Skip to content

48 Best Gluten-Free Recipes Ever

No more digging for weeknight dinner recipes that are gluten-free—this list can be your new guide!
PIN Print

When you don't have to worry about dietary restrictions, you can choose from an endless list of weeknight dinners. But for those who are gluten-free—or for any families that have others that are gluten-free—finding a recipe that truly works can be difficult. This is why we rounded up some of our favorite gluten-free recipes for weeknight dinners! From gluten-free pasta, roasted fish and chicken, soups, tacos, and even sushi, here are a few gluten-free recipes we can't get enough of.

Mushroom Carbonara

mushroom carbonara
Courtesy of Kristine Kidd

With a decent gluten-free pasta, you can make any of your favorite dishes—including a creamy mushroom carbonara. The base of this mushroom carbonara is cheese, egg, and dry white wine. It's a great recipe to use up your leftover white wine—or an excuse to open a bottle and enjoy a glass of white while you cook!

Get our recipe for Mushroom Carbonara.

Grilled Salmon with Chermoula Chickpeas

roast salmon with chickpeas
Courtesy of Kristine Kidd

Eating gluten-free is a lot easier if you replace gluttonous items with naturally gluten-free products—like chickpeas. Chickpeas are a great source of carbohydrates and protein. Plus, they're rich in dietary fiber. This grilled salmon with chickpeas is an easy weeknight meal you can whip up in less than 30 minutes and burst with flavor.

Get our recipe for Grilled Salmon with Chermoula Chickpeas.

Thai-Style Tofu and Butternut Squash Curry

thai style tof curry
Courtesy of Kristine Kidd

Cooking for a crowd means dealing with dietary restrictions. Need to cook for friends that are vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, or gluten-free? This tofu butternut squash curry checks off all the boxes. Between the plant-based coconut milk, the tofu, and the jasmine rice, this butternut squash curry works well for anyone who's coming over for dinner.

Get our recipe for Thai-Style Tofu and Butternut Squash Curry.

Shrimp in Tomato-Olive-Caper Sauce with Polenta

shrimp with polenta
Courtesy of Kristine Kidd

Snag gluten-free cornmeal to make this shrimp in polenta, a flavorful weeknight dinner you can throw together in less than 30 minutes. This decadent sauce uses a white-wine base, the perfect excuse to open a bottle and enjoy a glass while you cook!

Get our recipe for Shrimp in Tomato-Olive-Caper Sauce with Polenta

Roast Chicken and Vegetables with Fall Spices

roast chicken
Courtesy of Kristine Kidd

There's something about the smell of roasting chicken, potatoes, and butternut squash that make you nostalgic for fall. It reminds you of crisp fall days, huddled up with sweaters, sipping on a cup of warm soup, and enjoying a flavorful roast. This roast chicken with vegetables is naturally gluten-free and low in calories.

Get our recipe for Roast Chicken and Vegetables with Fall Spices

Oven "Fried" Chicken with Spinach Salad

oven roasted fried chicken
Courtesy of Kristine Kidd

A quality gluten-free breadcrumb mix really can go a long way! This chicken is oven "fried", which essentially means you roast it in the oven until the chicken is crispy. Served with a fresh spinach salad, this oven-fried chicken is the perfect gluten-free alternative to the beloved fried chicken.

Get our recipe for Gluten-Free Oven Fried Chicken with Baby Spinach Salad

Peanut Noodles with Seared Beef

chinese noodles with beef
Courtesy of Kristine Kidd

Just because you're gluten-free doesn't mean noodle bowls are a thing of the past. This peanut noodles with seared beef will satisfy your noodle bowl craving—made with gluten-free spaghetti and loaded with vegetables in a peanut butter sauce.

Get our recipe for Peanut Noodles with Seared Beef

Turkey and White Bean Chili

roast white bean chili
Courtesy of Kristine Kidd

Unless a chili is thickened with a flour-base, most chili is naturally gluten-free. This recipe is one of them—made with dark-meat turkey, beans, green chiles, and loaded with vegetables. Top this turkey and white bean chili with toppings like red onion, jalapeño, and avocado for a bowl bursting with flavor.

