Best Gluten-Free Pasta Brands for 2024 (Not Mushy)
If you’re on a gluten-free diet but you’ve been craving pasta, you’re going to want to check out this review of the best gluten-free pasta brands. These pasta brands all have great texture and flavor that rival regular wheat pasta. This list includes pasta brands made with gluten-free grains as well as some grain-free pasta options!
Why I Eat Gluten-Free Pasta
If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, then you know that I’ve been gluten-free since around 2010.
Back then, I started experiencing hives all over my body. It was so crazy, no matter what I ate, my skin would break out into these itchy rashes.
That was one of my first indicators that I had a gluten intolerance and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. So, I went gluten-free to help manage the hives, as well as Hashimoto’s thyroid disease. It’s been about 10 years now, and I stay gluten-free to help manage my symptoms.
Read more about my journey to clean eating, including my experience with hives.
But, sometimes you still crave pasta, am I right? And, if you have celiac disease or you are cooking for someone who does, then you’ll want to stick with one of these gluten-free products that are certified gluten-free over traditional pasta made with wheat flour.
That’s no problem because there are some absolutely fantastic gluten-free alternatives on the market these days. Honestly, there are some really bad pasta brands out there too.
Check out these best gluten-free pasta brands to avoid mushy or overly chewy versions. And, always be sure to read the instructions carefully for the cooking time and tips to prepare your gluten-free pastas to taste the best they can.
What is Gluten-Free Pasta Made From?
Gluten-free pasta means that there is no wheat in the ingredient label. But, there are quite a few main ingredients that can be used in a gluten-free pasta.
You can find all types of gluten-free and grain-free pastas available at grocery stores and online now including brown rice pasta, red lentil pasta, konjac pasta, and more.
Gluten-free pasta ingredients
Here is an expanded list of common ingredients found in gluten-free pastas. If you need to avoid one or more of them, be sure to read the ingredient list of any packaged pasta brands you buy.
- Rice Flour: Often used as a base ingredient in many gluten-free pasta varieties.
- Corn Flour: Provides a slightly sweet flavor and helps in creating a firm texture.
- Quinoa Flour: High in protein and nutrients, quinoa flour adds a nutty taste.
- Buckwheat Flour: Despite its name, buckwheat is gluten-free and adds a rich, earthy flavor.
- Amaranth Flour: A nutrient-rich ancient grain that enhances the nutritional profile of pasta.
- Tapioca Starch: Used for its binding properties and adds a chewy texture.
- Potato Starch: Helps in creating a smooth texture and is often used as a thickener.
- Sorghum Flour: Adds a mild, sweet flavor and improves the texture of pasta.
- Chickpea Flour: High in protein and fiber, it gives pasta a firm texture and slightly nutty taste.
- Lentil Flour: Another protein-rich option that adds a unique flavor and firmness. You’ll find brands that use lentil flour from either green lentils or red lentils.
- Almond Flour: Provides a slightly sweet, nutty flavor and is rich in nutrients.
- Teff Flour: A small grain that is high in protein, iron, and calcium.
- Xanthan Gum: Often used as a gluten substitute to provide elasticity and stickiness in the dough.
- Egg (in some brands): Adds richness and helps bind the ingredients, though not used in vegan options.
- Brown Rice Flour: Provides a whole-grain, nuttier flavor compared to white rice flour.
- Oat Flour: Adds a mild flavor and is often used in combination with other gluten-free flours.
- Pea Protein: Used to increase the protein content in some gluten-free pasta. Or, you can also find pasta made with yellow peas or green peas.
- Arrowroot Powder: Acts as a thickener and helps improve the texture of the pasta.
- Millet Flour: A light, mildly-flavored grain that adds a delicate taste.
- Bean Flours (like black bean, mung bean): Offers high protein content and a distinct flavor profile.
- Hearts of Palm: Can be used to make a low-carb, grain-free pasta.
Again, you’ll need to read the ingredients label of any brand you buy to make sure you know what’s inside your pasta.
Best Gluten-Free Pastas
This blog post and related video are not sponsored. I picked the brands based on my personal experience, plus input from my husband who is also gluten-free and is very picky about his pasta.
Let’s review the best gluten-free pastas!
1. Tinkyada Rice Pastas
Tinkyada pastas are made from brown rice, although they do have at least one white rice pasta as well.
If you are looking for the brand of gluten free pasta that tastes most like wheat pasta, then this is the brand you want to try.
The Tinkyada brand is also great because it has a variety of shapes including spirals, spaghetti, fettuccini, lasagna, and more.
Just check the pasta aisle of your local grocery store or search for them online. Be sure to read the instructions carefully, the pastas generally need to cook for much longer than regular wheat pasta.
