The best vegan cheeses available today — the top plant-based cheeses by type and use, and what to look for in quality vegan cheese.
Vegan cheese has improved dramatically, and there are now genuinely good plant-based options. Here's a guide to the best vegan cheeses available today and how to choose them.
Vegan Cheese Has Come a Long Way
Plant-based (vegan) cheese has improved enormously in recent years, with options that melt, stretch, and taste far better than early versions. For vegans, the dairy-free, or those reducing dairy, there are now genuinely good vegan cheeses across many styles. Quality varies — from artisan cultured nut cheeses to processed melting cheeses — so knowing what to look for helps. Here's a guide to the best vegan cheeses available today, by type and use, and how to choose quality ones. (Specific brands change over time, so this focuses on types and qualities to look for.)
Best Artisan Cultured Vegan Cheeses
For flavor and quality, the best vegan cheeses are often artisan cultured nut-based cheeses — made from nuts (cashews, almonds) that are cultured (fermented) like dairy cheese, developing complex, tangy, "cheesy" flavors. These can be quite sophisticated, with versions mimicking brie, aged cheeses, and more. Made by specialty vegan cheesemakers, they're the closest to fine dairy cheese in flavor and are best for eating and cheese boards. So for the best flavor, seek out artisan cultured nut-based vegan cheeses — the most sophisticated, dairy-cheese-like vegan options, ideal for boards and eating.
Best Vegan Cheeses for Melting
For melting (pizza, grilled cheese, mac and cheese), the best vegan cheeses are those specifically formulated to melt and stretch — often based on coconut oil and starches, engineered for meltability. Many vegan mozzarella-style and cheddar-style shreds and blocks now melt and stretch convincingly. Look for products marketed for melting. So for melted dishes, choose vegan cheeses formulated to melt and stretch (often coconut-oil-and-starch based) — the best for pizza, grilled cheese, and mac and cheese. These melting vegan cheeses have improved greatly and can give satisfying gooey results, though they vary by brand.
Best Vegan Cream Cheeses and Spreads
Vegan cream cheeses and spreads are among the most successful vegan cheeses — many are creamy, tangy, and convincing, great for bagels, dips, and spreading. Often nut- or soy-based, vegan cream cheeses come in plain and flavored versions. Vegan feta, ricotta, and Parmesan-style products are also available and improving. So vegan cream cheeses and spreads are excellent, widely available options, great for spreading and dips, along with vegan feta, ricotta, and Parmesan alternatives. These soft and spreadable vegan cheeses are some of the best and most useful plant-based options today.
What to Look for in Quality Vegan Cheese
To choose good vegan cheese: for flavor and eating, favor artisan cultured nut-based cheeses; for melting, choose products formulated to melt; for spreading, vegan cream cheeses. Favor minimally processed, nut- or soy-based options over highly processed ones for better nutrition and flavor, and look for fortification (calcium, B12) if relying on it nutritionally. Read ingredients and reviews. So look for cultured nut-based cheeses for flavor, melting-formulated ones for melted dishes, and minimally processed, fortified options for nutrition. Matching the vegan cheese type to your use (and favoring quality) gets you the best plant-based results.
Choosing the Best Vegan Cheese for You
The best vegan cheese depends on your use: artisan cultured nut cheeses for boards and eating (best flavor); melting-formulated cheeses for pizza and grilled cheese; vegan cream cheese for spreading and dips; and vegan feta, ricotta, or Parmesan for specific dishes. Try a few to find ones you like, as quality and taste vary by brand and type. Vegan cheese keeps improving, with more good options available. So choose based on your use and try several to find your favorites. Today's best vegan cheeses offer genuinely good plant-based options across styles, for vegans and the dairy-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best vegan cheeses?
It depends on use — artisan cultured nut-based cheeses for flavor and boards; melting-formulated cheeses (often coconut-oil-and-starch based) for pizza and grilled cheese; and vegan cream cheeses for spreading. Quality varies by brand.
Has vegan cheese gotten better?
Yes, dramatically — modern vegan cheeses melt, stretch, and taste far better than early versions, with genuinely good options across many styles, especially artisan cultured nut cheeses and vegan cream cheeses.
How do I choose a good vegan cheese?
Match the type to your use (cultured nut cheese for flavor, melting-formulated for melted dishes, cream cheese for spreading), favor minimally processed and fortified options, and try a few to find ones you like.