The Gluten-Free Pasta Brands We Cook With

A chef’s review and guide to brands, shapes, and how they behave in the pan

Gluten-free pasta has quietly undergone a revolution.

A decade ago, most options were fragile, gummy, or limited to one or two shapes. Today, the category is deep, refined, and — when chosen thoughtfully — capable of producing pasta dishes that behave exactly the way they should: holding sauce, keeping their structure, and finishing properly in the pan.

The key isn’t just the brand.

It’s matching the shape to the job.

This is how I stock my kitchen — and why.

What Matters More Than the Label

When I choose gluten-free pasta, I’m not looking for what it’s “free from.” I’m looking for:

• How it holds structure in sauce

• Whether it finishes cleanly in the pan

• If it absorbs flavor without breaking

• How it behaves when reheated

Different blends do different things well — which is why I don’t use one brand for everything.

Lasagna Sheets

365 Whole Foods No-Boil Gluten-Free Lasagna

My first choice for layered, oven-baked pasta. These sheets soften evenly, absorb sauce properly, and don’t turn mushy when baked. They’re perfect for Bolognese, béchamel, and long bakes. They can be hard to find — so when they are, I buy extras.

Jovial Brown Rice Lasagna

My equally trusted backup. These sheets hold structure beautifully and layer cleanly. They have a slightly firmer bite than 365, which works well for meat sauces and long resting times.

Spaghetti

Rummo Gluten-Free Spaghetti

This is the gold standard for long pasta. It has the right density and surface texture to carry wine-based sauces, shellfish broths, and light emulsions. It finishes in the pan without falling apart — which is essential for dishes like clams or shrimp. If you cook seafood pasta, this is the one.

Penne

Rummo Gluten-Free Penne

The ridges and shape hold cream sauces, cheese sauces, and chunky vegetables beautifully. It stays al dente longer than most GF penne and doesn’t collapse when baked or reheated. This is my go-to for Penne Bianca, vodka sauces, and baked pastas.

Rigatoni

IsiBisi Gluten-Free Pasta

Excellent structure and a neutral flavor that works especially well in soups, baked dishes, and robust sauces. Their rigatoni holds meat sauces beautifully. Their ditalini is perfect for soups and pasta e fagioli-style dishes.

Orzo

Jovial Gluten-Free Orzo

Reliable, clean, and versatile. Works in soups, pilafs, and cold salads without turning mushy. It absorbs flavor beautifully and holds up well when reheated.

Gnocchi

Nuovo Gluten-Free Gnocchi

Made locally in Providence and available in stores and on Amazon. This is one of the rare gluten-free gnocchi that behaves like real gnocchi: light, tender, and able to crisp in butter without falling apart.

Ravioli

Cappello’s Gluten-Free Cheese Ravioli (Almond Flour)

Tender, delicate ravioli made with almond flour dough and a rich, creamy cheese filling. These cook quickly and have a softer bite than rice-based pastas, which makes them especially good for light cream sauces, browned butter, or vegetable-forward preparations. One of the best gluten-free filled pastas on the market.

Why I Skip Chickpea & Bean Pastas 

Chickpea and bean-based pastas have their place — but they bring a pronounced flavor and density that changes the character of classic sauces.

When I’m cooking Italian-style pasta — especially cream, wine, or seafood sauces — I want the pasta to disappear into the dish, not announce itself. Rice- and grain-based pastas integrate more naturally, allowing the sauce, aromatics, and finishing techniques to shine.

That’s why they form the backbone of my kitchen.

Final Thought

Good gluten-free earns its place the same way any great ingredient does — through how it cooks, how it carries flavor, and how it holds together when the pan gets busy.

Once you stop asking whether a pasta is gluten-free and start asking how it behaves, everything changes. You stop compromising. You start choosing.

That’s when gluten-free pasta stops being a substitute — and becomes a tool.

Where This Leads Next

Explore more about pasta with our articles and recipes

→ Explore Gluten-Free Pasta Recipes

→ Visit our Marketplace for Pasta Lover's Tools we Reach For

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