Whether you are lactose-intolerant or are trying to protect the environment by being vegan, there are some benefits to eating dairy-free foods. These plant-based options are made from various ingredients and can often be healthier than the dairy options. If you want to add cheese back into your diet but stay away from dairy, you’re in luck. Try one of these six delicious dairy-free cheese options now, which taste almost exactly like the real thing.
6. Earth Grown
Starting our list of dairy-free cheeses is Earth Grown. Earth Grown is Aldi’s in-house vegan and natural foods brand, with two main dairy-free cheese options available. You can buy either mozzarella or cheddar shreds, which are made with coconut oil, potato starch, and potato protein. However, the store occasionally also has dairy-free cheddar slices, plus feta and blue cheese crumbles. The cheese melts well, with the cheddar cheese having a similar taste to the original.
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5. Armored Fresh
Fifth on our list of dairy-free cheese options is Armored Fresh. The brand has dairy-free cheese slices in three flavors: American, Cheddar, and Pepper Jack. Each cheese resembles its dairy counterparts and has a decent taste and melting capacity. The American cheese smells exactly like Kraft singles, while the cheddar cheese has an aftertaste similar to a Cheez-It. These are great for a sandwich or a grilled cheese.
4. Rebel Cheese
Next on our list of dairy-free cheese options is Rebel Cheese. While it might be a little pricier than other cheese options, Rebel is a great vegan cheese brand that truly tastes like the real thing. For instance, their cave-aged vegan brie cheese tastes nearly the same as the dairy-based brie, even including the touch of funkiness and thin rind. This is a great option for those who don’t mind spending a little more to enjoy their vegan cheese.
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3. Violife
Rounding out the top three dairy-free cheese options is Violife. The brand provides a variety of vegan cheeses, including mozzarella, cheddar, Mexican-style shreds, cream cheese, cheese slices, dips, feta, and shaved parmesan. The cheddar is especially good, both in shreds and slices, and provides a strong cheddar taste and melting capacity. It would work well in a burrito bowl or on a vegan burger.
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2. Boursin
Second on our list of dairy-free cheese options is Boursin. Known mostly for making soft cheese dips and soft/crumbly cheese, Boursin makes its cheese with coconut oil, stabilizers, and seasoning. The dairy-free garlic & herbs cheese spread is super rich and has a creamy texture, due in part to the coconut oil. There are several flavors of spreadable cheese, which could be a staple on a cheeseboard or a charcuterie board.
1. Treeline Cheese
Last but not least on our list of dairy-free cheese options is Treeline Cheese. The artisan cheese brand provides several dairy-free cheeses, including soft French-style, aged cheese, “goat” cheeses, slices, shreds, and rind cashew cheese. Another fun option is the cream cheese, which is made with cashews, oil, and cultures. The cream cheese is smooth and tangy, and doesn’t taste like cashews, which is a huge plus when mixing into various dishes.
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