Nutritional Yeast Recipes (2024)

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With its cheesy, nutty, and savory flavor, Nutritional Yeast is a dairy-free seasoning that should be in everyone’s pantry–whether vegan or not.

These nutritional yeast recipes are going to make you a believer with their amazing flavor!

Nutritional yeast is a healthy culinary must-have. If you aren’t familiar with its flavoring superpowers, that is going to change right here, right now.

We’ve got it all with these delicious nutritional yeast recipes. Everything vegan–from parmesan cheese to quiche to breakfast scramble. And, you’re going to love it all!

What is nutritional yeast?

Nutritional yeast, unlike baker’s and brewer’s yeasts, is a deactivated yeast used for seasoning.

It’s an inactive form of the yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Though it is the same strain of yeast bakers use to leaven bread, nutritional yeast has been pasteurized to dry out the yeast. This process helps to extract its nutritional benefits.

Nutritional yeast is exclusively for seasoning and cannot be used for leavening in baking. Even so, it can normally be found in the baking section of many grocery stores. I usually purchase my nutritional yeast online.

What does it taste like?

Known by vegan enthusiasts as nooch, this seasoning yeast has a nutty, cheesy flavor and is yellow in color. It can be purchased in flakes and granules as well as a powder that can be used interchangeably.

Nutritional yeast can be used in recipes the same way you might use grated cheese to add flavor to foods like popcorn, baked potatoes, and pizza.

Uses for nutritional yeast

  • Sprinkle over salads, roasted vegetables, pasta, rice, popcorn, and more
  • Use in vegan cheese sauce recipes
  • Stir into soups and stews
  • Add to casseroles and other dishes

Two types of nutritional yeast

There are two types of nutritional yeast available — unfortified and fortified.

  • Unfortified- This type only contains the vitamins and minerals that are naturally produced by the yeast cells as they grow. No additional additives or salt are included.
  • Fortified- This is the most common type found in grocery stores, and it has synthetic vitamins added during the manufacturing process. They will be listed on the ingredient list.

Is nutritional yeast good for you?

Nutritional yeast has many health benefits. It contains all nine essential amino acids and the fortified type can be a source of some vitamins and minerals.

It is considered safe for most people, but those who are on certain medications or who are sensitive to yeast products may need to talk with their healthcare provider.

Another lesser-known fact is that nutritional yeast is high in purines and may cause an abundance of uric acid which can lead to gout flare-ups if consumed in larger quantities. This actually happened with my husband who had never experienced gout before and hasn’t again after limiting his nutritional yeast intake.

Those with Crohn’s Disease or other autoimmune issues may want to watch this short video, Is Nutritional Yeast Healthy for Everyone?

This post may contain affiliate links.Read my full disclosure here.

Nutritional Yeast Recipes

These delicious recipes range from vegan cheese sauces to breakfast casseroles and quiche. It's the nutritional yeast that adds all the flavor, so pull out that container and give some of these a try! Click on each of the photos, recipe titles, or 'Get the Recipe' buttons to see full recipes with ingredients, measurements, instructions, and a print button.

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (2)

Best Vegan Cheese Sauce

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (3)

Best Vegan Egg Salad

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (4)

Amazing Tofu Scramble

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (6)

Vegan Quiche Casserole

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (7)

Chili Cheese Fries

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (8)

Cashew Cheese | Mozzarella

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (9)

Amazing Vegan Nachos

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (10)

Savory Spice Blend Seasoning

This simple and delicious Savory Spice Blend Seasoning is perfect to keep on hand to add flavor to dishes in place of salt. It livens up even the blandest recipes.

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (11)

Vegan Nacho Cheese

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (12)

Simple Vegan Ricotta Cheese

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (13)

Cheesy Vegan Mashed Potatoes

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (14)

Sweet Potato Vegan Cheese Sauce

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (15)

Green Bean Vegan Casserole

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (16)

Vegan Parmesan Cheese

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (17)

Mexican Corn on the Cob

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (18)

Vegan Loaded Potato Skins

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (19)

Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (20)

Roasted Garlic Butter Pasta

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (21)

Healthy Vegan Popcorn Toppings

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (22)

Vegan Broccoli Casserole

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (23)

Cooking Vegan Grits

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (24)

Vegan Baked Potato Toppings

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (25)

Vegan Broccoli Cheese Soup

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (26)

Gluten-Free Vegan Mac and Cheese

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (27)

Cheezy Vegan Scalloped Potatoes

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (28)

Easy Vegan Pizza in Minutes

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (29)

Vegan Lasagna

“Nutritional yeast is high in purines. Large quantities of purines in the diet create an abundance of uric acid, which has been associated with several ailments, including gout. Furthermore, over-reliance on a single food in the diet may eventually cause sensitivity or possibly even an allergy to that food.”GrassRootsVegan

Other great vegan recipes

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For those of you new to the whole food plant-based lifestyle, we’ve created a FREE 7-Day Plant-Based Menu Planner to help you get started!

