Best gluten-free bread: 15 brands ranked by taste, plus the best for sandwiches, sourdough, and budget
We blind-tasted 15 gluten-free bread brands and ranked them honestly. Find out which ones actually taste like real bread — and which ones to never buy again.
Malik
I've spent countless hours (and way too much money) taste-testing every gluten-free bread I could get my hands on. Some made me question my life choices, while others genuinely surprised me. Today, I'm sharing my hard-earned wisdom about the 15 best gluten-free breads you can actually buy at the store.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Key takeaways
- Canyon Bakehouse is the closest thing to regular sandwich bread in the gluten-free aisle. Country White took the top spot in our taste test, and Heritage Style is the pick if you want bigger slices.
- Schar Artisan Baker White is the best shelf-stable loaf, which matters for travel, lunchboxes, and anyone without freezer space.
- Little Northern Bakehouse solves the tiny-slice problem, Trader Joe's is the best budget loaf, and Schar Deli Style is the only gluten-free sourdough with real tang.
- Three well-known brands disappointed us in testing. The details are below so you can skip them.
- Frozen is not a downside. Most of the best loaves are sold frozen and toast up fine. Check certification, slice size, and the first three ingredients before you buy.
My Gluten-Free Bread Testing Method
Before we dive in, let me explain how I tested these breads. I didn't just nibble them plain (though I did that too). Each loaf went through what I call "The Sandwich Gauntlet":
- Fresh out of the bag
- Toasted with butter
- PB&J sandwich test
- Grilled cheese challenge
- French toast potential (because weekend mornings matter!)
I also considered price, slice size, texture, and that all-important factor: does it actually taste like bread?
The Top 15 Gluten-Free Breads, Ranked
1. Canyon Bakehouse Country White
Price: Around $6-7 per loaf
Where to find it: Most major grocery stores, freezer section
This is it, folks – the holy grail of gluten-free bread. Canyon Bakehouse consistently ranks as the top choice in multiple taste tests, and after trying it myself, I understand why. The texture is remarkably close to regular white bread, with just enough chew without being gummy.
What sets it apart? The slices are actually a decent size (not those tiny appetizer-sized slices some brands give you), and it doesn't fall apart when you're making a hearty sandwich. I discovered this bread during my early days of gluten-free eating when I was desperately searching for something that wouldn't crumble into my soup.
Best for: Everything! Sandwiches, toast, French toast – this bread does it all.
2. Schar Artisan Baker White Bread
Price: Around $6-8 per loaf
Where to find it: Freezer section or shelf-stable area
Schar appears to have updated its recipe recently and it's now "the most convincing bread" according to multiple taste tests. I have to agree – this European brand knows what they're doing. The texture is firm but not dense, and it has that satisfying bread-like chew.
Fair warning though: the slices are on the smaller side. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in flavor and reliability. I actually wrote about my experience with European gluten-free options when I was researching different brands, and Schar consistently impressed me.
3. Canyon Bakehouse Sweet Hawaiian
Price: Around $7-8 per loaf
Where to find it: Freezer section
Plot twist! This sweet bread actually ranked highest overall in comprehensive testing. I was skeptical at first – sweet bread for sandwiches? But hear me out. The subtle sweetness works beautifully with savory fillings like turkey and cheese, and it makes incredible French toast.
The texture is soft and slightly spongy (in a good way), and it doesn't have that weird gluten-free aftertaste that haunts some brands.
Best for: Ham sandwiches, French toast, anything where a touch of sweetness enhances the flavors.
4. Three Bakers Whole Grain
Price: Around $6-7 per loaf
Where to find it: Freezer section
This bread surprised me with its hearty texture and nutty flavor. It has lots of seeds and feels very soft with good air bubbles, which gives it an artisan-like quality. The slices hold up well to chunky sandwich fillings, and it makes excellent toast.
5. Carbonaut White Bread
Price: Around $9-10 per loaf
Where to find it: Freezer section
This was my "wow, this is actually like Wonder Bread" moment. Carbonaut is remarkably soft and Wonder Bread-like, the kind that could get stuck to the roof of your mouth in the best way. If you're craving that nostalgic white bread experience, this is your answer.
The larger slices are a huge plus, though it can get a bit gummy when toasted too long. I learned this the hard way during a particularly ambitious grilled cheese experiment.
6. Rudi's Gluten-Free Original
Price: Around $7-9 per loaf
Where to find it: Freezer section
Rudi's offers that traditional bread taste with a decent texture. It's not groundbreaking, but it's reliable. The flavor is great with a good crust, though it tends to be pricier than other options. Still, when you want something dependable for your morning toast, Rudi's delivers.
7. Aldi's LiveGFree White Bread
Price: Around $4-5 per loaf (best value!)
