30 Nutritional Yeast Recipes (2024)

by Monica - 6 Comments

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Want some great nutritional yeast recipes? If you have ever wondered what nutritional yeast (aka nooch) is or how to use it, this post is for you. It includes everything you ever wanted to know about this golden powder, plus over 30 nutritional yeast recipes that you'll love!

30 Nutritional Yeast Recipes (1)

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Nutritional yeast is a yellow flaky powder with a cheesy flavor. Also referred to as nooch, this stuff is like magic in vegan cooking. Nutritional yeast is the only vegan ingredient that tastes cheesy. It also has an umami flavor that will give your meals a richer depth of flavor! Not only is it delicious, but it's packed with protein and vitamins too!

Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why use nutritional yeast
  • 🧾 How nutritional yeast is made
  • 🥄 What is nutritional yeast used for?
  • 🏪 Where to buy it?
  • 👍 Favorite brands
  • ❓ Frequently asked questions
  • 🥡 How to store nutritional yeast
  • 🌟 Recipes that use nutritional yeast

❤️ Why use nutritional yeast

Nutritional yeast has a cheesy and slightly nutty flavor that's delicious on popcorn, pasta, rice, bread, and more. Use it in savory dishes to give your meals a rich umami flavor. It's an easy way to add protein and vitamins to your meals. Most kids love the taste of it, so it's a great way to get extra nutrients in picky eaters.

🧾 How nutritional yeast is made

Nutritional yeast is made by growing yeast in a glucose solution and then heated to deactivate it. (This kills the yeast and makes it inactive, so you can't use it for baking.) Nutritional yeast is then washed, vitamins like B12 are added and it's then dried and packaged.

🥄 What is nutritional yeast used for?

Nutritional yeast is used as a cheesy flavoring in many vegan recipes, especially vegan cheese. It's also delicious sprinkled on popcorn or used in place of parmesan cheese on pasta dishes. My kids love to sprinkle it on bread or tortillas and I use it to season vegan cheese crackers for snacks.

30 Nutritional Yeast Recipes (2)

🏪 Where to buy it?

You can buy nutritional yeast at most large grocery stores and natural food markets. You can find it in bulk in natural food stores or the natural foods section of most grocery stores. If you can't find it near you, it's easy to buy online and have it shipped to your house.

👍 Favorite brands

There is a slight difference in flavor between brands of nutritional yeast. I've found that the more yellow the color, the more flavorful the Nooch. You can find it in bulk at many coops and natural foods stores, but if it has sat out exposed to the air for too long, it will lose some of its flavor. I prefer to buy it in small bags at Trader Joe's or in a sealed container like the KAL brand or Anthony's brand for the freshest and cheesiest flavor.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Is nutritional yeast bad for you?

If you are allergic to yeast or are on the candida diet, you will want to avoid nutritional yeast, but otherwise, it adds vitamins and protein to foods.

Is nutritional yeast good for you?

In just 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast, there are 8 grams of protein and it's packed with B vitamins. The amount of vitamins varies by brand, but most contain about 400% of your RDA of B12.

What is the difference between nutritional yeast flakes and powder?

There is very little difference between flakes and powder other than the size. It will measure slightly more with powder than flakes due to the lack of air space, but this won't make a difference in most recipes, since Nooch is just for flavor and is not an active yeast that will change the outcome of the recipe.

Is nutritional yeast gluten-free?

Yes, nutritional yeast is gluten-free! I would avoid bulk nutritional yeast, however, since there could be some cross-contamination.

Is nutritional yeast vegan?

Yeast is a type of fungus and not an animal. There are no animal products used in the production of nutritional yeast, so it is vegan.

🥡 How to store nutritional yeast

Keep your nutritional yeast in a cool dry place. If you buy it in bulk, store it in a sealed glass container in the pantry. You can also keep it in the fridge or even the freezer if you won't be using it up in the next month or so.

