Out of Bread crumbs, one case
Gluten-free bread crumb substitute
5 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Use Toasted gluten-free bread crumbs
1 cup for every cup of bread crumbs
The closest gluten-free substitute for bread crumbs is gluten-free bread, toasted dry and ground, used at the same volume. With no gluten-free bread in the house, use crushed gluten-free crackers or rice cereal for coating, and certified gluten-free oats for binding meatballs and meatloaf. Check labels: regular oats, cornflakes and crisped rice cereal are often not gluten-free.
- Verdict —
- Works
- The tweak —
- Dry slices on a baking sheet at 300°F for 10 to 15 minutes, until crisp but not dark. Cool, then pulse in a food processor or crush in a bag.
- Best for —
- breading chicken, fish and vegetables
One casethe full bread crumbs card
Every option, one card
Ranked| # | Substitute | Instead of 1 cup bread crumbs | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toasted gluten-free bread crumbsbreading chicken, fish and vegetables | 1 cupWorks | Works |
| 2 | Crushed gluten-free crackers or rice cerealoven-baked chicken tenders and cutlets | 1 cupTweak it | Tweak it |
| 3 | Certified gluten-free rolled oatsmeatloaf | 1 cupTweak it | Tweak it |
| 4 | Almond flourpan-fried chicken and fish | 1 cupYou'll taste it | You'll taste it |
| 5 | Cornmealfried fish and shrimp | 1 cupYou'll taste it | You'll taste it |
| Not a swap | Regular cornflakes or crisped rice cereal | not a swapNot for this | Not for this |
Toasted gluten-free bread crumbs
no real change
Crushed gluten-free crackers or rice cereal
light and toasty; slightly sweet with cereal
Gluten-free crackers, rice squares or corn squares cereal, crushed fine. They make a crisp coating and a workable binder.
- Best for
- oven-baked chicken tenders and cutlets, fish fillets, meatballs
- Prep
- Crush to fine crumbs. Cut the recipe's salt if you are using salted crackers.
- Suits
- gluten-free
- Where it fails
- Sweetened cereals in savory dishes. Read the box: the cereal has to say gluten-free.
Certified gluten-free rolled oats
mild; slightly chewier
Oats bind ground meat well and vanish into it once cooked. They absorb more liquid than bread crumbs.
- Best for
- meatloaf, meatballs, burgers and veggie burgers
- Prep
- Add 1 to 2 tbsp of milk per cup of oats, and pulse old-fashioned oats a few times so they blend in.
- Suits
- gluten-free
- Where it fails
- As a coating: oats do not crisp or brown like crumbs. A small number of people with celiac disease also react to oats themselves.
Oats are often grown and milled alongside wheat. Buy oats labeled gluten-free.
Almond flour
nutty and rich
Finely ground almonds. It makes a tender, golden crust and works as a binder with an egg.
- Best for
- pan-fried chicken and fish, meatballs, low-carb cooking
- Prep
- Press it onto egg-dipped food and cook over medium heat. It browns and burns sooner than bread crumbs.
- Suits
- gluten-free, low-carb
- Contains
- tree nuts
- Where it fails
- Deep-frying and high oven heat, where it scorches, and anyone with a tree-nut allergy.
Cornmeal
toasted corn, with a sandy crunch
Ground dried corn. As a coating it fries to a firm, gritty crunch.
- Best for
- fried fish and shrimp, fried green tomatoes and okra, dusting chicken before pan-frying
- Prep
- Season it well and press it on. Fine or medium grind coats more evenly than coarse.
- Suits
- gluten-free
- Where it fails
- As a binder in meatballs or meatloaf, where it stays gritty. Buy cornmeal labeled gluten-free if cross-contact matters.
Regular cornflakes or crisped rice cereal
malty and lightly sweet
Corn and rice contain no gluten, but most big-brand cornflakes and crisped rice cereals are flavored with barley malt, which does.
- Best for
- only boxes that are labeled gluten-free
- Where it fails
- Any gluten-free meal, unless the box carries a gluten-free label. The same goes for regular panko, crackers and seasoned crumb mixes, which are wheat.
Tips for substituting bread crumbs
5 tips- Coating: dip in beaten egg first, then the crumbs. Gluten-free crumbs stick with egg as wheat crumbs do; for the flour step use rice flour or cornstarch.
- Binding: for meatballs and meatloaf use the same volume of gluten-free crumbs or oats, and add 1 to 2 tbsp of milk per cup if you use oats.
- Topping: toss 1 cup of gluten-free crumbs with 1 to 2 tbsp of melted butter or oil before scattering it on a casserole, so it browns evenly.
- Make crumbs ahead from stale gluten-free bread and freeze them in a sealed bag for up to 3 months.
- Check every label, including the seasoning. Malt, wheat starch and soy sauce are the usual places gluten hides.
Questions
5 questionsIs panko gluten-free?
No. Regular panko is made from wheat bread. Gluten-free panko is sold, usually made from rice or chickpea flour, and it replaces bread crumbs at the same volume.
Can I use oats in place of bread crumbs on a gluten-free diet?
Yes, as a binder, if the oats are labeled gluten-free. Regular oats are commonly contaminated with wheat. Use the same volume and add 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk per cup of oats. Some people with celiac disease do not tolerate oats at all.
Are cornflakes gluten-free?
Often not. Many cornflakes contain barley malt flavoring, which has gluten. Use a brand labeled gluten-free, or use crushed corn or rice squares cereal that carries the label.
What is the best gluten-free bread crumb substitute for meatballs?
Toasted gluten-free bread crumbs or certified gluten-free oats, at the same volume as the bread crumbs. Almond flour also works if you keep the egg in the recipe, and gives a softer meatball.
What gluten-free coating gets crisp like bread crumbs?
Crushed gluten-free rice or corn cereal gives the crispest oven-baked coating. Gluten-free panko and toasted gluten-free bread crumbs are close behind. Almond flour browns well in a pan but is tender, not crunchy.