This Gluten Free Friendsgiving Holiday Casserole takes all the flavors of Thanksgiving and combines them into one delicious casserole. A layer of shredded chicken or turkey covered in gravy followed by a layer of mashed potatoes and topped with a layer of gluten free stuffing. Perfect for when you want the taste of the season without having to do all the work!

Why You Need this Recipe in Your Life

The inspiration for this recipe came from watching an episode of Magnolia Table. Joanna Gaines made a friendsgiving casserole that looked SO good. I immediately told myself that I need to recreate her casserole to make it gluten free. I took her original recipe and made several changes to make a delicious gluten free version.

So what’s so great about this recipe? Simply put, it lets you enjoy all the flavors of Thanksgiving dinner without the hassle of cooking all those separate dishes! I love Thanksgiving and part of the reason I love it so much is for the food that comes along with it. Since becoming an adult and hosting Thanksgiving at our house, I have realized how much work it is to cook a Thanksgiving dinner. It is SO worth it but sometimes I want all those foods without the work.

That’s why this gluten free casserole is so perfect. You get the turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes and stuffing in the casserole with sides of cranberry sauce and green beans. It is much easier to make compared to a whole Thanksgiving spread. Plus, the clean up is way easier too! It is a great option for a friendsgiving get together because you make it before everyone shows up, toss it in the oven and enjoy the company rather than cooking all day (and night).

Ingredients Needed to Make Gluten Free Friendsgiving Holiday Casserole

Shredded chicken or turkey (pre-cooked/shredded)
Milk
Chicken Broth
Butter
Poultry seasoning
Salt
Pepper
1:1 gluten free flour
Russet potatoes
Canyon Bakehouse Hawaiian Sweet gluten free bread
Parsley
Celery
Onion
Garlic cloves
Optional: serve with cranberry sauce and green beans

How to Make Gluten Free Friendsgiving Holiday Casserole

Bring water in a large pot to a boil. Peel and cut the potatoes and place them in the water.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the bread into cube sized pieces (cut 4 sections by 3 sections) and place the cubes on a baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes until the bread is crispy, making sure to toss half way through.
To make the gravy, add the milk, chicken broth, butter, pepper, salt and poultry seasoning to a large skillet and bring to a boil on high heat. Mix in the flour and reduce to medium high heat whisking often. Continue to cook for 2 minutes until the gravy starts to thicken. Add the shredded chicken and cook on low heat for 3 more minutes. Pour chicken and gravy into the bottom of a 9 by 13 casserole dish.
Drain the potatoes and add them to a large bowl with the butter and milk. Mash until they become thick and creamy then layer on top of chicken in the casserole dish.
To make the stuffing layer, cut the celery, onion and garlic. Remove the bread cubes from the oven when ready. In a large skillet add the butter on high heat until melted. Then sauté the celery, onion and garlic and cook for 3-5 minutes or until the celery is soft and the onion is translucent. Add the chicken broth, parsley, salt, pepper and bread to the skillet. Cook for an addition 4 minutes, carefully stirring. Add the stuffing on top of the mashed potatoes. Cover the casserole dish with foil and cook at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve with green beans and cranberry sauce.

Friendsgiving casserole with green beans and cranberry sauce

What to Serve with Friendsgiving Casserole

My favorite sides to serve with this Gluten Free Friendsgiving Casserole are cranberry sauce and green beans. For me personally, this adds the last two dishes of Thanksgiving that aren’t included in the casserole. However, you can serve this gluten free casserole with any side you would like! It can also be served on its own as it is very filling as is!

Commonly Asked Questions

Can this recipe be made dairy free? Yes, you can make this recipe dairy free by replacing the milk and butter with dairy free options. All the other ingredients are already dairy free.
Do I have to use Canyon Bakehouse Hawaiian bread? I have not tested this recipe with any other brand of gluten free bread. Therefore, I would suggest using the Canyon Bakehouse Hawaiian bread because I can’t promise it will turn out as good without it.
Does this casserole reheat well? Yes, you can simply microwave it to reheat any leftovers you may have.
Will my non-gluten free friends enjoy this casserole? Yes! The only obvious gluten free ingredient in this recipe is the bread. I think that there is enough seasoning and textures that your non-gluten free friends won’t even notice a difference.
What is the best way to store this casserole? I simply pop a lid onto the casserole dish and store it in the fridge.

How to Prep this Gluten Free Dinner Ahead of Time

I would highly recommend prepping portions of this casserole ahead of time to save yourself some time the day you want to make it. If you aren’t buying a rotisserie chicken or premade shredded chicken, I would prep the chicken beforehand. I simply add some chicken to the crockpot and shred it when it is finished. Just store the shredded chicken in the fridge until you are ready to make the rest of the casserole.

You can also prep the mashed potatoes ahead of time as well. Simply follow the directions for making the mashed potatoes and store them in an airtight container in the fridge until you are ready to make the rest of the casserole.

More Gluten Free Thanksgiving Recipes:

Thanksgiving is a time for friends, family, food and to reflect on what we are grateful for in our lives. This Friendsgiving Casserole allows you to focus on all of those things without sacrificing the deliciousness of the season. Enjoy!

-Kelsey