chatgpt image may 12, 2026, 03 55 25 pm

The Gluten-Free Pantry

 

Keeping a simple pantry stocked with basic ingredients has made gluten-free cooking much more manageable for our family. By keeping everyday staples on hand, we’re able to make most of our meals from scratch without constantly running to the store. Many of the ingredients throughout our pantry, refrigerator, and freezer work together in different ways to create flexible meals, baked goods, soups, and family favorites while helping our grocery budget stretch farther.

 

 

 

 

 

Pantry Staples

Our pantry is built around simple ingredients, homemade staples, and nourishing foods that help us gather around the table. Over the years, our family has also navigated additional food sensitivities, including dairy and corn intolerance, which has led us to rely less on heavily processed foods and more on cooking from scratch. We grind some of our own gluten-free grains, mix homemade flour blends, and focus on simple ingredients that help meals stretch farther while still tasting good for the whole family. While most of our meals are made from scratch at home, we also keep a few convenient gluten-free products on hand for travel, busy days, and life on the go.

    • gluten-free flour and flour blends

    • rice

    • quinoa

    • xantham gum

    • psyllium husk

    • gluten-free oats

    • potatoes

    • onions

    • bone broth

    • dried and canned beans

    • gluten-free pasta (Tinkyada, Jovial, or Simple Truth)

    • spaghetti sauce

    • canned tomatoes

    • tomato paste

    • maple syrup

    • honey

    • peanut butter

    • flax seed

    • chia seeds

    • sesame seeds

    • lemon juice

    • lime juice

    • coconut

    • salt – we prefer sea salt or pink Himalayan salt

    • pepper

    • various nuts

    • jams

    • salsa

    • pickles/relish

    • vinegar/cider vinegar

    • rice vinegar

    • seasame oil

    • avacado oil

    • olive oil

    • coconut oil

    • garlic

    • single ingredient spices

    • canned vegetables

    • sugar – we prefer cane sugar

    • brown sugar – we prefer raw sugar

    • powdered sugar

    • baking soda

    • baking powder

    • cocoa powder

    • chocolate chips

    • coconut aminos or gluten-free soy sauce

    • arrowroot powder

    • molasses

    • canned coconut milk

    • dried fruit – we use dates, raisins, and cranberries

 

Refrigerator & Freezer Staples

Because our family also navigates dairy and corn sensitivities, we often keep simple whole-food ingredients on hand in the refrigerator for from-scratch cooking and baking. Over the years, we’ve learned to use a mixture of both dairy and non-dairy staples depending on what works best for eac family member.

 

    • milk – full dairy, almond milk, or oat milk (gluten-free oat milk)

    • yogurt

    • cheese or dairy-free cheese alternative

    • cottage cheese

    • frozen fruit

    • frozen vegetables

    • fresh fruit

    • fresh vegetables

    • butter or dairy-free butter – We prefer Country Crock Plant butter

    • eggs

    • minced garlic

Freezer Proteins

We often purchase meat in bulk when possible and divide it into smaller portions for meal planning throughout the month. Keeping simple protein options on hand helps us build flexible gluten-free meals without relying heavily on processed convenience foods.

 

    • ground beef

    • chuck roast

    • chicken breast or thighs

    • whole chicken

    • ground chicken

    • pork butt (we often use this to make our own sausage)

    • pork roasts

    • bacon

    • whole turkey or turkey breast portions

    • ground turkey

Around Our Table

Although gluten-free cooking can feel overwhelming at first, over time it truly becomes just another way of life. Little by little, we’ve learned new ways to cook, bake, and prepare meals that work well for our family. What once felt difficult now feels like home.

 

Sometimes after finishing a meal, I’ll smile at the kids and joke, “Wow… someone around here really knows how to cook!” It feels good to enjoy the food together again./image