For more than eight years, I was gluten-free. My mom has celiac disease and I still often eat gluten-free food options — including pasta.
Pasta is a meal staple that can be difficult to replace when following a gluten-free diet. A lot of the options out there are expensive and don’t even taste good. Now, it is important to know that everything gluten-free costs more than the traditional options, and that includes gluten-free pasta, but some gluten-free pastas are reasonably priced for what you get.
There are several high-protein, gluten-free pastas out there, such as the ones made from chickpeas — these don’t typically taste like a traditional pasta with gluten. If you are looking for a healthy alternative to pasta with gluten, this is not your list. This list ranks gluten-free pastas which are most similar in flavor and texture to a regular pasta with gluten.
Let’s take a look at the best gluten-free pasta options in terms of flavor, texture, availability and price.
4. Trader Joe’s Ravioli
There are a few other Trader Joe’s pasta options, but they are not worth your money. The gluten-free cheese ravioli is an excellent gluten-free ravioli option and tastes really good.
Pros: Delicious, big ravioli. Moderately priced for what you get. A great basic for a gluten-free eater. I haven’t found a better ravioli for this price.
Cons: Only comes in a cheese ravioli. You do have to babysit this ravioli while it cooks because it can fall apart easily.
3. Andean Dream
Overall, Andean Dream is an excellent gluten-free pasta option, but it is hard to find. You might have to go to a specialty store for this pasta and it does not come in many shapes.
Pros: It tastes really good and has a nice texture. Andean Dream is made from quinoa so it is actually a healthier pasta. Easy to cook. I think the spaghettini is the best Andean Dream pasta option.
Cons: Hard to find, expensive and does not come in many shapes.
2. Jovial
This is the best gluten-free pasta for everyday consumption. It is reasonably priced, tastes great and is easy to find.
Pros: Jovial tastes great and you can find it at almost any grocery store. It is less costly than most gluten-free pasta options and comes in a lot of shapes. This pasta maintains its shape, does well in baked pasta and has really good flavor. The capellini and farfalle are the best Jovial options, in my opinion.
Cons: Some of the Jovial shapes, such as the penne and rigatoni, take a long time to reach al dente — it cooks from raw to al dente really fast and can be hard to get right.
1. Rummo
Rummo is an Italian pasta brand that started in 1846, and the brand launched its gluten-free pasta line in 2015, per the Rummo website. In terms of flavor, texture and shapes, Rummo is the best gluten-free pasta option.
Pros: Rummo behaves the most like non-gluten-free pasta. It doesn’t get gummy or fall apart. The taste is most similar to non-gluten-free pasta. Rummo comes in a wide variety of shapes including: elbows, gnocchi, stelline and fusilli.
Cons: Pricey. A box of Rummo Rigatoni pasta costs $7.39 on Amazon. Also, you cannot find it at most grocery stores — you either have to order from the Rummo website or on Amazon.
Gluten free pastas that don’t make the cut
1. Tinkyada
This gluten-free pasta is not worth your money. There are several far better options out there. Don’t waste your time, this pasta has bad flavor, texture and falls apart.
Pros: Cheap and easy to find.
Cons: Tinkyada is gross and falls apart. The outside is hard and the inside is mush. It only comes in an off-putting greenish-brown color. Not worth time, money or calories.
2. Barilla gluten free
If you are in a pinch, this is a good option. Barilla’s gluten-free pasta is reasonably priced and sold at most grocery stores but it does lack in terms of flavor and texture.
Pros: Some people like it, but I don’t love the taste. It is very affordable, easy to find and comes in a lot of shapes.
Cons: Not great, the yellow color of the pasta is unappetizing. This does not resemble pasta with gluten as well as some of the other options.