Where to find it: Fresh bread section at Aldi
Here's your budget-friendly champion! While not perfect, it looks and feels like traditional white bread and offers great value. The slices are small, but at this price point, I'm not complaining. It's perfect for simple sandwiches and toast.
8. Little Northern Bakehouse Cinnamon Raisin
Price: Around $6-7 per loaf
Where to find it: Freezer section
This bread is much less dense than many gluten-free options and the raisins add needed moisture. While I wouldn't use it for a turkey sandwich, it's absolutely perfect for French toast or just toasted with butter for breakfast.
9. Glutino Gluten-Free Multigrain
Price: Around $5-7 per loaf
Where to find it: Freezer section
Glutino has a tight crumb with slightly spongy texture and mild flavor. It's not offensive, but it's not exciting either. Think of it as the reliable friend of gluten-free breads – always there when you need it, even if it doesn't wow you.
10. Sam's Choice Gluten-Free Multigrain (Walmart)
Price: Around $6-7 per loaf
Where to find it: Walmart, fresh bread section
This Walmart brand had potential but fell short for me. The flavor came off as strange, almost having the bitter essence of dirt. However, some people love its soft texture and the fact that it doesn't disintegrate. Your mileage may vary!
11. 365 by Whole Foods Gluten-Free Multigrain
Price: Around $5-6 per loaf
Where to find it: Whole Foods, shelf-stable section
If you shop at Whole Foods, this organic option offers good value. It uses ancient grains and has positive reviews for tasting like real bread with light texture. It's not my top pick, but it's a solid choice for the health-conscious baker.
12. BFree Gluten-Free White
Price: Around $7-8 per loaf
Where to find it: Fresh bread section
BFree has long, narrow slices and can be a bit bland with some aftertaste, but makes good toast. It's one of those breads that really needs toasting to shine. The unusual slice shape takes some getting used to.
13. Base Culture 7 Nut & Seed Bread
Price: Around $8-10 per loaf
Where to find it: Health food stores, online
This paleo-friendly option is more for the low-carb crowd than bread lovers. It has a spongy texture and is pretty expensive and small. If you're following a specific diet that requires it, it's fine, but don't expect traditional bread vibes.
14. Against the Grain Baguettes
Price: Around $7-9 per pack
Where to find it: Freezer section
While Against the Grain received the highest star rating in some tests for their specialty items, their regular bread options don't match up to the top contenders. Their baguettes are decent for specific uses though.
15. Udi's Gluten-Free White
Price: Around $5-6 per loaf
Where to find it: Freezer section
I know this might be controversial since Udi's is everywhere, but honestly, the slices are ridiculously small with a dry, hard crust and the texture is like couch foam. I wanted to love it because it's so widely available, but it consistently disappoints me.
Best gluten-free bread by use
A single ranking hides the fact that people buy gluten-free bread for different jobs. These are the loaves that won each category in our sandwich, toast, and plain-slice testing.
Best overall gluten-free bread: Canyon Bakehouse Heritage Style White
Canyon Bakehouse Heritage Style White is the closest thing to "normal" sandwich bread we've found in the gluten-free aisle. The slices are generously sized, soft enough to eat untoasted, and hold up to loaded sandwiches without falling apart.
What sets it apart is the texture. Where most gluten-free breads are either gummy or dry and crumbly (two of the most common gluten-free baking problems), Canyon Bakehouse nails the middle ground. The crumb is tender with a slight chew, and it toasts beautifully with crisp edges and a soft interior.
The ingredient list is clean: whole grain brown rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch, egg whites, and honey. No artificial preservatives. It's GFCO certified and made in a dedicated gluten-free facility, which gives it the highest safety marks for celiac households.
At around $6.49 per loaf, it's mid-range in price but delivers premium results. You can find it in the freezer section at most major grocery stores, or grab a multipack on Amazon. We recommend the Canyon Bakehouse Heritage Style White as the best starting point for anyone building a gluten-free pantry.
Best shelf-stable gluten-free bread: Schar Artisan Baker White
Schar Artisan Baker White Bread is our top pick for shelf-stable bread, which means no freezer required. This is a game-changer for road trips, office lunches, or anyone who doesn't want to plan ahead and thaw bread.
The texture is surprisingly soft for a shelf-stable product. Schar uses a proprietary blend of corn starch, rice starch, and sourdough culture that gives it a mild tanginess and better crumb structure than most competitors. It toasts well and makes a solid grilled cheese.
Schar is an Italian brand with decades of gluten-free expertise, and their products are GFCO certified. The bread is made in a dedicated gluten-free facility in Europe, which is reassuring for anyone with celiac disease.
The Schar Artisan Baker White runs about $6.29 per loaf and is widely available at Target, Walmart, and Whole Foods. The shelf life is impressive — several months unopened — making it a great pantry staple.
