Learn how to make fresh homemade gluten free pasta with the simplest gf pantry ingredients, without a pasta maker or any special equipment (unless you want to use it!). Serve it with all your favorite pasta dishes!
Making gluten free homemade pasta is a labor of love. But it's a simple process. All it takes is the right recipe—and a little time. Find out exactly how to do it! I promise you it's worth the effort.
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What makes this gluten free pasta recipe so special?
Why would anyone make fresh pasta when dried pasta can be had at every grocery store—even when you're gluten free? It's a fair question, and the answer is that you wouldn't bother, all the time.
But fresh pasta is just really, really special, and it's worth making sometimes. There are a couple varieties of fresh gluten free pasta that you can buy, mostly at Whole Foods. I admit, I'm sometimes tempted to try just one package.
But at over $15 for 9 ounces, it just isn't happening.
The first time I shared a recipe for homemade gluten free pasta here on the blog was in 2009. I was concerned that I was creating unrealistic expectations for my children.
It was one of the first times that my son made the connection between scratch cooking and, well, cooking not-from-scratch. He was 5 at the time.
My kids see me boiling store-bought dried pasta all the time. No biggie. But when they first saw me make fresh pasta, my son started thinking. When he finished his dinner of homemade ravioli, he asked, “Hey, Mom, wouldn't it be cool if you made your own water?”
My son, now full grown, doesn't wonder if I'll be making my own water next. Or water into wine.
Instead, he asks, “why would you do that, when you can just buy it?” Ah, the blessings of having children… Oh, and if you love the idea of making fresh pasta but just can't swing it right now, here are 8 excellent brands of gluten free dried pasta to try.
What's the best gluten free flour for pasta?
For this recipe you need a high quality all purpose gluten free flour blend. My choice of gluten free flour is Better Batter for this particular recipe, as it has the right blend of finely ground rice flour and starches.
Cup4Cup is another good alternative. Or you can make your own all purpose gf flour mix with my easy guide. Your choice of gluten free flour blend is important in every recipe, but it's even more important in a simple recipe like this.
How to make this gluten free pasta recipe
It’s best to use a food processor to make this fresh pasta dough. If you only have a small food processor, just make it in batches. Just divide the recipe roughly in half, or in quarters if necessary, and be sure to use at least 1 egg or 1 egg yolk in each batch.
If you’re using a food processor to make the dough.
- Place the dry ingredients first (the gluten free flour blend, including xanthan gum, plus Expandex or tapioca starch, along with salt) in the food processor, followed by the olive oil, eggs and egg yolks. Pulse the food processor a few times, just until the mixture is combined. It won’t be smooth yet.
- With the food processor on and the hopper removed, drizzle in 1/3 cup of water. The dough will be wet, but not smooth.
- Add more water slowly, with the machine still on, and the pasta dough will clump and come together. Process until it’s smooth.
If you’re making the dough by hand.
- Place all of the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, just as you did in the food processor. Whisk them together.
- Use your mixing spoon to create a well in the center of the dry ingredients, and add the oil, eggs, and egg yolks. Mix to combine.
- Add 1/3 cup of water and mix until the dough is moistened, then add more water by the tablespoonful until the dough holds together well. It shouldn’t be stiff, but it also shouldn’t be very sticky on your fingers.
To shape the pasta dough.
- Whether you’re using a pasta machine, whether it’s automatic or hand crank, you’ll need to roll the dough into a rectangle.
- Sprinkle the dough on a flat surface lightly with flour to keep it from sticking to the rolling pin or the rolling surface. Keep the dough moving to help prevent sticking.
- If you’re using a pasta machine, you’ll feed the dough through the machine twice at the largest setting, with the rollers farthest apart from one another. Then, turn the setting up, so the rollers are closer together, and roll it twice. The dough you feel through the machine should be more narrow than the full width of the rollers or it will get caught in the sides.
- I like to stop at level “5” on a pasta roller, and not try to roll the pasta any thinner or it starts to tear.
- If you’re rolling the pasta entirely by hand, just try to get the dough as close as possible to 1/8-inch thick.
- Cut the pasta into shapes however you like, using a pasta machine or by hand. I like to cut mine into flat, long noodles like fettuccini, but you can cut spaghetti if you like using a pasta machine.
