From creamy Hollandaise to dreamy mac and cheese, they’re 100% on point. With the right sauce, you can transform any bland meal into something magical. But they’re often made with lashings of milk and cream, plenty of butter, and even eggs and meat products. Luckily, making dairy-free sauces has never been easier. Even if you’re not vegan, these vegan sauce recipes are guaranteed crowd-pleasers. So make a big batch for the week and enjoy pizza, pasta, stir-fries, and more!
Easy and Delicious Vegan Sauces to the This Week
1. Vegan Yum Yum Sauce
Yum Yum is a hugely popular Japanese steakhouse sauce. But now, it’s gone global! This stuff is so good, it gives Ranch a run for its money. It’s creamy and intensely garlicky with a subtle sweetness. And it goes well with anything from potatoes and veggies to fried foods and old shoes. Okay, maybe not shoes, but you get the point. To keep it vegan, swap out the mayo and butter for vegan-friendly alternatives, and boom! It’s good to go.
2. Easy Vegan Stir-Fry Sauce
The problem with store-bought stir-fry sauce is that it’s not usually vegan. Most brands sneak in oyster or fish sauce, making it a no-no for your vegan friends. But this vegan version is super easy and lasts a while. So you can make a big batch and keep it on hand for a quick Asian dinner. It’s rich with sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger, and plenty of garlic with just a touch of Sriracha for heat. Add it to noodles or rice with tofu.
3. Best Vegan Garlic Alfredo Sauce
Pasta with Alfredo sauce is the ultimate comfort food, but the traditional recipe is brimming with heavy cream and cheese. This sauce incorporates a flavorful onion base infused with blended cashews and nutritional yeast for that nutty and cheesy kick. It is just as thick, hearty, and indulgent without a drop of dairy!
4. Vegan Bechamel Sauce
Bechamel, also known as white sauce, is a simple roux of flour, butter, and milk. So, making a vegan alternative simply requires swapping out the butter and milk for vegan-friendly options. For a thick and decedent white sauce, choose plant-based milk (almond milk is great), and replace the butter with olive oil. It thickens in a skillet like any non-vegan roux and earns a fragrant lift from a touch of nutmeg.
5. Best Vegan Thai Peanut Sauce
This Thai peanut sauce is so delicious, it’ll get you excited about salads again! Its peanut butter base is decadent and creamy, with plenty of salty-savory notes from the garlic, Sriracha, and red pepper flakes. Maple syrup, lime juice, and ginger bring hints of sweetness and a nice bit of acidity and warmth to cut through the richness of the peanut butter. With so many unique ingredients, it checks all the favor boxes and then some.
6. Best Vegan Cheese Sauce
The most common question people ask vegans has to be: don’t you miss cheese? I’m sure you do. But, you don’t have to anymore, thanks to this sensational vegan cheese sauce. Just one look at this gooey cheesy delight is enough to get my creative juices flowing. Pour it over nachos, roasted veggies, macaroni, or even pizza. This handy cheese sauce is a great way to stay aboard the cheese train without needing dairy.
7. Easy Vegan Ranch Dressing
Ranch dressing is the condiment king. But where the store-bought stuff uses heavy cream and buttermilk, this one is vegan, soy-free, and gluten-free. Instead of heavy cream, you’ll use vegan mayo thinned with plant-based milk (be sure to opt for unsweetened!). Once you establish a base, it’s time for all those savory herbs like dill, garlic, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Yum!
8. Hearty Vegan Marinara Sauce
Not only is this rustic marinara sauce vegan, but it’s also secretly healthy! It uses a simple base of tomato paste and diced tomatoes to earn that thick, signature consistency. Add some fresh garlic, onion, Italian dried seasoning, and a touch of maple syrup to make it totally addictive.
9. Vegan Bolognese Sauce
Classic bolognese is a thick and scrumptious meat-infused pasta sauce that’s hearty and filling. This vegan version is just as satisfying and full of fun texture. And that’s all down to the meaty combo of chopped mushrooms and walnuts. Combine that with a ton of fresh veggies (carrots, onion, and tomatoes) and seasonings, and you may like it better than the ground beef version!
10. Easy Vegan Tartar Sauce
Tartar sauce isn’t just for fish, you know? I use it for just about anything fried because it’s slightly sweet and tangy, with subtle sour notes that cut through the oil. To make this classic dairy-based dipping sauce vegan, just swap out the mayo for vegan mayo. You can use storebought or create your own using aquafaba, spices, and sunflower oil.
11. Vegan Salsa Rosa
Spanish salsa rosa sounds super fancy…but believe it or not, it’s just mayo and ketchup! I make this all the time when we have burgers and fries! Though it’s yummy with shrimp, chicken, and tofu too. Of course, we’re talking about vegan sauces today. So you’ll just need to switch the mayo for a dairy-free alternative. How easy is that?
12. Easy Romesco Sauce
Think of Spanish Romesco sauce as a thicker, creamier, more buttery version of classic marinara. It pairs perfectly with pasta, but it’s also terrific as a bread dip, sandwich spread, or pizza sauce. It earns its rich and meaty finish from roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, and smoked paprika. For that creamy, buttery finish, you’ll need almond butter. It’s much milder than peanut butter, so it marries the other flavors rather than overpowering them.
