At its heart, Iowa Girl Eats is about providing easy and approachable gluten-free recipes using everyday, in-season ingredients. Yes! Great, fantastic! But you know what? You also totally have my permission to forego the slow-cooking stew recipe (which we made this weekend – droooool,) for a box or bag of whatever you’ve got in the freezer.
That is to say, life is crazy and as much as we’d all like to cook a homemade dinner from scratch every night of the week, sometimes it’s just not in the cards. Rather, it’s in the freezer.
We’ve talked before about what to freeze and how – ie meat, casseroles, soups etc – but I’ve yet to talk about the specific foods and products I keep in my freezer to make our lives easier every single day. We’re going beyond the bags of frozen blueberries and shrimp to the frozen potstickers Ben and I pull out of the freezer any time we’re craving an Asian feast. The frozen pizza I pull out whenever…I’m craving frozen pizza! And yes, the ONLY gluten-free bread I stock my freezer to the very tippy top with.
Since being diagnosed with Celiac Disease over 4 years ago we’ve tried countless gluten-free frozen foods, and the 11 products below are considered my tried and true. At this point we’ve been buying and eating them for years, so please know that I 100% recommend every single one of them.
Before we get to the list, a few notes:
- Gluten-free frozen foods are NOTORIOUS for being produced in facilities with contaminated lines so be sure to inspect frozen food labels (and all labels, really) for a “made in a facility that also processes wheat” disclaimer. These products are NOT gluten-free. The brand that comes to mind with this disclaimer on their gluten-free frozen foods is Amy’s.
- At the time of this writing – March 2018 – all the products listed are gluten-free without the aforementioned factory disclaimer. Manufacturers do change though, so please always inspect labels yourself before purchasing.
- Not all these gluten-free frozen foods products are healthy! Juuust putting that out there.
Ok my friends, clear some space in the freezer for my favorite gluten-free frozen foods!
My Favorite Gluten-Free Frozen Foods
Canyon Bakehouse Mountain White Bread
By far the question I get asked the most is in regards to gluten-free foods is, “What’s your favorite gluten-free bread?” My answer never changes – Canyon Bakehouse Mountain White Bread. Soft, squishy, and can be used in place of regular white bread in any situation – fresh bread crumbs, French Toast, grilled cheese, etc. Super Target usually has the best price and carries the bread in their bakery section, while the regular grocery store and Whole Foods stocks it in the specialty freezer section. I usually stock up on 4 or 5 loaves at a time to keep in the freezer – they last forever.
Feel Good Foods Chicken Potstickers
If I had to pick a favorite product on this list, Feel Good Foods Chicken Potstickers would definitely be it. Not just because I have a possible unhealthy obsession with potstickers, but also because they taste EXACTLY like the one I used to eat in Japan, and I recognize every single ingredient on the back of the box. We buy them at HyVee in the specialty foods freezer section.
Jones Dairy Farm Pork Breakfast Sausage Links
The term ‘freezer sausage’ used to give me the heebie jeebies. We’ve all had the rubbery patties or links filled with gristle, right? Jones Dairy Farm Pork Breakfast Sausage Links are phenomenal though. Made from a few real food ingredients and GRISTLE-FREE. You heard it here first, folks! I buy these at Costco and microwave a few links for me and the little boys almost every single morning.
So Delicious Dairy Free CocoWhip
The first time I used So Delicious Dairy Free CocoWhip was out of necessity – I needed whipped topping for a dessert I was making and Lincoln has a dairy allergy. CocoWhip to the rescue! The whipped topping stayed in our lives though because it’s so, so good and the ingredient list is light years better then regular whipped topping. Here are a few of my favorite recipes using this product:
- Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Icebox Cake
- Banana-Mango Pina Colada Parfaits
- Caramel Apple Cheesecake Dip
- 2-Ingredient Lemon Whip Fruit Dip
- GF/DF Dirt Cake
File Cappello’s products under “splurge” because they’re pretty pricey, but for good reason. Cappello’s offers high-quality, frozen pasta, pizza, and cookie dough products that are not only gluten-free, but grain-free too. Some are even Paleo-friendly. The cookie dough is outrageous (and egg-free so eat away!) and I have a special place in my heart, and freezer, for their gnocchi. I buy these products at Whole Foods.
Ore-Ida Frozen Potato Products
You definitely don’t need to spend an arm and a leg on gluten-free frozen foods – case in point, Ore-Ida Tater Tots found in the regular freezer aisle at the grocery store. Sure, the ingredient list isn’t all that clean, but they’re tater tots you guys! (And yes, I’ve tried the “healthy” tater tot brands and no, they don’t get nearly as crispy as Ore-Ida. If you’re going to eat a tot, eat the best tot available. YOLO!) Anyway, we always keep a bag of Ore-Ida Tater Tots on hand for Skillet Tater Tot Casserole and random tot cravings, plus their hash browns are the best of any frozen brand out there.
Halo Top Ice Cream
Monday night routine: set out a pint of Halo Top > put the baby to bed > dig in 20 minutes later. Perfection! I’m telling you, this lighter ice cream tastes anything but, and it’s my favorite gluten-free frozen treat. Note: not all Halo Top ice cream varieties are GF, so check labels carefully. I love the birthday cake and salted caramel flavors, especially.
Freschetta Gluten-Free Frozen Pizza
Maybe it’s the 90s teen in me but I will always have a soft spot in my heart for frozen pizza. I tried Freschetta gluten-free frozen pizza through a sponsored opportunity a few years ago and have been buying them regularly ever since. I won’t say we eat them weekly, or even monthly, but it’s so nice to have a few extra stashed in the freezer for pizza emergencies. I buy these at HyVee.
