20 Best Vegan Cheese Products For A Dairy-Free Diet

Cheese is such an important part of our lives. Nachos, grilled cheese, pizza, mac and cheese — what would any of that be without the delicious, ooey-gooey goodness that is cheese?

Well, eating cheese can become an issue when you're lactose intolerant, vegan, or must cut dairy out of your life for health reasons.

Luckily, using vegan cheese is a healthy, dairy-free option that allows you to enjoy all your favorite foods without feeling regret.

There are many dairy-free cheese options available, but it takes some trial and error to find the ones best for you.

Some dairy-free cheeses are made with soy, while others are crafted from nuts like almonds and cashews, and others from vegetable oils. Some taste great but don't melt. Some melt but don't stretch. And some don't taste like cheese at all.

But if you find a winning product that tastes delicious and satisfies all your cheesy needs, it can be a huge asset to all your non-dairy dishes.

RELATED: The 3 Best Organic Vegan Recipes That Are High-Protein And Healthy

1. So Delicious Mozzarella Dairy-Free Shreds

Made with cultured organic coconut milk, So Delicious Dairy-Free Shreds are the perfect match for salads, tacos, grilled sandwiches, nachos and more. This "cheese" is free from soy, dairy and lactose, and are Vegan Action Certified and Non-GMO Project Verified.

(So Delicious, varies by location)

2. Follow Your Heart Shredded Parmesan Alternative

Looks and tastes like the real thing! Sprinkle a healthy serving of this shredded Parmesan onto your favorite dishes, including pasta or even veggies.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

3. Teese Cheddar Vegan Cheese

Teese Vegan Cheddar Cheese is a low-fat, all natural, delicious dairy-free alternative to traditional cheese. Just like dairy cheese, Teese Vegan Cheese smoothly melts and stretches, making it perfect for quesadillas, grilled "cheese" sandwiches, or melting over a veggie burger.

(Insta Cart, varies by location)

4. Treeline Premium New York Style Cashew Cream Cheese

All of our cheeses are 100 percent vegan and free from dairy, lactose, casein, gluten or soy. There's no added gums, thickeners, artificial preservatives or oils. This cashew cream cheese has a smooth texture and a slightly tangy flavor.

(Treeline Cheese, varies by location)

5. Miyoko's Creamery Fresh Vegan Mozzarella

Just like traditional mozzarella di bufalo, this cashew-based vegan version is perfect answer for pizzas, caprese salad, or paninis. It's creamy, smooth, and has just the perfect amount of springiness. It melts and browns, and is yummy hot or cold.

(Miyoko's, $8.99)

6. Kite Hill Original Almond Milk Cream Cheese Spread

This non-dairy cream cheese-style spread is velvety smooth, with a rich, subtly tangy and sweet flavor. It's plant-based, gluten- and dairy-free, vegan, and non-GMO.

(Target, $6.49)

7. Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese

Yes, it is better than cream cheese. Perfect as a spread or used dip, Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese is a great alternative to cheese. It's also available in four varieties: Non-Hydrogenated Plain, Herbs & Chive, Garlic & Herb, and Whipped Cream Cheese.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

8. Daiya Zesty Cheddar Style Deluxe Cheeze Sauce

No dairy, gluten or soy is the name of the game with Daiya Zesty Cheddar Style Cheeze Sauce. It's a can-do sauce that opens all kinds of new options for dairy-free goodness. Pour it on pasta, veggies, nachos — the options are endless!

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

9. UPrise Foods NOOCH IT! Organic Dairy-Free Cashew Grated Cheeze

NOOCH IT! is made with vegan grated cashew cheese with no additives, preservatives, artificial colors or flavors. It's dairy-free, non-GMO, soy-free, gluten-free, and lactose-free. It's also the only vegan grated cheese using organic and fair-trade cashews, as most cashews are processed in sweatshops with child labor and hazardous working conditions. 

