Vegan Broccoli with Cheese Sauce

Published: Sep 17, 2023 by Dianne · This post may contain affiliate links

Dairy-free Broccoli with Cheese Sauce is a veganzied version of one of my childhood favorites. No one will ever guess that there are extra veggies hidden this dish! It's a great side dish for just about any meal. This easy recipe is vegan and gluten-free.

Broccoli with Cheese Sauce

Growing up, I ate very little fresh produce. Almost everything came from a can, box, or bag. Even potatoes were canned! The only fresh vegetables I can remember are iceberg lettuce and tomatoes. I didn’t know anything different, so I didn’t mind, and I liked most of them.

Broccoli was my favorite though. My mom would make broccoli with cheese sauce, and I couldn’t get enough of it. I’m pretty sure the only reason I liked it so much was because the broccoli was acting as a vehicle for the cheese, but hey, it got me to eat my greens. And broccoli is still my favorite vegetable.

dish of cheese sauce with broccoli in the background

Vegan Cheese Sauce

The cheese sauce I grew up eating came in powdered from a packet. Just add water for instant flavor! I don’t trust too many foods that come from packets these days, and I make my own cheese sauce. I often make it with just cashews, but I’ve found that sauces are a great way to hide extra veggies, so I sometimes make it with carrots and cauliflower, as I did here.

broccoli, cauliflower, lemon, carrot, sweet potato, nutritional yeast, mustard, garlic, cashews, onion, salt

What You Need

Carrot
Sweet potato
Cauliflower
Onion
Nutritional yeast
Raw cashews
Garlic
Lemon juice
Sea salt
Olive oil
Broccoli

See the recipe card for exact amounts.

making broccoli with cheese sauce collage

How to Make Broccoli with Cheese Sauce

First you place the carrots, onion, sweet potato, and cauliflower in a large pot, and fill it with enough water to cover the vegetables plus about two inches.
Next you bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat and then reduce the heat and allow to simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the vegetables are fork tender.
Then you drain the vegetables and save the water. You should allow the vegetables to cool slightly.
You place the vegetables in a high-speed blender or food processor along with the nutritional yeast, cashews, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and 1 cup of the reserved cooking water. Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy. You can add a little more water if the mixture is too thick. Keep in mind that it will thicken when it’s heated.
Now, you cook the broccoli in the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Stir frequently, until the broccoli turns bright green. If the broccoli starts to stick to the pan, you can add some of the reserved cooking water, a tablespoon at a time.
Finally, you lower the heat to medium, add the cheese sauce to the pan, and cook until it’s warmed throughout and has thickened slightly. If the sauce gets too thick, add a little more of the reserved cooking water.

Raw Cashews

"Raw" cashews aren't actually raw, because the needed to be processed with heat in order to remove them from their shells. When buying cashews, look for the unroasted and unsalted kind.

Raw cashews are soft, and they have a mild flavor. Roasted cashews aren’t as soft, and they will give your recipe a roasted, almost burnt flavor.

Plate of broccoli with cheese sauce, quinoa, and tofu. A baking dish with more broccoli is in the background

Serving Your Broccoli with Cheese Sauce

Broccoli with Cheese Sauce is a great side dish that can be served with anything from baked tofu and rice pilaf to lentil loaf and roasted potatoes.

It’s a terrific topper for a baked potato, too. It's great with pasta, as well.

Throw in a can of chickpeas and serve it over brown rice or pasta to make it a complete meal.

You may have some cheese sauce leftover. It’s great on tacos, tofu scrambles, nachos, veggie burgers, and pretty much anything else you can think of!