Meatless Monday: 10 Dairy-Free ‘Cheesy’ Recipes

A great way to detox (on Meatless Monday or all of January) is cutting out meat and dairy, but that can leave you stuck with a mean craving for cheese. Thankfully, there are tons of vegan cheese recipes, store-bought vegan cheese brands, and natural ingredients to get you through. Though soy cheese is a good occasional stand-in, we tried to find alternatives like homemade nut cheese and healthy ingredients that make your food taste cheesy, without using any actual dairy.

Try a few of the recipes anytime the dairy case makes you feel weak; you’ll satisfy your craving and stay on track with a vegetarian and dairy-free Meatless Monday.

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Garlic Stuffed Jalepeno Poppers

Garlic Stuffed Jalepeno Poppers

Leek and Herb Nut Cheese

This nut cheese is made from raw, whole ingredients; you can even eat it if you’re on a raw food cleanse this January.

GET THE RECIPE, via Raw Food Recipes

Roasted Butternut Alfredo

Yum, yum, yum. This alfredo is made with nutritional yeast, miso, cashews, and tons of flavorful spices and veggies. This looks even better than the real thing, regardless of whether you care about avoiding dairy.

GET THE RECIPE, via Post Punk Kitchen

Baked Cashew Cheese Wheels

If you’ve tried Dr. Cow’s raw, vegan nut cheeses, you probably fell in love. Then felt a little guilty about how much money you spent. Try making these–they’re not raw, technically, but they are made of nuts and other healthy ingredients, so

GET THE RECIPE, via Kindness of Ravens

Vegan Cheese Crackers

If you’re missing goldfish, make your own. Nutritional yeast plus tons of spices make these crackers satisfy cravings without all the ultra-processed dairy.

GET THE RECIPE, via VegWeb

Southwestern Grilled Cheese Sandwich

It doesn’t take a genius to make a vegan grilled cheese sandwich (just a nearby health store). But when’s the last time yours was filled with beans and bell peppers? This version isn’t just dairy-free; it’s a lot more healthy.

GET THE RECIPE, via Namely Marly

Vegan Macaroni Cheese (with Homemade Cashew Milk)

These days, it’s easy enough to pick up a box of vegan mac n cheese mix. But making your own from scratch is healthier–and in this case, much more delicious.

GET THE RECIPE, via Hamburger Eats Me!

Vegan Buffalo Mozzarella

If you’re feeling adventurous (or just have a crazy strong craving for Italian mozzarella), try making your own vegan mozzarella. Yum.

GET THE RECIPE, via Veggie Wedgie

Cheezy Savory Oats

When it comes to vegan cheese recipes, Angela Liddon of Oh She Glows is my go-to resource. She doesn’t just throw in store-bought varieties; she knows how to create cheesy flavor with natural, vegan ingredients, so you get your fix without the processed junk. These savory oats are just one example of her inventive solutions to cheese cravings.

GET THE RECIPE, via Oh She Glows

Herbed Garlic Pumpkin Knots with Vegan Parmesan Cheese

Cheesy, herby garlic bread is one of those foods that’s hard to replace. Enter: Oh She Glows. Didn’t I tell you Angela Liddon is good at this?

GET THE RECIPE, via Oh She Glows