Are you looking for gluten-free orzo?
Look no further - I've got you covered on how to find this special pasta shape in celiac-safe, gluten-free form.
This post was created & updated in November 2025. Please note, recommendations will be for where to buy in the United States.
About This Orzo Post
If there's one pasta shape that's rare to find with celiac disease, it's orzo.
It's taken years of searching, praying, and living with celiac disease (over 15 of them!) for me to safely say that there actually ARE gluten-free versions of orzo available to purchase here in the USA.
Hooray!
What is Orzo?
Orzo is a type of pasta shape that resembles rice. Translated into Italian, it means "barley" due to its similarity to unprocessed barley. It's categorized as a "little pasta" shape, or pastina. It is also called risoni.
Orzo is commonly used in soups, broths, and pasta salads in Italian cooking, as well as Mediterranean or Greek cuisine. It cooks quickly due to its small size and is a good substitute for rice.
Is Orzo Gluten-Free?
No. Unfortunately, orzo is not gluten-free.
Orzo is traditionally made from semolina (wheat), which is not safe for celiacs to consume.
In order for orzo to be gluten-free, it needs to be created from a gluten-free grain, such as rice, corn, potato, or others.
Gluten-Free Orzo Products
While still tricky to find on grocery store shelves, as this is a relatively newer gluten-free product, you CAN still buy a celiac-safe orzo.
It's just a matter of knowing where to look and what brands have the best options!
Below, I'll share some of the orzo products available on the market today that are both gluten-free and celiac-safe.
Please note that these options are only available within the United States. Many Italian pasta companies (like Massimo Zero) offer this shape in gluten-free form, which you could find in person in grocery stores, pharmacies, or specialty supermarkets when traveling in Italy.
Looking to plan a celiac-safe adventure in Italy? Click here to read my full guide or check out all the delicious celiac-safe restaurants waiting for you in Florence.
DeLallo
DeLallo is an imported pasta brand that has a line of certified gluten-free pasta shapes, including orzo, pappardelle, gnocchi, penne, lasagna, and spaghetti. DeLallo is certified gluten-free.
I really like this brand and find that the mix of corn and rice really makes for a sturdy orzo with good texture and taste.
This is my #1 choice for a gluten-free version of orzo. I've used it in soups the most often, and find it cooks quickly, doesn't stick together, and makes a perfect substitute for regular orzo.
Personally, I've found this at Wegman's the most, but occasionally have seen it at Whole Foods and on Amazon.
For more information about DeLallo gluten-free orzo, check out their website. You can also purchase it from their website directly.
Jovial
My next choice for gluten-free orzo (and one that I see the most often in supermarkets) is from Jovial. Jovial is a certified gluten-free pasta brand that primarily uses brown rice flour. They also use Italian cooking methods in creating their pasta shapes and are beloved by the celiac and gluten-free community for their excellent texture and taste. Jovial is certified gluten-free.
They offer two types of orzo: one that is grain-free and made of cassava, and the other made from brown rice.
I've experimented with both when making dishes involving orzo, and I personally prefer the brown rice version. Both work well, cook quickly, and have no stickiness or strange textures. The taste is mild, so it will take on whatever sauce or ingredients you have with it.
I loved using the brown rice orzo in this recipe for lemon chicken orzo. I substituted the brown rice orzo from Jovial to make it gluten-free, as well as substituted unsweetened coconut milk for the heavy cream to make it dairy-free. I also left the Parmesan cheese as an optional garnish so my daughter, who has dairy and egg allergies, could eat it. We all devoured it!
Jovial is a popular brand for gluten-free pasta that I find at most supermarkets. You can also buy it online from their website directly, on Amazon, or at Whole Foods.
Banza
Banza is a gluten-free pasta brand that predominantly uses chickpeas as its gluten-free grain. While not my favorite brand, they are still a solid option as they offer a gluten-free orzo made from chickpeas that has 20g of protein. Banza is certified gluten-free.
