17 Cheap Gluten Free Meals

These Money-Saving Recipes Are Easy on the Budget

Written by
Teri Gruss, MS
Freelance writer and nutrition expert Teri Lee Gruss, M.S. has written hundreds of recipes focusing on healthy gluten-free cooking.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Teri Gruss, MS
Updated 09/17/20
Indian coconut curry vegetables recipe

The Spruce Eats / Anastasiia Tretiak

Eating gluten-free doesn't have to be expensive. If you need ideas for budget-friendly, easy, delicious meals with no gluten in sight, then you're in luck. Whether you're seeking inspiration for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, these recipes will fill you up without weighing down your wallet.

  • 01 of 17

    Stuffed Cabbage Rolls With Ground Beef and Rice

    Cabbage Rolls

    The Spruce

    Stuffed cabbage rolls use economical ingredients like cabbage, rice, canned tomatoes, and ground beef to make a delicious main dish that serves a crowd. If you plan ahead, there's an easy shortcut: stick the head of cabbage in the freezer. Then you can skip boiling the cabbage leaves.

  • 02 of 17

    Simple Vegan Tofu and Vegetable Stir-Fry With Ginger

    Vegan tofu and vegetable stir fry

    The Spruce 

    Stir-fries are an easy and cheap lunch or dinner option. Toss all of the veggies you have lying around together with a tasty sauce and call it a day. Make sure all of your ingredients are gluten-free, especially the soy sauce. If desired, you can swap the tofu for stir-fried chicken or pork.

  • 03 of 17

    Instant Pot Quiche

    instant pot quiche with salad on a platter

     The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

    For a high-protein, vegetarian, and gluten-free breakfast, whip up a crustless quiche. This recipe, featuring sweet onions, kale, and gouda cheese, cooks in the Instant Pot. It frees up your oven and only takes minutes to make.

  • 04 of 17

    Gluten-Free Creamy Vegan Carrot Soup With Coconut

    Creamy vegan carrot soup

    The Spruce

    Just combine a few simple ingredients to make this vibrant, creamy, and flavorful carrot soup. It's vegan, too, since coconut milk is used instead of dairy. Serve with a green salad for a dirt cheap lunch or dinner.

    Continue to 5 of 17 below.
  • 05 of 17

    Quick and Easy Canned Tuna Fish Tacos

    Quick tuna taco recipe

    The Spruce 

    Canned tuna fish tacos are a lightning-fast meal that are quick, easy, and affordable. A delicious mix between tuna salad and tacos, serve on soft or hard corn tortillas. For extra crunch and nutrition, try topping with a cabbage slaw.

  • 06 of 17

    Creamy Sweet Potato Risotto

    sweet potato risotto

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Risotto is a luxurious dish worthy of a special occasion while being super low cost. This sweet potato version of the classic Italian dish will satisfy vegetarian and gluten-free diets at your next dinner party or weekend family dinner.

  • 07 of 17

    Cheesy Salsa Verde Rice & Beans Breakfast Bowl

    Beans and Rice Breakfast Bowl

    The Spruce / Stephanie Kirkos

    A hearty combination of beans, rice, cheese, salsa verde, and eggs, this breakfast bowl makes a mighty fine lunch or dinner, too. It's super customizable, too: use your favorite beans, white or brown rice, and your favorite salsa. Add a sautéed or roasted vegetable like spinach or broccoli.

  • 08 of 17

    Indian Aloo Gobi

    Indian aloo gobi recipe

    The Spruce Eats / Anastasiia Tretiak

    Aloo gobi is a classic vegetarian Indian dish of potatoes and cauliflower with a fragrant blend of spices. It's an easy dish with a lot of flavor and can be paired with a gluten-free grain or eaten on its own.

    Continue to 9 of 17 below.
  • 09 of 17

    Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai

    Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai

     The Spruce / Jennifer Perillo

    Spaghetti squash is a delicious, low-carb alternative to pasta. You can steam it or roast it to reveal the spaghetti-like strands before adding toppings. Use it as a base for a low-cost pad thai—just make sure your fish sauce is gluten-free.

  • 10 of 17

    Crockpot Chicken and Quinoa Burrito Bowl

    Crock Pot Chicken and Quinoa Burrito Bowl

    The Spruce / Jennifer Meier

    A true hands-off meal, this quinoa burrito bowl uses economical ingredients like canned beans and chicken thighs. Quinoa is naturally gluten-free and high in protein. Serve with sliced green onions and sour cream for topping.

  • 11 of 17

    Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Pizza

    Raw vegan pizzas

     The Spruce

    Homemade pizza is made easy and Celiac-friendly with the help of gluten-free flour mix. There's no need to let the dough rise, so you can even make this recipe on a weeknight. Feel free to customize the toppings, swapping the vegan cheese for real mozzarella or an Italian cheese blend if you're not dairy-free.

  • 12 of 17

    Stuffed Peppers With Ground Beef and Rice

    Stuffed Peppers

    The Spruce

    Stuffed bell peppers are a self-contained meal that the whole family will love. Filled with seasoned ground beef, rice, tomato sauce, and topped with cheese, what's not to like? Make sure the Worcestershire sauce is gluten-free or simply leave it out.

    Continue to 13 of 17 below.
  • 13 of 17

    Egg Roll in a Bowl

    egg roll in a bowl

     The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

    Cheap and easy coleslaw mix is what forms the base of this egg roll in a bowl. Without the wrapper, this dish is gluten-free (be sure to use gluten-free soy sauce or liquid aminos) and low-carb. You can replace the ground pork with ground chicken, turkey, or beef if that's what you have on hand.

  • 14 of 17

    Gluten-Free Buttermilk Pancakes With Brown Rice Flour

    Gluten free buttermilk pancakes recipe

    The Spruce / Andrea Livingston

    Pancakes are always a morning favorite, and a gluten-free version is easy to whip up using brown rice flour. If you don't have buttermilk handy or want to save a few pennies, make your own using milk and lemon juice or a mixture of milk and yogurt.

  • 15 of 17

    Indian Coconut Vegetable Curry

    Indian coconut curry vegetables recipe

    The Spruce Eats / Anastasiia Tretiak

    With tender vegetables and fragrant spices, this Indian coconut curry can be made with whatever fresh or frozen veggies you have available. For the cost of a can of coconut milk and a bit of produce, you can have a flavorful dinner. Serve with basmati rice.

  • 16 of 17

    Thai Bean Thread (Glass) Noodles

    Thai Glass Noodles

    The Spruce

    Bean thread or glass noodles are naturally gluten-free and make a nice base for a Thai-style stir-fry. Made with wallet-friendly tofu or chicken, mushrooms, and bell pepper, it's a filling main dish. Double-check that all of the sauce ingredients are gluten-free.

    Continue to 17 of 17 below.
  • 17 of 17

    Low-Fat Vegetarian White Bean Chili

    Low fat vegetarian white bean chili

    ​The Spruce Eats / Anastasiia Tretiak 

    Beans are a low-cost way to get plenty of fiber and protein into your diet. This quick white bean chili is flavorful and hearty on its own, but can easily be customized. Add some cooked sausage, wilted greens, or other veggies for more texture and flavor.