While gluten-free bread has come a long way, you and I know it’s not the same as regular wheat bread. Gluten-free bread usually has a more crumbly and dry texture, and in order for it to taste halfway decent, it needs to be toasted or warmed. This isn’t feasible when you need a sandwich bread option for on-the-go eating. In this post, I share 15 alternatives to gluten-free bread so you can elevate your gluten-free “sandwiches” to new heights. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosures.
If you’re following a gluten-free diet due to celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivities, or gluten intolerance, you probably miss real bread.
While many decent gluten-free bread brands are made without gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley, they can be hard to find at the supermarket, and they rarely taste good unless toasted and warm.
When craving bread, I usually enjoy a slice of Canyon Bakehouse, Outside the Breadbox, Schar, or Franz. Many of these brands offer white bread and bread made from whole grains. However, all gluten-free breads taste like they’re missing something… and you and I know that something is gluten!
Gluten-free bread isn’t squishy like wheat bread. It is more dry and crumbly, and it goes stale fast. To preserve a loaf of gluten-free bread, you must store it in the freezer, where it hardens even more.
If you’re fed up with gluten-free bread but crave a good sandwich, you’ll love this list of 15 gluten-free sandwich bread alternatives. These ideas will help you think outside of the breadbox.
(1) Rice Cakes
Rice cakes are a fantastic substitute for gluten-free bread and great for on-the-go snacking. The main ingredient in rice cakes is rice, typically brown rice, and rice is naturally gluten-free.
Rice cakes also offer a blank canvas for adding many toppings, from avocados and eggs to almond butter and bananas.
You can find rice cakes in most grocery stores across the U.S., and they cost a fraction of what a loaf of gluten-free bread costs.
(2) Nori (Seaweed)
Nori is an often underutilized gluten-free sandwich alternative in the Western world, yet it offers a versatile and delicious way to enjoy your lunch.
While nori is typically used for sushi, you could also use it to hold your favorite sandwich fillings. I recommend using rice as the first layer on nori, then adding your sandwich fillings to the middle. Think tuna salad, egg salad, and vegetables to complete your “sushi” roll.
Nori is also a powerhouse of nutrition. It’s rich in vitamins A, C, and B-12 and minerals like iodine, which support thyroid health. It’s also low in calories and high in fiber, making it a healthy way to enjoy on-the-go lunches and snacks.
(3) Rice Paper
Rice paper is another overlooked sandwich wrap substitute. It’s made from rice, which is naturally gluten-free, and is typically enjoyed as a spring roll wrapper.
But you don’t have to make spring rolls to enjoy rice paper wrappers. Break those culinary boundaries, and use rice paper to wrap your sandwich fillings with this low-calorie alternative.
While using rice paper may seem intimidating initially, it’s as easy as soaking a piece of it in warm water until it softens, then filling the rice paper with your favorite ingredients and rolling it up.
(4) Egg White Wraps
I love egg white wraps, and the grocery store has plenty to choose from. My favorite is the original egg white wraps from egglife, which are tasty, bendable, low in calories, and high in protein. They are made from egg whites and xanthan gum – that’s it!
Smear an egg-white wrap with cream cheese or peanut butter, or load it with deli meats, cheeses, and vegetables and roll it up for a portable and delicious non-bread sandwich.
Trader Joe’s also makes egg wraps that are gluten- and dairy-free. They’re a blank slate you can dress up with melted cheese or roll up with deli meats. The Trader Joe’s wraps are thin, so they don’t hold up as well as egglife wraps, but they are much less expensive.
(5) Lettuce Leaves
Lettuce leaves have been used in recipes for decades and offer a healthful alternative to sandwich bread. You can use a head of iceberg lettuce, butter lettuce cups, or romaine lettuce leaves to hold your sandwich fixings.
Some lettuce types wrap better than others, but I mostly use them to cup my food. They work well for chicken salad and tuna salad wraps. I also use romaine lettuce cups to make delicious gluten-free chicken and mushroom lettuce wraps!
And don’t forget that collard greens can work as a great “wrap” as well. You need to boil them first, so they become super malleable. I use collard greens when making my gluten-free deconstructed eggrolls.
(6) Gluten-Free Tortillas & Wraps
The gluten-free tortilla market is beaming with gluten-free options, which I detail in my article, Best Gluten-Free Tortillas and Wraps (Brands and Recipes).
Some of my favorite wraps for making delicious sandwiches include high-protein wraps from Bfree Foods, which I highly recommend, and gluten-free wraps from Mission, reminiscent of a flour tortilla.
You could also find corn tortillas and wraps made from various gluten-free flour and alternative grains, including quinoa flour, brown rice flour, tapioca starch, and chickpea flour. However you slice it, a tortilla offers a satisfying alternative to dry gluten-free bread.
