Gluten Free Thanksgiving Tips

When hosting a gluten free Thanksgiving, you may be surprised by how easy it is to avoid any wheat. Many classic Thanksgiving recipes are naturally gluten-free as written, and others are easy to convert. I personally like to lean on naturally gluten-free dishes (I wrote a whole cookbook, Flourless, about naturally gluten-free desserts after all!).

As you work on your menu, focus on fresh, seasonal produce, a juicy turkey cooked simply and well, and plan to bake a batch of gluten free pumpkin chocolate chip cookies to nibble on while prepping all the food!

In this post I will walk you through best tips and practices for a gluten-free Thanksgiving, whether it's your first or fifth time preparing the meal!

How to Plan A Gluten Free Thanksgiving

When I write up my gluten free Thanksgiving menu, I include a mix of tried-and-true recipes, lots of vegetables, and a lot of pumpkin desserts. In my family there's a vegetarian, someone who eats low fat/low cholesterol, and someone who keeps gluten-free - so we try to incorporate a range of dishes that everyone can eat.

I like to make sure there are a lot of simply prepared vegetables, a hearty vegetarian main course dish (often vegan as well), and of course, a turkey served with gluten-free gravy.

Just focus on dishes that are naturally gluten-free (hint: most of the traditional Thanksgiving favorites are easily made without flour) and you'll be well on your way to gluten-free success.

I try to keep things simple yet delicious, so I can actually enjoy the day and my guests in between checking the temperature of the turkey. Yes, it's a juggle, but hopefully a fun one. And a cranberry margarita with or without tequila is always welcome!

Choose Naturally Gluten Free Recipes

What is "naturally gluten free"? These are recipes that don't call for any wheat flour to begin with - as mentioned, this was the philosophy beind my cookbook and it keeps things so easy! For example, a stir-fry of green beans, shallots, and lemon zest needs simple ingredients, none of which contain gluten.

Start the meal by serving a bowl of butternut squash soup (ingredients include squash, onion, fresh ginger, and coconut milk, with no flour needed), with a basket of warm gluten free honey cornbread muffins alongside.

Then dig into turkey (naturally gluten-free), mashed potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, a fresh salad, and cranberry sauce. All of these dishes are gluten-free and don't need any substitutions!

How to Avoid Cross-Contamination

If you already keep a gluten-free kitchen, this one is easy - you won't have to worry about cross-contamination.

However, if you bake and cook with wheat flour and you're cooking for gluten-free guests, especially those with celiac, you'll need to very careful. In my opinion, the easiest way to avoid any cross-contamination is to keep the entire meal gluten-free rather than have some gluten and some gluten-free dishes.

First, if you typically have flour in your kitchen, thoroughly clean your surfaces, cutting boards, and utensils thoroughly before beginning meal prep. This will eliminate cross-contamination opportunities.

You may also want to buy a few new wooden spoons (or use non wooden spoons), because gluten can get into the wood. Likewise, for cutting boards - it's best to use synthetic boards when cooking or baking gluten-free if you also use them with regular all-purpose flour.

My Favorite Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Recipes

I love a starter, and a bowl of sweet potato and coconut soup and a square of gluten free maple cornbread opens the meal on a high note. And I have to always serve a big salad, either as its own course or alongside the main meal, for a bit of raw vegetables to balance the heavier sides.

I'm a vegetarian as well as gluten free, so my Thanksgiving table is loaded with easy, delicious vegetable dishes to nestle alongside the turkey! I don't go for super-complicated, so you'll find plenty of roasted cauliflower and a creamy maple butternut squash puree that brings warmth and brightness to the table.

For vegetarian guests, a pitcher of vegetarian gravy is lovely drizzled over gluten free sweet potato biscuits and a serving of gluten free souffle or gluten free quiche. Try a pot of vegetarian marry me chickpeas or curried chickpeas with coconut milk for a vegan and gluten-free option. And check out my post on vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes for more ideas.

Consider gluten free pumpkin cornbread or almond flour cornbread as a gluten free base for stuffing (you can swap an equivalent amount into your favorite bread-y stuffing recipe). A sheet pan of roasted veggies including carrots, sweet potatoes, and parsnips makes an easy, savory side dish if you're short on time.

→ Don't forget to check out my gluten free Thanksgiving section for more recipes.

Gluten Free Thanksgiving Desserts

No Thanksgiving feast is complete without desserts! My go-to is either a maple pumpkin pie or a gluten free pumpkin pie, made with a flaky gluten free all butter pie crust or an oat flour pie crust, and heavy cream rather than condensed milk.

Thinking beyond the pie, a gluten free pumpkin sheet cake, gluten free pumpkin chocolate cake, or an oat flour pumpkin cake with maple glaze are lovely, pumpkin-y alternatives or accompaniments.

Incorporate fruit with a gluten free apple crumble or gluten free apple crisp, or make a deliciously dense and rich gluten free pear cake and drizzle slices with salted caramel sauce.

And if you're really feeling ambitious, put out a cookie plate layered with oat flour sugar cookies, gluten free maple shortbread, gluten free oatmeal walnut cookies, and oat flour shortbread!

→ See more delicious gluten free Thanksgiving dessert recipes!