21 Gluten-Free Recipes That Are Ready in 30 Minutes

Keep meals flavorful and free of gluten with chili, tacos, stir-fries, salads, and plenty of protein-packed mains.

Cha Kroeung (Khmer Chicken Stir-Fry)
Photo:

Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Shell Royster

When it comes to weeknight cooking, speedy is the name of the game — but that doesn't have to mean boring, bland, or ultra-processed. With a strategically stocked pantry and just half an hour to spare, we've got lots of tasty, gluten-free recipes to keep your menu interesting night after night. Arm yourself with a single skillet and turn out dishes like Dirty Martini Pork Chops. Or show your wok some love with stir-fried delights such as our easy Chicken Fricassee with asparagus. Ready to get grilling? Try Grilled Scallops with Miso-Corn Salad. Here are so many choices that are ready in so little time!

01 of 21

Weeknight Skillet Chili

Lightnin' Fast Weeknight Skillet Chili

Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

This chili has none of the dusty chili powder flavor that comes with some spice-packet shortcut recipes. Store-bought pico de gallo adds a fresh, vibrant character as it joins forces with other big-flavor ingredients like canned chipotles in adobo, Mexican chorizo, fire-roasted tomatoes, and fresh poblano in this weeknight-friendly staple. 

02 of 21

Dirty Martini Pork Chops

Dirty Martini Pork Chops

Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Thom Driver

This speedy skillet entrée takes only 30 minutes to prepare and features the major players in the classic martini — gin plus olives and their brine. Mingled with spicy chiles, fragrant bay leaves, and caramelized pan-seared pork chops, the salty olive brine and aromatic gin help make a sauce that’s pure magic.

03 of 21

Chicken Fricassee Stir-Fry with Asparagus

Chicken Fricassee Stir Fry
Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Missie Neville Crawford

This quick-cooking recipe from cookbook author Grace Young showcases the technique for a simple stir-fry, where ingredients are continually added to the wok, layering flavor as each cooks perfectly. Tender asparagus joins carrots and chicken in a speedy stir-fry seasoned with white wine instead of rice wine, and cream enriches the sauce.

04 of 21

Steak Diane

Steak Diane
Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Melissa Gray / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

Steak cooked Diane-style has come to mean sautéing thinly sliced or pounded filet mignon in butter and then flambéing and basting it in a luxe Cognac sauce; star chef Emeril Lagasse adds sliced mushrooms to the pan for more rich flavor.

05 of 21

Italian Tuna Salad

Roman-Style Tuna Salad

Frederick Hardy II / Food Styling by Melissa Gray / Prop Styling by Christina Brockman

This Italian tuna salad combines oil-packed jarred tuna, sun-dried tomatoes, red onions, juicy olives, and celery, all tossed in a lemony honey mustard dressing. The recipe is a perfect example of how a handful of pantry ingredients can become a meal that sings — in only 20 minutes.

06 of 21

Grilled Scallops with Miso-Corn Salad

Grilled Scallops with Miso Corn Salad
Victor Protasio

"In summer, I cook [scallops] on the grill until just kissed by the flames and pile them on top of warmed veggies with a bright dressing," Gail Simmons writes. "This version, a favorite for quick and easy backyard dinners, incorporates miso, ginger, and toasted sesame, adding a savory dimension to the salad and a rich contrast to the corn and scallops' inherent sweetness." Sub tamari for the soy sauce to make it gluten-free.

07 of 21

Steak au Poivre with Red Wine Pan Sauce

Steak au Poivre with Red Wine Pan Sauce

Cara Cormack

Clocking in at 20 minutes, this recipe is both quick and elegant. Red wine pan sauce is an amalgamation of fond (those browned bits left in the pan after searing meat), shallots, broth, good-quality red wine, and a few pats of butter for an ideal accompaniment to peppercorn-crusted rib eye steak.

08 of 21

Cha Kroeung

Cha Kroeung (Khmer Chicken Stir-Fry)

Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Shell Royster

This Cambodian chicken stir-fry is full of salty, tangy, and slightly spicy flavors, from Thai basil, chiles, fish sauce, and kroeung, a Cambodian lemongrass paste.

09 of 21

Lamb Loin Chops Sizzled with Garlic

Lamb Chops Sizzled with Garlic
Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

Las Pedroñeras, in the Castilla-La Mancha region, is considered the garlic capital of Spain. These juicy, meaty lamb chops sizzled in extra-virgin olive oil with plenty of garlic cloves are cookbook author Janet Mendel's homage to the village.

