Erin Elizabeth
Pasta is one of the ultimate comfort foods. Nothing beats the savory and satisfying taste of pasta for dinner, whether tossed with butter or a tangy marinara sauce.
You can find it in almost any shape and variety you can imagine, but most pasta contains nothing but wheat flour. That’s a nightmare for people who can’t tolerate wheat gluten. But if you’re anything like me, having a gluten intolerance doesn’t stop the pasta cravings.
Luckily there are quite a few varieties of gluten-free pasta available these days.
Gluten-free pasta also has the advantage of being somewhat healthier than its wheat counterparts, being packed with more fiber and protein.
With so many versions of gluten-free pasta out there, you might find it overwhelming to choose, but I’ve tried them so you can pick your perfect pasta.
Best Gluten-Free Pasta
Here are the best gluten-free pasta alternatives next time you’re craving something delicious.
Banza Chickpea Pasta
Banza is a brand dedicated to the health of people and the planet.
Their line of pasta, pizzas, and rice are all made from chickpeas, which pack a powerful protein punch.
In one serving of Banza chickpea penne, you’ll find:
- 190 calories
- 3g total fat
- 35g total carbs
- 5g dietary fiber
- 11g protein
Additionally, each serving contains 20% of the recommended daily value of iron, making it a welcome addition to any healthy diet.
This pasta stands out for the simplicity of its ingredients. It only contains four ingredients: chickpeas, pea starch, tapioca, and xanthan gum.
With Banza chickpea pasta, you can feel safe knowing you’re not getting any preservatives or additives.
ZENB Yellow Pea Penne Pasta
Pasta made from peas, who knew? ZENB is famous for its innovative solution to gluten-free pasta.
With one simple ingredient, non-GMO yellow peas, they’ve created an amazing noodle with a texture that’s very close to the real thing.
I found the flavor of this pasta to be the most neutral of the varieties of gluten-free pasta I tried. The light flavor is a wonderful base for simple sauces and buttered noodles.
One serving of ZENB yellow pea penne contains:
- 200 calories
- 1.5g total fat
- 36g total carbs
- 7g dietary fiber
- 12g protein
This pasta is their number one seller with a perfect five-star rating on their website, so you know it’s good.
Cappello’s Almond Flour Fettuccine
Almond flour pasta is an experience unlike any other, and Cappello’s has perfected that experience with its fettuccine.
The natural fat content of the almonds gives this pasta a buttery and soft texture that I thought was very satisfying.
It’s gluten-free, grain-free, and suitable for Paleo diets since the ingredients include almond flour, eggs, tapioca flour, xantham gum, and sea salt.
Unfortunately, this makes it non-vegan and gives it a higher fat content than most of the other pasta on this list.
While I wouldn’t eat this every day, it certainly works as an occasional treat when you want something more satisfying. I would pair this with a delicate sauce to let the pasta shine.
Each serving of Cappello’s almond flour fettuccine has:
- 260 calories
- 15g total fat
- 28g total carbs
- 2g dietary fiber
- 8g protein
Le Veneziane Italian Fettucce
Le Veneziane Fettucce is an authentic Italian pasta made from corn, emulsifier, and mono and diglycerides of fatty acids of vegetable origin.
One nice thing about this pasta is that it comes packaged in dried bundles of individual servings. I found it both cute and convenient.
After cooking, the texture and color were indistinguishable from traditional wheat pasta. The flavor doesn’t stand out, which can be good or bad, depending on who you ask.
I didn’t mind it since it held up against a robust sauce.
Much like regular pasta, Le Veneziane corn pasta is virtually fat-free, making it suitable for those on a low-fat diet. Each serving of Le Veneziane Fettuce contains:
- 200 calories
- .5g total fat
- 45g total carbs
- 1g dietary fiber
- 4g protein
Palmini Hearts of Palm Pasta
Have you ever heard of palm hearts? It’s the edible center of a palm tree, and it makes surprisingly good pasta.
