benefits and Uses of Coconut Oil’), starch, and natural flavorings, it’s a simple recipe.

Follow Your Heart Provolone Slices

PROS

  • Incredible texture
  • Fantastic taste with none of the waxy mouthfeel
  • Perfect in sandwiches and as part of other recipes too
  • checkUnique flavors not found with other brands such as provolone or pepper jack

​CONS

  • A little pricey when compared to other cheeses
  • banHaving just rebranded; we preferred the companies old name

We recommend stuffing ravioli with the vegan provolone cheese for a delicious dinner.

4. Daiya Zesty Cheddar Style Cheese Sauce

Who doesn’t love nachos? It’s a classic snack at parties or home alone, but it just isn’t the same without a cheddar style cheese sauce.

Daiya has made cheddar queso that goes excellently over nachos with its rich, creamy consistency. You can use it as a dip or warm it up and pour it over pasta (see also ‘ Vegan Italian Pasta Dinner Ideas’ ) and veggies. It’s got a tremendous cheesy cheddar flavor while remaining soy, gluten, and dairy-free.

Daiya Zesty Cheddar Style Cheese Sauce Product

PROS

  • Completes a plate of nachos perfectly
  • Versatile and tasty enough to be added to many other dishes
  • A variety of flavors including; classic, alfredo, and zesty
  • checkStrong cheddar cheese flavor

​CONS

  • Some find the taste entirely artificial
  • banSome have said the foil bags can seem a little underfilled

It’s a good cheddar cheese sauce alternative for those with allergies and those living a plant-based lifestyle.

5. Violife Vegan Shredded Mozzarella

Mozzarella is possibly the most versatile and lusted after of the dairy-based cheeses.

It’s one of those ingredients that can make any dish better. Melted on the top of a pizza (see also ‘Your Guide to Vegan Pizza’) or sprinkled over a pasta dish, it’s the gooey cheese that melts like no other.

Violife has made a dairy-free alternative with the texture, taste, and melt of the real thing. This vegan cheese derives from coconut-oil, is fortified with B12, and is preservative-free.

Violife Vegan Shredded Mozzarella

PROS

  • Great Mozzarella replacement
  • Melts just like the real thing
  • Goes well with pizza, pasta, and in sandwiches
  • checkCan be bought in bulk and frozen

​CONS

  • Not quite as “wet” as real mozzarella
  • banOnce melted does not congeal again and stays gloopy

Vegan cheeses are typically lower in fat, protein and calcium than regular cheese and are likely gluten-free.Writer for Eating Well

It’s so good most people like to buy it in bulk, and it can be frozen with no impact on the flavor or consistency.

6. Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread

Kite Hill is a brand that is dedicated to making unforgettable dairy-free cheeses.

By using age-old techniques and traditionally proven methods to culture their almond milk, they ensure an authentic texture and taste.Their cream cheese style spread is possibly one of their most excellent products, although I highly recommend the yogurts (see also ‘The Best Instant Pot Vegan Yogurt Recipes‘) at breakfast as well.

Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread Product

PROS

  • Authentically made with traditional techniques
  • Dairy-free and all-natural
  • Great base for lots of other recipes
  • checkA broad range of delicious products to choose from

​CONS

  • Doesn’t use preservatives so needs to be used up quickly
  • banSome complain they’ve taken the tang too far and it tastes sour

The cream cheese spread has just the right amount of tang and is perfect on bagels or as a dip base for your vegan chips.

7. Parma! Vegan Parmesan

This vegan parmesan is made from nutritional yeast, nuts, a variety of natural seeds, and Himalayan crystal salt.

The ingredients alone are interesting, much like its taste.

Honestly, I don’t think this tastes like actual parmesan, but it is so interestingly good. It’s probably that salty cheese-like flavor coupled with the right texture.

Parma Vegan Parmesan

PROS

  • Tastes great! The original and bacon flavors are my favorites.
  • Has natural and minimally processed ingredients
  • Adds a dash of interesting flavor to any meal (I love them on pasta)
  • checkContains Omega-3 and vitamin B12

​CONS

  • It can be a bit salty for some’
  • banA little pricey

It’s also soy-free and gluten-free, so whether you’re entirely vegan or avoiding any allergic reactions, this could be the cheese for you.

8. Pop Zest Artisan Cheese Dairy-Free Superfood Topping

This superfood topping is a high-protein nutritional yeast that goes well with soups and stir-fried veggies.