10 of 21

Lobster Risotto

Lobster Risotto
Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell

A small pinch of saffron goes a long way in imparting a vibrant golden hue and floral fragrance to this creamy, indulgent lobster risotto. Precooked lobster and bottled clam juice deliver robust layers of flavor with a minimum amount of effort, making this a perfect weeknight supper.

11 of 21

Moules Frites

Moules Frites

Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Amelia Rampe

Moules frites, a Flemish dish consisting of steamed mussels served with French fries and Dijon mayonnaise, is so popular that it's considered the national dish of Belgium. The mussels here are steamed in white wine, butter, and shallots, but feel free to swap out the wine for gluten-free beer, cider, or even Pernod. The recipe saves time by using store-bought French fries that cook in the oven; you can prepare the mussels in the time it takes for the fries to bake.

12 of 21

Avgolemono Chicken Soup with Rice

Avgolemono Chicken Soup with Rice

Diana Chistruga

Avgolemono is a classic sauce of chicken broth, egg yolks, and lemon juice; the addition of a bit more chicken broth, rice, and shredded chicken turns it into a satisfying soup.

13 of 21

Marinated Chickpea Salad with Radishes, Cucumber, and Queso de Freir

Chickpea Salad with Fried Halloumi
Farrah Skeiky

This quick chickpea salad from pastry chef Paola Velez is packed with vegetables and tossed with a simple, flavorful lemon-garlic and cumin dressing. Crispy, melty strips of fried queso de freir — a favorite cheese from Velez's childhood — take the dish over the top.

14 of 21

Easy Chicken Fajitas

Easy Chicken Fajitas

Cara Cormack

Have Tex-Mex on the table in 30 minutes and use corn tortillas to keep it gluten-free.

15 of 21

Pork Chops with Sherry Pan Sauce with Ras Al Hanout

Pork Chops with Sherry Pan Sauce with Ras Al Hanout
Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Micah Morton / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis

Make and serve this complex pan sauce with dry sherry, fresh orange juice, and dried fruit, for pork chops or seared duck breasts.

16 of 21

Tempeh Tacos with Cabbage Slaw

Tempeh Tacos with Cabbage Slaw and Almond Butter Crema
Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Prop Styling by Christina Daley / Food Styling by Ali Ramee

Use protein-packed fermented soy-based tempeh for vegan tacos. It crumbles nicely in place of ground meat, and charred corn tortillas keep it gluten-free.

17 of 21

Sausage, Kale, and Potato Skillet Supper

Sausage, Kale, and Potato Skillet Supper
Jen Causey

Cookbook author and For the Culture founder/editor Klancy Miller combines small red potatoes, spicy sausage, succulent kale, and thinly sliced red onions to make an easy skillet supper for one in 25 minutes.

18 of 21

Grilled Mahi-Mahi with Lemongrass-Lime Aïoli

Grilled Mahi Mahi with Lemongrass Lime Aioli
Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Serve grilled mahi-mahi with a lemongrass and lime aïoli that comes together in seconds using an immersion blender with richness and zest.

19 of 21

Pan-Roasted Salmon with Tomato Vinaigrette

Pan-Roasted Salmon with Tomato Vinaigrette.
© Greg DuPree

In 2018, Food & Wine named this recipe one of our 40 best. It comes from TV personality and Chopped host Ted Allen. To make it, he sautés sweet grape tomatoes with capers, shallot, and cumin, then spoons the bright, chunky sauce over crisp salmon fillets. It's easy, quick, and makes the quintessential weeknight dinner.

20 of 21

Quinoa Egg Bowl with Pecorino

Quinoa Egg Bowl with Pecorino
© John Kernick

Cookbook author Melissa Clark takes inspiration from Caesar salad in this quinoa bowl, which includes a soft runny egg and a lemony, cheese-spiked dressing. It’s one of the best grain bowls we’ve ever had. 

21 of 21

Brussels Sprout, Bacon, and Gruyère Frittata

Brussels Sprout, Bacon and Gruyère Frittata

© Christina Holmes

Eggs aren't just for breakfast! Loaded with crispy bacon and thinly sliced brussels sprouts, this quick, hearty frittata makes a substantial meal any time of day.

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