9 Insanely Good Recipes Using Nutritional Yeast

Are you looking for absolutely delicious recipes using nutritional yeast?  That means you probably love nutritional yeast as much as we do.  Perfect.  You will LOVE this post.

If you find yourself looking for recipes that incorporate all the good things your gut needs and loves, there’s no denying nutritional yeast is up at the top of the list.

Not only is nutritional yeast one of these amazing foods that are packed full with vitamins, minerals, and protein, but it also has such a delightfully savory cheesy flavor which makes it perfect for so many tasty dishes!

Getting started on how to work it into your meals might be feeling a bit tricky.  What types of recipes will bring out its scrumptious flavor? Fret not friends cause we’ve gone ahead and found 9 insanely good recipes using nutritional yeast to help you get inspired in the kitchen!

This post is all about Recipes Using Nutritional Yeast.

Recipes Using Nutritional Yeast

What is Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional Yeast is gaining popularity in the health-conscious food scene, and rightfully so! This nutritional powerhouse is packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Not only does it add a nutty, salty flavor to any dish but its versatility as an ingredient is unmatched — you can sprinkle it on popcorn, stir it into soups or sauces, or use it as a vegan alternative for cheese.

If you’re looking for more than just nutrition, then look no further; nutritional yeast has the distinct taste of umami that will excite even the most jaded palette. All in all, don’t be surprised if you see your pantry stocked with this delightful health food soon!

Nutritional Yeast Benefits

Nutritional yeast is a wonder supplement that can boost your health in so many ways!  There are so many benefits of nutritional yeast – it’s no surprise why everyone’s been hopping on the bandwagon.

This vegan and gluten-free superfood is packed with B vitamins, protein, fiber and other essential nutrients. It’s also low in fat and sodium, making it an ideal addition to any diet.

On top of that, nutritional yeast has a nutty and savory taste, which makes it very versatile in the kitchen. Sprinkle it on top of salads for an added dose of flavor or create dairy-free cheese sauces for a cheesy flavor without the guilt.

In addition, nutritional yeast is also a great source of fiber.  Approximately two tablespoons of nutritional yeast give you about 20% of your daily fiber intake.

Since fiber is crucial to your digestion, nutritional yeast definitely is one of the gut health hacks that we recommend.

Is Nutritional Yeast Good for You?

Absolutely!  Nutritionists are all about finding the magic foods that can satisfy your health needs, and nutritional yeast is certainly one of them. It’s packed with B-complex vitamins, protein, amino acids, and minerals, making it a great choice for boosting your daily nutrient intake.  Plus, it contains all nine essential amino acids, which helps your body absorb nutrients better.

And, it’s vegan-friendly and brings a delicious nutty/cheesy flavor to your dishes! Despite what the name implies, there are actually no live organisms in nutritional yeast as it has been deactivated during processing. All in all, this is an incredibly versatile food that every health-conscious girl or guy should have in their pantry.

Is Nutritional Yeast Gluten Free?

Nutritional yeast is a great source of vitamin B12 which makes it a popular food item among many vegetarians and vegans. Fortunately, it’s also completely gluten free! As you incorporate nutritional yeast into your daily diet, you can be sure that you are enjoying an all-natural product without any of the negative components that come with gluten.

Not only does nutritional yeast not contain gluten, but it is also naturally free of sugar, dairy, or other preservatives.

With so many possibilities in terms of recipes and health benefits, nutritional yeast provides an enjoyable and nutritious alternative to other snacks or food items.

9 Delicious Recipes Using Nutritional Yeast

We have scoured the internet to find some of the very best and delicious recipes using nutritional yeast that we could find.  Consider this as a thoughtfully curated list of nutritional yeast recipe treats!  We hope that you enjoy.

1. Vegan Mac and Cheese

First on the list is a delicious recipe by www.chocolatecoveredkatie.com is a perfect base mac and cheese recipe that both vegans and non-vegans are sure to love.  We especially love how close to the real thing that this mac and cheese recipe tastes!  It’s one of our favorites.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup raw cashews
• 1 medium peeled carrot, steamed or roasted 
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 1 tsp white or cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup water, plus more for soaking
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
• 3 servings pasta of choice (preferably gluten-free)

Instructions

Visit www.chocolatecoveredkatie.com for detailed instructions on making this vegan mac and cheese.

2.  Vegan Pizza Recipe (with Nutritional Yeast)

This absolutely delicious recipe by Minimalist Baker has tons of veggies, a simple tomato sauce, and of course a vegan cheese made with nutritional yeast.  The best part of it is…you can customize it to your liking.  Feel free to mix up the veggies and even add meat (for the non-vegan friends).

This will certainly be one of your go-to recipes!