13. Vegan Spaghetti Pomodoro Sauce
The only difference between classic marinara and Pomodoro sauce is that the latter is thicker. Marinara is terrific, but this vegan Pomodoro sauce is heartier and oh-so-filling! It pairs meaty crushed mushrooms with bright Italian seasonings like garlic, onion, spices, and red pepper flakes for heat. Serve it with a big bowl of pasta, and dig in!
14. Vegan Vodka Sauce
This vegan vodka sauce features bright and punchy flavors, and it’s super cheesy and creamy to boot. Don’t worry; adding vodka doesn’t impart any flavors of alcohol. Instead, it just ensures the sauce is as velvety smooth as possible. Add pureed cashews to make it creamy and plenty of Italian seasoning for flavor.
15. Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce
Not only is this simple pizza sauce vegan, but it’s also oil-free! It packs a powerful flavor punch from Italian seasonings, including basil, onion, garlic, thyme, and oregano. There’s also maple syrup for a hint of sweetness to mellow out the acidity. Ready in just five minutes, this stuff tastes way better than anything you’ll find on a grocery store shelf.
16. Creamy Vegan Garlic Cilantro Lime Sauce
Electric green, packed with flavors, and incredibly creamy, this vegan garlic, cilantro, and lime sauce is the stuff of dreams. Just toss fresh garlic, lime juice, cilantro, maple syrup, and green onions into a blender, and watch them transform into a super creamy vegan sauce. The bright, earthy flavors are ideal for salads, burgers, and veggies. Or, add a few slices of jalapeño and use it as a spicy taco dressing.
17. Easy Vegan Aioli
I love aioli. It’s the perfect condiment for french fries, burgers, roasted veggies, and more! Of course, classic aioli calls for eggs. They’re blitzed until thick and smooth and scrummy. So, in this vegan version, you’ll need dairy-free yogurt and mayo. While it’s perfect for vegans, most people won’t even know it’s not loaded with eggs. So serve it at your next party and watch as it disappears.
18. Quick and Easy Vegan BBQ Sauce
It doesn’t get much tastier than BBQ sauce. And this seven-ingredient vegan version is super easy to whip up. Just mix ketchup with molasses, brown sugar, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, vegan Worcestershire, and Sriracha. That’s it! There’s no chopping, no garlic pressing, and no stovetop required.
19. Vegan Hollandaise Sauce
Classic Hollandaise pairs butter and eggs in a creamy, dreamy, cheesy sauce that’s made for your morning eggs. But it’s not exactly vegan-friendly. This vegan recipe captures the rich and tart creaminess of Hollandaise without a single egg. Raw cashews and nutritional yeast deliver thick and cheesy flavors, while bright spices like garlic and mustard add a flavorful bite.
20. Easy Exquisite Vegan Bearnaise Sauce
Bearnaise sauce is similar to Hollandaise, but there’s a twist. Unlike Hollandaise, Bearnaise has a bright and flavorful kick from tarragon and red wine vinegar. It’s perfect on pasta, veggies, or used as a dip. Swap the eggs for extra firm, pureed tofu to keep it vegan.
21. Vegan Pesto
Traditional pesto is almost vegan but often includes Parmesan cheese, making it another vegan no-no. Take out that cheese and pesto is a heavenly blend of aromatic basil, pine nuts, garlic, and lemon. On its own, it’s brimming with bold flavors and doesn’t need the Parmesan cheese to make it shine. That’s why this vegan recipe works. It’s proof that not everything is better with cheese! (If you really miss that cheesy flavor, try adding a pinch of nutritional yeast. And feel free to use walnuts in place of pine nuts.)
22. Easy Homemade Ketchup
Did you know that ketchup isn’t always vegan-friendly? Many brands use refined sugar, which is bleached using animal bone char. I know, crazy! While that may be disappointing news, making ketchup at home is easy and much tastier than anything from the store. It only calls for six simple ingredients: tomato paste, allspice, vinegar, garlic, onion, and a touch of maple syrup for sweetness. Blend, bottle, and enjoy!
23. Vegan Honey Mustard
If you’re vegan, you may or may not consume honey. It’s kind of a grey area that’s all down to personal preference. If you choose not to eat honey, though, this vegan honey mustard dressing is a lifesaver come summer salad time! Replacing honey is trickier than replacing cheese, but it can be done. You’ll make a honey alternate by reducing apple juice (or cider) until it’s thick and sticky. Of course, it won’t taste like honey. But it’s sweet and thick and goes really well with mustard and spices.
24. Easy Vegan Gravy
I think this vegan gravy is way better than its meatier cousins. Not only is it yummy, but it’s ideal for families with vegans at the table. Thanks to this recipe, you only need one sauce for everyone! It infuses bright flavors from mustard, soy sauce, onions, and a nutty kick from nutritional yeast. Thick, tasty, and perfect with mashed potatoes and stuffing, it’s just what your holiday table needs.
25. 5-Minute Vegan Teriyaki Sauce
It doesn’t get much easier than this five-minute vegan teriyaki sauce. This recipe makes a big batch of sweet, spicy, sticky goodness. So bottle it up and use it on salads, noodles, or stir-fries. Toasted sesame oil is the key to this delicious sauce. It adds bold and nutty notes that pair perfectly with soy sauce and Asian spices. Click on a star to rate it!
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