Whether you want a bright herb sauce for tacos and grain bowls, a zesty dressing for salads, a creamy dip for breadsticks and pita, or a smoky queso to drizzle over burritos, this collection has you covered.
Here are 15 favorite, easy vegetarian sauces, dressings, and dips that I make again and again. Ditch the store-bought bottles and start making fresh sauces at home—once you try them, you’ll be glad you did.
15 Easy Vegetarian Sauces to Make Everything Taste Better
Basil and Walnut Pesto
This basil and walnut pesto is made with just a few simple ingredients and offers a budget-friendly alternative to pine nut pesto without sacrificing flavor.
Zhoug Sauce Recipe
This spicy cilantro sauce—also called zhoug or skhug—is fantastic drizzled over chickpeas, served with pita, or tossed with rice. It’s fresh, bold, and easy to make.
Easy Peanut Sauce Recipe
A creamy, slightly spicy five-ingredient peanut sauce that comes together in minutes. It’s delicious on stir-fries, noodles, salads, and grain bowls.
Easy Vegan Queso
This dairy-free queso is surprisingly creamy and flavorful. With a handful of pantry staples you can have it ready in about 30 minutes for dipping or drizzling.
Homemade Taco Sauce
A simple, flavorful taco sauce made from pantry basics that elevates tacos, quesadillas, bowls, and more.
Easy Homemade Enchilada Sauce
A straightforward enchilada sauce made from spices and pantry staples—rich, spicy, and perfect for enchiladas, casseroles, or as a base for other Mexican dishes.
Quesadilla Sauce
A creamy, spicy sauce that pairs beautifully with quesadillas and makes a simple meal feel elevated.
Burrito Sauce Recipe
A tangy, spicy burrito sauce that adds flavor to wraps, bowls, and grilled vegetables—easy to make and versatile to use.
Easy Cilantro Sauce
A bright cilantro sauce that’s perfect drizzled over tacos, nachos, grain bowls, or used as a lively salad dressing.
Vegan Herb Dressing
A bright, tangy, dairy-free herb dressing made with cashews, lemon, and fresh herbs—ideal for salads and grain bowls.
Miso Ginger Dressing
A rich, umami-packed dressing with miso, ginger, and sesame—creamy, slightly sweet, and extremely versatile for salads and bowls.
Garlic Dipping Sauce
A simple, creamy garlic dip that’s perfect for drizzling over roasted vegetables or serving with pizza crusts and breadsticks.
Tzatziki Sauce Recipe
A cool, tangy tzatziki that works as a healthy dip, sandwich spread, or sauce for roasted vegetables—vegetarian and gluten-free.
Simple Ginger Dressing
A bright ginger dressing made with fresh ginger and garlic—great on salads, grain bowls, or as a marinade.
Romesco Sauce with Roasted Vegetables
If you love roasted red peppers, this romesco will become a staple—delicious drizzled over roasted vegetables, grains, or crispy chickpeas.
Tips & Tricks
- When blending small batches, a small blender or food processor helps. If unavailable, double your batch so the blades can process ingredients more easily.
- Soak cashews overnight for the creamiest cashew-based sauces. For a quick option, soak them in very hot water for at least 15 minutes.
- Add softer herb stems—like dill, cilantro, and parsley—when blending, but remove woody stems such as rosemary before processing.