- If you’ve made long pasta of any kind, twist it gently into nests and allow it to dry briefly before boiling it.
- You can also use a pasta drying rack, where you drape the long noodles over wooden or plastic dowels.
Cooking and serving the pasta.
- Once a large pot of water has come to a boil, you’re ready to place the fresh pasta in it and cook until it’s just al dente.
- It takes no more than 2 to 3 minutes to cook fully. Don’t overcook, or it will begin to fall apart.
- Toss with olive oil or sauce, and serve immediately.
Do you need a pasta machine to make gluten free pasta?
You don't need a pasta machine to make this gluten free pasta recipe, although I do have one.
Sometimes, I use it, and sometimes I don't. But with the holidays approaching, if you're feeling ambitious, you should know how to make it.
You don't need any sort of crank pasta machine to make this fresh gf pasta. You can run it through a hand crank machine, and I can show you how in our recipe for gluten free egg noodles pasta.
It's super easy, if you have the machine, but please don't run out and get one just because you think you must have it to make fresh pasta.
Oh, in case you've ever wondered how to take that pasta and shape it into fresh gluten free tortellini, or gluten free ravioli, we can do that, too.
Tips for the making homemade gluten free pasta
Gluten free pasta recipes don't have to be daunting or difficult. You can whip up a batch of gluten free pasta dough in no time. It's not difficult. But I do have few tips for you that'll help make your own pasta better than regular pasta every time.
What if your gluten free pasta dough is too wet?
If you've followed the recipe closely, the pasta dough shouldn't be too wet. But if it is, you need to work in a little more gluten free flour, just a sprinkle at a time, until the dough is firm enough to work.
Can you make gluten free pasta vegan?
To get the real, authentic gluten free pasta taste and texture, I really do think you need eggs. Having said that, I've seen folks have success with a flax egg or a chia egg, but the pasta won't look quite so pretty, and I think the texture may change a little, too. Other egg substitutes for vegan gluten free fresh pasta include aquafaba and non-dairy yogurt.
How do you store fresh gluten free pasta?
You can store the dough, wrapped tightly, in the refrigerator for up to three days before you roll and cook it. You can also freeze it for up to three months.
It's also possible to dry the raw pasta by running it through your pasta roller or rolling and cutting it into fairly thin noodles, forming it into loose “nests”, and setting it in your dehydrator on a low temperature for 12 to 24 hours. Then store the dried nests in an airtight container.
Do I have to use xanthan gum?
Yes, for this recipe, you do need to use xanthan gum in your gluten free pasta dough. Xanthan gum helps with binding and texture. It mimics gluten without causing sensitivity in most people. However, if you need to avoid it, you can try using an equal amount of konjac powder instead, like I did in this recipe for gluten free biscuits without xanthan gum.
I can't guarantee it'll work here, though, as I've only used xanthan gum. So if you try it, let me know if it works!
FAQs
Yes, you can freeze raw pasta dough, even if you're on a gluten free diet. Wrap the unshaped dough tightly in a freezer-safe wrap like Glad Press n Seal, and freeze for up to three months. Let it thaw fully before you try to roll it.
Yes, absolutely! This recipe already has a little salt in the dough, and you can add other flavorings if you want, but the easiest and best way to create flavorful pasta is to make beautiful, colorful pasta dishes.
When you're making pasta, whether you're using gf flour or conventional flour, and the dough forms but breaks, it could be for a few different reasons.
The most likely is that you haven't conditioned your dough enough. Pasta dough needs to be kneaded, rolled, and folded multiple times before it's ready to be rolled thin and cut.
It can also happen if the dough isn't hydrated enough. Perhaps the eggs you used were a little smaller than normal, for example (hence I recommend weighing the eggs out of their shells).
Once cooked and refrigerated, gluten free pasta lasts up to three days. The dough, if tightly wrapped, can also last three to five days in the fridge. If you have stored your dough in the refrigerator and it feels stiff, drizzle it very lightly with some lukewarm water and knead it into the dough until it's pliable again (but not so much that it's super sticky).
Don't! You'll ruin all your hard work! Cooking time is crucial for gluten free pasta. If you overcook it, even by a minute or two, it'll go gummy, sticky, or mushy. You cook this pasta for only a couple of minutes, until it's al dente.
