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Home » Gluten Free Guidance

Modified: May 6, 2025 Published: Aug 11, 2022· Cathy Brak · This post may contain affiliate links ·

Home » Gluten Free Guidance

The Affordable Gluten Free Diet

The affordable gluten free diet is absolutely possible. If you're new avoiding gluten, you may be shocked to find out how expensive gluten free products can be! There are reasons for this.

Gluten free baked goods require special, less common ingredients and very careful monitoring through every stage of production, from farm field to finished product. However, there are ways to eat gluten free without blowing the budget.

golden gluten free buns piled on a white napkin

I have a long-held philosophy about eating well on a budget. Someone once told me that they couldn't afford to buy healthy food, while at the same time tossing all sorts of junk food into their shopping cart. It was then that I realized that it's expensive to buy nutritious food when we're adding it to junk food.

When funds are limited, we need to choose one or the other. I have never regretted my choice to buy and prepare nutritious food! And now when the nutritious food is also gluten free, I am eating well and enjoying my food!

Gluten Free on a Budget

I rarely buy gluten free baked goods, and you don't need to either! More about that later. But, there are lots of other good things to eat. Whole fruits and vegetables are naturally gluten free. We benefit nutritionally when we centre our diets around them.

Shiny, green Brussels sprouts sprinkled with salt on a square white plate.

While focusing on eating primarily plants, don't forget that rice, beans, and lentils are gluten free. Potatoes, onions, and most other root vegetables are usually not expensive. These are key budget-friendly foods to incorporate into our menus.

Watch for sales. Visit farmers' markets. We even have lots of roadside stands in the rural area where I'm from. Seasonal produce is available the same day it's picked!

Eggs and meat are naturally gluten free.

a slice of meatloaf lies on a plate by the remaining loaf, showing the inside

For an affordable gluten free diet, learn to cook at home. For how to keep it safe, read How to Eat Gluten Free at Home.

When you are craving some processed food, know that many regular products such as potato chips, salad dressings, and ice cream do have gluten free labels.

banner with blueberry muffins to the left and text in remaining white space

Money-Saving Guide to Eating Gluten Free

For the breads and treats that you would like to incorporate into your meal plans, save money by making your own. I'm here to help you with that!

Start saving even more money by first making your own flour blends and spice blends.

pumpkin pie spice is stirred in a shallow dish with a wooden spoon

Buy gluten free flours in bulk, but be wary of bulk bins. They can be sources of cross-contamination.

Prepare extra when you cook, and enjoy leftovers later. Leftover roasted chicken is great on salads.

Wash and chop up vegetables for a fresh salad, so it's easy to toss one together at the last minute. Keep homemade salad dressing prepared and on hand.

Bake extra and freeze it. Bake a loaf of bread. Slice it when it's cool, and freeze it to use one or two slices at a time.

25 Budget-Friendly Gluten Free Recipes

Here are some budget-friendly recipes that are all gluten free:

Gluten Free Breakfast Recipes

Classic Granola Recipe
This is the simple granola that I've been making for my family for years. It's easy to vary according to your preferences by changing ingredients.
Check out this recipe
milk pouring from glass bottle onto bowl of granola
Gluten Free Oat Milk
This homemade oat milk is quick and easy! There's no soaking, straining, or waste!
Check out this recipe
glass of white milk beside half-filled milk bottle
Overnight Oats
Baked Overnight Oats is a great gluten free meal prep dish that can be served warm to everyone in the morning. It features berries, apples, raisins, and pecans.
Check out this recipe
bowl of baked oatmeal with raisins and pecans on top
Pancakes
Fluffy gluten free pancakes are great plain or with a cup of berries stirred into the batter. It's all whisked together in one bowl.
Check out this recipe
stack of gluten free pancakes with butter on top, garnished with strawberries
Baked Potato Eggs
This is a great dish for breakfast, lunch, or brunch. Minimal effort produces maximum impact.
Check out this recipe
baked egg in hollowed out potato sprinkled with bacon bits and chives

Gluten Free Snacks

Lemon Coconut Chia Balls
Lemon Coconut Chia Balls are nutritious morsels that taste both refreshing and sweet at the same time. With only five ingredients and no baking, they're a cinch to make!
Check out this recipe
Lemon Coconut Chia Balls are gluten free and dairy free!
Seed Crackers
This Easy Keto Seed Crackers Recipe makes crisp, well-seasoned crackers great to serve with veggies, cheese, and hummus. Made with four kinds of seeds, they're a crunchy, garlicky, oniony, satisfying snack. Keto diet not required. Everyone enjoys them!
Check out this recipe
seed crackers in bowl

