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By now you’ve probably heard of nutritional yeast, or “nooch” as it’s affectionately called by superfans. The versatile ingredient is popular among vegans, and nutritional yeast recipes are common in plant-based and dairy-free cooking. But if you’re not already a nutritional yeast loyalist, chances are you have some questions about the stuff—like what it is, exactly, and how to cook with it.
What is nutritional yeast?
First of all, to clear up any confusion: Nutritional yeast is a deactivated form of yeast, which means it won’t make a loaf of bread rise the way active yeast would. It’s cultured from the same type of yeast that leavens bread, but the manufacturing process kills the live yeast.
Nooch is instead meant to be used as a cooking ingredient, seasoning, or condiment. The health food store bulk-bin staple has a golden-yellow color and is available in small and large flakes.
Nutritional yeast is probably best known for being the magic ingredient in all those “cheesy” vegan and dairy-free recipes you’ve seen floating around. The flavor isn’t identical to something like Pecorino or cheddar, of course. Nutritional yeast has its own distinctive and delicious flavor—a little cheesiness, a little nuttiness, a little umami.
What are nutritional yeast benefits?
As its name indicates, nutritional yeast is in fact packed with nutrients. An average 15-gram serving (about three tablespoons or one quarter-cup, depending on the flake size and brand) provides eight grams of protein and three or four grams of fiber, according to the USDA.
Nutritional yeast also contains vitamins and minerals like iron, potassium, thiamin (vitamin B1), and riboflavin (B2). Plus, many (if not most) nutritional yeast products on the market are fortified with a variety of B vitamins, including additional B1 and B2, plus niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), folate (B9), and vitamins B6 and B12. (B6 and B12 are mostly found in animal products, and therefore hard to come by on a vegan diet—yet another reason nooch is pretty popular among that crowd.)
Another potential benefit of nutritional yeast is that it’s a helpful cheese substitute for anyone who’s trying to avoid dairy (whether due to an allergy, intolerance, or preference). And you don’t have to store it in the fridge!
How to use nutritional yeast
When it comes to subbing in for cheese, nooch may not be identical but it can really do the trick—especially when used in combination with other ingredients that add creaminess (like cashew cream), tang (like lemon juice), or bite (like garlic) to better imitate the flavor profile of your fave cheeses. Trust us, you won’t miss the cheese one bit.
Nutritional yeast works as more than a cheese replacement, though. Even if you’re not dairy-free or vegan, nooch is totally worth keeping in your pantry because it honestly tastes good in just about anything. A couple of tablespoons can quickly add a much-needed savory boost to whatever you’re eating, like a sauce or soup. And you don’t actually have to cook nutritional yeast to enjoy it. You can just sprinkle it (generously) straight from the container over your food, wherever you might use grated Parmesan or a finishing salt—salads, popcorn, pasta—and dig right in.
If you’re psyched to start using nooch in the kitchen, let these 30 nutritional yeast recipes show you all that the star ingredient is capable of. Some are all about the nooch, and others are great examples of how easy it is to swap in nutritional yeast for cheese. Many of the recipes are indeed vegan and dairy-free, if that’s something you’re interested in—but they’re worth trying even if you’re not, because they’re totally freakin’ delicious.
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Jeanine Donofrio via Love and Lemons1 Vegan Cauliflower Mac and Cheese from Love and Lemons
Along with nutritional yeast, buttery, homemade cashew cream gives this recipe the ooey, gooey mac-and-cheese flavor you know and love. A sprinkle of toasted breadcrumbs complements all the creaminess with a satisfying crunch.
Get the recipe here.
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Dana Shultz via Minimalist Baker2 Vegan Mashed Potatoes from Minimalist Baker
Everyone knows mashed potatoes taste better with fixings—namely cheese, cream, and butter. Nutritional yeast will give your taters a similar kick without the dairy.
Get the recipe here.
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Dana Shultz via Minimalist Baker3 Vegan Cheddar Jalapeño Biscuits from Minimalist Baker
Fluffy, cheesy, and just a bit spicy, these biscuits are great whether you’re eating them with a meal or enjoying them on their own.