No! Although Expandex is modified tapioca starch and it is not the same as “regular” tapioca starch, in this homemade gluten free pasta recipe, they can be used interchangeably. You will likely need more additional water in your homemade pasta, beyond the original 1/3 cup water, if you are using Expandex, and less if you are using tapioca starch, to achieve the same consistency of dough.
You must add the additional tapioca starch (or Expandex) called for in the recipe. All good quality, well balanced all purpose gluten free flour blends contain tapioca starch as an ingredient. This recipe requires more than the usual amount of tapioca starch in your well-balanced blend.
No, no can make the pasta dough using a bowl and spoon, and your clean hands to knead the pasta. The way to make the smoothest dough most quickly is to use a food processor, and if you only have a mini food processor, you can make the dough in batches using that, as long as you divide the ingredients in half so you don't end up adding too much water.
Homemade Gluten Free Pasta Recipe
Equipment
- Food processor, fitted with the steel blade
Ingredients
- 2 cups (280 g) all purpose gluten free flour blend (I like Better Batter here; click through for details on appropriate blends) plus more for dusting
- 1 ¼ teaspoons xanthan gum omit if your blend already contains it
- 5 tablespoons (45 g) Expandex modified tapioca starch (or replace with an equal amount of tapioca starch) (See Recipe Notes)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 (100 g (weighed out of shell)) eggs at room temperature, beaten
- 2 (50 g) egg yolks at room temperature, beaten
- 1 tablespoon (14 g) extra virgin olive oil
- ⅓ cup (2.67 fluid ounces) warm water plus more, as necessary
Instructions
Making the dough with a food processor.
- In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade, place the flour, xanthan gum, Expandex (or tapioca starch), salt, olive oil, eggs and egg yolks, and pulse until combined.
- Add 1/3 cup water to the mixture in the food processor, and process until the dough is moistened.
- Turn on the food processor on low speed, remove the hopper and add more water very slowly until the dough clumps to one side of the food processor.
Making the dough without a food processor.
- In a large mixing bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, Expandex (or tapioca starch), and salt. Whisk to combine well.
- Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients, and add the oil, eggs and egg yolks. Mix to combine.
- Add 1/3 cup water to the mixture, and mix until fully moistened.
- Add water about 1 teaspoonful at a time, mixing constantly until the dough holds together well. If the dough feels stiff, add more water until pliable but stop before the dough becomes very sticky.
Shaping the dough.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and divide it into 4 parts. Work with one part at a time and cover the others with plastic wrap to prevent the remaining pieces from losing moisture.
- With clean hands, knead the dough until smooth and roll into a rectangle. Divide the dough in half, and roll each half into a rectangle about 1/4-inch thick.
- Trim the edges or the rectangle with a pastry wheel or sharp knife.
- Dust the rolled-out dough lightly with flour, and feed each piece through a pasta machine, if using. I don’t like to roll the dough any thinner than the “5” setting on my machine, or it begins to tear.
- If you're not using a pasta machine, simply roll each piece as close to 1/8-inch thick as possible, as evenly as possible. Dust the pasta lightly with more flour as necessary to keep it from sticking to the surface and to the rolling pin.
- Cut into shapes using the pasta machine or a sharp knife.
- Allow the fresh pasta to sit out to dry, briefly, while you boil water to cook it. If you've cut your pasta into long noodles, twist it gently into nests to dry so that the noodles are less fragile during cooking.
Cooking the pasta.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
- Place the fresh pasta in the water and cook, stirring to prevent the dough from clumping, for about 2 minutes or until it reaches an al-dente texture.
- Toss with sauce and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition information. Nutrition information is per pound assuming 1.5 pounds in the whole recipe, and assumes that tapioca starch, not Expandex modified tapioca starch, is used in the recipe. It is an estimate provided as a courtesy and should not be relied upon.
Nutrition
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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!
Phyllis says
It came out good. I replaced expandex with tapioca.
Nicole Hunn says
Glad you enjoyed the pasta, Phyllis!
Mia says
Can this recipe be used in my Phillips pasta making machine? It has a. Ingredients in at once then mix’s the dough, and comes out in noodle shapes.
