15 Delicious Recipes with Nutritional Yeast That Bring All the Flavor (2024)

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Vegetarian Cooking Basics

All the cheesy flavor, without the dairy

Cathy Jacobs

A freelance journalist and avid home cook, Cathy Jacobs has more than 10 years of food writing experience, with a focus on curating approachable menus and recipe collections.

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Updated on 08/17/21

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15 Delicious Recipes with Nutritional Yeast That Bring All the Flavor (2)

Nutritional yeast is super trendy these days for lots of good reasons. Sometimes called "nooch" for short, it is an inactivated form of the same kind of yeast that bakers use to leaven bread, except it's been pasteurized to dry it out. While this means it won't make your baking rise, the dried nutritional yeast flakes have a naturally nutty, cheesy flavor that is remarkably similar to Parmesan cheese. This makes it a great ingredient for adding flavor to everything from pastas and casseroles to vegan burgers and nachos.

You can use nutritional yeast to thicken sauces, boost the kid-appeal of vegetables and tofu, or sprinkle over popcorn for an umami appeal.

Browse our recipe collection for delicious ways to use nutritional yeast in your cooking, from easy weeknight dinners and comfort food classic dishes, to work-from-home snacks that won't weigh you down.

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Easy Vegan Nutritional Yeast Pasta
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When you crave macaroni and cheese on a dairy-free diet, try this quick and easy stove-top pasta dish. It's totally vegan, and utterly rich, with a cheesy sauce made from a flour and soy milk roux, and plenty of nutritional yeast. Whip it up in 15 minutes on busy weeknights for a soft and creamy comfort food meal, adding optional peas or broccoli to get in your greens.
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Homemade Impossible Burger
Cook up a restaurant-quality "impossible" burger at home with your own, vegan faux meat mixture. All you need to pull off this culinary magic trick are our clever recipe, a food processor, and the right ingredients, including nutritional yeast, tempeh, and a few pantry staples. A splash of Liquid Smoke is an easy way to add in that great, grilled flavor you crave in a summer burger.
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Vegan Tofu Scramble
When your diet doesn't include eggs, brunch can be a challenge. Have your vegan diet, and enjoy a classic skillet breakfast, too, with our tasty tofu scramble. You'll get that fluffy texture you desire, plus plenty of protein, from pan-cooked, crumbled tofu and vegetables, with some nutritional yeast acting as a cheesy binder.
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Meatless Vegan Meatloaf With TVP and Tofu
Nutritional yeast takes the place of Parmesan cheese in our meatless spin on Italian-style meatloaf. Moist and savory, and high in plant protein from a base of tofu and TVP, it has a great flavor and texture similar to chicken meatloaf. Serve it with mashed potatoes, and vegan gravy, for a vegan weeknight dinner that will bring kids running to the table.
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Vegan and Vegetarian Miso Gravy
Miso, soy sauce, and nutritional yeast bring tons of savory, umami flavor to this creamy vegan gravy. It's a snap to make on your stove-top in about 20 minutes, starting with a simple, dairy-free roux using vegan margarine. Use it for topping tofurkey at Friendsgiving dinners, pour it over mock meatloaf, or stir it into noodles.
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Vegan Gnocchi With Spinach Pesto
Egg-free, pillowy potato gnocchi glistening with bright green spinach pesto sauce are a true vegan dinner delight. You may think of gnocchi as a restaurant meal, but the actual process of making them is pretty straight-forward, and well worth the effort. Once the delicate gnocchi are formed, you simply boil them briefly, and then top them with homemade pesto.
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Vegan Eggplant Parmesan
Crispy, tender, and covered in tangy marinara sauce, with a cheesy breadcrumb topping, it's no wonder that eggplant Parmesan is one of America's favorite Southern Italian dishes. Make it for your vegan dinner table with our clever casserole bake that uses nutritional yeast to flavor the eggplant, and can also use it for the topping.
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Vegan Impossible Swedish "Meatballs"
You don't have to trek to Ikea, or sacrifice your vegan diet, to chow down on their iconic Swedish meatballs and gravy. Our indulgent copycat recipe uses store-bought Impossible Burger ground "beef", and smothers the vegan meatballs with a rich coconut milk gravy. Serve with mashed potatoes, and a dollop of fruit preserves, for a comforting family meal.
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Vegan Angel Hair Pasta Primavera
If you love Olive Garden-style pastas, and are eating vegan, you're sure to enjoy this angel hair pasta primavera. With slender pasta noodles and healthy veggies slathered in a rich and creamy white sauce, it's hard to believe that it is entirely dairy-free. Enjoy it for an easy, filling vegetarian dinner, boosted with any veggies from your crisper.
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Creamy Vegan "Chicken" and Rice
With a block of tofu, some fresh veggies, and a few basic pantry ingredients, you can whip up a vegan "chicken" dinner that's every bit as comforting as the real thing. With chunks of tender tofu and plenty of vegetables in a satisfyingly creamy sauce, it is an ideal, one-dish dinner for rainy or colder days.
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Vegan Green Bean Casserole
When you host vegans for Thanksgiving, delight them with this vegan green bean casserole that is completely dairy-free. Your guests will be hard-pressed to know that it's different than the traditional gratin, even though it's lighter and healthier, thanks to the creamy sauce made with vegan margarine and nutritional yeast.
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Vegan Crispy Fried Tofu
Crispy, pan-fried tofu is a tasty snack that will please even picky eaters. With a golden toasted coating and a warm, creamy interior, it has a pleasing texture that may remind kids of tater tots. Serve it with their favorite dipping sauce, from barbecue to vegan ranch dressing, for a crunchy nibble that is far more wholesome than store-bought snacks.
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Dairy-Free Quiche
Easy and elegant, this brunch-ready quiche is easy to tweak with all of your favorite add-ins. The custardy filling of eggs, almond milk, and nutritional yeast nestles in a dairy-free crust, making this quiche an excellent choice for vegan and vegetarian guests. Prepare it with fresh seasonal herbs and vegetables for a company-worthy luncheon dish.
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Vegan Potatoes Au Gratin
Vegan potatoes au gratin is a delicious addition to your vegan holiday table. Guests will sigh over this creamy and cheesy potato casserole, with a dairy-free sauce that includes plenty of nutritional yeast. Feel free to fold in some caramelized onions, sauteed mushrooms, or diced jalapeno peppers, for a fun flavor boost.
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Cheesy Kale Chips
Crunchy, dehydrated kale chips are a snack you need to know about, with all the qualities you want in a snacking chip. They are a whole lot cheaper to make at home, versus buying at the health food store. Sprinkled with nutritional yeast, they deliver a great cheese-snack flavor.