About Terri Edwards

Hi guys! I am the content creator behind EatPlant-Based and a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.I am passionate about sharing healthy recipes and tips to empower others to get healthy. I’m so glad you’re here! Read More…

Nutritional Yeast Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with a lot of nutritional yeast? ›

  1. 1 Cheese sauce.
  2. 2 Vegan omelets and frittatas.
  3. 3 Hollandaise.
  4. 4 Queso dip and nacho cheese.
  5. 5 Quiche.
  6. 6 Popcorn.
  7. 7 Broccoli or potato cheddar soup.
  8. 8 Tofu or chickpea scramble.
Jan 19, 2024

How much nutritional yeast should I eat per day? ›

No consensus exists regarding how much nutritional yeast a person can eat daily. But eating even a 5 g serving per day can benefit you. However, you may want to start with 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast per day. You can increase that amount if you do not have any reaction.

Is too much nutritional yeast bad? ›

Although nutritional yeast is generally safe for most people, it may cause negative reactions in individuals who are sensitive to it. In large doses, it can cause digestive discomfort or facial flushing due to its high-fiber and niacin content, respectively.

What does nutritional yeast do in a recipe? ›

A source of complete protein, you can use nutritional yeast to thicken and flavor soups and stews, sprinkle it onto crunchy snacks and so much more. For those following a vegan diet, it's a good source of cheese flavor when making pastas or anything where you'd want cheese.

When should you not eat nutritional yeast? ›

People with a sensitivity to yeast products should not consume nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast may also worsen symptoms in people with inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease. Nutritional yeast is an excellent source of fiber. A two tablespoon serving contains about 20% of your daily intake.

Does nutritional yeast need to be refrigerated? ›

Storing nutritional yeast in the fridge increases its shelf-life, but it does not need to be stored in the fridge or freezer to maintain its quality. What is the best way to store nutritional yeast? If stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark, and dry place, nutritional yeast can keep for up to 2 years.

Can you get enough B12 from nutritional yeast? ›

Nutritional yeast is a product commonly fortified with vitamin B12 and often recommended for use in patients consuming plant-predominant diets to reduce the risk of deficiency. Approximately 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast contain the amount equal to the US RDA (2.4 mcg/day) for adults.

Is nutritional yeast anti inflammatory? ›

Nutritional yeast is a rich source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory plant compounds. Every day, our cells work tirelessly to protect themselves against free radicals, molecules that can damage and ultimately destroy the healthy cells in your body.

Is nutritional yeast worth the hype? ›

The bottom line

With it, you can easily add extra protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to meals. It's commonly used as a vegan cheese sauce flavoring, as well as a topping for soups and salads. Studies suggest nutritional yeast may help lower cholesterol and support immunity, though more research is needed.

What is the bad side of nutritional yeast? ›

Too much nutritional yeast added too quickly to one's diet can cause problems with digestion, such as abdominal cramps and diarrhea. A high-fiber diet is good for digestive health.

Is nutritional yeast bad for the liver? ›

Nutritional yeast is an excellent source of vitamin B3 (also known as niacin), but large amounts of the vitamin can cause facial flushing, an uncomfortable reddening of the face that may include itching and burning. Very high amounts of B3 can also cause liver failure.

Is nutritional yeast bad for your kidneys? ›

Those with certain kidney stones should be cautious about nutritional yeast, turmeric, and beets. To eliminate uric acid kidney stones, drinking at least ten cups of water per day and reducing animal protein and salt intake may do the trick. Overall, plant-based diets appear to boost kidney health.

What are 5 benefits of nutritional yeast? ›

Here are five potential health benefits of incorporating nutritional yeast into a well-rounded diet.
  • May help boost energy levels. Vitamin B12 helps the body form red blood cells. ...
  • May help lower the risk of birth defects. ...
  • Might boost gut health. ...
  • Might help lower cholesterol. ...
  • Might support healthy immune function.
Oct 17, 2023

Is nutritional yeast a complete protein? ›

A close relative of brewer's yeast and baker's yeast, nutritional yeast is part of the strain single-celled fungus Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Nutritional yeast is gluten-free, high in fiber, and considered a complete protein and rich source of B vitamins.

Why is nutritional yeast so addictive? ›

Glutamic acid is found at a low level in all plants and foods. Yeast, on the other hand, Has a lot of glutamic acid which is aggressive and addictive. When any yeast grows, glutamic acid forms. This includes bakers' yeast and yeast used for bread making (including sourdough).

How long should you keep nutritional yeast? ›

To preserve all the B vitamins, store in a dark glass or a ceramic container to keep it protected from the light. Since it's a dry product, you want to lid tightly sealed to keep moisture out — as long as nutritional yeast stays dry, it can last for up to two years.

Does heat destroy the benefits of nutritional yeast? ›

With every tablespoon of nutritional yeast, you give a nutritional boost to your diet. And yes, all these nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, as well as aroma and flavor resist heating.

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