I’m Tammy Overhoff, the creator of Gluten-Free Italian Eats, and I’m so happy you’re here.
Gluten-Free Italian Eats is a trusted resource for gluten-free Italian recipes. I share everything from restaurant-inspired dishes to the homemade Italian classics you remember eating around the Sunday dinner table.
Why I Started Gluten-Free Italian Eats
Okay, let me back up a little and share the inspiration behind this blog.
In 2021, I was diagnosed with Celiac disease, an autoimmune condition where eating gluten damages the small intestine. In simple terms: if I eat gluten, I get sick. Fun times.
At that point, I was already eating relatively clean and mostly gluten-free, so I wasn’t overly worried about making changes.
What I was worried about was giving up Italian food. Like, really worried.
Italian food is a huge part of who I am.
I grew up in a big Italian-American family where pasta and pizza were the foods we turned to for comfort, celebration, and basically everything in between. Sunday sauce, holiday lasagna, big family parties – those meals were the backdrop of my life.
And I’m from Buffalo, NY, which brings its own special layer of Italian-American culture.
People often think of Italian-American food in places like New York City or New Jersey (and yes, there’s amazing food there), but Buffalo is different. Our pizza is baked thick in cookie sheet pans, we say “sauce” not “gravy,” and we have our own local specialties – Royal subs, spaghetti parm, and a bunch of other Buffalo-only Italian dishes. And of course… the Bills, which adds a whole other layer of community and culture.
Growing up in an Italian-American family from Buffalo is its own kind of culture: lots of food, lots of family, lots of loud, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s a huge part of my identity.
So when my doctor said, “You can’t eat gluten anymore,” I felt genuinely sad. It felt like I was losing a piece of myself and, honestly, my connection to my heritage.
Over the years, my family has become very blended with different backgrounds and cultures, but our Italian-American roots are still the beating heart of who we are.
This picture is one of my favorites. It’s where it all started for my family.
In this photo is my Great-Grandma Josephine, Great-Grandpa Henry, my Grandma Concetta, Aunt Amy, Aunt Rosanne, and Uncle Henry. All of them, except my Aunt Rosanne (she’s off to the right), have passed away.
My grandpa died when I was younger, but I had my great-grandma into my mid-20s, and my grandma, aunts, and uncles well into my 40s (I just turned 50). I feel incredibly blessed to have had them in my life as an adult and to have so many memories with them.
Our holidays and family gatherings were always centered around food: big pots of Sunday sauce with meatballs, a pan of lasagna or baked ziti, chicken or eggplant parmigiana, and every Italian dessert you can imagine.
This second picture was taken about 6–7 years ago. My grandmother (and of course my great-grandparents) had already passed, but the others from the original photo are here. This is how I remember our holidays- tables full of Italian food, loud conversations, and everyone gathered together.
So when I was diagnosed with Celiac, the questions started rolling in:
- What would I eat during the holidays or for Sunday dinner?
- What about going out to an Italian restaurant, something I absolutely love?
Reclaiming Italian Food, Gluten Free
Instead of accepting that I could never enjoy Italian food again, I started creating gluten-free versions of my favorite recipes.
And I don’t mean just swapping in zoodles or using any old gluten-free pasta and calling it a day.
Since then, I’ve been testing products, brands, and recipes to create gluten-free Italian food that actually tastes like the real thing – or better.
I test everything in my own kitchen, with my own family, and now I share those recipes on Gluten-Free Italian Eats so you can get back to the Italian foods you love eating with family and friends.
About My Recipes
Here on Gluten-Free Italian Eats, I share restaurant-inspired and classic gluten-free Italian recipes. You’ll mostly find appetizers and dinners right now – desserts are coming soon.
If you’d see it at an Italian feast, my goal is for you to find a gluten-free version here.
Most of my recipes are rooted in my Buffalo Italian-American experience. They’re not always “authentic to Italy” in a strict sense, but they’re very authentic to how I grew up eating in an Italian-American family in Buffalo, NY.
Here’s what you can expect from my recipes:
- High-quality ingredients. All ingredients are gluten free, minimally processed, and free of unnecessary additives, preservatives, and junk.
- Product suggestions. Gluten-free products can be hit or miss. I test multiple brands and share what works best for each recipe.
- Simple, approachable instructions. I’m busy, just like you. I don’t have time for complicated recipes and I don’t expect you to either.
- Thorough testing. Every recipe is tested (and retested). I listen to reader feedback and adjust when needed. And of course, everything is taste-tested and approved by my husband and kids.
I’m always in the kitchen testing new Italian recipes, so definitely check back often
Where to Start
If you’re new here and looking for a place to start, I recommend:
- Gluten-Free Chicken Cutlets – Once you master these, you can use them for everything from gluten-free chicken parmesan to a Caesar salad with crispy chicken on top.
- Serious Comfort Food – Try my gluten-free Alfredo sauce, gluten-free meat sauce, or gluten-free baked ziti.
- Family Tradition – Make my Grandma Josephine’s Sunday Sauce. It’s the heart of so many of my family memories.
Or honestly, just browse my gluten-free Italian dinner recipes – you’ll definitely find something delicious.
A little bit more about Tammy
- Location: I live in a suburb outside Buffalo, NY, with my husband Mike, and our kids, our adorable bullmastiff Kenworth.
- Education: I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s of Education Degree in Higher Education Administration.
- Years I’ve been blogging: 11 years! I started my first blog, Organize Yourself Skinny, in March 2011 and took it full-time in August 2014, and it’s still going strong. If you want clean eating meal prep recipes, then head there.
- Occupation before blogging: I worked at Buffalo State College for 12 years as the Assistant Director of the Health Center. My focus was on health education for college students.
Keeping in Touch
Please don’t hesitate to reach out – I truly love hearing from readers.
- Rate and comment on blog posts. Have you made one of my recipes? I’d love to hear what you thought or any tweaks you made. Don’t forget to leave a star rating—it helps others find recipes that work.
- Find me on social. You can currently find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
- Email me. You can email me directly at [email protected] – I read every message.
Thank you for being here. I know how hard it can feel to give up gluten and feel like you’re losing your favorite foods. My hope is that Gluten-Free Italian Eats helps you bring Italian food – and all the comfort, family, and tradition that comes with it – back to your table, gluten-free and just as delicious.