What is the best gluten free pasta? That is a great question! The Ultimate Guide to Gluten Free Pasta will help you find the best gluten free pasta!

 

You may call them pasta or macaroni or noodles, but whatever you call them, most of us love them.  Trying to find the perfect gluten free pasta – one that has quality ingredients, cooks up perfectly, and actually gives you the taste and feel of ‘real’ pasta – can be challenging.  Over the past several weeks, I have had the opportunity to sample a whole host of gluten free pasta.  From rice-based to corn-based, legume pasta to veggie pasta, orzo to fusilli to just about any shape you can imagine (yes, even gluten free pasta in the shape of farm animals), my taste-testing panel (aka my family) has tried them all. Today I want to provide an honest review for you, and I hope that this Ultimate Guide to Gluten Free Pasta is a helpful tool to assist you in navigating the sea of good and not-so-good gluten free pasta.

Is there any good gluten free pasta out there?

Yes!  There are many great gluten free pasta options available.  Isn’t that great to hear?Twenty years ago I started my gluten free journey, and at that time, the options were few.  The first pasta I tried was Tinkyada; there weren’t many other options.  Today is a completely different story.  There are so many gluten free pasta options for you to choose from.  I love that we have choices now.  But just like everything else, all of those options are not good.  So many gluten free pastas lack the consistency of pasta, they taste ‘off’, overcook super easily, and just fall flat.  But there are some gluten free pastas that are completely amazing.  Let’s dive into who is the best in class and who missed the mark.

I hope that you will read through my entire post. There is a lot of great information here. While I couldn’t review every pasta that is available on the market, I tried my best to include popular brands, some new brands, and pasta made from different ingredients. The good news is that you have choices!

Nearly all of the pastas that I tested I purchased myself.  I will mention if a company sent along complimentary samples along to me.  If there is no mention, you can assume that I purchased the product.  My reviews will be honest.  This post includes Amazon affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase from a link, Amazon will pass along a small commission.  This comes at no extra cost to you.  I appreciate your support.

How Did I Judge Each Pasta?

I photographed each pasta in its raw state.  I also snapped a picture of the packaging.  I cooked each pasta according to the package instructions.  I tasted each pasta plain immediately after it was cooked.  I didn’t add sauce or mix it with anything else. I also considered the following:

• Ingredients: I looked at the ingredient list as provided on the brand’s website.  I prefer organic ingredients as well as real, whole ingredients.  Most pastas have a rice base to them, but there are others that offer a combination of corn, legumes, and vegetables. I have always had concerns about corn because most of the corn that we consume is genetically modified and heavily sprayed with pesticides.  Personally, we do not eat pasta with corn (because of an allergy with a family member), but I have included them here and have tried to be as objective as possible.   I also avoid gums such as xanthan gum.  Lastly, I detest junk, preservatives, and the addition of anything that is of cheap quality.   Keep in mind that depending on when you are reading this, ingredient lists can change and recipes can be updated. Always consult the ingredient lists on current products.  Contact the company directly with any questions. I tried to make note when a pasta was organic or had gluten free certification.  However, always be sure to check gluten free certification to assure food safety.
• Taste & Texture: This is very subjective.  My preferences may very well be different than yours. Included in this category would be texture as well.
• Cookability: Some gluten free pastas are finicky and are prone to being overcooked very, very easily.  I thought about questions such as:  Does it overcook easily?  Is it mushy?  Does it fall apart?  Does the cooking pasta boil over easily?

Grain Based Gluten Free Pasta

Jovial Gluten Free Pasta
$4.99 per 12oz. box (prices vary) /  Buy Again:  Yes

I’ll show my hand right up front:  Jovial is by far my favorite gluten free pasta and an all around wonderful company.  They are my go to and the pasta that I purchase most often. Their pastas are certified gluten free and organic.  I think that their best all around variety is the fusilli.  It cooks up perfectly every time. It’s made in Italy using traditional time-tested methods, and it shows.  The texture is spot on.  The taste is perfect. A great variety of Jovial’s pastas are readily available in many stores including Walmart. When I first discovered Jovial, I nearly cried.  They made gluten free pasta feel normal.  I also love that there are so many varieties to choose from: elbows, bow ties, Lasagna, Penne, shells, spaghetti, Cappellini, Manicotti, Taggliatelli, Stelline, and Mafalda.  I love the Mafalda pasta.  It’s unique – almost like little mini lasagna noodles.  I use them to make a lemon chicken and pasta skillet dinner. Jovial is my top pasta pick.

