A typical Thanksgiving feast features foods like gravy, dressing/stuffing and desserts that are loaded with gluten, but with some careful shopping and a few simple substitutions, you can easily put together a meal that is gluten-free but still packed with the flavors of the season. If you don’t tell your guests, they may not even realize it’s gluten-free!
One general gluten-safe shopping tip is to put together the list of items you need to check, and then use the internet to research brands that are definitely gluten-free. Some will even state a gluten-free certification on their website or the packaging! There are plenty of gluten-free lifestyle and Celiac Disease websites that have lists of products that don’t contain gluten.
The meal’s anchor is, of course, turkey. Paula’s Roasted Turkey recipe also includes gravy, and the whole recipe is already gluten-free as-is, but when you’re shopping for the chicken broth and cornstarch, double-check the labels, as gluten has been known to appear in those items.
Next, we have Cornbread Dressing With Sausage. This needs a touch more modification to work for a gluten-free event. Use this Moist and Easy Cornbread recipe (multiply ingredients by 1.5 to get the right amount of cornbread) instead of the one within the Cornbread Dressing With Sausage recipe, make sure your cornmeal is gluten-free, and purchase some all-purpose gluten-free flour to substitute for regular all-purpose flour. Most grocery stores carry a couple brands to choose from. Also be sure to check your baking powder, sausage, bouillon and chicken stock labels for gluten.
The Lady’s Cheesy Mac is easily made eligible for this meal by using gluten-free elbow macaroni. To be super safe, you might want to double-check the sour cream and cheddar cheese you purchase, but generally, these products are gluten-free.
And finally, dessert! The good news is, by purchasing a gluten-free cake mix and using that instead of a regular cake mix, you can make Paula’s famous Pumpkin Gooey Cake without worry!
Round out the meal with these already gluten-free dishes: Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Lemon Zest; Smashed Potato, Parsnips and Rutabaga; and Wayne’s Cranberry Sauce.
What are your favorite gluten-free Thanksgiving recipes?