It’s packed with flavor from various herbs and spices that also contain a full vitamin B spectrum.

It’s from the brand Flavor Train, and if you’ve been in the vegan community for a while, I’m sure you’ve heard of them one way or another.

Pop Zest Artisan Cheese Dairy-Free Superfood Topping

PROS

  • It has that “umami” taste that goes well with any food
  • Has 0 grams of fat
  • Contains the full vitamin B spectrum
  • checkVegan, keto, and paleo-friendly

​CONS

  • It has that olive oil after taste
  • banNot salty enough for a cheese alternative

They have quite a line of yummy vegan goods and the Pop Zest is one of the more popular ones — especially with kids! If you have a child at home, just sprinkle this to some baked potatoes or popcorn and you have a ready-to-eat, healthy vegan snack.

9. So Delicious Cheese Ched Mont Jack

It’s dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, non-GMO, sugar-free, and cholesterol-free — yes, all the good things, but my favorite about the So Delicious cheese is that it melts like the real thing. I’d say it melts better than most vegan mozarellas.

If you’re looking at making homemade chickpea tortillas (see also ‘Can You Eat Tortillas if You’re Vegan?‘) or some veggie soup, this might be a good option.

The taste isn’t as cheesy as I’d like, but it’s great when used as a topping.

So Delicious Cheese Ched Mont Jack

PROS

  • It melts beautifully like real cheese
  • Has a cheesy flavor
  • Soy-free and non-GMO
  • checkHas 0 sugars

​CONS

  • A cup has 7g of fat and 6g of carb — not ideal when you’re cutting out on calories
  • banRaw texture isn’t the best

10. Parma Zaan Sprinkles Vegan Parmesan Cheese

As mentioned above, it cannot be stressed how useful and versatile an excellent nutritional yeast or vegan parmesan cheese can be.

Parma Zaan is made from almonds and doesn’t quite have the same benefits as nutritional yeast does. But what it lacks in nutrition profile it makes up for in flavor.Parma Zaan has and perfected the cheesy flavor, which makes this perfect for a vegan alfredo sauce (see also ‘Best Vegan Sauces To Have In Every Home’) or for making some homemade vegan pesto.

Parma Zaan Sprinkles Vegan Parmesan Cheese Product

PROS

  • Versatile multi-purpose ingredient
  • Big cheesy flavor
  • Makes great vegan alfredo and pesto
  • checkSimple, transparent ingredients

​CONS

  • No good for those with a nut allergy
  • banA big bag can clump if not shaken well

Sprinkled over almost anything; this vegan cheese can turn a bland dinner delicious.

11. The Vegan Cheese Shoppe Macadamia Nut Brie

You know that the vegan cheese market has moved a long way if they are introducing a vegan macadamia nut brie now.

Brie is the cheesiest of cheeses, and it is the ultimate in soft, creamy, baked bliss. That the Vegan Cheese Shoppe has chosen to tackle this task and serve an alternative is brave as is (Vegan Chicken).Taste-wise, I and most consumers agree it’s not quite there. It does have similar notes of that warm brie flavor, though, and it’s an impressive attempt. The texture, though, is spot on.

The Vegan Cheese Shoppe Macadamia Nut Brie Product

PROS

  • A viable dairy-free alternative to brie
  • Made in Hawaii with Hawaiin macadamia nuts
  • Goes great as a vegan cheese with wine
  • checkUnique

​CONS

  • Taste isn’t quite right
  • banLike with real brie the sticky texture can gum up your mouth

It is perfect with bread or crackers, just like the real thing.

​Other Resources You May Like:

Watch the video to know more about vegan cheese.

What’s The Best Vegan Cheese?

When choosing the best vegan cheese, you have to give it up to the products and companies that mimic the real thing the most closely.

For us, that means Violife and their Vegan Shredded Mozzarella is the clear winner. The product is almost indistinguishable from its dairy alternative (see also our favorite vegan ice cream brands).When picking your favorite vegan cheese, it depends on what you’re on the search for in terms of flavor and texture. This list offers a lot of great options for you to try.

Bragg Premium Nutritional Yeast

Bragg ​Nutritional Yeast Seasoning

​Our #1 Vegan Cheese Choice

  • A healthy alternative to parmesan cheese
  • Packed full of B vitamins
  • Sugar and salt-free
  • checkExcellent vegan recipe enhancer

​Have you tried any of the cheeses on the list? What did you think? What’s your favorite vegan cheese?

Jason Hughes
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