Dellalo Gluten Free Pasta
$5.89 per 12oz. bag (prices vary) /  Buy Again:  Yes

Delallo is another solid gluten free pasta.  The taste, texture, and simple ingredient list make it among the best in class.  It’s not prone to overcooking. Dellalo products are not as easy to access in stores, and there are fewer varieties than Jovial.  However, you can pick them up online at Vitacost or Amazon.  I highly recommend the fusilli and orzo, although, you have to watch the orzo because it is prone to stick to the pot and to each other.

Tinkyada Gluten Free Pasta
$5.89 per 16oz. bag (prices vary) /  Buy Again:  Yes

Tinkyada was the very first gluten free pasta that I tried over 20 years ago.  Back then, I didn’t like it.  But back then, I was fresh off of saying goodbye to all of my glutinous, wheat-based  foods.  Once I found Jovial pasta, I never went back to Tinkyada again.  That is until recently.  With the economy being what it is, I picked up some of Tinkyada’s pastas.  First of all, their bags feature a full pound of pasta.  Not many other gluten free brands boast that.  Second, their price can’t be beat.  Third, they are dedicated to creating a truly safe gluten free product.  Explore their website to see the lengths that they go to to ensure that you are eating safe pasta.  The older, somewhat wiser me, truly has more appreciation for Tinkyada than I did 20 years ago.

I find the taste of the pasta to be good.  If you follow the cooking instructions, the pasta cooks up very nicely.  I do think you need to be careful, though, because it can overcook easily if you are not watching. There are several different varieties of pasta available both online and in stores.  I really like their lasagna noodles.

Unpretentious Baker Gluten Free Elbow Macaroni
$20.00 per 1 gallon tub (prices vary) /  Buy Again:  No

I wanted to love these so much.  Come on!  It’s a gallon tub of gluten free pasta.  What’s not to love! Each tub contains about 48 ounces of pasta. I did not see any gluten free certification on the packaging.  You may want to do additional research or contact the company directly for safety information. When I got this in the mail I was literally giddy…that is until I tried to open the tub.  There is a plastic tab that needs to be pulled all the way around the top. After I finally got the tab to start moving, I got no more than 2 inches around.  It wouldn’t budge.  I asked my college son to help, and he had a hard time.  We finally got a cloth with some rubbery grip and that helped.  Way to hard to open – problem number one.  Problem number two is that there were jagged edges all around the container once you pulled off the tab.  There is no doubt that you could cut yourself on the edges. Even after those two issues I was still so excited to try these.  Once I peered into the rub (which was filled to the top), I noticed that the pasta had very thin walls.  My son even noticed it.  I questioned how well the pasta would hold up to cooking.  Much like I had predicted, the pasta kind of collapsed.  It also got mushy very  fast (and it was not overcooked).

Pure Gluten Free Pasta
$9.89 per 8oz. bag (prices vary) /  Buy Again:  No

I had never heard of this brand before.  I was kind of intrigued by the minimalist packaging.  I was also a bit concerned about the packaging because it contained very little information.  There is no information about gluten free certification and there is no website to refer to.  The company’s Instagram page simply directs you to their Amazon page. You would need to do some research on this to determine its safety.  Having said that, I thought that the pasta cooked up very nicely.  It held its shape very well and had a pleasant taste.  The price point for this pasta is rather high – nearly $10 for 8 ounces, and for that reason alone I would likely not buy it. I think that this brand and the previous brand (Unpretentious Baker) may be the same.  The pasta looks similar and the contact address for both is the same as well.

Mountain High Organics  Gluten Free Quinoa Pasta
$7.63 per 16oz. bag (prices vary) /  Buy Again: Yes

I really liked the quinoa pasta from Mountain High Organics. I always love when I can add nutrition to everyday foods.  Quinoa is a superfood and adds some protein and potassium to this pasta.  The pasta is a blend of white rice, quinoa, and amaranth.  I love that this pasta is certified organic and that it contains a full pound of pasta. I thought that the pasta cooked up well, although I could see how it could overcook easily if you are not watching it.  It also had a very pleasant taste. I’ve never seen this brand for sale in stores, but it is available on Amazon.

