The Best Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Recipes

These gluten-free Thanksgiving recipes make it easy to build a holiday menu with comforting sides, homemade breads, festive desserts, and simple main-dish options. Every recipe here is gluten-free, and many are dairy-free or include a tested dairy-free option.

I have celiac disease, so I also included the practical steps I use to reduce gluten cross-contact at mixed-diet gatherings, plus an easy take-along Thanksgiving menu when the rest of the table isn't gluten-free.

If you just want to know what to cook, start with the simple menu below. Then browse by course for more options.

Easy Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Menu

When I want a simple, well-rounded Thanksgiving dinner using recipes from Vibrantly G-Free, this is the menu I make:

• Thanksgiving Turkey Cranberry Meatballs - An easy alternative to a whole turkey with cranberry, herbs, and buttery gravy built into one dish.
• Dairy-Free Mashed Potatoes with Coconut Milk - Creamy mashed potatoes made with coconut milk and dairy-free butter for a classic holiday texture.
• Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts - Deeply browned, crisp-edged Brussels sprouts made with just a few simple ingredients.
• Zesty Arugula Quinoa Salad - Peppery arugula, quinoa, green beans, almonds, and cranberries in a bright lemon dressing for something fresh alongside the richer dishes.
• Gluten-Free Artisan Bread - A crusty homemade gluten-free loaf for the dinner table.
• Gluten-Free Vegan Pumpkin Pie - A creamy pumpkin filling in a crisp gluten-free crust without eggs or dairy.
• Dairy-Free Whipped Cream - A simple coconut-cream topping for pumpkin or apple pie.

Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Appetizers

Keep appetizers simple so everyone still has room for dinner. These are easy to set out while the rest of the meal finishes cooking.

• Dairy-Free Spinach Artichoke Dip - A creamy, cheeseless spinach and artichoke dip with an easy vegan option.
• Simple Gluten and Dairy-Free Charcuterie Board - Build an easy grazing board with gluten-free crackers, meats, fruit, vegetables, olives, avocado, and spreads.

Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Main Dishes

If you're making a traditional Thanksgiving turkey, the turkey can be the naturally gluten-free centerpiece of the meal. Check any added broth, seasoning blends, gravy packets, and other packaged ingredients, and don't cook gluten-containing stuffing inside the bird.

For a smaller Thanksgiving or an alternative to roasting a whole turkey, these are two of my favorite options:

• Thanksgiving Turkey Cranberry Meatballs - Ground turkey, cranberry, holiday herbs, and gravy give you the classic Thanksgiving flavors in a much easier format.
• Savory Pumpkin Stew - Pumpkin, ground meat, potatoes, vegetables, and herbs make this a cozy one-pot alternative for a smaller or less traditional holiday dinner.

Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Side Dishes

The sides are my favorite part of Thanksgiving. These recipes cover creamy potatoes, crisp roasted vegetables, and a fresh salad so the table doesn't feel like six versions of the same rich dish.

• Dairy-Free Mashed Potatoes with Coconut Milk - My choice when I want rich, classic mashed potatoes without dairy. Coconut milk and dairy-free butter give them a creamy texture.
• Mashed Potatoes Without Milk or Butter - A different approach made with Yukon Gold potatoes and olive oil, with no dairy substitute required.
• Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts - A simple oven side with deeply browned edges and tender centers.
• Quick + Easy Scalloped Potatoes Without Cheese - Thinly sliced potatoes baked in a creamy sauce without cheese, with easy dairy-free substitutes.
• Broccoli Raisin Salad with Bacon - This crunchy broccoli salad is made with bacon, sunflower seeds and a creamy dressing. For Thanksgiving, I like to swap the raisins for dried cranberries for a festive sweet-tart bite.
• Zesty Arugula Quinoa Salad - A bright lemony salad with quinoa, arugula, green beans, almonds, and cranberries. I especially like this one when the rest of the table is rich and creamy.
• Crispy Roasted Parsley Potatoes - Crisp roasted potatoes with olive oil, onion, and parsley.

A note on classic Thanksgiving sides: Stuffing, gravy, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, and dinner rolls are some of the dishes that often need the most attention on a gluten-free table. Stuffing and rolls traditionally contain wheat, gravy is often flour-thickened, and casseroles can contain flour in sauces or toppings. Always check every packaged ingredient when cooking for someone with celiac disease.

