Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Recipes: My Personal Favorites

November came quick, which means Thanksgiving will be here even sooner... less than two weeks, to be exact.

My first Thanksgiving with a gluten allergy was largely a learning experience, which is why I'm here to save you the hassle! Gluten-free folks deserve to be accommodated throughout a holiday that involves copious amounts of food, and with these recipes, it is achievable.

Tips: (from my Mom)

Cornstarch is your Best Friend

Cornstarch may not be good for you, but it definitely is the easiest, and most accessible alternative for flour. Thicken gravy, make corn casserole, cornbread, etc. It can all be made by switching out the flour for cornstarch. Key tip: make sure to use half as much cornstarch for flour, because the thickening ability requires less product.

Plan Ahead! (like... now)

Planning ahead of the day is crucial to success. Going in with a plan, or even making a point to test items ahead, if you're able, is the best route to take. Some recipes work, and others not so much, therefore it is stressed to begin the hunt for recipes today! (keep reading for our foolproof plan & links below)

Labels!

Labelling what is and is not gluten-free can make life much easier for those with risky dietary restrictions. My family's entire Thanksgiving meal isn't GF, but there is a clear distinction of what is and is not. Different areas, color-coated plates, or even this:

It all works, and it's all extremely helpful. I highly recommend.

TikTok Recipes and Ideas

Believe it or not, a great majority of the content I post on this site comes from TikTok, in one way or another. Whether it be a recipe, places to try, or news info... it all stems from there. Around Thanksgiving's time, gluten-free creators tend to post about their recommendations, and with one quick search, you can find last year's content and move from there.

Recipes We Have Deemed Foolproof:

Classic Stuffing:

A classic Merz Thanksgiving wouldn't be the same without triple checking to make sure this stuffing is gluten-free because of how normal this tastes. Sage, broth, chopped bread, and cranberries for a touch of sweetness (optional) to stuff your turkey to perfection. A fellow gluten-free family passed along this recipe to my Mom, and it has been a staple for our turkey ever since.

What you need:

• 1/2 cup of onion, diced

• 2 stalks of celery, diced

• 8 slices of gluten-free bread

• 1 cup of gluten-free chicken/turkey broth

• 1/4 tsp of ground sage

• 1/4 tsp of poultry seasoning

• 1/4 tsp parsley

• salt, pepper, & garlic

• 6 to 8 tbsp of butter

What you'll do:

1. Sauté onion and celery in butter until soft

2. Toast bread - to any crisp level of choice - typically in oven under the broiler. After, cut and shred into smaller pieces.

3. Add celery, onion, butter, sage, poultry seasoning and parsley. Salt, pepper, and garlic to taste.

4. Slowly add the stock/broth until bread is moist (not soupy), and mix thoroughly.

5. Place into a baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees and about 30 minutes, until the top pieces of bread start to crisp.

6. Stuff your turkey!

Green Bean Casserole:

Before my diagnosis, my Mom's pride and joy was her delicious green bean casserole... it was always my favorite, too. Combining cream of mushroom soup, green beans, and fried onions to create a dish I will randomly think about six months before Thanksgiving (and then get upset I can't have it for awhile). In Aug. of this year, Campbell's officially made a gluten-free cream of mushroom soup for us to enjoy, and for me to finally have the infamous green bean casserole again.

Non gluten-free recipe for reference HERE

• Sub for gluten-free cream of mushroom

• Reduce mushroom and cornstarch in pan, and add to the rest

Scalloped Corn:

Yet another one of my favorite Thanksgiving eats, scalloped corn. Sweet, creamy, and a perfect side for turkey and gravy. This casserole also fridges well, making it the perfect dish to over make (so I can eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

What you need:

• 2 tbsp butter

• 1.5 tbsp cornstarch

• 1 tsp salt

• 1/4 tsp paprika

• 1/4 tsp ground mustard

• 1/2 onion, chopped finely

• 1/2 cup milk

• One can of whole kernel corn

• One can of cream-style corn

• One egg yolk, slightly beaten

• Gluten-free stuffing, boxed premade brands work best (1/2 package for this)

• Sage, black pepper, sea salt, and rosemary (optional)

What you'll do:

1. Put butter and chopped onion into saucepan, cook for five minutes

2. Mix dry ingredients, stir into butter/onion

3. While stirring, add milk, bring to boil

4. Add and stir two cans of corn (whole and cream), and one egg yolk

5. Add 1/2 package of gluten-free stuffing, and add seasoning (optional)

6. Put in buttered baking dish, and top with either bread crumbs or gluten-free fried onions (here)

7. Bake at 400 degrees uncovered until crumbs are brown (shake dish slightly to ensure ingredients are set and not loose)

Yogurt Pie:

It's as simple as it sounds... pie crust and yogurt. I promise, this is something you will want to have come every holiday season. This has been a dish I have loved since my childhood, mostly because I found it entertaining to mix the raspberry and strawberry yogurts, but either way, it's easy, cheap, and great to have.

What you need:

• Extra creamy whipped cream

• Pre-made pie crust (this is the one I like best)

• Gluten-free Jell-O mix

• Two containers of raspberry/strawberry yogurt

• Raspberries and blackberries

What you'll do:

1. Half a container of whipped cream mixed with yogurts

2. Add in Jell-O mix and stir

3. Leave in fridge for 20 minutes to firm and get to the desired consistency

4. Move into crust and put back into fridge for an hour, or until ready to be served

5. Remove and take the rest of the whipped cream to top the filling. Garnish with raspberries and blackberries.

Pumpkin Pie:

Pie is my weakness, but this pumpkin pie just knows how to hit the spot. Soft crust, creamy filing, some good whipped cream... it's all a dream. Store bought versions are good, don't get me wrong, but homemade always knows how to take its game to the next step. This pie is cinnamon packed, freshly pumpkin, and has doughy crust to tie up a perfect pie.

This is the gluten-free pie recipe we have referenced in the past, and I highly recommend. You can find it HERE