(7) Cauliflower Thins
Another popular bread swap is bread rounds or thins made from cauliflower. Such rounds are gluten-free, grain-free, keto-friendly, and low-carb. Outer Aisle Sandwich Rounds and Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Thins are recommended brands, and both look like thin bagels.
Regardless of appearances, cauliflower is a crucial ingredient in these health-forward bread alternatives and can serve as a canvas for spreads or heartier sandwich fillings.
(8) Almond Flour Tortillas
Almond flour tortillas are typically made from almond flour or ground almonds, and they’re therefore packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats.
Almond flour tortillas have a slightly sweet, nutty flavor that complements a wide range of fillings. They also have a hearty texture to help keep you feeling satisfied longer than traditional wheat flour tortillas.
While almond flour tortillas are typically used for breakfast burritos and dinner tacos, they also work well as sandwich wraps. Many come frozen, like Siete almond flour tortillas, and require a bit of heat to become bendy. I always buy Seite almond tortillas at Costco and can vouch they’re delicious.
(9) Coconut Wraps
Coconut wraps are the latest gluten-free, grain-free, low-carb alternative to bread and tortillas, and they’re typically made from coconut meat, coconut flour, coconut water, and/or coconut oil. These raw ingredients work for vegan and keto dieters.
Like egg wraps, coconut wraps are pliable and can be used instead of a wrap or regular bread to hold deli or taco meat.
I don’t like the taste of coconut, so I haven’t tried these. Please leave a comment to share if they’re any good. You can find these primarily at health food stores.
(10) Gluten-Free Crackers
Crackers always make a great bread alternative, and you can jazz up crackers however you like. I like to make my own gluten-free lunchables by serving gluten-free crackers with cheese or deli meats. Or you could make PB&J crackers as well.
You can serve gluten-free crackers with various healthy dips, such as hummus, guacamole, and maybe even egg or tuna salad.
Crunchmaster offers a sturdy gluten-free cracker, but other great gluten-free alternatives exist, like almond flour crackers from Simple Mills.
(11) Cucumber Slices
You can use cucumber slices if you enjoy eating dips with crackers but want a healthier, no-carb cracker alternative. I recommend using an English cucumber because it has a softer outer skin.
Slice the cucumber into cracker-size pieces and serve topped with your favorite sandwich fixings, like tuna salad or chickpea mash.
(12) Sweet Potato Slices
Sweet potato slices might be your next go-to sandwich alternative because they’re naturally gluten-free and good for you. They also have a lower glycemic index than bread, meaning they release sugar slowly into your bloodstream to help you maintain steady energy levels so you feel satisfied longer.
Preparing a sweet potato is as simple as slicing it into large coins and roasting the slices in your oven with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of kosher salt.
Then, top the cooked sweet potato slices with your favorite sandwich fixings and enjoy! Slices of cooked sweet potatoes taste great when served warm or cold.
Sweet potatoes are a superfood packed with essential nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, manganese, fiber, and several antioxidants, so be sure to try this deliciously healthy bread swap.
(13) Bell Pepper
You may not have considered bell peppers as a sandwich bread alternative, but you should.
Slice a red, yellow, or orange bell pepper in half, remove the stem and seeds, and fill it with your favorite deli meats and vegetables. Simple and delicious!
(14) Portabello Mushrooms
Portobellos can be used as a replacement for sandwich bread or hamburger bun. They are the perfect size and have a juicy, meaty texture, which many find satisfying.
To make a portobello sandwich, remove the stem, roast or grill the mushroom caps, and then add your desired fillings. You can also marinate the caps beforehand to infuse them with even more flavor.
These meaty mushrooms are low in calories and a good source of vitamins and minerals. Mushrooms are also known for their anti-aging properties and gut health-promoting qualities, so they’re worth incorporating into your diet.
(15) Gluten-Free Waffles
If you’re not necessarily looking for a “healthy” alternative to gluten-free bread but rather a tastier substitute, toast up some gluten-free waffles and top them with your favorite sandwich fixings.
Trader Joe’s makes gluten-free frozen waffles, as does Van’s. You could also make your own gluten-free waffles and store them in the freezer until needed.
When you’re ready to make your “sandwich,” toast the waffles and stuff them with deli meats, cheeses, and/or vegetables, or slather them with peanut butter and jelly to make a classic PB&J sandwich.
I hope these 15 alternatives to gluten-free bread inspire you and that you can make lunch or snacks more tasty and enjoyable in your house.
Remember, following a strict gluten-free diet requires thinking outside the [bread]box. These tasty gluten-free bread alternatives will help you do just that.
Articles You Might Like
For more gluten-free lunch ideas, read 42 Gluten-Free Lunch Ideas For Kids and Adults.
Do you like baking? Try making my Easy Gluten-Free Bread Recipe Using 1:1 Gluten-Free Flour, which makes the perfect gluten-free sandwich bread, or my Easy Gluten-Free Oat Bread, made with only nine ingredients!
You might enjoy reading these articles, too:
Leave a Comment