With gluten intolerance and celiac disease becoming more prevalent, it’s important for hosts to provide gluten-free options when entertaining guests. Having delicious gluten-free dishes shows your guests you care about accommodating their needs. Luckily, there are many naturally gluten-free foods and creative recipes to choose from. With some advance planning and knowledge of ingredients, you can serve gluten-free guests appetizing meals and treats.
Understanding Gluten-Free Diets
Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley and rye. For those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, consuming gluten triggers an autoimmune response that damages the small intestine. This can lead to symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, fatigue and headaches. The only treatment is adopting a strict lifelong gluten-free diet, avoiding any foods containing gluten.
Many healthy, nutritious foods are naturally gluten-free, including fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, seeds, legumes and dairy products. There are also specialty gluten-free versions of typically gluten-containing foods like bread, pasta, crackers and baked goods. With some adjustments, you can easily accommodate gluten-free guests.
Gluten-Free Appetizers
Appetizers are a great way to kick off a meal and keep guests satisfied while the main courses are finishing up. Here are some gluten-free appetizer ideas:
Fresh vegetables and dip
Offer a platter of fresh, in-season vegetable crudités like carrots, celery, cucumber, bell peppers, radishes and cherry tomatoes served with hummus or another bean dip. You can also do vegetables paired with guacamole, salsa or olive tapenade.
Cheese board
Create an artful cheese board with cubes, slices and crumbles of delicious cheeses like cheddar, goat cheese, feta, Parmesan and blue cheese. Accompany it with gluten-free crackers, nuts and fruit.
Deviled eggs
Hard boiled eggs filled with a creamy, seasoned yolk mixture are a classic appetizer perfect for gluten-free guests. Add your own creative mix-ins like bacon bits, chives, smoked paprika or curry powder.
Shrimp cocktail
Served chilled with cocktail sauce, shrimp cocktail is a simple, foolproof gluten-free appetizer. Opt for wild-caught shrimp for sustainability.
Stuffed mushrooms
Remove mushroom stems, brush caps with olive oil, then stuff with your choice of fillings like cheese, sauteed veggies, crab meat or Italian sausage. Bake until hot and melted.
Gluten-Free Soups and Salads
Soups and salads are nutritious, gluten-free starters. Here are tasty options:
Garden salad
Let your gluten-free guests build their own salad with mixed greens, chopped veggies, nuts and a simple vinaigrette dressing. Add salad toppings like grilled chicken, hardboiled egg or avocado.
Caesar salad
Romaine lettuce tossed with Caesar dressing, Parmesan cheese and croutons (use gluten-free) is a hearty salad. Substitute chicken for a protein boost.
Wedge salad
A wedge of iceberg lettuce topped with blue cheese dressing, bacon crumbles, tomato and avocado makes for bold flavors.
Chicken noodle soup
Comforting chicken noodle soup is easy to make gluten-free by using rice noodles or cooking gluten-free pasta separately. Use chicken broth and add carrots, celery, onion and chicken.
Minestrone soup
The Italian vegetable soup minestrone is naturally gluten-free. Cook up a pot with beans, tomatoes, zucchini, spinach and pasta or rice.
Chili
Whip up a hearty pot of chili using ground beef or turkey, tomatoes, beans, onion, garlic, chili powder and seasoning. Top with avocado, cheese, cilantro or gluten-free cornbread.
Gluten-Free Main Dishes
You have lots of flavorful, satisfying options when it comes to gluten-free main courses. Here are some crowd-pleasers:
Roast chicken and vegetables
Roasted chicken is simple to prepare and pairs nicely with roasted potato, carrots, onions or other veggies tossed in olive oil and seasoning.
Baked salmon
Top salmon fillets with pesto, mango salsa or maple glaze and bake until flaky. Salmon goes well over rice or roasted potatoes.
Meatballs with tomato sauce
Make baked meatballs with ground turkey or beef mixed with egg, Parmesan and Italian spices. Simmer in jarred marinara sauce. Serve over zucchini noodles.
Shrimp scampi with rice
Saute shrimp in olive oil and garlic, deglaze pan with white wine and lemon juice, then mix in fresh parsley. Serve shrimp over rice or quinoa.
Tex-Mex tacos or fajitas
Build tacos or fajitas using corn tortillas, shredded lettuce, seasoned ground beef or chicken, guacamole, salsa and beans or Mexican-style rice.
Gluten-free pizza
Make homemade pizza with a gluten-free crust or pre-made cauliflower crust. Top with marinara sauce, cheese and favorite veggies or meats.
Stir fry
Quick-cook meat and veggies in an Asian-inspired stir fry. Use tamari or coconut aminos for the sauce and serve over rice noodles or brown rice. Add tofu or chicken.
Lasagna
Assemble lasagna using layers of marinara sauce, cooked ground meat, ricotta cheese and sheets of gluten-free lasagna noodles. Top with mozzarella and bake.
Gluten-Free Side Dishes
Round out the meal with nutritious gluten-free side dishes:
Roasted or mashed potatoes
Cubes of potatoes tossed in olive oil, salt and garlic then roasted are simple. Or boil and mash potatoes with milk, butter and seasoning.
Quinoa pilaf
Cook quinoa per package instructions, then mix in sauteed veggies like onion, peas, carrot. Season with fresh herbs.