Get the recipe here.
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Andrea Bemis via Dishing Up the Dirt4 Brussels Sprouts and Sausage Quiche from Dishing up the Dirt
This is one of the few non-vegan, dairy-filled recipes out there that uses nutritional yeast. It adds tons of flavor to the quiche filling, and proves that the ingredient deserves a place in any kind of cooking.
Get the recipe here.
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Ali Ebright via Gimme Some Oven5 Nooch Popcorn from Gimme Some Oven
When in doubt, sprinkle some nutritional yeast on your popcorn—it’s the best dairy-free way to deliver the cheesy flavor you might be craving.
Get the recipe here.
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Rachel Connors via Bakerita6 Spinach Basil Pesto from Bakerita
Bakerita keeps this pesto vegan by swapping the Parmesan for a bit of nutritional yeast. The results are almost identical to authentic pesto.
Get the recipe here.
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Jessica Merchant via How Sweet Eats7 Sweet and Spicy Snack Mix from How Sweet Eats
Though it may seem odd to put nutritional yeast in granola, the ingredient adds a boost of umami that the sweet and savory mix otherwise wouldn’t have.
Get the recipe here.
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Jessica Beacom and Stacie Hassing via The Real Food Dietitians8 Cheese Pizza Kale Chips from The Real Food Dietitians
There’s no need to buy pre-made kale chips when these are so easy to whip up—and with pantry staples like Italian seasoning and garlic powder no less!
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Lindsay Cotter via Cotter Crunch9 Creamy Fennel Roasted Cauliflower Soup from Cotter Crunch
Just a few tablespoons of nutritional yeast is all it takes to give this totally vegan soup a creamy, luxurious flavor and texture.
Get the recipe here.
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Olivia Ribas via Primavera Kitchen10 Pesto Spaghetti Squash With Shrimp from Primavera Kitchen
Looking for a new spin on shrimp scampi? This recipe has the cheesy seafood flavors you’re looking for with the delicious addition of squash and nooch—and you don’t even need to boil a pot of water to make it.
Get the recipe here.
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LaKita Anderson via Simply LaKita11 Cashew Cream Sauce With Mushroom Ricotta Ravioli from Simply LaKita
If you don’t have the time to make ravioli from scratch, feel free to use your favorite store-bought option instead. After all, the star of this recipe is the sauce, which only takes five pantry staples to make.
Get the recipe here.
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Ashley Melillo via Blissful Basil12 Walnut, Sage, and Cranberry Stuffed Mushrooms from Blissful Basil
These stuffed mushrooms are the perfect blend of sweet, savory, and earthy, thanks to a stuffing packed with cranberries, nutritional yeast, and walnuts, and sage.
Get the recipe here.
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Michelle Blackwood via Healthier Steps13 Eggplant Pizza Bites from Healthier Steps
These crispy eggplant bites make an excellent appetizer or side when paired with a protein source like tofu or tempeh. You can even coat them in almond flour breadcrumbs if you’re trying to avoid gluten.
Get the recipe here.
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Melissa Huggins via Vegan Huggs14 Tofu Scramble from Vegan Huggs
In this recipe you’ll want to use an extra-firm tofu to guarantee your final dish has a texture that’s similar to actual scrambled eggs.
Get the recipe here.
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Monique Volz via Ambitious Kitchen15 Alfredo Ziti With Broccoli from Ambitious Kitchen
Finish this pasta with a healthy sprinkle of nutritional yeast instead of your usual cheesy go-to, whether that’s Parmesan or Swiss. The flavors will be just as good.
Get the recipe here.
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Alex Lau via Bon Appetit16 Vegan Caesar Salad from Bon Appétit
This Caesar salad is so impressive, you’d honestly never guess it was vegan. Silken tofu and nutritional yeast are responsible for giving the dressing its classic flavor without any animal products.
Get the recipe here.
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Alex Overhiser via A Couple Cooks17 Creamy Vegan Polenta from A Couple Cooks
Though polenta is usually brimming with butter and cheese, this awesome vegan version uses vegetable broth to achieve a rich, savory flavor. Add some nooch for cheesiness, and serve it with a protein source like tofu or chicken for a full meal.