I would like to try it but am afraid of wasting all the ingredients.
Thanks Mia
Nicole Hunn says
I’ve never used this dough in an extrusion pasta machine, but I discuss using a pasta machine to make flat noodle shapes in the text of the post under the heading “To shape the pasta dough,” Mia. If you use the specific ingredients called for, including one of my recommended flour blends, and measure by weight, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. I can’t promise results with a blend I don’t recommend or ingredient substitutions. I hope that’s helpful.
Teri says
Wow, just WOW!
I’m a classically trained chef who makes semolina pasta regularly. Well, not anymore! This recipe has the look, flavor, and chew of a classic Italian semolina pasta. I’m impressed!
I did let the dough rest a few minutes prior to rolling it out, as well as heavily flouring each piece. Once the water came back to a boil (after placing the whole batch in the heavily salted water) I timed 2 minutes, removed and served. Perfection!
Tossed with a simple basil, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, artichoke hearts and shaved parmesan this meal was a hit!
Nicole Hunn says
Sounds delicious, Teri! And such high praise! Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
Barb says
Pasta using this recipe turned out great
What is the best method for reheating left over pasta ?
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Barb, I’m so glad you enjoyed the pasta! Once you’ve boiled fresh pasta, though, you really can’t reheat it properly. Before it’s boiled, though, you can store it. For advice about that, please see the text of the post under the heading “How do you store fresh gluten free pasta?”
Jennifer says
Can the raw GF fresh pasta dough be frozen?
How to wrap it for the Freezer? And for how long?
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Jennifer, I discuss storing fresh pasta in the text of the post under the heading “How do you store fresh gluten free pasta?” I like to use Glad Press ‘n’ Seal for wrapping dough tightly, then putting it in a freezer-safe zip top bag. The most important thing is to keep it from being exposed to the air of the freezer, which leads to freezer burn.
Linda Green says
I have made GF chestnut pasta and it isdry and crumbly how do I fix this Please
Nicole Hunn says
I’m afraid I don’t know anything about chestnut pasta, Linda, and I can only encourage you to try this recipe for gluten free pasta to have success!
Charlotte Kohlman says
Could this recipe be used to make lasagna noodles? If so, would you boil them first like the gluten version and then make and bake the lasagna like usual?
Nicole Hunn says
As I explained to the commenter just before this comment, Charlotte, yes you can definitely use this recipe to make lasagna noodles. And no, you don’t need to boil fresh lasagna noodles before assembling your recipe and baking it.
Linda says
My next GF pasta dish will definitely be your lasagna recipe, using your GF flour for the noodles. Do the noodles have to be precooked before using them in your lasagna recipe? If so, for how long? Also, what number on the pasta roller should I use? I’m thinking maybe two or three? I’ve never made lasagna using fresh pasta. Are there any pitfalls I should be aware of? Thank you so much for your help.
PS: FYI, there wasn’t a comment box available on the lasagna website.
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Linda, no, you don’t need to precook fresh pasta when you make lasagna. As far as how thin to roll it, please see the text of the post and the recipe where I discuss that I don’t recommend rolling it below a 5, or it may tear. If you’d like to go lower, you do run that risk.
Beatrix says
Excited to try this recipe. I’ve used your other ones with great success!
I recently purchased your flour mix which i plan to use with this recipe. The bag says it already contains tapioca.
Would you recommend following the recipe above and adding additional tapioca or should I omit?
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Beatrix, thanks for giving Nicole’s Best a try! You always add extra tapioca starch to this recipe as it’s a separate ingredient. Any well-balanced all purpose gluten free flour blend will have tapioca starch as an ingredient. This is a separate, additional ingredient, so please follow the recipe exactly as written. Don’t forget that you have to add xanthan gum to the recipe as Nicole’s Best doesn’t have any, which allows for precision in the amount for each recipe.
Linda says
I very much want to try your gluten-free pasta recipe for the first time. My question is, the recipe calls for 45g of tapioca starch, which I am adding because I am using your Gluten-Free Multi-Purpose Flour. I am using Bob’s Red Mill tapioca flour/starch. The package indicates a serving size is 4 teaspoons or 10 grams. That works out to be 2.5 grams per teaspoon. Multiplying 2.5 g times 15 teaspoons (5 tablespoons), I arrive at 37.5 grams. Your recipes calls for 45 grams. Which number should I use?