Best gluten-free bread for sandwiches: Little Northern Bakehouse White Wide Slice
If your main complaint about gluten-free bread is that the slices are too small, Little Northern Bakehouse solves that problem. Their White Wide Slice loaf produces slices that are genuinely comparable in size to conventional sandwich bread.
The texture is soft and slightly springy, and the bread holds condiments and fillings without getting soggy or crumbling. It's one of the few gluten-free breads where you can make a real deli-style sandwich and not feel like you're compromising.
Little Northern Bakehouse is GFCO certified, made in a dedicated facility, and uses a blend of brown rice flour, tapioca starch, and pea protein for structure. At $6.99 per loaf it's slightly pricier, but the larger slice size means you're getting more bread per dollar than it first appears.
Best budget gluten-free bread: Trader Joe's Gluten Free White Bread
At around $4.49 per loaf, Trader Joe's Gluten Free White Bread is the most affordable option we tested. And honestly, for the price, it's surprisingly decent.
The texture is soft when thawed properly, though it can lean slightly gummy if you skip toasting. The slices are on the smaller side, and the flavor is fairly neutral — not bad, just not remarkable. It works perfectly well for toast, grilled cheese, and basic sandwiches.
The catch: Trader Joe's bread is labeled gluten-free but does not carry GFCO certification. If you have celiac disease and require certified products, this one may not meet your safety threshold. For gluten-sensitive folks or those avoiding gluten by choice, it's a solid budget pick.
Best gluten-free sourdough bread: Schar Deli Style Sourdough
Real sourdough flavor is hard to find in gluten-free bread, but Schar's Deli Style Sourdough comes closest. It has a mild tang from actual sourdough culture, a slightly denser crumb than their white bread, and excellent toast performance.
This bread shines in applications where you want more flavor — open-faced sandwiches, avocado toast, or alongside soup. The slices are deli-sized and sturdy enough for stacking. Understanding what gluten does in bread helps explain why getting that chewy sourdough texture without wheat is such an achievement, and Schar manages it better than anyone else on the market.
The Schar Deli Style Sourdough is shelf-stable, GFCO certified, and runs about $6.49. It's become a permanent fixture in our pantry.
Best gluten-free seeded bread: Three Bakers Great Seed Whole Grain
For anyone who prefers a heartier, whole-grain style bread, Three Bakers Great Seed is the standout. It's packed with sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and millet, giving it a nutty flavor and satisfying crunch that most gluten-free breads completely lack.
The texture is denser than white bread options, which is expected and welcome here. It holds up well to robust sandwich fillings and makes excellent toast. The ingredient list is impressive: whole grain sorghum flour, brown rice flour, flax meal, and multiple seeds with no artificial anything.
Three Bakers is a dedicated gluten-free bakery based in Pennsylvania, and their products are GFCO certified. At $7.49 it's on the pricier side, but you're getting genuine whole grain nutrition that's hard to find in the gluten-free bread category.
Brands that disappointed us
Not every popular brand lived up to its reputation. Here's where a few well-known names fell short:
Glutino Gluten Free White Sandwich Bread
Glutino was one of the first gluten-free bread brands many of us tried, and while it deserves credit for being a pioneer, the competition has passed it by. The texture is dry and crumbly, and the slices are small. Even toasted, it lacks the softness and flavor of Canyon Bakehouse or Schar. It's certified and safe, just not particularly enjoyable.
Kinnikinnick Soft White Bread
Despite the name, Kinnikinnick's white bread isn't especially soft. It has a slightly gritty mouthfeel — a common issue we discuss in our guide to fixing gritty texture in gluten-free baking — and a bland flavor that doesn't improve much with toasting. The slices are thin and fragile. It's GFCO certified, which is a plus, but there are better options at the same price point.
Promise Gluten Free Soft White
Promise is a newer brand that's gotten some buzz, but at $7.49 per loaf, the value just isn't there. The bread is decent — soft enough, reasonable flavor — but it doesn't do anything better than Canyon Bakehouse or Little Northern Bakehouse, both of which cost less.
What Makes Great Gluten-Free Bread?
After all this tasting, I've learned a few things about what separates the winners from the losers:
Size matters. Those tiny slices might look cute, but they're useless for actual sandwiches. You need real-sized slices that can handle fillings.
Texture is everything. Good gluten-free bread should have some chew without being gummy or falling apart. It's a delicate balance that the best brands have figured out.
Freshness counts. Most gluten-free breads are frozen for good reason – they don't have the preservatives regular bread does. Always check dates and store properly.
Toast transforms. Even mediocre gluten-free bread often improves dramatically when toasted. Don't judge until you've tried it both ways.
