Are you craving a perfect vegan grilled cheese sandwich made with cheese that melts? Use my melty cheese recipe to make the best toasted cheese you'll have since giving up dairy! The secret to a great vegan grilled cheese is using a cheese that melts and stretches! Grill your sandwich to perfection and enjoy a melty grilled cheese like the ones you remember.
I’ve spent the last few years playing around with vegan cheese recipes to get the perfect melty cheese to use in grilled cheese sandwiches and I've finally perfected it! I'm so excited to share it with you!
What you will need for a perfect vegan grilled cheese...
For the cheese:
- Vegan Cheese - that melts well. I love my vegan mozzarella cheese for this. It's easy to make, rich and creamy, and melts beautifully. You can also use your favorite store-bought cheese if you would like.
- To make your own cheese you will need:
- Coconut Milk – a 13.5 oz can of coconut milk or coconut cream works best. (This is not the coconut milk that comes in cartons in the refrigerated section of the store). This will be the base of your cheese. (Full-fat canned coconut milk will give you the richest and creamiest texture).
- If you don't want to use coconut milk: I highly recommend canned coconut milk, but if you need to use something else you can also use the following instead:
- Cashews – you will need 1/3 cup cashews soaked and drained then blended with 1 3/4 cup water).
- Other Plant-Based Milk – like soy, rice, almond, or hemp you will need 1 3/4 cup milk plus 1/3 cup any neutral-flavored oil.
- Water – to give the right moisture content.
- Nutritional yeast – to give it the cheesy umami flavor.
- Agar-agar – to make it firm so you can slice and grate it. Agar agar is a white powder made from seaweed, and it acts like a vegan gelatin making the cheese firm. (It comes in flakes or powder but be sure to use the powder if you can. It is less expensive, you need less of it, and it blends easier and smoother. You can find great prices on it at most Asian markets or you can buy it on Amazon as well).
- Tapioca flour – to give the cheese a little stretch when it melts. (Nothing else works like tapioca for this. Without it you will not get the same melt and stretch).
- Salt – for flavor
- Garlic Powder – for flavor.
- To make your own cheese you will need:
For the sandwich:
- Bread - to make the sandwich. Make sure it's vegan. Here is a list of 20 vegan bread brands.
- Vegan Butter or Oil - I like to use my homemade vegan butter to spread on the outside of the sandwich, but you can use any vegan margarine or coconut oil.
- Extras - Here are some things you can add to change up your grilled cheese.
- sliced tomatoes
- vegan pesto
- marinated artichokes
- caramelized onions
- vegan tempeh bacon
- sauteed mushrooms
- artichoke spread
- mustard - (That's how I always ate them as a kid)
How do I make a perfect vegan grilled cheese?
- Use vegan margarine (or my vegan butter recipe) to spread on a slice of bread.
- Turn your frying pan or skillet to low heat and set the bread butter side down.
- Then, layer with slices or shreds of cheese and add any other favorites like the ones listed above.
- Heat on low for about 5 minutes on each side until browned. It's important to heat it slowly on the skillet so it doesn't burn and so the cheese in the middle has time to melt.
Tips for making your vegan cheese melt:
- If you have time, let the cheese warm up to room temperature before heating the sandwich on the skillet.
- You can also heat the sandwich in the microwave for about 20 seconds to warm up the cheese before grilling.
- Put a lid on your frying pan for a few minutes to trap the heat inside and more evenly melt your cheese.
How can I flavor the cheese to make other varieties?
My favorite flavor in a grilled cheese sandwich is vegan smoked gouda! It’s amazing with some sauteed mushrooms or caramelized onions. My vegan pepper jack, vegan chedar cheese and vegan garlic herb cheeses are also delicious in a grilled cheese! Just be sure to add tapioca starch to make the meltable versions.
What bread is vegan and gluten-free?
If you are vegan and need to be gluten-free as well, there are not many types of bread to choose from. Most of the major brands of gluten-free bread contain eggs, so make sure to read the packaging. Some smaller local bakeries make gluten-free vegan bread, so it will vary depending on where you live.
Our favorite gluten-free bread is a millet bread from Sami's Bakery. (No gluten ingredients, but not a gluten-free facility). Aldi also occasionally has a seeded bread that is gluten-free and vegan. Aldi also carries our favorite gluten-free/ vegan tortillas that you can use to make quesadillas if you can't find a bread that you like.
Serve this grilled cheese with a side of your favorite vegan soup like Vegan Minestrone Soup or Vegan Cream of Broccoli for a full meal.
*Learn more about how to make more homemade vegan staples like vegan butter, oat milk, cream cheese, and chocolate fudge sauce in my cookbook The Ultimate Guide to Vegan Staples!
Be sure to follow me on Instagram for daily vegan inspiration and recipe ideas! Tag me at #thehiddenveggies! I love to see what you made too!
Recipe for making a perfect vegan cheese sandwich with cheese that melts and stretches.
- 1 can coconut milk full fat
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 1 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 4 tsp agar agar powder
- 1/4 cup cold water to mix with tapioca starch
- 7 tsp tapioca flour (tapioca starch) this is the same as 2 tbsp + 1 tsp
- 1 tsp vegan butter for spreading on the bread for grilling
- 2 slices bread of choice
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Prepare cheese molds by spraying a glass bowl or container with spray oil or rub any neutral-flavored oil on the molds to prevent sticking. (Recipe will make about 2 cups of cheese).
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Add a 13.5 oz can of coconut milk (or another cheese base), 1/4 cup of warm water, 2 tbsp of nutritional yeast, 4 tsp agar agar, 1/2 tsp garlic, and 1 1/4 tsp salt.
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Heat the cheese sauce over medium heat until it begins to boil.
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Turn down the heat until it is just barely bubbling and allow to boil for 5 minutes while stirring frequently.
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Add 2 tbsp plus 1 tsp (or 7 tsp.) tapioca starch to 1/4 cup of cold water and stir until it dissolves.
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Add the starch and water mixture to the boiling cheese sauce and stir it in with a whisk and cook for an additional 1 minute. (Your cheese will become very thick and stretchy).
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(You can put this hot cheese sauce in your sandwich immediately or let it cool and set and then slice or shred it in your sandwich).
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Pour into a glass container and allow to cool uncovered in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours before shredding or slicing. Keep refrigerated for up to 5 days.
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Butter 1 side of 2 slices of bread. Place one slice butter side down on the skillet and add sliced or grated cheese (and any other add-ins) then top it with the other slice of bread.
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Grill over a low heat for about 5 minutes on each side until golden brown and cheese is melted. Serve immediately.
Recipe Video
Pro Tips:
- Make sure to cook the grilled cheese sandwich on a low heat to give the cheese time to melt. (Low and slow makes the best grilled sandwiches)!
- You can also heat the sandwich in the microwave for 20 -30 seconds to melt the cheese before grilling to save time and melt thoroughly.
- Put a lid on your frying pan for a few minutes to trap the heat inside and melt your cheese evenly.
* This recipe was updated on 1/28/20 from the original that was posted 5/4/18 to include more concise directions, new pictures, and a video of the cheese-making process.