I like to follow the “energy efficient” method of cooking these pastas where you boil the water with the pasta for a few minutes, then cover the pot and turn off the heat. Let the pot sit for 16 minutes or so and then drain and serve. Read the instructions on every bag of Tinkyada pasta for the exact instructions. It works great every time!
I used the Tinkyada penne for my Gluten-Free Pasta Salad. I recommend the Tinkyada brown rice elbows for my Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad, the spaghetti to serve with my Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs or Beef Teriyaki with Noodles, and the spirals for my Dairy-Free Pesto Pasta.
2. and 3. White Rice Noodles
The next best brands of gluten free noodles come from Lotus Foods and Thai Kitchen. These brands both make excellent white rice noodles that are perfect for Asian inspired dishes like curries and pad Thai.
The ingredients of these noodles are both so simple, just white rice flour or white rice. This simple ingredient list is perfect for those of us who have multiple food sensitivities. You can’t get much more basic that white rice noodles. They taste great too!
These noodles are great for people who are on a paleo diet and generally avoid grains, but do sometimes include white rice products. I love both of these products and they are a staple in my kitchen.
Either of these noodles would work great in my Sweet Potato Coconut Curry or Shrimp Udon recipes.
4. Lentil pasta
Tolerant Green Lentil Pasta is #4 on my list of the best gluten-free pasta brands.
This company makes the absolute best lentil pasta on the market. The pasta is tender and the ingredients are so clean.
You’re also going to love the nutritional profile of this pasta. One serving has 21 grams of pure plant-based protein and 11 grams of fiber, so this is a great product for vegan meals. This pasta is also amazing topped with my Vegan Cashew Cheese Sauce.
5. Chickpea pasta
My next favorite brand of gluten-free pasta comes from Banza. As far as I know, they only make chickpea based products, but they offer a ton of different shapes.
I make this pasta at least once a week, and I find it to be really tender and have a nice, neutral flavor.
6. Shirataki pasta
Another favorite gluten free pasta are Konjac noodles. You will often find these in the refrigerator section of your grocery store or online.
Since there are many varieties of zero-carb noodles, just be sure to read the ingredients labels to make sure you know what you’re getting. Some are made with soy products, and some are not.
These noodles are also very low in carbs. The whole package only has 5 grams of carbs, and of course they are gluten free. And, believe it or not, but the whole package has 0 calories, 0 grams of fat, and 0 grams of protein. So, folks on low-carb, keto, or grain-free diets should check these out (see all of my dairy-free keto recipes).
I think they are best for Asian inspired noodle dishes and noodle soups. They have a neutral flavor and an awesome texture. Be sure to read the directions since they need to be rinsed before they are cooked.
7. Jovial Cassava Pasta
Jovial has been a leader in bringing gluten-free pastas to the market. They have also led the way with their grain-free cassava flour pasta!
This one is great for paleo diets or for people who are sensitive to rice, corn, or other grains that are used in gluten-free pastas.
This one is great in my copycat recipe for Cheesecake Factory Tomato Basil Pasta.
Runners Up
Although these brands didn’t make my top pick’s list, they have been highly recommended by other people.
Gluten-Free Pasta FAQs
Gluten-free pasta can have a different taste and texture compared to regular wheat-based pasta. The specific flavor and texture depend on the alternative flours used, such as rice, corn, or legume flours, but many brands have successfully created gluten-free options that closely mimic traditional pasta.
Gluten-free pasta is not inherently healthier than regular pasta; it’s simply an alternative for those who are gluten intolerant or have celiac disease. The nutritional value varies based on the ingredients used, with some gluten-free pastas offering higher protein or fiber content, depending on the type of flour used.
Gluten-free pasta generally requires careful cooking as it can become mushy if overcooked. It’s important to follow the package instructions, as cooking times may vary compared to regular pasta. Rinsing the pasta after cooking can also help improve its texture.
I would go with the Tinkyada brown rice elbows. You won’t be disappointed!
More Gluten-Free Resources You Might Like
Best Gluten-Free Pasta Conclusions
I hope you found this review of the best gluten-free pasta brands helpful. These all offer options against traditional wheat-based pasta and are a good choice if you need alternatives. Most of these can be used to make your favorite pasta dishes including pasta salads, hot pasta, and macaroni and cheese.
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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition. She is a top wellness and food blogger with nearly 10 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.
Note: this post is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider for recommendations related to your individual situation.
Thanks for sharing. I am GF to help my stomach issues & hypothyroidism. I have really missed pasta. Most GF are terrible. I just don’t bother trying them. I will look for Tinkyada Rice Pastas as I have not tried them. I have tried the tolerant red lentil type but I didn’t like it enough. I hope you have more topics like this and help/recommendations for dealing with hypothyroidism & it’s symptoms.
Great, thanks for sharing that suggestion, Paula! I have Hashimoto’s so I’m always sharing topics and recipes that are good for the thyroid.