Gluten Free Slow Cooker Recipes (9 Crockpot Dinners With Label Checks)

Gluten free slow cooker recipes are a great way to put a hot dinner on the table without a lot of work. Most slow cooker meals are built from meat, vegetables, beans and broth, so many of them are easy to make gluten-free if you check a few ingredients.

This guide is honest about that “if”. We do not label any of our recipes as certified gluten-free, and several of them use ingredients such as flour, bouillon, Worcestershire sauce and seasoning packets that you need to check or swap. For each of the nine recipes below, we list exactly what to look at.

What “Gluten-Free” Means

The FDA says foods labeled “gluten-free” and with similar terms, such as “without gluten,” “free of gluten” and “no gluten,” must meet specific criteria. One criterion is a limit of less than 20 ppm (parts per million) of gluten from unavoidable sources. The FDA also says a food cannot carry the claim if it contains an ingredient that is any type of wheat, rye, barley or a crossbreed of these grains, unless a derived ingredient has been processed to remove gluten and the food still tests under 20 ppm.

The FDA explains that gluten is a mixture of proteins that occur naturally in wheat, rye, barley and crossbreeds of these grains. For people with celiac disease, the only way to manage the condition is to avoid gluten, so labels matter. If you have any doubts about a product’s ingredients, the FDA recommends contacting the manufacturer or checking its website.

How to Check Ingredients in Gluten Free Slow Cooker Recipes

For every one of these gluten free slow cooker recipes, look at the ingredients that come in a package or jar. These are the ones that need a label check in the recipes below:

• Broth, stock cubes and bouillon.
• Sauces, such as Worcestershire sauce, marinara sauce and mustards.
• Seasoning packets and spice blends, including taco seasoning and chili powder.
• Canned products, such as diced tomatoes with green chilies.
• Anything with flour, which needs a gluten-free flour blend.

Choose products labeled “gluten-free” when you cook for someone with celiac disease, and read the label again each time, because manufacturers can change their recipes.

Gluten Free Slow Cooker Recipes With Chicken

Crockpot Creamy Gluten-Free Chicken and Dumplings

Our crockpot creamy gluten-free chicken and dumplings is written for a gluten-free diet. The roux and dumplings use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and gluten-free baking powder, and the recipe calls for certified gluten-free chicken broth. Check the label on the flour blend and baking powder you buy.

Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Chicken

Slow cooker honey mustard chicken is thickened with cornstarch, not flour. Check the labels on: the Dijon mustard, the whole grain mustard, the apple cider vinegar and the spices.

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

Crock pot chicken tacos uses only a few ingredients. Check the labels on: the taco seasoning packet, the salsa and the diced green chilies. Serve the chicken in corn tortillas labeled gluten-free, over rice or on a salad.

Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken

Slow cooker marry me chicken uses a small amount of flour on the chicken. Swap: use a gluten-free flour blend or skip the flour. Check the labels on: the chicken stock cube, the cream cheese, the Parmesan and the sun-dried tomatoes.

Slow Cooker Pizza Chicken

Slow cooker pizza chicken has no crust. Check the labels on: the marinara sauce, the pepperoni, the Italian seasoning and the shredded cheeses.

Gluten Free Slow Cooker Recipes With Beef

Crock Pot Garlic Butter Steak Bites

Crock pot garlic butter steak bites has no flour. Check the labels on: the Worcestershire sauce and the dried spices and mustard powder.

Best Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Best slow cooker beef stew needs the most changes. Swap: use a gluten-free flour blend in place of the 1/4 cup of flour used to coat the beef. Check the labels on: the beef broth, the bouillon cubes, the Worcestershire sauce, the tomato paste, the garlic salt, the celery salt and the Gravy Master if you use it, as well as the wine.

Gluten Free Slow Cooker Recipes for Chili

Slow Cooker Texas Chili

Slow cooker Texas chili is thickened with masa harina or cornmeal. Check the labels on: the masa harina or cornmeal, the beef broth, the Worcestershire sauce, the chili powder and the canned tomatoes.

Slow Cooker Chili

Slow cooker chili is a flour-free recipe. Check the labels on: the chili powder, the canned tomatoes with green chilies, the tomato sauce and the beans. Serve it with gluten-free toppings.

Tips for Safe Gluten Free Slow Cooker Recipes

Gluten free slow cooker recipes need the same food safety rules as any slow cooker meal. Thaw meat first, fill the cooker between half and two-thirds full, keep the lid on, and check poultry with a food thermometer for 165°F. Our slow cooker cooking times chart has the details and the USDA temperatures.

Use clean utensils, cutting boards and a clean slow cooker insert, and keep gluten-free ingredients separate from foods containing gluten while you prepare them.

What to Serve With Gluten Free Slow Cooker Recipes

Serve these meals over rice or potatoes, or with a green salad or roasted vegetables. If you want more cozy meals, see our soups, stews and chili guide and check the labels on those recipes in the same way. For a family-style meal that is not gluten-free, try our crockpot creamy chicken and dumplings.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gluten Free Slow Cooker Recipes

Are slow cooker recipes gluten-free?

Not automatically. Many gluten free slow cooker recipes are built on meat, vegetables and beans, but broth, sauces, seasonings and thickeners can contain gluten. Read the labels.

What does gluten-free mean?

The FDA says foods labeled gluten-free must contain less than 20 ppm of gluten, and they cannot contain wheat, rye, barley or their crossbreeds unless the gluten has been removed and the food tests under 20 ppm.

How can I thicken a slow cooker recipe without flour?

Our honey mustard chicken uses a cornstarch and water mixture, and our Texas chili uses masa harina or cornmeal. Check the label on any thickener you use.

Are your recipes certified gluten-free?

No. We list the ingredients to check or swap in each recipe, but we do not certify any recipe as gluten-free. If you cook for someone with celiac disease, use products labeled gluten-free and contact the manufacturer when you are unsure.

Does the slow cooker cooking times chart work for gluten-free recipes?

Yes. Gluten-free recipes follow the same slow cooker safety rules and cooking times as any other recipe. See our slow cooker cooking times chart.

Final Thoughts

Gluten free slow cooker recipes work best when you read the label on every packaged ingredient. Pick one of the gluten free slow cooker recipes above, make the swaps listed, and use products labeled gluten-free when you cook for someone with celiac disease. Then let the slow cooker do the work.

Ready to start? Try our crockpot creamy gluten-free chicken and dumplings first.

Sources and further reading

• “Gluten-Free” Means What It Says (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
• Slow Cookers and Food Safety (USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service)