What to look for when choosing a gluten-free bread
With so many options on the shelf, here's what actually matters when picking a gluten-free bread brand:
Certification vs. labeling
A "gluten-free" label on the packaging means the product contains less than 20 ppm of gluten per FDA regulations. GFCO certification is stricter, requiring less than 10 ppm and regular third-party testing. If you have celiac disease, GFCO certification provides an extra layer of safety.
Frozen vs. shelf-stable
Frozen gluten-free breads are generally fresher and have cleaner ingredient lists because they don't need shelf-stable preservatives. Shelf-stable options from Schar are the notable exception — they've figured out how to maintain quality without freezing. For most other brands, buy frozen when possible.
Ingredient quality
Look for breads that use whole grain flours (brown rice, sorghum, millet) rather than just refined starches. Breads with psyllium husk, flax, or chia tend to have better structure and moisture retention. Avoid breads where the first three ingredients are all starches — they'll taste like it.
Slice size matters
This sounds trivial, but gluten-free bread slices are often noticeably smaller than conventional bread. If sandwiches are your primary use, prioritize brands like Little Northern Bakehouse or Canyon Bakehouse Heritage Style that offer full-sized slices.
Where to Shop and What to Expect
Frozen vs. Fresh: Most of the best gluten-free breads are sold frozen. This isn't a bad thing – it keeps them fresh longer. Just plan ahead and defrost what you need.
Price reality: Yes, gluten-free bread is expensive. Expect to pay $5-10 per loaf. As I discovered when I compared Costco's gluten-free bread options, buying in bulk can help with costs.
Storage tips: Once opened, keep gluten-free bread in the fridge or freezer. It molds faster than regular bread because it lacks preservatives.
My Personal Baking Adventures
Speaking of making your own bread, I've experimented with homemade gluten-free baking quite a bit. When I was researching the science behind gluten-free flour substitutions, I learned why store-bought often beats homemade for sandwich bread – it's incredibly difficult to get the texture right without commercial equipment and stabilizers.
That said, if you want to try baking your own, I found that King Arthur's gluten-free bread flour produces some of the most reliable results at home.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best tasting gluten-free bread you can buy?
Canyon Bakehouse Heritage Style White is the best tasting gluten-free bread we've tested. It has a soft, slightly chewy texture, mild sweetness from honey, and slices large enough for real sandwiches. It's GFCO certified and available in the freezer section at most major grocery stores.
Is gluten-free bread safe for people with celiac disease?
Gluten-free bread labeled as such must contain less than 20 ppm of gluten per FDA standards. For extra safety, look for GFCO certification, which requires less than 10 ppm and independent testing. Brands like Canyon Bakehouse, Schar, and Three Bakers are all GFCO certified and produced in dedicated gluten-free facilities.
Why is gluten-free bread so expensive?
Gluten-free bread costs more because the specialty flours and starches (rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch) are pricier than wheat flour, production runs are smaller, and dedicated gluten-free facilities add overhead. Expect to pay $5-8 per loaf. Trader Joe's offers the most affordable option at around $4.49.
Should I buy frozen or shelf-stable gluten-free bread?
Frozen gluten-free bread is generally fresher with fewer preservatives. Shelf-stable bread from Schar is the exception — their proprietary process maintains quality without freezing. For most other brands, frozen delivers better texture and flavor. Always thaw frozen bread at room temperature or toast directly from frozen for best results.
Can I make gluten-free bread at home that tastes better than store-bought?
Yes, homemade gluten-free bread can taste significantly better than store-bought when you use the right flour blend and technique. The key is understanding how to replace gluten's structural role with binders like psyllium husk or xanthan gum. Our homemade flour blend recipe is a great place to start.
The Bottom Line
Don't let anyone tell you that gluten-free bread can't be delicious. Yes, it's different from wheat bread, and yes, it's more expensive. But brands like Canyon Bakehouse and Schar prove that you don't have to sacrifice taste or texture just because you can't eat gluten.
My advice? Start with Canyon Bakehouse Country White – it's the most universally appealing option I've found. From there, experiment with different brands to find your personal favorites. And remember, even if a bread doesn't work for sandwiches, it might be perfect for French toast or stuffing!
Trust me, after five years of this gluten-free journey, I can confidently say: you will eat good sandwiches again. You just need to know where to look.
Quick tip: Always check the ingredients if you have other food allergies. Most gluten-free breads contain eggs, and many have other allergens. When I was helping a friend navigate multiple food allergies, I learned to always double-check labels – something I should have mentioned in my guide about safely identifying gluten-free baking ingredients.
Happy sandwich making, friends! Your taste buds (and your lunch routine) will thank you.
Written by
Co-founder, BakingSubs
Co-founder of BakingSubs, where he turns the science of ingredient substitutions into tested, reliable guidance for home bakers.
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