While I have your ear, it would be helpful to know how many grams of water I should subtract from the 1/3 cup of water (which is 76 grams) because I am using tapioca starch?
Thank you so much for your help.
Nicole Hunn says
You should always use the weight measurement that I provide, Linda. Any serving size that a bag of flour provides isn’t at all relevant. Just measure 45 grams on a kitchen scale, without regard to whatever is listed on the package. The initial amount of water, regardless of whether you use Expandex modified tapioca starch or conventional tapioca starch is 1/3 cup (or 75 grams of water). The additional amount that you may need to add may vary slightly if you are using conventional tapioca starch, but you’ll need to add that slowly and stop when the dough holds together well. There is no more specificity I can provide, as it varies by the exact quality of tapioca starch, the humidity in the room, etc.
Linda says
Thank you SO MUCH for you prompt and thorough explanations. Now it’s pasta-making time.
Samuel says
Amazing recipe, pasta tastes great and has a nice texture. The dough takes a little long to roll out into a thin sheet. Very interesting method grinding the dough in the food processor.
Nicole Hunn says
I’m glad you liked the pasta, Samuel. Yes, rolling out pasta dough by hand takes a long time. If you plan to do it a lot, it’s worthwhile to get a pasta roller, even a hand crank one.
Linda says
I am using a vegan pasta dough that is made with 7 oz. tofu, 1 1/2 c. 00 flour,
1 1/2 c. semolina flour, and 3 T red palm oil. Would any of your suggested gluten-free flours be compatible with this recipe? Thank you
Nicole Hunn says
Gluten free recipe development is a painstaking process, Linda, one that requires a tremendous amount of trial and error, and I’m not able to “convert” a conventional recipe for you to a gluten free one. There is no such thing as a “one to one” gluten free flour blend. Great gluten free baking requires gluten free recipes. For further discussion, please click the link in the previous sentence.
Linda says
I understand. Thank you so much for your time and attention to my question. I’ll be back to try your your gluten free recipes.
Jeffrey says
Will King Arthur’s gluten free flower work?
Nicole Hunn says
No, Jeffrey, I recommend against the King Arthur Flour blends specifically. Please click the link connected to the all purpose gluten free flour blend ingredient in the recipe for full information.
Connie says
I actually 2 questions, I bought Better Than Batter from Amazon when I started following you , (I’ve had Celiac disease for over 15 years) & I’m trying to make my own Breads, Pasta’s, & Desserts. When I stumbled onto your site I was ecstatic, I thought oh my God finally somebody that knows what they’re talking about!! Everything you make looks absolutely amazing, I want to make my own noodles for lasagna, my question is, can I use your regular pasta recipe to make them?? my second question is I bought artesian flower blend better batter can I use this to make the pasta noodles or do I have to buy another type? Thank you for any information you can please give me.
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Connie, yes! You can definitely use my homemade gf pasta recipe to make lasagna noodles. And no, I’m afraid I actively dislike their artisan blend and it won’t work in my recipes. I only recommend her original, classic blend, or to make your own as described on the all purpose gluten free flour blend page. I actually sell my own blend now, too, but their classic blend will of course still work in all my recipes that call for an AP GF flour blend. I appreciate your faith in me. :)
Connie says
Oh No, I hate to hear that you do not recommend their Artisan Blend for any of your recipes, Now I’m not sure what to do with it, since it was so expensive, Hopefully I can return it to Amazon,
If not Is it possible to use it to make your Blend? I hate to just throw it away 😢 I didn’t know that you sold your own blend or I would have purchased it from your site
Connie
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Connie, I’m afraid I don’t have anything to suggest you use that blend in, but I assume they have some recipes using it on their website. I can’t promise they’ll provide good results, because I don’t like the performance or the taste of that blend. My blend is new, and has been introduced to my email list and is listed on the all purpose gluten free flour blends page here on the blog. Here’s a link to the shop, if you’d like to take a look!
Heidi says
I love how nice this dough is to work with! I used GF Jules flour and it turned out fantastic! Other pasta recipes I tried were kind of stiff but this one is perfect.