Best Gluten Free Casserole Recipes

You’ll Love These Gluten-Free Casseroles

For the most part, casseroles are one-pan comfort food meals, which is probably why they are so popular. After all, who doesn’t love comfort food? Casserole recipes come from the days of housewives wanting to make meals out of leftovers. By combining cooked pasta or grains with leftover protein from the fridge, frugal meals could be assembled easily. It is really easy to stretch a grocery shopping budget when you make casserole recipes!

Those living a gluten free lifestyle often struggle to find gluten free casserole recipes, because casseroles tend to have creamy sauces made with flour, or they have pasta or wheat grains in them. Of course, there are gluten-free pasta products that can be used, but when I can help it, I like to develop recipes that don’t require specialty ingredients.

What can you use in gluten-free casserole recipes?

You can use so many naturally gluten free foods to make your favorite casseroles!

• Gluten Free Pasta – As I mentioned, you could swap out regular pasta for gluten free pasta. However, without gluten, some kinds of gluten free pasta can absorb too much liquid and get mushy. You’ll be fine if you are eating it right away, but the leftovers aren’t always the best. Of all the gluten free noodles out there, quinoa pasta does tend to hold up the best, and I use this one when I make mac and cheese.
• Rice – Rice is a great gluten free option to replace pasta in casseroles. Rice comes in many different varieties and all of them work well in casseroles. It’s easy to cook brown rice or make white rice to serve with meals, then use the leftovers in dishes like these. I like to use brown or wild rice, since they are higher in fiber and nutrients than white rice.
• Quinoa – Many people mistakenly call quinoa (pronounced “keen-whah”) a grain, but really, it’s a protein-packed seed. Quinoa is a complete protein and one of the few plant foods to contain all nine essential amino acids. The taste is very neutral, making it perfect for use in casseroles. Similar to tofu, cooking quinoa give it the chance to pick up the flavors of whatever it is cooked with.
• Potatoes – Regular white potatoes and sweet potatoes are naturally gluten free, of course, and who doesn’t love potatoes au gratin?!
• Vegetables – Spaghetti squash and zucchini run through a spiralizer make a great pasta swap, and I have several spaghetti squash casseroles. Cauliflower is everyone’s favorite gluten free and low carb replacement for rice and potatoes. And pureed butternut squash blended with cheese makes a great creamy sauce that doesn’t require flour as a thickener.

With these gluten free options to replace pasta in casseroles, you can create some delicious gluten free casserole recipes, either as a main dish or a side dish! As you are gathering your ingredients, just make sure you read the labels for foods that contain gluten!

What are the best casserole dishes?

I have been using Corningware French White casserole dishes for years, as has my mother. They have lasted through years of going in and out of the oven. The neutral color and classic style match any decor. I have both round casserole dishes and a set of oval bakeware.

Gluten Free Side Dish Casserole Recipes

Corn Pudding

The essential requirements for most casseroles are that they are creamy, comforting, and easy to make. This corn pudding meets the criteria in a delicious way!

Get The Recipe