Make my kitchen work for me:
Gluten-Free Meal Building (Part 6)
This is what I do
A stocked gluten-free pantry is only useful if you know how to turn those staples into actual meals. This is where gluten-free meal building comes in.
Instead of cooking from rigid recipes every night, meal building teaches you how to combine a few reliable pantry staples with fresh ingredients to create meals that feel effortless, flexible, and satisfying.
As a gluten-free personal chef, I understand working all day and then coming home to work more…because everyone is asking “what’s for dinner?” Pulling together pantry staple items that you always have in your pantry with a few fresh ingredients creates balanced meals we all love and need.
The Simple Gluten-Free Meal Formula
Every solid meal includes:
A grain or starch
A protein or legume
A sauce, fat, or flavor booster
Optional fresh produce or herbs (always have fresh produce on hand)
When you understand this structure, your pantry starts doing the work for you.
6 Gluten-Free Meals Built from Pantry Staples
Each example below uses one staple from each pantry category you stocked in Post 5 Gluten-Free Pantry Staples, plus simple fresh add-ins.
1. Brown Rice Pasta + Canned Tomatoes + Olive Oil
Meal: Simple Tomato Basil Pasta (add in cooked chicken breast)
Grain: Brown rice pasta
Protein: chicken, white beans or lentils
Flavor: Canned tomatoes, olive oil, garlic
This is a staple comfort meal that is easy, reliable, and endlessly adaptable with herbs like basil and greens like kale or spinach.
2. Quinoa + Chickpeas + Tahini
Meal: Lemon Tahini Quinoa Bowl
Grain: Quinoa
Protein: Canned chickpeas
Flavor: Tahini, lemon, olive oil
Add cucumbers, greens, ,roasted vegetables and chicken or turkey for a balanced, protein-rich bowl.
3. Corn Tortillas + Sweet Potatoes + Black Beans
Meal: Gluten-Free Sweet Potato & Black Bean Tacos
Grain: Corn tortillas
Protein: Black beans + Sweet Potatoes
Flavor: Spices, oil, favorite salsa
This is a go-to weeknight meal I use often—simple, filling, and naturally gluten-free. Add in chicken, jasmine rice and lots of cilantro.
4. Rice + Smoked Salmon + Coconut Aminos
Meal: Smoked Salmon Rice Bowl
Grain: White or brown rice
Protein: Canned salmon
Flavor: Coconut aminos, sesame oil
Amazingly simple, fast + perfect for quick lunches. Add cucumbers, carrots and herbs for color + texture.
5. Certified GF Oats + Nut Butter + Seeds
Meal: Savory or Sweet Oat Bowl
Grain: Gluten-free oats
Protein: Almond or peanut butter
Flavor: Seeds, salt, or honey
Oats aren’t just for breakfast. This works beautifully as a quick savory meal topped with greens or eggs. Change it up with added fresh or frozen berries.
6. Lentils + Tomato Sauce + Potatoes
Meal: Creamy Lentil Ragù
Grain: Polenta
Protein: Lentils
Flavor: Canned tomatoes, olive oil
This is a perfect example of how pantry staples turn into a gluten-free dinner with little effort. Add in lots of roasted veggies and/or chicken or ground beef.
"By using the Meal Formula, it can reduce decision fatigue and going out for fast food or making something that isn't alligned with how you actually want to eat."
8 White Sparrow Food Co -
Recipes You Can Make from Pantry Staples
These meals (and variations of them) regularly appear in the recipe collection because they rely on flexible pantry basics:
- Sun-Dried Tomato Vodka Pasta + Chicken
- My Kids Crispy Cheesy Chicken Tacos
- Firecracker Salmon Bowls
- Cacao + Almond Butter Oat Bites
- The Best Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie
- Weeknight Jazzed Up Pasta Fazool With Tortellini
- One Pan Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken with Spinach
Each one starts with pantry staples and builds flavor from there.
Up next in the Series!
STAY TUNED FOR: We are diving deep into Why Cooking Feels Hard sometimes and Weeknight Cooking Flow in the Make My Kitchen Work for Me series.
Don’t forget to check out my Pro Tips from a Personal Chef: All About Spices.
Why Meal Building Matters (Especially Gluten-Free)
When you cook this way:
You rely less on specialty products
You stop needing a strict recipe every night
You reduce decision fatigue
You cook with confidence instead of stress
This is how gluten-free cooking becomes sustainable—not overwhelming.
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Hi, I'm Kat.
Welcome to my Kitchen Counter. I’m excited to share with you a new series called “Make my kitchen work for you” along with a collection of blog posts about a variety of topics – building a gluten free pantry, staples to always have on hand and gift guides for the Chef in your life. Take a look around. I’d love to hear from you – do you like these posts?