Get our recipe for Turkey and White Bean Chili

Sautéed Pork Chops with Kale Salad

roast pork chops
Courtesy of Kristine Kidd

If you're not careful, pork chops can dry out pretty quickly. Perfecting a pork chop is all about properly seasoning and cooking it. This pork chops and kale salad recipe will have you cooking the juiciest chops ever. Plus, this recipe is naturally gluten-free.

Get our recipe for Sautéed Pork Chops with Kale Salad

Macaroni and Cheese with Chard and Sage Breadcrumbs

macaroni and cheese

No mushy gluten-free noodles here! This gluten-free macaroni and cheese recipe will satisfy that craving you've had for this creamy dish. This gluten-free macaroni and cheese is packed with chard—which brings a lot of great nutrients to this dish—and topped with a flavorful sage breadcrumb.

Get our recipe for Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese with Chard and Sage Breadcrumbs.

BBQ Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

sheet pan bbq chicken dinner on a marble counter
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

While this combination is one of our favorites, you really could try any combination that you desire. Not a fan of broccoli? Try adding some asparagus spears, Brussels sprouts, or green beans. Don't like sweet potato? Roast up some regular potato bits, or even some chickpeas or cauliflower florets! And if you don't want BBQ chicken, try roasting up some steak or salmon instead. All are gluten-free!

Get our recipe for BBQ Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner.

Chicken Tacos with Salsa Verde

Chicken tacos with salsa verde
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

These chicken tacos with salsa verde are not only delicious, but they are also a much healthier alternative to their chain-restaurant counterpart. Plus, thanks to the corn tortillas, they are gluten-free. So get cooking and indulge!

Get our recipe for Chicken Tacos with Salsa Verde

Honey-Mustard Glazed Salmon with Grilled Asparagus

Low-calorie honey-mustard salmon with roasted asparagus
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Why blow the cash and the heavy caloric toll on a meal you can prepare at home in less time than it takes to order out? Plus, if you ever hope to get a kid to eat fish, this 3-minute sauce (which goes great on shrimp, scallops, and chicken, as well) is the key to this grilled salmon recipe.

Get our recipe for Honey-Mustard Glazed Salmon with Grilled Asparagus

Baked Chicken with Tomatoes and Capers

Paleo chicken with tomato, olives, and capers
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

This baked chicken breast recipe will have you roasting the meat with tomatoes and capers, then olive oil bastes the chicken in a savory broth; this will keep the meat moist and ultimately provide it with both a chunky, textured topping and an intensely satisfying sauce to pour all over the top. Plus, you'll save more than just calories—you'll save time on cleanup!

Get our recipe for Baked Chicken with Tomatoes and Capers

Jambalaya

Jambalaya (with paleo & gluten-free option)
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

By decreasing the rice ratio (or even swapping out with quinoa for a gluten-free alternative) and increasing the produce and protein, this jambalaya recipe cuts the calories and carbs dramatically. Don't worry though: it still has enough soul (and flavor) to satisfy the most discerning Creole critics.

Get our recipe for Jambalaya.

Teriyaki Pork Chops with Sautéed Apples

Paleo teriyaki pork chop with apple
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

This pork is soaked in a sweet, garlicky teriyaki marinade, and the apples are sautéed with ginger and Chinese spices, making for a perfect, sophisticated, yin-yang partnership (cue prolonged Homer drooling noise). These teriyaki pork chops are easy enough to throw together on any given busy Tuesday night, but they're seemingly fancy enough to serve to dinner guests on a special Saturday.

Get our recipe for Teriyaki Pork Chops with Sautéed Apples

Margarita Chicken

Paleo margarita chicken 
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Our version of margarita chicken, a meal that you can have on the table in 20 minutes, contains all the same bells and whistles (Cheese! Salsa! Sizzle!), minus all the added calories and dollars spent on eating at a restaurant.

Get our recipe for Margarita Chicken

Smoky Ribs in a BBQ Peach Sauce

Low-calorie smokey ribs with peach bbq sauce
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

It starts in the oven, where spice-rubbed ribs are slow-roasted until tender. From there they go to the grill for a concentrated blast of hickory smoke. Finish with a barbecue sauce spiked with bourbon and peach, and you have a ribs recipe any barbecue baron could respect.

Get our recipe for Smoky Ribs in a BBQ Peach Sauce

Chicken Pizzaioli

Healthy paleo chicken pizzaioli
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

To lighten things up without losing flavor, we ditch the breading (which gets soggy underneath the sauce anyway) and sear the chicken rather than fry it. A ladle of red sauce and a thin layer of bubbling mozzarella rounds the dish out—without rounding you out.

