Gluten Free Comfort Food: 21 Amazing Recipes
About a week ago, I asked my readers a very important question on Facebook. “Have you turned on the heat yet, this season?” The answers were mixed. I was still holding out on the heater and mostly enjoying the crisp mornings, warm afternoons, and cool evenings of autumn. Today, though, I can fully cop to having turned on the heater. Autumn means cozy sweaters, a blanket on the sofa, and gluten free comfort food.
From mac and cheese to curry to meatballs to soup, comfort food is like a warm hug in a bowl. Who doesn’t want a warm hug for dinner? #AmIright? Of course, since I’ll pulling together this list, everything is gluten free.
1. Gluten Free Mac and Cheese with Green Chile and Chicken
Mac and cheese has to be the first food on the list. Who can resist warm gooey cheesy goodness especially if the mac and cheese a little kick from green chile?
2. Carrot Soup with Caramelized Onion
When I think of comfort food, I immediately think of a nice warm bowl of soup. This vegan carrot soup is creamy without cream. Comforting and healthy? Count me in.
3. Gluten Free Swedish Meatballs
Meatballs are one of those foods that my mom made really well. I miss my mom’s meatballs and don’t even get me started on how sad I get when I go to Ikea and can’t sit down to a plate of Swedish meatballs. Problem solved.
4. Paleo Chicken Pot Pie with Sweet Potato Biscuit Crust
I’ll never forget my first real chicken pot pie from the Liberty Café in San Francisco. It came in a big bowl topped with flaky buttery puff pastry, so when I first saw a biscuit topped pot pie, I thought I was about to be disappointed. Turns out… nope. I love both.
5. Pasta with Spicy Pumpkin Sauce
Of course, a hot bowl of pasta is pretty up there in the comfort food world and I can’t imagine more comforting flavors than creamy and smoky pumpkin sauce. While it may not be traditional, it registers super high on the comfort-meter.
6. Gluten Free Vegetarian Nachos
Joshua is big on Nachos. In fact, they may be one of his favorite foods on the planet. We often make them with sweet potatoes and leftover roast chicken, but these vegetarian nachos are really popular at home too.
7. Gluten Free Muffin Tin Meatloaf
I will never understand why people don’t like meatloaf. Sure, there is bad meatloaf in the world, but that does not mean all meatloaf is bad! I mean, there are bad kittens in the world, we’re not going to write off all of the kittens, right? Okay, who am I kidding, there are no bad kittens.
8. Indonesian Chicken Curry
Many Americans may not think of curry as a comfort food, but I say that curries hit the comfort spot on many levels. This Indonesian version of chicken curry is similar to a Thai curry with warming spices, a creamy sauce, and a little bit of heat.
9. Goat Cheese and Green Chili Paleo “Cornbread”
Cornmeal is one of my favorite foods, but I get migraines if I eat to much corn. Naturally, I played around in the kitchen to come up with a corn-free “cornbread”. Whether you can eat corn or not, this Paleo-friendly skillet bread is one of the most comforting foods there is.
10. Slow Cooker Texas Style Chili
I can’t even say “cornbread” without thinking of chili. This slow cooker chili is Texas style. All meat and veggies and spices… no beans..
10. Easy White Chicken Chili
Chili is one of the great comfort foods which is why it makes this list more than any other food. This white chicken chili comes together easily and looks great.
11.Chili Polenta Pot Pie
I couldn’t have two chili recipes with meat and leave out my vegetarian friends. That would just be rude. This vegetarian and gluten free recipe combines two of the best foods ever, chili and pot pie. Yes!
12. Curried Cauliflower Soup
I am crazy for cauliflower. I may actually have a problem with this vegetable. Like the kind of problem that requires meetings. This is one addiction that might actually be okay.
13. Slow Cooker Andouille Sausage Stew
Warm and smoky andouille sausage is one of those foods that feels like home. This lovely stew is made in the slow cooker and sounds pretty perfect for a cool night.
14. Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Yes yes yes to mashed potatoes. These are made in the slow cooker. Um… genius!
15. Roasted Potatoes with Fennel Pollen
I can’t have mashed potatoes on the list without a little nod to roasted potatoes- one of my favorite comfort foods of all time.
16. Roast Chicken
And since we’re talking about roasting… roasted chicken is my perfect comfort food dinner for any season.
17. Roasted Baby Veggies
Roast chicken and roasted potatoes must be rounded out with roasted root vegetables. Those three things with a salad and a bowl of soup… better than Thanksgiving dinner.
18. Thai Style Butternut Squash Soup
And speaking of soup… butternut squash, ginger, apple? Yes!
19. Basque Lamb Stew
Lamb stew reminds me of my grandmother who cooked lamb to perfection. This Basque version from Simply Recipes has some of my favorite flavors all in one pot.
20. Maple Glazed Carrots
Maple and cinnamon glaze on carrots? Yup! Definitely comfort food.
21. Sautéed Apples with Honey
Although this almost falls into the desert category, I couldn’t leave out my very favorite comfort food, sautéed apples. In my world, they can be eaten for any meal. So there you have it. 21 of the best comfort foods- gluten free of course. What do you consider the ultimate comfort food? Daily Gratitude: Today, I am really grateful for love. That I feel loved and that I feel love. I am also grateful for leftovers, great friends, and coffee- all of which I feel love for. What about you?
As a celiac I am delighted with this post. My comfort food is definitely mac and cheese, or macaroni with tomato juice.
Macaroni with tomato juice? Tell me more!
And now I want some gluten free mac n' cheese. Thanks! 😉
Love the recipes but I was recently diagnose with irritable bowel syndrome and leaky gut. I also have food allergies I can no longer eat gluten, diary, chocolate, tomotoes, red or black beans, garlic or onions. I can eat some fruit, green steam veggies and chicken and fish. I have struggling to find recipes.
Michelle, I completely relate. I have had various (and weird) food allergies throughout my life. My suggestion, would be to get comfortable adapting recipes. There are lots of gluten free/dairy free recipes out there. Cooking without garlic or onions might seem tough, at first, but you will find spices and flavor profiles that satisfy you. I wish you so much luck on your journey to health. If you have any specific questions, I’ll be truly happy to try and answer them. If you’d like to adapt any of my recipes, I’ll try to give you ideas on how to do that. Be well.
You might want to look into Autoimmune Paleo diet recipes, then. It’s far more restrictive than regular paleo, but follows some of the dietary restrictions that you already have. Good luck!
how can the Swedish meatballs be low fodmap when it has onions in it?
Hi Donna, the Swedish meatballs are a link to another site. I’m not an expert on low FODMAP diets, but I’ll bet Erin (the woman runs the site I linked to) can help. Take care.
So many great options for those who eat gluten free. The carrot soup looks delicious.
Thank you for this list. It is going to be a valuable resource for me this Christmas when a few friends visit whose daughter has to watch her diet.
This is amazing roundup. Everything looks so soo good. Although I don’t have direct medical problems with gluten I avoid it as much as I can. And I have noticed I feel much better when I eat GF food. I just have to master gluten free baking hahah I’m so bad in GF baking 😀 Sharing this. Cheers!
Winter is well and truly here, and so is the comfort food! A much needed essential part of this season. A fab selection of wonderful looking dishes.
Ooo, I feel all cosy and well, *hygge* reading through this! I am most drawn to that delicious vegan carrot soup, such a beautiful photo. Thanks for all these comforting, cosy meals x