30 Nutritional Yeast Recipes (3)

🌟 Recipes that use nutritional yeast

Vegan Cheeses

Nutritional yeast is the key ingredient in most vegan cheeses. If you leave it out of these recipes, they just won't taste like cheese. Here are just a few of the vegan cheese recipes that I make with it. You can see all of my free vegan cheese recipes here or check out my guide to vegan cheese-making cookbook.

  • Classic Vegan Provolone
  • Stretchy Vegan Mozzeralla
  • Sharp Vegan Cheddar
  • Vegan Smoked Gouda
  • Spicy Vegan Pepper Jack
  • Tofu Cream Cheese
  • The Best Vegan Feta
  • Tofu Ricotta
30 Nutritional Yeast Recipes (4)

Soups and Sauces

Nooch is great for flavoring soups and sauces too. Sprinkle it into anything that you want to have a cheesy umami flavor.

  • Vegan Alfredo with Coconut Milk
  • Nacho Cheese Sauce
  • Veggie Cheese Sauce
  • Easy Vegan Gravy in Any Flavor
  • The Best Vegan Ceasar Dressing
  • Vegan Blue Cheese Dressing
  • Vegetarian "Chicken" a la King
  • Cheesy Vegan Cream of Broccoli Soup
  • Tahini Dressing
  • Tofu Pasta Sauce
  • Vegan Pesto
30 Nutritional Yeast Recipes (5)

Vegan meats

Nutritional yeast gives a rich umami flavor to vegan meat substitutes too. I use it in lots of my seitan recipes to give them a meatier flavor.

  • Vegan Chicken Seitan
  • Vegetarian Steak Substitute
  • Seitan Sausage
  • The Best Vegan Turkey
  • Seitan Ham
  • Rice Paper Bacon
30 Nutritional Yeast Recipes (6)

Vegan eggs

Nooch also gives egg substitutes a more realistic umami flavor. I use it in all of my egg-like recipes.

  • Vegan Scrambled Eggs
  • Tofu Breakfast Sandwiches
  • Chickpea Omelets
  • Vegan Egg Muffins
  • Vegan Quiche Lorraine
30 Nutritional Yeast Recipes (7)

Roasted Vegetables

Nutritional yeast gives veggies a cheesy flavor. Sprinkle it on anything that you would put parmesan cheese on.

  • Roasted Root Veggies
  • Cheesy Baked Broccoli
  • Cabbage Steaks
  • Baked Cauliflower Nuggets
  • Sauteed Chickpeas

📌 Be sure to follow me on Pinterest for new vegan recipes!

Reader Interactions

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  1. 30 Nutritional Yeast Recipes (8)marge201 says

    Monica, question re fortified vs. nonfortified nooch. Fortified is more flavorful and a lot cheaper, and nonfortified is crazy expensive but lacks the factory-added vitamins, so seems like the healthier choice. What's your opinion?

    Reply

    • 30 Nutritional Yeast Recipes (9)Monica says

      I use the fortified nutritional yeast. I like the taste and the extra vitamins, but it's a personal choice. I'm not a medical professional, so I'm unable to comment on nutritional benefits.

      Reply

      • 30 Nutritional Yeast Recipes (10)marge201 says

        Thanks for your reply.

        Reply

  2. 30 Nutritional Yeast Recipes (11)Sue Levy says

    I make myself a smoothie almost every day. It includes half an avocado, a stalk of kale, a handful of konjac noodles for fibre, some protein powder and if not fruity, a couple of tablespoons of yeast. The result is filling and very tasty. my choice of milk is soy fortified with protein so the result is lovely and creamy.
    Enjoy!!

    Reply

    • 30 Nutritional Yeast Recipes (12)Monica says

      That's an interesting use of it. I usually put it in savory dishes, I'll have to try it in a smoothie too.