Gluten-Free Bread for Thanksgiving

Bread deserves its own place on a Thanksgiving table. These range from an easy no-knead loaf to a crusty baguette.

• Gluten-Free Artisan Bread - A rustic loaf with a kneadable psyllium-husk dough and a traditional-style crust.
• No-Knead Gluten-Free Bread - A simple six-ingredient yeast bread with very little hands-on work.
• Gluten-Free French Baguette - A traditional three-ingredient baguette with a crisp golden crust and soft center.

Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Desserts

Thanksgiving dessert should feel like Thanksgiving dessert, despite being gluten-free. These are the pies, apple desserts, pumpkin treats, and cookies I love sharing with others on the holiday table.

• Gluten-Free Vegan Pumpkin Pie - Smooth egg-free and dairy-free pumpkin filling in a crisp gluten-free crust.
• Gluten-Free Apple Pie - A beginner-friendly homemade pie with a flaky gluten-free crust and cinnamon-spiced apple filling.
• Crustless Pumpkin Pie with Almond Flour - A creamy, sliceable pumpkin pie when you want to skip making a crust altogether.
• Vegan Chocolate Cream Pie - A no-bake chocolate option with a cookie crust and creamy chocolate filling.
• Apple Crumble Without Oats - Tender apples under a crisp cinnamon-brown sugar crumble topping.
• Baked Cinnamon Apple Slices - A simple lighter apple dessert with cinnamon and maple syrup.
• Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bars - Moist, sturdy pumpkin bars with warm spices and cream cheese frosting.
• Maple Brown Sugar Cookies - Soft maple-spiced cookies when you want something people can pick up rather than another pie.

For baking and serving: Make the pies with my Easy Gluten-Free Pie Crust, and serve them with Dairy-Free Whipped Cream or Pumpkin Spice Whipped Cream. My Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice is useful throughout the whole fall baking season.

Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Breakfast & Brunch

Thanksgiving breakfast should be special without creating a second giant cooking project before dinner. These are the fall breakfast recipes I choose from.

• Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls - Soft pumpkin cinnamon rolls with maple cream cheese icing and a dairy-free option.
• Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins - Bakery-style pumpkin muffins with a cinnamon streusel topping; naturally vegan.
• Gluten-Free Apple Fritters - Crisp fried fritters with soft apple-packed centers and a quick no-yeast batter.
• Flourless Pumpkin Pancakes - An easy one-bowl pumpkin pancake made with almond butter instead of flour.
• Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte - A simple homemade fall coffee to go with breakfast.

For more easy options, try my Homemade Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer, Almond Flour Pumpkin Muffins, Gluten-Free Pumpkin Donut Holes, or Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread.

Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes

Thanksgiving doesn't end when the table is cleared. If you have extra turkey, turn it into an entirely different dinner instead of eating the same plate night after night.

• Leftover Turkey Baked Ziti - Turn shredded Thanksgiving turkey into a creamy, saucy baked pasta casserole with mozzarella and Italian herbs. The recipe includes the gluten-free pasta quantity I use plus a tested dairy-free option.

Easy Gluten-Free Thanksgiving for One or Two people

If the Thanksgiving you're attending isn't completely gluten-free, I like preparing enough food that I know I can eat a complete meal without depending on every dish at the shared table.

For one or two people, I keep it simple:

• Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts - fast, easy to portion, and they make good leftovers.
• Crispy Roasted Parsley Potatoes - an easy five-ingredient potato side that travels well.
• Crustless Pumpkin Pie - much less work than making a whole traditional pie and easy to prepare ahead.
• Turkey breast, roasted chicken, or a Cornish hen - choose whichever size makes sense for the number of people you're feeding.

If I have more time, Thanksgiving Turkey Cranberry Meatballs give me the holiday flavors without cooking a whole bird.

The important part is bringing enough food that you can enjoy the meal rather than spending Thanksgiving trying to work out which spoon touched which dish.

More Gluten-Free Holiday Resources

When you make one of these recipes, please leave a rating and review on the recipe post. I always appreciate the feedback! ❤️