My sister-in-law tipped me off to these Cali’flour Foods Pizza Crusts which are awesome if you’re looking for a cauliflower-based pizza crust but don’t want to go through the hassle of making them yourself. I haven’t seen this brand in stores – just online. I bought a 5 pack of the “plant based” crusts and use half a crust for Cameron every Friday for pizza night. SUCH a great way to get vegetables into little ones!
Nature Raised Farms Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets
I try to make Lincoln chicken nuggets only when we’re in a pinch, but do feel ok about these Nature Raised Farms Organic Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets, which I find in the regular grocery store’s specialty foods freezer section. The breading is super crisp and a little spicy from a heavy dash of black pepper. Definitely like to keep a box or bag of these in the freezer for crazy nights. Note: this brand offers both GF and regular products so be sure to double check labels when purchasing.
Nature’s Path Chia Plus Frozen Waffles
Breakfast is definitely a meal that I wish would just go away some days! I find myself in ruts with the boys because there’s rarely enough time to make anything more elaborate then toast, breakfast bars, yogurt, sausage, etc, so it’s nice to have quick and easy options including Nature Path Chia Plus Frozen Waffles on hand. Lincoln loves these waffles, which I top with peanut butter, and I love that they’re not packed with sugar. Plus each waffle has a healthy pinch of chia seeds. Note: this brand offers both GF and regular products so be sure to double check labels when purchasing.
More Freezer/Grocery Shopping Posts:
What We Eat: A Virtual Grocery Shopping Trip
15 Ways to Eat Healthy on a Budget
My Favorite Gluten-Free Products
HI I found your page and would like to ship you a package of my black bean brownies. It could be the vegan or non vegan. I would like to be added to your top picks.
Please email me with gluten free frozen meals. My Dr.put me on 6 weeks gluten free due to i had stomach cramps. Is there blood test that shows different dieases
I just discovered your web site. I’m not only allergic to wheat also dairy , soy gluten .
Right now I don’t know where to start. I would appreciate any ideas or suggestions
you have. Of course at your convenience. It is Saturday night after all .
The first time I bought the Freschetta Pepperoni Pizza I had to go out to the recycling to check the package again, because I could not believe it was actually gluten free. I was diagnosed with Celiac almost 17 years ago and this is the first frozen pizza that fooled me into thinking it was the real deal! I always add red onion and mushrooms….of course! Two thumbs up for Canyon Bakehouse as well! Thanks Kristin!
Thank you SO MUCH for posting your favorite GF frozen foods! I was able to find the potstickers…holy cow, it’s been so long since I’ve had a potsticker, and they were delish! I love your recipes, keep up the great cooking!
thank you for all of these, a wonderful resource!
I just wanted to thank you for posting this. Because I have a corn allergy on top of wheat, I normally skip the freezer section. But I checked out the Applegate sausages and were surprised to find they are safe for me! And you’re so right – not in the least gristly. They’re a game changer – it’s so nice to throw them and some hashbrowns in a skillet to have brinner on those nights you can’t stomach preparing one more thing from scratch. Thanks!
OMG those potstickers are something I discovered and couldn’t BELIEVE IT. I miss, so so so much, ordering steamed dumplings with my husband and missed them so much before I found these. We often cook a box of these, a box of their egg rolls and then have a big Asian style salad on the side for dinner :-)
Right?! I about cried the first time we tried them!
It’s embarrassing to say I’ve spent WAY too much on Freschetta pizza over the last 4 years but it is…SO…GOOD!!!! My non gf hubby loves it too!
TOO good! My non-GF husband loves it too!
I just learned that apparently the frozen Sabatasso gluten free pizzas at Costco are the same as the Freschetta pizzas. At my Costco, they are 3/~$12. If you are on the Costco bus, it is a great deal!!
The Freschettas are ~$9 for one at our “regular” grocery store, so this is a crazy difference. The Costco pizzas are plain cheese, but I can throw on some toppings for that price difference!
I saw these today – thank you so much for the tip!
I adore Canyon Bakehouse. They have a new bread called heritage style honey white. It is hands down the best gf bread. It has taken the place of mountain white which was our favorite. It reminds me of Pepperidge Farm specialty bread. The slices are huge! Also their bagels are wonderful. We order direct from them.
Love their heritage loaves and bagels too – we always have a bag of bagels in the freezer as well!
Time of writing in the notes section being March 2018 right!?! ???
I only mention it as I have no idea how we’re in the third month of the year already!!!
Oh my GOSH – I literally can’t wrap my mind around the fact that it’s 2018!!??? Thank you so much for the heads up!
Kristen, have you found a GF bun you like? I have eaten one on a burger at a local restaurant here, but I haven’t found anything in the local grocery stores.
Canyon Bakehouse has a bun that’s ok – best if it’s toasted or lightly grilled though!
I’m a big fan of Canyon Mountain white bread. But for buns I only like Udi’s hamburger buns.
Do you buy CocoWhip at HyVee? I’ve looked for it, but haven’t been able to find it. Thanks!
I buy it at the Mills Civic HyVee, up front in the Health Food freezers.
I do! I think Whole Foods sells it as well!
+1 for the Canyon bread. So much better than the other GF commerical breads. At least once a month, it’s on Cartwheel at Target for 20% off and I buy 2 or 3 loaves.
Yes! The best I’ve tasted for sure!