      Reply

    • 30 Nutritional Yeast Recipes (13)Susan Flewelling says

      I like macaroni and herbed tomatoes - nutritional yeast gives it a nice bump. Also sprinkle it on popcorn

      Reply

30 Nutritional Yeast Recipes (2024)

FAQs

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

23 Tasty Recipes Featuring Nutritional Yeast
  1. Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese. ...
  2. Crispy Potato Vegan Cheese Sticks. ...
  3. Faux Parmesan. ...
  4. New American Veggie Cheeseburgers. ...
  5. Homemade Vegan Pesto. ...
  6. Loaded Potato Skins. ...
  7. Cheesy Vegan Veggie Pizzette. ...
  8. Polenta Pizza Pie.
Aug 31, 2021

Is nutritional yeast whole 30 approved? ›

Can I have nutritional yeast on Whole30? Yes, according to their website, nutritional yeast is whole 30 compliant.

What is the easiest way to eat nutritional yeast? ›

The simplest application is to use nutritional yeast the same way you would grated Parmesan cheese. Toss a couple of tablespoonfuls with a little bit of olive oil, salt, and freshly popped popcorn for a “cheesy” snack with a subtle nutty flavor to rival even the most tempting flavored chip or corn puff.

How much nutritional yeast 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 there any downside to nutritional yeast? ›

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.

Who should 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? ›

You do not need to refrigerate nutritional yeast, so you may see it stored in bulk bins in health food stores or grocery stores. It has a shelf life of about two years when stored correctly; keep nutritional yeast in a jar on the countertop or in a cool, dark place like a pantry.

How do you use Whole30 nutritional yeast? ›

Mix it into Soup: Nutritional yeast can be added to soups and stews for an extra umami and savory element. It pairs especially well with creamy soups like potato or squash soup, and chili. Add it to Roasted Vegetables: Sprinkle it on top of roasted vegetables for a boost of flavor and nutrients.

Is nutritional yeast high in histamine? ›

Conclusion: People generally consider nutritional yeast low in histamine, primarily because the saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strain used for its production lacks the histidine decarboxylase enzyme. However, individual reactions may still occur due to other factors.

Is it OK to eat nutritional yeast every day? ›

It's safe to use nutritional yeast in moderation, typically up to several tablespoons (10–30 grams) per day. It would require relatively large amounts of nutritional yeast to exceed the tolerable upper intake levels (UL) for the various vitamins and minerals it contains.

Can I put nutritional yeast in eggs? ›

Scrambled Eggs

Nutritional yeast is all you need to add a savoury (and healthy) kick to this go-to breakfast. Just whisk in 1 Tbsp with two eggs, 1/4 tsp salt and 1 Tbsp of milk (dairy or plant-based). Cook slowly in a non-stick pan over medium heat.

Is nutritional yeast a probiotic? ›

In addition, nutritional yeast has been shown to benefit human health, particularly by helping improve gut health due to its presence of probiotics. It's also an easily accessible food source of protein, which plays a role in filling nutritional gaps to help keep the immune system in tip-top shape.

Does nutritional yeast burn fat? ›

Bottom line: Nutritional yeast definitely has its pound-shedding benefits, Glassman says. That is, of course, when combined with a balanced, nutritious diet and regular exercise—a.k.a. the most important parts of healthy weight loss.

Is nutritional yeast good for gut? ›

Helps Alleviate IBS

Nutritional yeast may help alleviate irritable bowel syndrome, which is one of the most common gut disorders in the U.S. A 2015 study found that nutritional yeast consumption significantly reduced abdominal pain and discomfort in people with IBS.

Is nutritional yeast a superfood? ›

Because of this process, nutritional yeast has earned the right to be called a superfood! It contains protein (a complete, bioavailable, and vegan source), fiber, and a multitude of minerals (including iron, selenium, and zinc), plus a natural vitamin B-complex and beta-glucans.

What happens if you cook 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. Any way you use nutritional yeast, it will enhance your recipes with a wealth of beneficial nutrients.

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.

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