Most of Thanksgiving is already gluten-free: the turkey, the potatoes, most vegetables, and cranberry sauce. The three things to actually solve are gravy, stuffing, and dessert.
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Here is a full menu built around what is naturally safe, plus the swaps for the parts that are not.
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Naturally Gluten-Free Sides You Already Have
No changes needed here, just watch the label on anything store-bought.
Creamy Scalloped Potatoes
Garlic Mashed Potatoes With Cream Cheese
Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows
Easy Swaps for the Tricky Parts
Gravy and stuffing are the two dishes that actually need a gluten-free plan.
Gluten-Free Turkey Gravy (From Drippings)
Easy Gluten Free Stuffing (Dairy Free)
Read the Label
The ingredients that hide gluten without you expecting it.
Broth and bouillon (some contain wheat as a thickener or flavor carrier), canned cream soups, pre-made pie crust, soy sauce in any glaze, and pre-seasoned or self-basting turkey, which sometimes contains a gluten-based marinade. When in doubt, check the label or buy plain and season it yourself.
Avoiding Cross-Contamination
Small habits that matter if someone at the table has celiac disease, not just a preference.
Use separate serving spoons for gluten-free dishes, toast gluten-free bread separately or after regular bread, line a shared pan with foil if you are baking both versions of something, and set the gluten-free stuffing out first before it can pick up crumbs from anything else.
My Best Tips for a Gluten-Free Thanksgiving
It sounds harder than it is. Most of the table is already fine.
- Start with what is naturally gluten-free. Turkey, potatoes, most vegetables, and cranberry sauce need no changes at all. That is most of the plate handled before you even think about substitutes.
- Thicken gravy with cornstarch, not flour. Whisk a tablespoon of cornstarch into a little cold stock, then stir it into the drippings. It thickens just like a flour roux with no gluten at all.
- Buy a plain turkey and season it yourself. Self-basting and pre-brined turkeys sometimes contain a gluten-based solution. A plain turkey lets you control exactly what goes on it.
- Make the gluten-free dish first. Prep and cook it before anything with gluten touches your counter or utensils, especially if someone at the table has celiac disease rather than just a preference.
Gluten-Free Thanksgiving FAQs
Is Thanksgiving turkey naturally gluten-free?
Plain turkey is. Self-basting or pre-brined turkeys sometimes are not, so check the label or buy a plain bird and season it yourself.
How do you make gluten-free gravy?
Whisk cornstarch into cold stock, about a tablespoon per cup, then stir it into the pan drippings and simmer until it thickens.
What is a good gluten-free substitute for bread in stuffing?
Gluten-free sandwich bread cubed and dried works well, or use a gluten-free cornbread as the base instead.
TYB Tips
For the rest of the table see What to Serve with Turkey, and if dessert needs solving too, browse the Vegetarian and Gluten-Free Christmas hub for more GF baking ideas.
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Before You Go
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