Get our recipe for Chicken Pizzaioli

Lamb Chops with Tzatziki Sauce

Healthy lamb tzatzik
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Lamb has long been a second-class citizen in American households, a meat you turn to maybe once a year when you've grown tired of chicken and beef. Too bad, since lamb is not only jam-packed with flavor and easy to cook, but surprisingly lean when you work with the right cuts

Get our recipe for Lamb Chops with Tzatziki Sauce

Seared Scallops with White Beans and Spinach

Paleo seared scallops with white beans and spinach
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

There's no need to wait for a special occasion to dig into seared scallops. They're best served with simple and substantial ingredients that bring out their natural, subtle taste. They're a tremendous source of lean protein, super-easy to cook, and stack up well with bold and subtle flavors alike. Learn to properly sear a scallop (hint: make sure the scallop is very dry and the pan is very hot) and you'll be won over.

Get our recipe for Seared Scallops with White Beans and Spinach

Cheese and Chorizo Stuffed Jalapeños

Healthy stuffed jalapenos
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

In this healthy stuffed jalapeños recipe, we pull back on quantity and add in quality ingredients that will pack a flavorful punch and harness the heat of the jalapeños, rather than slathering it in unnecessary fat and calories.

Get our recipe for Cheese and Chorizo Stuffed Jalapeños

Seared Ahi Tuna in Ginger-Scallion Sauce

Paleo seared ahi with ginger scallion sauce
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

We add bok choy to make this a more nutritious, substantial dish, but any green vegetable (spinach, broccoli, asparagus, kale, string beans, etc.) will do. But trust us, whatever you do, don't skip the ginger-scallion sauce, a ubiquitous condiment good enough to make a pair of old socks into a scrumptiously memorable meal.

Get our recipe for Seared Ahi Tuna in Ginger-Scallion Sauce

Mexican-Style Corn

Vegetarian grilled mexican-style corn
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

It makes for a great summer treat or as a side dish to an outdoor picnic (or indoor for that matter). Plus, it's so tasty, you (and any finicky eaters you know) may not even notice that you're technically eating a vegetable

Get our recipe for Mexican-Style Corn

Creamy Mushroom Chicken

Healthy creamy mushroom chicken
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Chicken buried in mushrooms and cream is the type of dish that's at home in a country kitchen as it is in an upscale urban restaurant. We take cues from both ends of the spectrum: brown mushrooms and chicken stock from the country, a touch of sherry and some dried mushrooms from the city. The combination of Greek yogurt and half-and-half gives the sauce richness and a lovely velvety texture without weighing it down in this creamy mushroom chicken recipe.

Get our recipe for Creamy Mushroom Chicken

Your ultimate supermarket survival guide is here!

Mussels in White Wine

healthy mussels with garlic and white wine
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Packed with protein, omega-3s, and a cache of energy-boosting B vitamins, shellfish make an ideal way to start a meal, or simply add a salad to the side, and you can call it a full meal for dinner. Build a flavor base with onions, garlic, and other aromatics, then add the mussels and enough liquid to create some steam. Cover and cook until they pop open, about 5 minutes or so. And make sure you have plenty of crusty bread for dunking in the sumptuous broth at the bottom of the bowl. No leftovers left behind!

Get our recipe for Mussels in White Wine

Provençal Chicken

paleo provençal chicken
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

This is the type of simple, healthy, satisfying dish that gives Mediterranean cooking its reputation as the perfect fusion of flavor and nutrition. All of the key components—white wine, tomatoes, olives, herbs—have the distinct advantage of being both intensely flavorful and incredibly good for you. Truth be told, we're not really sure if people in Provence eat their chicken like this, but it has the soul of southern France in every bite.

Get our recipe for Provençal Chicken

Cioppino

Healthy cioppino
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

This is a very fast, very delicious cioppino recipe, combining a full roster of nutritional superstars: tomatoes, garlic, wine, herbs, and lots of fresh seafood. Cioppino is great for a dinner party!

