30 Gluten-Free Holiday Recipes That Don't Sacrifice Any Of The Flavor

Potatoes au gratin is a classic, but it's long overdue for an upgrade. Thin-skinned red potatoes get sliced, layered in parchment, smothered in a creamy, cheesy, garlicky sauce, then baked until steaming and tender. We added Parmesan to the standard Gruyère and used cream cheese as a base to get maximum richness and take the classic gratin flavor profile up a notch.

Get the Potato Gratin Bundles recipe.

When you’re craving an easy, yet holiday-friendly protein but are tired of old standbys like chicken or turkey, look no further than pork tenderloin. It’s quick-cooking, takes extremely well to countless flavors, and is easy enough for a family meal but remarkable enough for holidays and special occasions.

Get the Roasted Pork Tenderloin recipe.

Never has there ever been a holiday table without green bean casserole. Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but you get the point. It’s an American classic everyone knows but not everyone gets the opportunity to enjoy due to dietary restrictions or eating lifestyles. We love this gluten-free version because it gets more forks involved, but even more for its rich, punchy flavors.

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We hope you're not batting your eyes at “gluten-free.” So often is the word associated with negative connotations because there’s just nothing quite like a gluten-filled treat—bread, pasta, pie, cakes, cookies, you name it… or so you think. Stop there: Gluten-free apple pie can be just as good as all the others. It’s about using the right flour, lots of butter, adding just enough water, and having patience.

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We'll take Brussels any which way, but we especially love giving them an extra decadent treatment—with plenty of butter, cream, and cheese. This method upgrades even the most humble vegetables while still allowing them to be the star of the show—even skeptics will be asking for seconds.

Get the Creamed Brussels Sprouts recipe.

This simple yet satisfying wintery salad packs a flavorful punch with slightly smoky seared pears, creamy blue cheese, and ultra-crunchy candied pumpkin seeds. Tied together by a sweet-sour honey vinaigrette, it’s the perfect holiday side (or add some protein to make it a main!).

Get the Pear Salad recipe.

You may have seen crisp, anise-y fennel bulbs dotting the famers' market stands, nuzzling up alongside sweet delicata squash and tart apples. The three find their way into this healthy side dish that's perfect for elegant dinner party menus, simple weeknight meals, or paired with richer, holiday spreads.

Get the Roasted Fennel With Delicata Squash & Apples recipe.

Christmas pudding might not be the dessert you make every year, but we are here to suggest you start! This one is gluten-free, which will help give you a break from all of the heavy (but delicious) desserts on the table. Full of dried fruit and nuts and topped with a brandy sauce... what's not to love? Plus, Christmas pudding can be made up to 3 MONTHS in advance! Store, tightly wrapped, in the fridge, then bring to room temperature before serving.

Get the Gluten-Free Christmas Pudding recipe.

You know the only thing that may be better than mashed potatoes? Roasted garlic mashed potatoes! That extra-savory flavor from melty, roasted garlic adds the perfect kick to classic mashed spuds (we also add a splash of tangy balsamic vinegar to kick them up a notch).

Get the Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes recipe.

Apple cider adds a subtle sweetness to a classic brisket, and after letting it braise low and slow, it will be as tender as possible. Letting the potatoes and carrots cook with the brisket flavors them from the inside out, and the whole dish will be deeply savory. The veggies cooked along with any kind of roasted or braised meat, like in a roast chicken, are always favorites. You'll be certainly celebrating having plenty of leftovers after your holiday get-together.

Get the Apple Cider Braised Brisket recipe.

Cranberry brie bites are by far one of our favorite appetizers for the holidays, but jalapeño poppers also have place in our hearts too... So why not combine them? The spice of the jalapeño goes so well with the tart cranberries.

Get the Cranberry Brie Jalapeño Poppers recipe.

This twist on a dinner party classic embraces the signature flavors of shrimp cocktail and comes together in less than 30 minutes. We’re opting for roasting instead of the traditional poaching method to give this old-school appetizer even more flavor.

Get the Roasted Shrimp Cocktail With Lemon-Horseradish Aioli recipe.

If you like the flavor of French macarons, you'll love this take on Italian amaretti cookies. Soft, pillowy, moist, sweet, and lightly scented with amaretto liqueur as well as citrus zests, these cookies get made multiple times a season, year after year.

Get the Amaretti Cookies recipe.

Here we give Brussels a simple cacio e pepe-inspired upgrade that gives us the vibes of the more adult version of cheese over broccoli. A generous amount of cracked black pepper is also key for these easy Brussels sprouts that are the perfect side for any holiday or dinner table.

Get the Cacio E Pepe Brussels Sprouts recipe.

Many would argue that the table just isn’t complete without a big dish of classic stuffing. But what about your friends and family with allergies that prevent them from eating wheat? This gluten-free stuffing will save the day—and spoiler alert, it tastes exactly the same as the real thing.

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Beyond the eye-popping pineapple rings and bright maraschino cherries, the glaze here lends a shine and texture to the ham’s caramelized crust. Brushing the ham and fruit three times (or about every 15 minutes) with the glaze should be just enough to create a nicely caramelized outside while also infusing the ham with sweet pineapple notes.

Get the Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham recipe.

These simple green beans come with a treat: 8 cloves of creamy, buttery garlic that get air-fried alongside the green beans for bites of roasted garlic that don’t involve turning on your oven.

Get the Air Fryer Green Beans recipe.

This silky smooth sweet potato pudding is a lighter, simplified cousin of sweet potato casserole without the topping or crust. It's essentially the filling of sweet potato pie with an optional whipped cream or marshmallow fluff topping. No crust or crimping fuss required! The texture is smooth like a pudding but, after chilling, holds its shape similar to cold ice cream. If you like, add toasted, chopped pecans and toasted coconut for a little more flair.

Get the Sweet Potato Pudding recipe.

Making this salad might seem intimidating, but it doesn't actually require much prep. Tossed with a combo of toasted almonds, shaved Parmesan, and pomegranate seeds, Brussels make a great side for any variety of holiday dinner.

Get the Parmesan Brussels Sprouts Salad recipe.

If you want to feel like you’re feasting on the Adriatic coast, then you’ve got to make this zuppa di pesce recipe. A staple dish for any traditional Italian-American holiday feast of the seven fishes, this stewy seafood dish is as beautiful as it is comforting.

Get the Zuppa Di Pesce recipe.