Rizopia Brown Rice Fusilli
$3.69 per 16oz. bag (prices vary) /  Buy Again: Yes

I think that this 16 ounce bag of brown rice fusilli from Rizopia wins the price for most budget friendly. Certified organic, a full one pound bag cost under $4.00 on Vitacost (and I was able to stack a coupon too). Unfortunately, it’s not easy to find outside of Vitacost.  I’ve never seen it in stores, and I don’t even see it on Amazon.  Too bad because it’s a really good gluten free pasta option.  I will say that there are other brands that I prefer, but this was good.  It cooked up well; I did feel like the texture was a bit chewy, though.

365 Whole Foods Gluten Free Farm Shapes Pasta
$4.49 per 8.8oz. bag (prices vary) /  Buy Again: Yes

My sons laughed when they saw that I had purchased these.  You’re never too old for farm animal pasta! Kuddos to Whole Foods 365 brand for these adorable and delicious pasta shapes.  The pasta is made in Italy as well!  I was skeptical about whether or not these shapes would fall apart once they were cooked, but they did not.  They held up perfectly! The taste was also quite good.  This would be perfect if you have little kids to cook for. They’re certified organic, certified gluten free, and made from brown rice.

Big Green Gluten Free Buckwheat Rotini
$7.19 per 8.8oz. bag (prices vary) /  Buy Again: Yes

This company was another new find for me.  I think it’s a great find, too.  Big Green Organic Food features pastas made from high quality, organic ingredients including millet, sorghum, and buckwheat.  I tested the buckwheat.  Buckwheat adds a nice amount of fiber, iron, and protein to the mix.  Buckwheat is 100% gluten free (naturally).  I really liked the pasta.  It cooked up well, had a great taste, and was hearty.  Uncooked, the pasta is a dark brown color.  That color lightens up during the cooking process.  I will definitely be adding this to my pantry.  I am looking forward to trying some of the other varieties as well.

Andean Dream Rice & Quinoa Gluten Free Pasta
$4.50 per 8oz. box (prices vary) /  Buy Again: Yes

Andean Dream gluten free pasta is made from quinoa and brown rice.  It has a great taste and cooks up nicely.  It is certified gluten free and organic. I don’t really have anything negative to say. I would purchase it again.

Ancient Harvest Gluten Free Shells
$8.47 per 8oz. box (prices vary) /  Buy Again: No

This pasta is a blend of corn, rice, and quinoa. I am not a fan of corn pasta.  There is something about the texture that is off-putting to me.  I was not a fan of this pasta for several reasons.  I did not like the taste or the texture. There are many other pastas whose texture resembles traditional pasta.  This pasta is also a boil over risk.  I felt like you needed to babysit the pot during the cooking process.  The instructions on the box even recommend testing the pasta every minute beginning at the five minute cooking mark to check for doneness.  That is accurate.  At the five minute mark the pasta was still hard.  At six minutes that outside was soft but the inside was hard.  At around seven minutes the pasta seemed done.  I appreciate that this pasta is certified organic and gluten free, but it’s flavor and texture are not to my liking.

Lotus Foods Pad Thai Rice Noodles
$4.29 per 8oz. bag (prices vary) /  Buy Again: Yes

Lotus Foods has been a long time favorite of mine.  I love their Jasmine and Black Rice.  Their Millet & Brown Rice Ramen noodles are the best, and they are always in my pantry. It’s no surprise to me that their Pad Thai noodles are just as amazing.  They come in both white rice and brown rice varieties.  They cook up perfectly every time.  In my opinion , they are the best in class. I want to thank Lotus Foods for sending along a sampling of their Pad Thai noodles for this post.

Ocean’s Halo Rice Noodles
$10.99 per 6.3oz. box (prices vary) /  Buy Again: Yes

Ready in 3 minutes!  How’s that for easy and fast! These rice noodles from Ocean’s Halo have a rice and tapioca base and are certified organic.  I love the purple rice noodles and their bright pop of color.  Each box contains three individually wrapped portions of noodles.  I love the fact that I can easily make individual portions instead of the entire box.  The noodles are thin and cook quickly so you need to be watchful so they do not turn mushy.  The taste is pleasant and compliments so many flavors perfectly.  Thank you to Ocean’s Halo for sending along some samples for me to try and include in my review.