Sauteed green beans
Blanch then saute green beans in olive oil and garlic. Season with salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Roasted butternut squash
Peel, cube and toss butternut squash in olive oil and spices. Roast in the oven until fork tender.
Sauteed spinach
Saute fresh spinach in olive oil with minced garlic and lemon juice until wilted down. Season with salt and pepper.
Roasted broccoli
Toss broccoli florets in olive oil, salt and pepper, then roast in oven until edges are crispy. Sprinkle with Parmesan before serving.
Gluten-Free Desserts
You don’t have to miss out on something sweet with these decadent gluten-free desserts:
Fresh fruit crisps
Make a simple baked fruit crisp by topping slices of fruit like peach, plum, berries or apple with a streusel oat topping. Sweeten cooked fruit with honey or maple syrup.
Chocolate mousse
Whip heavy cream until it holds stiff peaks then fold into a melted chocolate-cream mixture. Chill until set. Top with berries.
Panna cotta
This Italian chilled custard is naturally gluten-free. Infuse cream with vanilla bean, simmer with milk and gelatin, then chill in molds until set. Top with fruit sauce.
Sorbet and ice cream
Many brands offer gluten-free ice cream, gelato and fruit sorbets for a cool, creamy, gluten-free dessert. Top with fruit or nut toppings.
Dark chocolate bark
Melt dark chocolate, spread on a baking sheet then sprinkle with nuts, seeds, coconut or dried fruit. Chill until set for homemade chocolate bark.
| Dish | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Vegetable crudites with hummus | Carrots, celery, cucumber, bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, hummus |
| Cheese board | Cheddar, goat cheese, feta, Parmesan, gluten-free crackers, nuts, grapes |
| Deviled eggs | Hard boiled eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, paprika, salt, pepper |
| Shrimp cocktail | Wild caught shrimp, cocktail sauce |
| Stuffed mushrooms | Mushrooms, cream cheese, cheddar, spinach, Italian seasoning |
| Garden salad | Mixed greens, carrots, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, avocado, vinaigrette |
| Caesar salad | Romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, Parmesan, croutons, chicken |
| Wedge salad | Iceberg lettuce, blue cheese dressing, bacon, tomato, avocado |
| Chicken noodle soup | Chicken broth, rice noodles, chicken, carrots, onion, celery |
| Minestrone soup | Vegetable broth, beans, zucchini, tomatoes, spinach, rice |
| Chili | Ground beef, tomatoes, beans, onions, garlic, chili powder |
| Roasted chicken and vegetables | Chicken, potatoes, carrots, onion, olive oil, seasoning |
| Baked salmon | Salmon fillets, pesto, herbs, lemon |
| Meatballs with tomato sauce | Ground beef, egg, Parmesan, garlic, marinara sauce, zucchini noodles |
| Shrimp scampi | Shrimp, olive oil, garlic, white wine, lemon juice, parsley, rice |
| Fajitas | Chicken, steak, onions, peppers, corn tortillas, beans, guacamole, salsa |
| Gluten-free pizza | Pizza crust, marinara sauce, cheese, vegetables, meat |
| Stir fry | Meat, vegetables, tamari, rice noodles |
| Lasagna | Marinara sauce, ground beef, ricotta, mozzarella, gluten-free noodles |
| Roasted potatoes | Potatoes, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper |
| Quinoa pilaf | Quinoa, onion, carrots, peas, vegetable broth, herbs |
| Sauteed green beans | Green beans, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice |
| Roasted butternut squash | Butternut squash, olive oil, spices |
| Sauteed spinach | Spinach, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper |
| Roasted broccoli | Broccoli florets, olive oil, salt, pepper, Parmesan |
| Fruit crisp | Sliced fruit, oats, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon |
| Chocolate mousse | Dark chocolate, heavy cream, eggs |
| Panna cotta | Cream, milk, vanilla, gelatin, fruit sauce |
| Sorbet and ice cream | Dairy-free and gluten-free options |
| Dark chocolate bark | Dark chocolate, nuts, seeds, dried fruit |
Tips for Gluten-Free Entertaining
Hosting gluten-free guests doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some tips:
- When inviting guests, ask if they have any dietary restrictions so you can plan accordingly.
- Read all food labels carefully to look for gluten-containing ingredients like wheat, barley, rye.
- Choose naturally gluten-free grains like quinoa, rice, corn and oats.
- Look for gluten-free versions of foods like pasta, bread, crackers when shopping.
- Reduce cross-contamination by thoroughly cleaning cooking surfaces and tools.
- Use separate condiments for gluten-free dishes to avoid cross-contact.
- Clearly label gluten-free options at gatherings.
- Have gluten-free snacks on hand like fresh fruit, nuts, cheese, veggies.
- Accommodate dietary needs but don’t make a big deal out of it.
- Focus on all the delicious foods your gluten-free guests can eat.
With some planning and care when preparing food, you can make your gluten-free guests feel welcomed and included. The important thing is that they have tasty, safe options to enjoy.
Conclusion
Entertaining gluten-free guests doesn’t require giving up flavor or variety. With naturally gluten-free ingredients and creative substitutions, you can craft appetizing gluten-free meals for your friends and family. Emphasize fresh produce, lean proteins and dairy while exploring gluten-free grains and packaged foods. Label dishes clearly, reduce cross-contact and your gluten-free guests will feel well fed and cared for. The most important thing is spending quality time together over delicious food.