Ingredients

VEGAN PIZZA

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs potatoes
• 2 – 3 celery stalks
• 2 – 3 carrots
• 1 small yellow onion
• 4 cloves garlic
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cups unsweetened non-dairy milk of choice
• ½ cup nutritional yeast
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• sea salt and fresh pepper to taste

Instructions

5. Vegan Cheesecake

Vegan cheesecake?  What?  When we first heard of this recipe, we will admit that we were a bit skeptical.  After all, the only things that I really used nutritional yeast for in the past were savory dishes.

However, this cheesecake was delicious.  And, the nutritional yeast gave it that extra “something” that made this a very unexpectedly tasty treat.

Ingredients

• 3.5 tbsp vegan butter
• 7 rectangle honey-free graham crackers
• 2.5 cups silken firm or soft traditional tofu OR coconut yogurt
• 3 ½ tbsp neutral oil
• ½ cup cane sugar
• ½ cup corn starch
• 2.5 tbsp lemon juice
• zest of half a lemon
• 2 tsp vanilla

Optional ingredients to add for a cheese-like flavor:

• 1 tsp nutritional yeast
• 1 tbsp miso paste
• 2 tbsp sake lees (this one might be a bit trickier to get)

Instructions

Visit okonomikitchen.com for detailed instructions on how to make this vegan cheesecake.

6. Vegan French Toast

This vegan french toast recipe should also be a must-try for anyone who loves something sweet to start off the day.  The coolest thing about it is the fact that the nutritional yeast replaces the need for eggs!  So, this recipe truly is vegan.  And, delicious…might I add.

Ingredients

• 1 cup vanilla soy or almond milk
• 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour (I like to use gluten-free)
• 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar (I tend to sub with coconut sugar)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch salt
• 6 slices bread

Instructions

Visit liveeatlearn.com for detailed instructions on how to make this delicious vegan french toast with nutritional yeast.

7. Vegan Scalloped Potatoes

These vegan scalloped potatoes are perfect for an appetizer or as a side dish for parties.  Also, it’s a great substitute for cheesy potatoes.  This vegan scalloped potato recipe will surely be one of your go-to recipes in no time!

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 Tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot powder
• 1 1/2 cups almond milk, unsweetened
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth
• 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
• 4-5 Tbsp nutritional yeast
• 2-3 medium Yukon gold potatoes, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup vegan parmesan cheese, divided
• 1/4 tsp paprika (optional)
• parsley (optional)

Instructions

Visit minimalistbaker.com for complete instructions on how to make these very tasty vegan potatoes.

8. Kale Chips with Nutritional Yeast

Kale chips with a cheesy addition should be on everyone’s radar as a good and tasty snack.  Adding the “cheesy” flavor gives these a little kick, which we love.  Plus, you get all of the healthy benefits of both kale AND the nutritional yeast in this snack.

Word of warning:  You might need to DOUBLE this recipe, as we can almost guarantee that you will eat through it all as soon as you are done making it.

Ingredients

• 10 ounces chopped kale leaves, washed with stems removed
• 2 Tbsp grape seed, olive or avocado oil
• 1/4 cup raw cashews
• 2 Tbsp raw or roasted sunflower seeds
• 5-6 Tbsp nutritional yeast (divided)
• 1/4 tsp each salt + black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 healthy pinch cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions

Visit Minimalist Baker (yet again!) to get more information on how to make these delicious kale chips (with a cheesy kick).

9. Vegan Enchiladas

Last and certainly no least are these vegan enchiladas.  We followed the recipe to a “T”, but you can definitely adjust some of the ingredients to your liking.  We really loved how these enchiladas are the perfect meal to add some of your leftover “veggies” from earlier in the week.  Plus, we sometimes will sub tofu for chicken (or another meat) if we are not wanting to make it vegan.

Ingredients

• 1 pound firm tofu drained, and cut into chunks
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium red bell pepper cored, seeded, and diced
• 1 small yellow onion (or 1/2 large onion) finely diced
• 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
• 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (10 oz) packet frozen spinach, thawed and pressed dry
• 20 ounces red enchilada sauce
• 18 small corn tortillas
• Suggested toppings: Cilantro, avocado, radishes and lime

Instructions

Go to Wellplated.com to see their recommendations on how to best cook this delicious vegan enchilada dish.

All-in-all, nutritional yeast is one of the best sources of vitamins, minerals and protein.  If you are trying to break away from processed foods and reach for something healthy, nutritional yeast has you covered. It brings out incredible flavor without feeling overly indulgent, as it is a superfood.

Don’t feel overwhelmed at the thought of cooking with nutritional yeast.  Simply follow these easy recipes and you’ll be creating tasty dishes in no time at all.

So go ahead, try out some nutritional yeast dishes today and give your gut a treat!