Life

Easy Gluten-Free Recipes For Newbies

by Sadie Trombetta

Jan. 13 marks the first annual National Gluten-Free Day, and to help you celebrate, I've rounded up some delicious but easy-gluten free recipes you can try if you're new to the diet. Learning to let go of wonderful gluten-filled food can be hard, but trust me: it can be done, and deliciously as well.

Whether you're doing it because of an allergy, an autoimmune disorder, or just by choice, going gluten-free can seem impossibly challenging at first. So much of what we eat in in the U.S. has gluten in it, so suddenly cutting the ingredient out of any diet is a frustrating process. While I've never had to adhere to a strict gluten-free diet myself, my 11-year-old nephew was diagnosed with Celiac disease almost five years ago, and since then, I've tried to learn everything I can about it, including which foods are and are not OK to eat.

Memorizing which ingredients he couldn't eat didn't seem to be enough, though, and after watching him go to too many birthday parties and holiday parties where he couldn't enjoy any of the sweets, I decided I was going to find out how to make the very best alternatives instead. Since then, I've learned and cooked a lot, and I've found out there are a lot of simple yet delicious gluten-free breakfast, lunch, dinners, and dessert options out there just waiting to be made.

Ready to start your next cooking adventure? Here are a few easy gluten-free recipes to get you going. Trust me, it isn't going to be as hard as you think.

1

Perfect Gluten-Free Popovers

Made with five simple ingredients, these popovers from Gluten Free on a Shoestring come out perfect every time. The only thing easier than making these warm, flaky pastries is eating them.

2

Root Vegetable Hash Egg Skillet

Saying goodbye to gluten means your normal bagel-heavy breakfast is going to have to get a serious makeover. Instead of bread-based meal first thing in the morning, try Naturally Ella's quick and simple root vegetable hash egg skillet. A hot, filling, and flavorful dish, there's no better (or tasty) way to start your day.

3

Easy No Rise Gluten-Free Bagels

Just in case you don't want to entirely give up bagels and bread (let's be real, who could?), Gluten Free on a Shoestring has come up with a simple, no-rise gluten free bagel recipe even the newest of cooks can master. Even better, it only takes 35 minutes from start to finish to make.

4

Buttermilk Buckwheat Pancakes

If you thought your days of fluffy buttermilk pancakes were over, think again. Naturally Ella has come up with a mouthwatering buckwheat version bursting with nutty flavors that will change the way you do breakfast.

5

Naturally Gluten-Free Chickpea Flatbread

If you're just beginning your gluten-free journeys, its probably a good idea to master a few basic staple recipes. With The Kitchn's chickpea flatbread as your base, you can create and endless amount of dishes with whatever ingredients you want.

6

Crispy Smashed Potatoes With Avocado Garlic Aioli

Now that you're gluten-free, potatoes are going to become one of your best friends. You're going to find yourself getting pretty creative with this new staple food, and Oh She Glows's smashed version is a great place to start. Salty and crispy, this addicting side dish is only made more delicious with the avocado garlic aioli it's topped with.

7

Easy Stovetop Gluten-Free Mac And Cheese

With a little help from Gluten Free on a Shoestring, you can have creamy and delicious gluten-free mac and cheese in 20 minutes. Who needs instant when homemade is this simple?

8

Turmeric Zucchini Bowls

For a delicious and flavorful gluten-free meal you can make in 20 minutes or less, try Naturally Ella's turmeric zucchini bowls. Fresh and filled with vegetables, this is a filling meal that's simple to throw together on those nights you just don't feel like cooking.

9

Corn And Chanterelle Noodle Stir Fry

An easily adaptable recipe that can be tailored to your taste preferences, Fo Reals Life's noodle stir-fry is a great gluten-free recipe to have in your back pocket, especially if you are new to the diet. A basic rice noodle dish prepared with a sweet-and-spicy sauce and topped with peanuts, this meal can become anything you want it to be.

10

Quick And Easy Fried Rice

Unfortunately, a lot of restaurants don't use gluten-free ingredients in their recipes. Even though rice is gluten-free, the sauces they use are not. But just because ordering Chinese food is out of the question doesn't mean that you can't enjoy your favorite foreign cuisine. The Kitchn has a quick and easy fried recipe that will give you a healthy, homemade dish in no time.

11

Gluten-Free Chicken Parmesan

If you've ever made traditional chicken parm, you know how much of a pain it can be. Whitney Bond has has come up with a way to make it not only easy, but also gluten-free, with her own recipe starring fresh herbs and plenty of cheese.

12

3-Layer Almond Coconut Chocolate Bar

For a fun dessert that will please everyone, try this three-layer bar from Oh She Glows. Easy to make and even easier to eat, this recipe will become your new go-to gluten-free dessert.

13

The World's Easiest Cookies

Their name says it all: there has never been an easier cookie. Not only is this genius recipe from The Kitchn gluten-free, but it's paleo and vegan-friendly, too. A true crowd pleaser, put this one in your personal recipe book.

14

Easy Gluten-Free Apple Dumplings

Sweet and sticky and flaky, Gluten Free on a Shoestring's apple dumplings may look complicated, but they're super simple to make, even for the novice gluten-free cook.

15

Kitchen Sink Cookies

Just because you're gluten-free doesn't mean you can't enjoy, well, everything else. Loaded with nuts, chocolate, seeds, berries, and coconut flakes, these kitchen sink cookies from Naturally Ella have so many yummy ingredients in them, you won't miss the gluten at all.