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

10. Thrive Market Vegan Parmesan-Style Cheese Alternative

There’s a new cheese alternative in town and it’s totally dairy-, gluten-, and soy-free. Made with plant-based ingredients like coconut oil and nutritional yeast, this cheese alternative contains no hydrogenated oils or GMOs.

(Thrive Market, $4.99)

RELATED: 20 Best Dairy-Free Yogurts That Are Both Nutritious & Delicious

11. Violife Smoked Provolone Vegan Cheese Slices

Violife Smoked Provolone slices are creamy, versatile and delicious, and are the easy-to-peel slices perfect for replacing real provolone in your recipes. It's GMO-free, dairy-free, lactose-free, soy-free, gluten-free and preservative-free.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

12. Reine Vegan Cuisine Cheeses

These cheese are vegan and come as artisanal tree nut rounds. Made without dairy, soy, GMO, gluten, fillers, starches, gums, added coconut oil, palm, agave, sugar, preservatives or artificial ingredients. Take your pick from a variety of cheeses, including cheddar, smoked gouda, or pepper dill.

(Reine Vegan Cuisine, $9.95-$119.95)

13. Miyoko's Creamery Vegan Roadhouse Cheese Spread

Whether using it for a spread or a dip, Miyoko's Roadhouse cheese is crafted from only the finest clean, organic, plant-based ingredients and fermented with traditional creamery live cultures.

(Target, $6.99)

14. Parma! Vegan Parmesan 

Parma! is made in small batches with great care, and uses only the highest quality ingredients. Thanks to the nutritional yeast, nuts, seeds grown without pesticides, and Himalayan crystal salt, you can enjoy this delicious and cheesey taste.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

15. 365 Everyday Value, Non-Dairy Cheddar Cheese Slices

365 Everyday Value products are made with the very best ingredients, without compromising on the ingredients you don't want. Dairy- and soy- free, these cheese slices melt easy and have a delicious, realistic cheese pull.

(Whole Foods, $3.99)

16. Field Roast Vegan Chao Slices Creamy Original

Field Roast Chao Slices are a vegan alternative to dairy cheese, made with tofu and mixed with coconut for a creamy texture. These slices are the product of a master Greek cheese maker and a Taiwanese family.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

17. Urban Cheesecraft Dairy-Free Mozzarella Cheese Mix

You can now make your own non-dairy mozzarella, precisely to your liking. You choose the base — nuts, seeds, veggies or white beans — and then give it your own spin by adding sun-dried tomatoes, diced peppers or whatever else your taste buds desire.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

18. Core + Rind Cashew Cheesy Spicy Chipotle Sauce

This product is a deliciously creamy and dairy-free Cashew Cheesy Sauce. It has whole, real ingredients; it's packed with healthy fats, nourishing spices, plant power and deliciousness. The flavor is best described as spicy, smoky chipotle — think zesty queso.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

19. Knowrish Well Better Cheddar Vegan Cheese Powder

This gluten-free, no dairy cheese is all natural, gluten-free and cruelty-free. It contains cashews, nutritional yeast, quinoa flour, lucuma fruit, tumeric, and carrots — all of which have wonderful nutritional value.

(Check prices and reviews on Amazon)

20. Vegan Cheesemaking Kit

Make your own vegan cheeses with this kit that includes all the tools and ingredients to make seven different varieties, including zesty marinated feta and cream cheese. Just add a half cup of your favorite nuts, water, and the kit’s natural ingredients, and in less than a day, you’ll be ready to slice, grate, and melt your way to lactose-free nirvana.

(Uncommon Goods, $46)

RELATED: I've Been Vegan, Vegetarian, And Pescatarian: Here Are All The Pros & Cons Of Each

Aly Walansky is a NY-based lifestyles writer who focuses on health, wellness, and relationships. Her work appears in dozens of digital and print publications regularly. Visit her on Twitter or email her.