This pasta is made with sliced hearts of palm, water, natural sea salt, and citric acid, and comes fully cooked in a foil pouch, unlike any other pasta on this list.
However, this is a bit misleading because it can take longer to prepare than the pasta you have to boil.
Although it’s advertised as a rinse-and-eat pasta, it has a noticeable taste if you use it straight from the container.
Palmini recommends soaking the noodles in milk for 15-30 minutes before using it to neutralize the flavor.
But inconvenience factors aside, this pasta has impressive nutrition facts. One serving of Palmini linguine contains:
- 20 calories
- 0g total fat
- 4g total carbs
- 2g dietary fiber
- 1g protein
Jovial Brown Rice Farfalle
Jovial is a brand that takes pride in its 100% organic products. This Italy-crafted pasta is unlike other rice pasta in its more robust texture.
Jovial’s made has just two ingredients, organic brown rice flour and water, so it has a neutral taste.
I liked it with a cream sauce, but it could hold its own against a tangy marinara, as well.
In one serving of Jovial brown rice farfalle, there are:
- 210 calories
- 2g total fat
- 44g total carbs
- 2g dietary fiber
- 5g protein
Tinkyada Brown Rice Pasta
Tinkyada is another brand that produces amazing pasta from non-GMO brown rice.
They offer the most variety compared to the other rice pasta brands, so you’re sure to find whatever pasta you need.
My favorite is the colorful vegetable spirals containing stone-ground brown rice, carrot powder, tomato powder, spinach powder, and water.
This pasta stays firm even after it’s cooked, a unique feat among rice pasta.
Its taste is very neutral, and I think it would work with any sauce. One serving of Tinkyada vegetable spirals has:
- 210 calories
- 2g total fat
- 45g total carbs
- 2g dietary fiber
- 4g protein
Barilla Red Lentil, Rotini
Barilla is one of the most widely-available pasta brands, which gives their red lentil rotini the advantage of being the most accessible.
Red lentils are the only ingredient, giving this pasta a slightly nutty flavor.
I didn’t mind the subtle flavor, though, since the texture is one of the best among the legume-based pasta.
This rotini can hold plenty of sauce, and I found it delicious with a simple marinara.
In one serving of Barilla red lentil rotini, you’ll find:
- 180 calories
- 1.5g total fat
- 34g total carbs
- 6g dietary fiber
- 13g protein
Thrive Market Wonder Noodles
Shirataki noodles rose to popularity with the keto craze as a carb-free alternative to regular pasta.
But these noodles are also gluten-free and made from purified water, konjac flour, organic brown rice flour, pumpkin powder, and calcium hydroxide.
They are very low-calorie, but that’s the only advantage they hold over other pasta alternatives.
The texture of this noodle will take some getting used to, as it’s chewy and firm. I thought it would be more at home in a stir-fry rather than a pasta dish.
However, if you’re gluten-free, keto, and desperate for pasta, you’ll appreciate these unique noodles.
Each serving of Thrive Market Wonder Noodles contains:
- 20 calories
- 0g total fat
- 5g total carbs
- 4g dietary fiber
- 0g protein
Best Gluten-Free Pasta
- Banza Chickpea Pasta
- ZENB Yellow Pea Penne Pasta
- Cappello’s Almond Flour Fettuccine
- Le Veneziane Italian Fettucce
- Palmini Hearts of Palm Pasta
- Jovial Brown Rice Farfalle
- Tinkyada Brown Rice Pasta
- Barilla Red Lentil, Rotini
- Thrive Market Wonder Noodles
Final Thoughts
Just because you can’t eat gluten doesn’t mean you can’t eat pasta. With gluten-free diets becoming more mainstream, manufacturers around the globe have stepped up to produce some pretty amazing pasta.
Keep this list handy for the next time the craving hits. Whether you prefer a creamy alfredo or a classic marinara, you can enjoy endless gluten-free pasta-bilities.
Pair these pastas with a gluten free beer or a cocktail made from gluten free vodka!