Get our recipe for Cioppino

Kung Pao Chicken

Healthy kung pao chicken
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

A real kung pao has a kick, loaded with dried chiles that imbue the mash-up with a capsaicin glow. But in most versions across the restaurant and takeout spectrum, the heat takes a backseat to Chinese-American food's more dominant flavor profile: fat plus salt. This Kung Pao chicken recipe puts the heat back in the driver's seat and kicks quite a few calories to the curb.

Get our recipe for Kung Pao Chicken. 

Basque Chicken

Healthy basque chicken
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

This dish combines some of the great flavors of northern Spain—smoked paprika, sweet peppers, piquant chorizo in a slow-cooked stew that could warm even the most frigid of souls.

Get our recipe for Basque Chicken

Chicken Adobo

Paleo chicken adobo
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Chicken adobo is a staple of the Philippines, a dish so delicious and simple that it's a wonder it's not a weekday standard in houses across America. The key is to reduce the sauce down to a syrup thick enough to cling to the chicken and infuse your meal with a huge jolt of savory garlic-soy flavor.

Get our recipe for Chicken Adobo

Pork Chops with Balsamic-Honey Glaze

Healthy pork chop with balsamic honey glaze
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

When it comes to quality ingredients worth splurging on, heirloom pork is certainly at the top of our list. Luckily, many small farmers are starting to raise heirloom varieties of pigs like Red Wattle, Berkshire, and Mangalitsa. Plus, it's packed with amino acids and nutrients and can be quiet good for your health, especially when picking the leaner pieces.

Get our recipe for Pork Chops with Balsamic-Honey Glaze

Sushi Burgers

Sushi burgers or "rice burgers" have also been popping up in restaurants everywhere from Australia to NYC. Can't find one near you? We've got you covered! Here's how to make an easy, delicious, and waist-friendly version of the latest trending foodie obsession using good-for-you ingredients like antioxidant-loaded sesame oil and fiber-packed brown rice.

Get our recipe for Sushi Burgers

Grilled Hoisin Beef Kebabs

Hoisin beef kebab
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Humble grill masters expertly char skewered food of all shapes and sizes: plump meatballs, tiny cherry tomatoes, even pure chicken skin that crisps up like potato chips. Though we never had this exact kebab there, the flavors are true to the spirit of Yakitori Alley; we hope the grill masters there would approve.

Get our recipe for Grilled Hoisin Beef Kebabs

Portobello Mushroom "Pizzas" with Sausage, Bell Pepper, and Basil

portobello mushroom pizza
Marty Baldwin/ Eat This, Not That!

Craving pizza, but trying to keep it low-carb? Use portobello mushrooms! Fill up those mushroom caps with all of your favorite pizza ingredients to make a flavorful portobello mushroom pizzas, and skip all the carbs. These portobello mushroom pizzas are also great for meal prepping if you're looking for something easy to whip up for the week ahead.

Get our recipe for Portobello Mushroom "Pizzas" with Sausage, Bell Pepper, and Basil.

Chicken Zoodle Soup

Whole30 instant pot chicken zoodle soup
Posie Brien/Eat This, Not That!

Chicken noodle soup is the ultimate comfort food, especially during the cold weather months. We've made our special light version by swapping in zucchini noodles for regular noodles, which makes this recipe gluten-freepaleo, and Whole30-approved.

Get our recipe for Chicken Zoodle Soup

Zuppa Toscana

instant pot zuppa toscana in a bowl with red pepper flakes
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Between the fatty sausage and bacon, the potatoes, and the nutrient-dense kale, having a cup of this Zuppa Toscana will truly leave you feeling full for hours. Plus by making it in your Instant Pot, you'll have numerous cups of soup that you can meal prep and pack for the week ahead.

Get our recipe for Zuppa Toscana

Beef Burrito Bowls

whole 30 burrito bowl with guacamole on top
Posie Brien/Eat This, Not That!

Deconstruct a classic burrito bowl, remove grains and dairy, and you'll get this satisfying and healthy beef burrito bowl. We're using cauliflower rice instead of regular rice, and rely on spices and vegetables to punch up the flavors. A quick "guacamole" on top provides healthy fats and rounds out this clean lunch that is paleo– and Whole30-compliant.

Get our recipe for Beef Burrito Bowls. 

Smoky Paprika Roast Chicken with Green Beans

keto roast chicken on cooling rack with stringbeans
Waterbury Publications, Inc.