Get the recipe here.
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Becca Pusey via Easy Cheesy Vegetarian18 Seitan Steak Frites With Mustard Tarragon Sauce from Easy Cheesy Vegetarian
Transport yourself to France with this vegan take on the bistro classic. The seitan steaks will take a bit of time to make homemade, but you can always use a store-bought option to speed up the process.
Get the recipe here.
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Alissa Saenz via Connoisseurus Veg19 Creamy Vegan Corn Chowder from Connoisseurus Veg
This recipe relies on a handful of pantry staples—mostly canned—to deliver a warm and cozy soup in a matter of minutes. It makes a bunch of servings, so be sure to freeze what you can’t eat for later.
Get the recipe here.
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Nik Manning via Lizee Angel20 Spicy Sweet Potato and Black Bean Taquitos With Vegan Crema from Lizee Angel
Nutritional yeast gives the vegan crema a cheesy kick, making it the perfect counterpart to these hearty sweet potato and black bean-stuffed taquitos.
Get the recipe here.
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Brittany Mullins via Eating Bird Food21 Creamy Nutritional Yeast Dressing from Eating Bird Food
This homemade dressing is great with an assortment of different dishes. Drizzle it on salads and rice bowls, use it as a marinade for meat and tofu, or try it as a sauce for dipping chips and veggies.
Get the recipe here.
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Kathryne Taylor via Cookie and Kate22 Creamy Vegan Queso from Cookie and Kate
A lot of surprising ingredients—like soaked cashews, grated potatoes, and, of course, nutritional yeast—come together to make this vegan queso a creamy, dreamy reality.
Get the recipe here.
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Emilie Herbert via Emilie Eats23 Vegan Bacon Ranch Potato Salad from Emilie Eats
As far as vegan bacon substitutes go, the crispy, liquid smoke-infused coconut in this potato salad recipe is pretty darn close to the real thing.
Get the recipe here.
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Lee Hersh via Fit Foodie Finds24 Vegan Broccoli Cheese Casserole from Fit Foodie Finds
This vegan version of everyone’s favorite casserole swaps chicken for chickpeas to keep the protein count high and the flavor on point. No broccoli? Feel free to use any vegetable that’s in your crisper drawer instead!
Get the recipe here.
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Kristin Smith via Krisp x Kristin25 Vegan Cacio e Pepe from Krisp x Kristin
Cacio e pepe may seem like one of those things that’s totally off limits to vegans because it’s mostly cheese, but this dairy-free version proves that it doesn’t have to be.
Get the recipe here.
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Sarah Bond via Live Eat Learn26 Eggless French Toast from Live Eat Learn
Though nutritional yeast is normally reserved for savory dishes, it can also be used to make vegan re-creations of sweeter recipes like this French toast. Adding a little bit to the almond milk mixture adds an eggy flavor.
Get the recipe here.
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Sommer Collier via A Saucy Kitchen27 Chicken Broccoli Fritters from A Saucy Kitchen
Nutritional yeast may be a vegan favorite but it definitely doesn’t have to be restricted to meatless cooking. For example, the bright yellow ingredient tastes awesome in these veggie-packed fritters.
Get the recipe here.
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Marisa Moore via Marisa Moore28 Salmon Kale Pesto Pasta from Marisa Moore
If you’re trying to avoid dairy, recipe author Marisa Moore recommends swapping the Parmesan in this seafood pasta for a bit of nutritional yeast to create a similarly savory flavor.
Get the recipe here.
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Shanika via Orchids and Sweet Tea29 One-Pot Cajun Pumpkin Alfredo Pasta from Orchids and Sweet Tea
You’re just one pot and one can of pumpkin away from this creamy pasta recipe. Coconut milk and nutritional yeast make a delightfully creamy sauce.
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Erin Clarke via Well Plated30 Vegan Stuffed Peppers from Well Plated
Stuffed with a mix of lentils, quinoa, roasted veggies, and nutritional yeast, you’d never guess that there’s no meat in these stuffed peppers on taste alone.
Get the recipe here.
