The 20 best gluten free Thanksgiving recipes I know are right here. Everything from mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, and spoon bread to cranberry bread, biscuits, rolls, and Dutch apple pie. No time to waste, so let's get started!
WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?
We'll send the recipe to your inbox, so you can come back to it later!
The best gluten free Thanksgiving recipes
The 20 recipes below are the best gf Thanksgiving recipes I know. These are the classic recipes I plan to make for my family on the Big Day. These are the recipes that my family asks for as soon as November rolls around, just to make sure all is right in the world. And I'd like nothing more than to share them with you.
Gluten free recipes for Thanksgiving breakfast
I know you have a long day of cooking ahead of you, but it's important to start the day right!
Gluten free Thanksgiving dinner essentials
Whether you're making turkey, ham, or something else, these are the must-have Thanksgiving essentials you can't live without — all done gluten free!
Gluten free Thanksgiving sides
Here are a few more gluten free sides for Thanksgiving to satisfy anyone's tastes.
Gluten free Thanksgiving breads
If you haven't had bread in a while, I bring to you several of the best gluten free Thanksgiving sides. I've got traditional breads as well as some more special ones — all gluten free for the big day.
Gluten free thanksgiving dessert recipes
End your gf Thanksgiving meal with a bang: Try one of these irresistible gluten free desserts!
Moist and tender, filled with simple cream cheese, it's a delightful treat that's easy to make.
Tips for putting together the best gluten free thanksgiving menu
Read product labels carefully to find hidden gluten
Gluten can be quite sneaky, so it's important that you carefully read product labels to be sure it isn't hiding in ingredients and foods you'd never suspect.
Don't be afraid to keep things simple(r)
Look, I know that Thanksgiving dinner is one of the biggest and more important meals of the year, so no matter how much you prep and plan, you're going to have a stressful moment or two.
You can minimize your stress by keeping things simple. While you may need everything on your table to be gluten free, that doesn't mean you need to search out gluten free alternatives for every dish.
Remember, there are plenty of naturally gluten free foods that you can fall back on! Need a veggie side dish? Roast your favorites with a bit of olive, salt, and pepper, and that's one side you can cross off your list — without the need to buy any special ingredients or even to follow a recipe.
Check out my FAQs below for a longer list of naturally gluten free Thanksgiving foods that don't require a ton of preparation or a specific recipe.
Prep your gluten free Thanksgiving dishes the night before
There are only so many hours in a day, so steal some time from the previous day to make sure that your gluten free Thanksgiving dinner goes off without a hitch.
For example, many gluten free Thanksgiving dessert items can be prepared the night before. This includes all pies and cakes. You can also prep some of your gluten free Thanksgiving sides in advance by peeling and cutting veggies or making sauces.
Go for a test run before Thanksgiving
I know you'll be eager to please on Thanksgiving, but resist the temptation to try a brand-new recipe for this holiday meal.
I say all the time that if you follow my gluten free recipes exactly as written, you should have no problem — but more elaborate ones may take you longer or several re-reads before you get them right. Thanksgiving should be a time for celebration — not experimentation.
FAQs
Is Thanksgiving turkey gluten free?
Yes, fresh, plain turkeys are completely gluten free.
Where things start to get complicated is when ingredients like broth, spices, and stuffings get added. If you're making turkey this year, the best way to keep yourself, your family, and your guests safe is to buy a plain turkey and add your own fixings.
What Thanksgiving foods are gluten free?
There are tons of gluten free Thanksgiving foods, so even if you're short on time or just cooking for a few gluten free loved ones, it's easy to put together a menu that's safe and tasty. Here are a few examples of classic Thanksgiving foods that are perfectly safe for a gluten free diet:
- Plain turkeys, hams, and roasts with no gluten-containing breading, seasoning or stuffing
- Mashed potatoes made with milk, butter, and salt
- Sweet potatoes, whether baked or mashed
- Other roasted veggies with no gluten-containing sauces or seasoning
- Rice with no gluten-containing sauces or seasoning
- Cranberry sauce
What Thanksgiving foods are not gluten free?
Unfortunately, gluten tends to hide in many other popular Thanksgiving foods, even when they may seem safe.
- Cornbread: Traditional recipes include wheat flour alongside cornmeal
- Gravy: Many are made using wheat flour as a thickener
- Green bean casserole: Many canned mushroom soups contain gluten, and almost all breadcrumbs are made from wheat, except specifically gluten free bread crumbs.
- Pies: Unless they're made with gluten free crusts and fillings, they aren't safe
- Salad dressings and dips: You'll find gluten-containing malt vinegar and soy sauce in many of these, so read labels carefully or make your own gluten free salad dressings.
- Stuffing: It's made of bread, so unless it's specifically labeled gluten free, it's not going to be.
Originally published on the blog in 2016; more recipes, images, and resources added in 2022. Happy Thanksgiving from my gluten free family to yours!
Thanks for stopping by!
Hi, I’m Nicole. I create gluten free recipes that really work and taste as good as you remember. No more making separate meals when someone is GF, or buying packaged foods that aren’t good enough to justify the price. At Gluten Free on a Shoestring, “good, for gluten free” just isn’t good enough! Come visit my bio!
Leebakers.com says
The cranberry bread looks wonderful! Thanks for posting!
Team Gillis Realtor says
Preparing a gluten-free Thanksgiving is easier than you think but thank to your recipes because you give tips that could make our cooking a lot of fun and exciting.
Mare Masterson says
Looking through this post and I see a picture of my first ever GF pie that I posted 3 years ago. Only thing that has changed for me is I now cook the pies in a bag (thanks for that one, Nicole!). However, no pie this year because I just had too much on my plate. My daughter was upset for 5 seconds — until she found out what this year’s dessert is — Apple Custard Cake (aka Apple Crack Cake) and Pumpkin Crack Cake. She is now doing happy dances! I was originally going to do apple pies and the pumpkin cheese cake, but I had to totally simplify my Thanksgiving this year because I am not off from work at all before Thursday.
Pretzel rolls from Gluten Free on a Shoestring Bakes Bread are done (for my stuffing). I didn’t get a great rise out of them, but that is okay because they’re for stuffing anyway. I think I need my 2nd refrigerator serviced. The old fashioned corn bread in the skillet (another of Nicole’s recipes) is done — that too for my stuffing. I stuff the bird and also make a big pan of extra stuffing because we do Thanksgiving part 2 on Sunday. Homemade cranberry sauce is done also. I have homemade turkey broth done to use for brine and gravy, with drippings, of course! Tonight I make the homemade applesauce and put together the vanilla cake mix for the 2 crack cakes and clean my house for company. Tomorrow night – brine the bird, cook sausage for the stuffing, and make apple crack cake. Thursday will be easy for me — no casseroles. Turkey, mashed potatoes, haricots verts (French green beans), corn, stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce is my dinner menu. Keeping it this simple will allow me to enjoy my company. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and what I love most about it is the people around the table!
Nicole Hunn says
Wow, Mare, you’ve been really busy! I love how you prepare for second Thanksgiving on Friday. That’s very smart. It’s my favorite holiday, too. Happy happy to you and yours!
Jane says
Nicole my daughter is a vegetarian and I usually make her a nut roast for Chrismtas dinner. As we have now gone gluten free this year, can you please help with a gluten free nut roast recipe? :)