King Soba Gluten Free Buckwheat & Sweet Potato Noodles
$4.19 per 8.8oz. bag (prices vary) /  Buy Again: Yes

This was my first time trying soba noodles. These were so good.  They held up well when cooking and had great flavor.  They cooked up in a snap. I can see all of the possibilities that these noodles have.  I love how they were packaged in little groups of three for easy portioning. Everyone in my family really liked them.  I definitely recommend them.

Annie Chun’s Pad Thai Rice Noodles
$4.55 per 8.oz. bag (prices vary) /  Buy Again: Yes

These Pad Thai noodles from Annie Chun are  good.  They are accessible in most stores.  They are easy to cook and are a nice addition to soup.  I am not a fan of the way that they are packaged and would prefer that they not be balled together, especially if I don’t need to cook the entire package.

Legume and Vegetable Based Gluten Free Pasta

Legume based pastas have become very popular.  As many seek to increase their protein content, bean/legume pastas offer some help.  Most legume based pastas offer a significant amount of protein per serving.  However,  I feel pretty strongly that legume based pastas are a departure from traditional pasta.  Their texture is completely different than that of grain based pasta.  They tend to overcook more easily.  When cooking, the water tends to boil over. I tend to prefer brands where legumes are a part of the ingredient list and not the sole ingredient.

Vegetable based pastas are also popular.  These often have a flavor profile and texture all their own.

Bionaturae Rice and Lentil Fusilli
$4.99 per 12oz. box (prices vary) /  Buy Again: Yes

Jovial is the parent company of Bionaturae so it’s no surprise that this pasta was among my favorites.  It has a white and brown rice base with yellow lentil flour.  Normally, I do not like lentil pastas, but this was an exception.  This pasta was very delicious.  I’ll be adding it to my pantry.  It cooked up perfectly, held its shape perfectly, and had a wonderful taste.   There is a nice amount of protein and potassium per serving.

Veggie Craft Gluten Free Penne
$3.49 per 8oz. box (prices vary) /  Buy Again: Yes

I picked up this box of Penne from Veggie Craft because it was on sale (buy one get one free).  I didn’t have high expectations because I am generally not a fan of veggie pastas.  Let’s just say that after our initial testing, I went back to the store and cleared the shelf to snag the deal.  This pasta is made from cauliflower, lentil, and pea flour.  It is chocked full of protein with a whopping 23 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber per 3.5 ounce serving. It can have a tendency to stick together so you’ll need to stir the pasta while cooking.  I found the flavor and texture to be pleasant, different than rice-based pastas, but good.

Chickapea Gluten Free Spirals
$7.29 per 8oz. box (prices vary) /  Buy Again: Yes

Chickapea is made from yellow pea flour and chickpea flour.  This was my favorite chickpea based pasta that I tested.  It had good flavor and cooked up nicely.  Like most other bean based pastas, you need to be careful of boiling over.  I appreciated that this pasta was organic, certified gluten free, and loaded with protein. I would buy this again.

Banza Cavatappi Chickpea Pasta
$3.29 per 8oz. box (prices vary) /  Buy Again: No

I used to buy Banza weekly. It was readily available, had a great price point, and was loaded with protein.  I really loved those swirly Cavatappi noodles as well.  However, I stopped buying it because of the addition of xanthan gum.  If you are gluten free, it’s very difficult to avoid xanthan gum.  It acts like a binder where wheat would have done the job.  Gums in general are not good for our guts, especially for those with sensitive digestive tracts.  About a year ago, I stopped buying products containing xanthan gum (or any gums for that matter).  It’s been a challenging transition but a good one. Banza is the only pasta that I have encountered that contains xanthan gum.

Explore Cuisine Gluten Free Green Lentil Pasta
$4.99 per 8oz. box (prices vary) /  Buy Again: No

This pasta is a blend of pea flour, lentil flour, and brown rice flour.  It is certified organic and gluten free and has a hefty dose of potassium and protein in each serving.  I personally did not like the taste or texture of this pasta.  It did not hold together and basically collapsed on itself.  It was mushy.  I think it would probably fall apart if you tried to mix in sauce or other ingredients.  The Penne pasta was small and thin.  This pot did boil over very quickly (and I didn’t ignore the pot while cooking.).