I remember trying this brand of orzo just once. It worked fine for my purposes, but again - I'm not the biggest fan of chickpea-based pasta. I find the texture gets a little slimy, and I don't care for the aftertaste of the chickpea pasta.
As a reminder, Banza suggests that you rinse their gluten-free pasta once cooked. This is not a usual practice for cooking pasta, so just FYI! They have it in their instructions on the back of the box.
But that's just me!
I've seen Banza pastas all over supermarkets, as well as Whole Foods, Amazon, and specialty grocery stores like Sprouts. You can also order directly from the Banza website.
Barilla
New on the market - Barilla, one of my favorite gluten-free pasta brands, is now offering a chickpea-based orzo.
Barilla's orzo is certified gluten-free and vegan, plus it boasts 21g of protein (just 1 more than Banza). That sounds like a marketing tactic to me, but maybe it is one more gram of protein!
I have not tried this brand of orzo just yet - and only recently noticed it on the shelf at my local Market Basket (grocery store here in Massachusetts).
If you've tried it, please leave a comment and report back!
Cooking Gluten-Free Orzo
Typically, gluten-free orzo cooks similarly to regular gluten-containing orzo, which includes boiling it in water to soften, like most dried pasta shapes.
I always follow the instructions on the box. Depending on the gluten-free grains used to create the orzo shape, the cooking time may vary. Always double-check!
For example, Banza will tell you to rinse their gluten-free pasta after cooking, which is not common practice for cooking pasta.
Read. The. Instructions!
Storing Your Gluten-Free Orzo
Orzo is a shelf-stable product and should arrive in a sealed box or bag.
Once cooked, orzo will likely do best tossed with butter or oil of your choice to prevent sticking. Then you can add it to whatever dish you are creating.
Orzo should be stored in a container with a lid in the refrigerator once cooked. You can reheat it if you like, or keep it cold. I usually reheat in the microwave with some butter, olive oil, or sauce.
Recipes To Try With Gluten-Free Orzo
The best part about orzo is that it's so versatile to use in recipes! Especially those that call for wheat-based orzo - just sub in gluten-free!
I've been able to substitute it in many recipes and easily modify them to be gluten-free without issue. The most common recipes I've used orzo include chicken noodle soup, Italian pasta salad, and Lemon chicken & orzo bakes.
Here are a few recipe ideas to get you started:
Lemon Chicken Orzo: I substituted boneless skinless chicken thighs, coconut milk, and gluten-free Jovial orzo (Brown rice) for this recipe to make it gluten, dairy, and egg-free. I kept the Parmesan separate so my daughter could enjoy it too (she has dairy and egg allergies).
Everyone devoured it! Next time, I would double the recipe, because we had no leftovers!
Rainbow Orzo Pasta Salad Recipe: This pasta salad recipe is one I'd love to try - it combines my favorite things! Lots of crunchy and crisp summer vegetables for flavor, a simple homemade dressing, and orzo with cheese to make a light and easy side dish or main course. Definitely up my alley!
This one is another I've tried and loved - lemon chicken orzo soup! Something about adding a squeeze of lemon flavor with orzo and chicken is just fantastic. This, in soup form, is hearty and delicious. The brightness of the lemon and the little bites of orzo make it another winner in our book, and I modified it easily to be gluten, dairy, and egg-free.
Final Thoughts: Orzo Gluten-Free Options
Do you like orzo? Is this a shape of pasta you've been missing in gluten-free form?
Please let me know if you try any of these brands and which one you like the best!
For me, I'll keep buying Jovial as my go-to, and DeLallo if I can find it.
Looking for more gluten-free product recommendations?
Ready to dive into more gluten-free pasta shapes? These are the brands with the best reviews for taste and texture.
Check out this collection of 20+ gluten and dairy-free snacks - many of which you can buy on Amazon.
Curious as to which gluten-free sandwich bread is worth buying? I polled the gluten-free community, and these were the winners.
More gluten-free resources, recipes, & guides can be found on the blog here.
Have you found gluten-free orzo?
What is your favorite brand?
Let me know in the comments below!
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