12 Gluten-Free Recipes: Ideas for Gluten-Free Meals

A gluten-free recipe is one without any ingredients, such as wheat products, that contain gluten. Certain conventional diets, such as a paleo diet, low-carb diet, or low-calorie diet might involve removing gluten from food options. On the other hand, some people choose to avoid gluten for medical reasons—their bodies have difficulties processing it, such as with a gluten intolerance or Celiac’s disease.

There are plenty of naturally gluten-free foods, although their safety for those on a strict gluten-free diet depends on the facility in which the manufacturers have processed them. Oats, for example, are a staple in gluten-free diets, but could be unsafe if a facility processed gluten-free foods alongside foods that do contain gluten. Most, if not all, grains, such as quinoa and farro, contain gluten; however, it is not the same type of gluten as the gluten in wheat.

Proteins like ground beef, pork, or beef tenderloin, and legumes, such as black beans, are all naturally gluten-free and good jumping-off points for gluten-free dinner ideas. Add any of these gluten-free dinner recipes and gluten-free baking recipes to your meal plan for a weeknight dinner:

1. 1. Chickpea flour pizza crust: Make gluten-free pizza crust with chickpea flour and top it with classic pizza toppings, like pesto, fresh mozzarella cheese, and fresh tomatoes. Alternatively, make a unique pizza with arugula in a vinaigrette, white beans, and roasted butternut squash. Try this easy chickpea flour pizza crust recipe.
2. 2. Corn tortillas: A traditional tortilla in Mexican and Latin American cuisine, corn tortillas are gluten-free and perfect for weeknight meals involving tacos, enchiladas, and tostadas. Top your tortillas with chopped jalapeño, cilantro, and other classic Mexican ingredients. Masa harina, the cornmeal in the dough, is a naturally gluten-free flour. Try this homemade corn tortilla recipe.
3. 3. Creamy polenta: A classic Italian dish, polenta uses naturally-gluten free cornmeal. Polenta is already creamy, thanks to the addition of whole milk and butter, but you can add cheese to make it even creamier. Learn how to make Chef Thomas Keller’s creamy polenta and serve it with his red wine braised short ribs.
4. 4. Dal makhani: Loosely translating to “buttery lentils,” dal makhani is a gluten-free North Indian dish that uses lentils, butter, cream, and a tomato-based sauce. Serve the meal with rice and gluten-free naan. Learn how to make dal makhani.
5. 5. Flourless chocolate espresso cake: A classic gluten-free dessert, flourless chocolate espresso cake gets its lift and structure from whipped eggs instead of flour. It is dense, fudgy, and chocolatey, and the addition of espresso boosts the chocolate flavor. Try this easy flourless chocolate espresso cake recipe.
6. 6. Gluten-free breadcrumbs: Grind dried gluten-free bread into gluten-free breadcrumbs. Season them and use them to coat a chicken breast for a classic Italian chicken Parmesan, or toast them in olive oil to top gluten-free pasta. Try this easy gluten-free breadcrumbs recipe.
7. 7. Mediterranean chickpea salad: Full of feta, red onion, chickpeas, and tomatoes, make this gluten-free salad recipe as an appetizer or a side dish to a simple salmon recipe. Follow this simple Mediterranean chickpea salad recipe.
8. 8. Oatmeal: Look no further than homemade oatmeal for an easy gluten-free breakfast. Make sure to buy certified gluten-free oats, then flavor them with coconut milk, a natural sweetener, dried fruit, pecans, or peanut butter. Try making this homemade oatmeal recipe.
9. 9. Pad thai: The rice noodles in pad thai are naturally gluten-free and do a superb job of absorbing all the flavors of the pad thai sauce, aromatics, and veggies. Top the dish with bean sprouts, cilantro, tofu, crushed peanuts, and lime wedges. Learn how to make this classic tofu pad thai recipe.
10. 10. Peanut butter cookies: Three–ingredient peanut butter cookies are a dairy-free and gluten-free dessert that comes together in minutes. Gluten-free dessert recipes use either no flour or a gluten-free flour, such as oat flour or almond flour. Try whipping up these easy three–ingredient peanut butter cookies.
11. 11. Ratatouille: A gluten-free, one-pot dish, ratatouille includes zucchini, bell peppers, eggplant, and other veggies. To keep things simple, prepare the meal in a slow cooker for four to six hours and serve it with roasted chicken thighs or pork chops. Learn how to make this quick and easy ratatouille recipe.
12. 12. Sweet potato fries: High in carbohydrates but completely gluten-free, sweet potato fries are a crispy snack. Try making them ahead of time as part of your weekly meal prep, then serve them alongside gluten-free dinners like burgers or chicken salad sandwiches. Try this za’atar sweet potato fries recipe.

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