Al Dente Red Lentil & Sweet Potato Pasta
$4.22 per 8oz. bag (prices vary) /  Buy Again: No

I was really excited to try one of the pastas from Al Dente.  I chose the red lentil and sweet potato variety.  I loved the bright orange color and thought that it would add great color to some dishes. Even though I wanted to love this, I did not.  The noodles cooked up fine and held their shape.  However, I did not enjoy the taste or the texture. I appreciate that it is certified organic and has a good amount of fiber and protein. They come in several varieties as well.

Living Now Gluten Free Cauliflower Rotini
$2.49 per 8oz. box (prices vary) /  Buy Again: Yes

At $2.49 per box, this pasta has a great price point.  It is a cauliflower based pasta with rice and amaranth flours as well.  I  thought that it cooked up well, although, I think that you would need to be careful not to overcook it.  The pasta is certified gluten free and organic. It is also made in a dedicated gluten free facility.  The pasta has a pronounced cauliflower taste.  I love cauliflower, so I was fine with it, but if you are not a fan of cauliflower, you may want to try some of their other options such as the quinoa pasta.

Le Veneziana Gluten Free Corn Pasta
$4.79 per 8.8oz. box (prices vary) /  Buy Again: Yes*

Le Veneziane is a corn based pasta.  If you are a fan of corn pasta, you will probably like it.  It comes in a variety of shapes.  It cooked up perfectly and holds its shape very well.  I especially love these Pipe Rigati shaped pasta.  I’ve already noted that I am not a fan of corn pastas, but I did try this one.  It was fine, and as I said, if corn pasta is your fav, you’ll probably like this one (and that is why I have a * next to Yes).

Heaven & Earth Gluten Free Cassava Orzo
$4.79 per 8.8oz. box (prices vary) /  Buy Again: Yes

This is a cassava based pasta.  Heaven & Earth have many grain free pasta varieties available.  I am not sure where I purchased this orzo from, but I can’t find it online now.  I liked this orzo.  You need to stir it while cooking to prevent clumping together and sticking to the pot.  I found rinsing it in cold water to be helpful.  I don’t see a website for the company so I’ve linked back to their Amazon store.

Palmini Hearts of Palm Linguine
$4.99 per 12oz. bag (prices vary) /  Buy Again: Yes

Palmini pastas are made from the vegetable hearts of palm.  Naturally, they are low carb.  Right out of the bag, the pasta is a bit crunchy.  I would recommend adding to boiling water for a few minutes to soften things up a bit.  This is an excellent choice for people who are carb conscious.  I buy  this on occasion and don’t mind it.  In my mind,  I liken it to making zucchini noodles – it’s not pasta.  It’s a good alternative, but it will not have the same feel. They have lasagna sheets;  I want to try those.

Solely Gluten Free Green Banana Fusille
$3.89 per 5oz. box (prices vary) /  Buy Again: No

I was very intrigued by the thought of using green banana flour to make pasta.  I’ve eaten crackers made from green banana flour and liked them.  How would pasta be?  Well, it was not good.  First, I did not like the taste; it was actually very off-putting.  The texture was also quite off and not pleasant.  While I appreciate trying to use alternative flours in gluten free foods, sometimes it just does not work.  This is one of those times.  Also, the box is only 5oz; far too small for the price.

Other Gluten Free Pastas Not Tested:

• Barilla – corn and rice base, has added mono and diglycerides (which is not a good thing).
• Ronzoni Gluten Free – rice, corn, quinoa blend, has added mono and diglycerides
• Giadzy Gluten Free – corn based pasta from Giada De Laurentiis
• Kaizen – lupini based
• Skinny Pasta – Konjac Shirataki based
• Rummo – corn/rice blend from Italy
• Taste Republic – fresh pastas; filled pastas
• Zenb – yellow pea pasta
• Chef’s Kiss – lupini based
• Schar
• Le Asolane – from Italy, corn based
• Garafalo – quinoa base
• Sanniti – corn, rice base
• The Only Bean – Edamame (soy) based
• Miracle Noodle – Shirataki, Konjac noodles
• La Molisana – rice/corn/quinoa blend
• L’Oro Del Sud – gluten free gnocchi
• Natural Heaven – hearts of palm
• Goodles – corn/rice/legume/vegetable blend; contains xanthan gum
• Manischewitz – tapioca/potato/egg blend
• Capello’s – almond flour base

 

 

 

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