10 Low-Stress Meals for the Gluten-Free Cook

Whatever diet you may be following, weeknight dinners should be as low-stress as possible. Save the complicated stuff for leisurely weekends! These 10 recipes are gluten-free and, most importantly, deliver big reward with minimal effort. A few lean on store-bought conveniences while others call on the slow cooker. No matter what, though, they are simple and satisfying.

The tamari and balsamic marinade does almost all the work here, so all you really have to do is quickly sear the meat, sauté the mushrooms, and dig in. They’re excellent with mashed potatoes and a bright, lemony side salad.

The bone-warming broth for this soup simmers away while you’re at work, leaving you with not much to do when you get home. Just add the last bit of veggies, tofu, and wheat-free soba noodles, and grab the bowls.

This recipe proves the power of a jar of salsa. Here we’re using the jar as a simmering sauce for quick-cooking cod fillets.

This soup can be left chunky and brothy or pureéed with an immersion blender, depending on your mood. Regardless of which direction you go, just don’t forget to garnish the bowls with feta cheese, fresh dill, and a poached egg.

Pick up a bag of frozen gluten-free meatballs and a jar of your favorite marinara sauce to make this extra-quick, extra-satisfying riff on classic spaghetti and meatballs.

Finishing this quick skillet with a handful of chopped fresh parsley and a big squeeze of lemon adds just the right amount of freshness to it. While the dish is pretty hearty on its own, sliding a fried egg on top wouldn’t hurt.

It doesn’t get much more low-stress than a sheet pan dinner. Pile your protein and veggies (in this case, salmon, potatoes, and asparagus) on one pan, toss the whole thing in the oven to roast, and you’re set.

This cheesy casserole relies on a tube of prepared polenta from the grocery store. Simply slice and layer it in a baking dish, top it with creamy cheese sauce and spinach, and bake until bubbly.

A bit of pancetta adds meaty richness to these beans and greens without weighing them down. Enjoy this dish simply as is, or pile it onto gluten-free toast if you’re extra hungry.

This fast and fancy dinner requires minimal effort and just one skillet. That means you have more time to enjoy that glass of white wine you just poured yourself.