Gluten Free Main Dishes

Tomato Lentil Soup
This thick, hearty, whole meal soup is easy to make in the Instant Pot. Brown the meat a little, dump everything else in, set it, and forget it!
Check out this recipe
closeup of lentils in tomato sauce with chunks of sausage and sweet potato
Red Lentils
Lentils are an inexpensive source of nutrition, and red lentils are the quickest and easiest to cook.
Check out this recipe
golden coloured cooked red lentils piled high in a white bowl.
Bean Cassoulet with Sausage
This stove-top Bean Cassoulet with Sausage is a quick, easy, flavourful meal to whip together at the end of a busy day!
Check out this recipe
black bowl of sausage and bean cassoulet with leafy green salad
Roast Chicken or Turkey
This recipe produces a flavourful, seasoned, moist roast chicken or turkey with nice, crisp skin.
Check out this recipe
large golden roasted chicken sitting on plate of greens by bowl or cranberry sauce.
Sausage and Beans Skillet
Easy Sausage and Beans Skillet is a whole meal for six all prepared in one skillet within about half an hour.
Check out this recipe
Easy Sausage and Beans Skillet

Gluten Free Side Dishes

Soft Sorghum Sandwich Bread
This is a beautifully soft, gluten free sandwich bread that's easy to make!
Check out this recipe
loaf of soft sorghum bread on wooden cutting board with a couple of slices lying beside.
Gluten Free Tomato Soup
It's quick and easy to make your own tomato soup with canned tomatoes, so you can confidently be assured that your soup is gluten free.
Check out this recipe
two white bowls of shimmering red soup, garnished with fresh basil
Borscht
Borscht is a warm, comforting bowl of goodness to enjoy on a cool, winter day.
Check out this recipe
Red borscht topped with cashew yogurt in white bowl
Soup Stock
Homemade bone broth or soup stock tastes lovely, is very good for you, and is easy to make!
Check out this recipe
Healing Bone Broth
Creamy Coleslaw
This easy-to-make Creamy Coleslaw is naturally sweetened with maple syrup balanced with the tang of lemon juice.
Check out this recipe
creamy coleslaw in three bowls
Honey Mustard Salad Dressing
This is a great salad dressing to keep on hand, so it's easy to toss together a fresh salad anytime!
Check out this recipe
Homemade Honey Mustard Salad Dressing
Skillet Green Beans with Almonds
Fresh green beans sizzled in garlicky, butter-browned, sliced almonds are delicious served with red meats, chicken, or fish.
Check out this recipe
glistening charred green beans with browned almond slices in cast iron pan with wooden spatula.
Instant Pot Beets
Cook beets reliably every time! Set up the Instant Pot, and cook them without watching.
Check out this recipe
cooked sliced beets and a whole one in a shallow white bowl with a neutral striped tea towel in background
Everything Seasoning with Roasted Vegetables
Everything Seasoning is an amazingly versatile mixture of toasted sesame seeds, poppy seeds, garlic, onion, and salt. It's great on roasted vegetables.
Check out this recipe
Roasted Vegetables with Everything Seasoning
Vegan Mashed Potatoes
With lots of roasted garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper in these creamy mashed potatoes, you'll never miss the dairy!
Check out this recipe
bowl of creamy mashed potatoes with wooden spoon and some whole potatoes in background
Roasted Beets and Carrots
Beets and carrots roasting in the oven free you up to put other finishing touches on a meal.
Check out this recipe
roasted beets and carrots, drizzled with yogurt, in a black bowl
Raw Sauerkraut
Raw sauerkraut is a wonderful, inexpensive source of probiotics. You need only two ingredients to make your own!
Check out this recipe
Raw Sauerkraut in a Bowl

Gluten Free Dessert Recipes

Rice Pudding with Cooked Rice
Sweet, creamy rice pudding is quickly made on the stove top with leftover, cooked rice.
Check out this recipe
two bowls of creamy rice pudding with raisins on blue placemat.
Coconut Macaroons
These very "coconutty" coconut macaroons are an incredibly easy treat to make with only 5 ingredients!
Check out this recipe
several golden balls spiked with flaked coconut and bottoms coated with chocolate all sitting randomly on white surface.
Honey Ginger Meringues
Honey Ginger Meringues are light, crispy, melt-in-your-mouth confections made with only four ingredients!  A little bite of ginger balances the sweetness of honey.
Check out this recipe
Ginger Meringues
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake is a big, thick cookie for dessert! Think of a cross between a chocolate chip cookie and a brownie. Coconut sugar adds nice, rich caramel undertones.
Check out this recipe
wedge of chocolate chip cookie cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top

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