Is Deli Meat Gluten Free? + A Great Platter Centerpiece

Name: Deli Meat Platter Centerpiece
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 8 leaves butter lettuce (rinsed and patted dried with paper towels or tea towel); 5 slices gluten free bread (ends trimmed off, lightly toasted); 10 slices thinly sliced gluten free deli meat; 1 thick slice cheese

Photo of a Deli Meat Gluten Free Platter Christmas Tree Centerpiece made of lettuce and deli meat topped with a cheese star.

One of the first questions I had when I began a gluten free diet was, “Is deli meat gluten free?” So many people assume it is because after all, it’s meat, right? It’s amazing what you’ll find used as a filler in deli meat. So, you must read labels carefully. Continue reading to learn my favorite brands.

Columbus Deli Meats:

Columbus Craft Meats FAQs page states,

Gluten Free? No MSG? Allergens?

All of our products are free of artificial colors and flavors, and all have 0g of trans fat per serving. Except for our honey mustard spread, all COLUMBUS® products are gluten free. Some of our products contain milk or soy – please read the ingredient statement carefully if you need to avoid these ingredients.

Are Applegate Products Gluten Free? Casein Free?

Applegate explains,

All of our products are gluten free except for our Natural Chicken Nuggets, Organic Chicken Nuggets, Natural Chicken Patties, Organic Chicken Strips, and Natural Homestyle Breaded Chicken Breast Tenders…we do offer gluten-free chicken nuggets, gluten-free chicken breast tenders, and gluten free corn dogs! All of our products are casein free, except our cheeses, Organic Spinach and Feta Sausages, and Natural Chicken and Cheddar Sausages.

Popular Brands of Gluten Free Bread:

Schar (my fave, especially multi grain & baguettes)

Canyon Bakehouse

Rudi’s Gluten Free Bakery

Trader Joe’s

Udi’s

Or Make one of 200 Gluten Free Bread Recipes. Here’s one of my favorite bread recipes, which is available to everyone:

Deli Meat Platter Centerpiece

When you want to make a holiday statement, make this Christmas tree deli meat centerpiece for a platter or table.

Course Appetizer, Buffet, Lunch

Cuisine American

Ingredient Keyword cheese, chicken, ground turkey, ham, lettuce, salami

Prep Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

8 leaves butter lettuce rinsed and patted dried with paper towels or tea towel
5 slices gluten free bread ends trimmed off, lightly toasted
10 slices thinly sliced gluten free deli meat
1 thick slice cheese

Instructions

Prepare and set aside the lettuce.
Toast the bread; cut into stars using cookie cutters or freehand; set aside.
Using the pointy end of a long wooden skewer, pierce several layers of lettuce in the center veins to create the base of your tree.
Add a slightly smaller bread star by piercing the center of the bread with the skewer and pushing it on top of the lettuce.
On a flat surface, place a few slices of deli meat, in a wavy fashion, overlapping each other to form a circle about the same size as the bread. Pierce the center of the stack of meat with the skewer and place it on top of the bread.
Repeat the above process about two more times, making the items smaller to form a tree. Top with a small piece of star bread. Be sure to leave the tip of the skewer showing so that you can place the star on top.
Cut a thick chunk of cheese, about 1/2-inch thick. Using a small star cookie cutter trace the cookie cutter onto a piece of parchment paper. At the bottom, trace a small triangular cookie cutter or object to turn it into a base for the star. Cut out the shape, leaving behind any pencil or pen markings, and place in on the cheese. Using a paring knife, cut out the star-shaped cheese and place it on top of the skewer point.
Use this for a buffet table or large platter of deli meat and cheese.