Deconstruct a classic burrito bowl, remove grains and dairy, and you'll get this satisfying and healthy beef burrito bowl. We're using cauliflower rice instead of regular rice, and rely on spices and vegetables to punch up the flavors. A quick "guacamole" on top provides healthy fats and rounds out this clean lunch that is paleo– and Whole30-compliant.

Get our recipe for Smoky Paprika Roast Chicken with Green Beans

Black Bean Omelet

Black bean omelet
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Omelets for dinner? why not! They are naturally gluten-free and packed with all kinds of delicious (and nutritious) fillings—like black beans and cheese!

Get our recipe for a Black Bean Omelet

Chicken Burger with Sun-Dried Tomato Aioli

Chicken burger with sundried tomato aolia
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

We've gone ahead and helped you out by reinventing the chicken burger, using a lean grind of meat and a hugely flavorful—but surprisingly low-calorie—spiked mayo to deliver on the promise of a truly healthy burger you can happily indulge in. To keep it gluten-free, simply opt for gluten-free buns. Or eat the burgers on a salad!

Get our recipe for Chicken Burgers with Sun-Dried Tomato Aioli.

Turkey Sloppy Joe

Healthy turkey sloppy joes
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

The best part about sloppy joes is that everything you need is likely already in your pantry and spice cabinet, gathering dust, waiting for a chance to shine. Open a can, measure out a few spices (if you have children, employ them as your sous chefs), and you'll have a crowd-pleasing dinner on the table in about 15 minutes. Just swap the buns for something gluten-free and you're good to go!

Get our recipe for the Turkey Sloppy Joe.

Grilled Mahi Mahi with Salsa Verde

Grilled mahi mahi with salsa verde
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

This, the Italian version, is based on parsley, anchovies, capers, and lemon juice, a bright herbal punch that pairs especially well with the smoke and char of a grill.

Get our recipe for Grilled Mahi Mahi with Salsa Verde

Pork Tenderloin with Pineapple Salsa

Pork tenderloin with grilled pineapple salsa
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Besides being nearly as lean as white meat chicken (a 3-ounce portion of cooked pork tenderloin has only 3 grams of fat), pork also boasts an impressive array of nutrients, including more than a third of a day's dose of selenium, a trace mineral shown to be effective in cancer prevention.

Get our recipe for Pork Tenderloin with Pineapple Salsa

Grilled Caesar Salad

Low-calorie grilled caesar salad
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

This recipe transforms the high-calorie dressing into a lighter vinaigrette and adds substance, flavor, and nutrition in the form of sun-dried tomatoes and olives. Think of this as the Caesar salad, reimagined.

Get our recipe for Grilled Caesar Salad

Chicken Fried Rice

Healthy chicken fried rice
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

The name says it all: One of the most nutritionally dubious staples (white rice) combined with the most treacherous technique (frying). The calorie counts are predictably stratospheric; even a small scoop used as a base for a stir-fry will run around 500 calories. More important, it contains little to no true nutrition. Our recipe turns fried rice on its head, relying on a ton of fresh vegetables, considerably less rice, and a bit of oil for crisping it up.

Get our recipe for Chicken Fried Rice

Chicken in Red Wine

Slow cooker chicken in red wine
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Coq au vin, as it's known in France, is one of the world's great dishes and all it takes to create it is a whole chicken, half a bottle of wine, and a few vegetables. A slow cooker makes matters even easier, but a good old-fashioned pot will do, too for this classic chicken in red wine recipe.

Get our recipe for Chicken in Red Wine

Chicken Meatballs

Paleo asian chicken meatballs
Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

With those bold flavors, plus the char of a hot charcoal grill, you won't need a fat-heavy mix of meat, or even a pile of spaghetti, to make an outstanding dinner with this chicken meatballs recipe. Serve them with steamed rice, cucumbers, maybe a bit of sauce, and big lettuce leaves for wrapping and let everyone make their own Asian-style burrito.

Get our recipe for Chicken Meatballs

Read more100 Most Delicious Recipes Anyone Can Make

0/5 (0 Reviews)
Eat This, Not That!
Inspired by The New York Times best-selling book series, Eat This, Not That! is a brand that's comprised of an award-winning team of journalists and board-certified experts, doctors, nutritionists, chefs, personal trainers, and dietitians who work together to bring you accurate, timely, informative, and actionable content on food, nutrition, dieting, weight loss, health, wellness, and more. Read more about Eat This