Girl Dinner: The Gluten-Free Edition

After a crazy work week, Friday night called for one thing: Girl Dinner.

You know the kind. No complicated recipes, no fancy reservations, no spending a fortune. Just a few really good things thrown together that somehow feel a little luxurious.

As we started making our gluten-free breaded chicken and whipping up Caesar dressing, we found ourselves wondering: Who actually coined the term “Girl Dinner”? More importantly, what exactly makes something a Girl Dinner?

For us, it’s pretty simple: salad, French fries, chicken, and either wine or a martini. I went with a glass of Chardonnay both Friday and Saturday night because no Girl Dinner is complete without something to sip.

Maybe it’s the ease of putting everything together. Maybe it’s the combination of flavors. Or maybe girls just have a way of taking a few simple ingredients and making them feel a little more lux without actually paying lux prices. And honestly? I think that might be the whole point.

Friday Night: Homemade Girl Dinner

We skipped the Friday-night reservation and pulled up a chair at home. Our Girl Dinner lineup: crispy gluten-free chicken, Caesar salad, fries, and a glass of Chardonnay. We made gluten-free breaded chicken using Aleia’s Italian Gluten-Free Bread Crumbs, a homemade gluten-free Caesar dressing, and French fries made in the air fryer with frozen fries from the one and only Von Hanson’s.

There’s something about crispy chicken, salty fries, creamy Caesar dressing, and a glass of Chardonnay that just works. It feels indulgent without requiring a ton of effort, which is pretty much the definition of a perfect Girl Dinner.

Saturday Night: Doughbirds

Of course, one night of Girl Dinner wasn’t enough. On night two, I had to put our homemade version up against a restaurant version from Doughbirds.

And these are definitely two different takes on the same idea.

Our Homemade Version:

• Gluten-free breaded chicken with Aleia’s Italian GF bread crumbs

• Homemade gluten-free Caesar dressing

• Air-fried fries from Von Hanson’s

• A glass of Chardonnay

Doughbirds:

• Chicken Avocado Salad with rotisserie-style chicken, Avocado, Gorgonzola, and Ranch dressing

• Potato wedges

  • One important gluten-free note: if you have celiac disease, please be aware that the potato wedges are prepared in an area where cross-contact can occur. Always communicate your dietary needs to the restaurant and confirm current preparation practices before ordering.

• A glass of Chardonnay

And now for the very important question: Which Girl Dinner wins?

Honestly, I think I prefer our homemade version. The crispy gluten-free chicken, homemade Caesar dressing, and those air-fried fries are a pretty tough combination to beat. But ask me on a different day? I might tell you Doughbirds wins.

And honestly, not being able to choose is probably the most Girl Dinner answer of all.

So we’re calling it a tie. 

Want the Recipes?

The recipes for our gluten-free Caesar dressing, homemade Girl Dinner, and those ridiculously good Von Hanson’s fries are coming up in the next posts. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss them!

⭐ Save Me a Seat Ranking

Homemade Girl Dinner: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Doughbirds Girl Dinner: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Yes, I gave them both five stars.

Because sometimes the only fair ranking is a tie, and I refuse to choose. 😉

What’s your favorite place when you’re craving a Girl Dinner? Pull up a chair and we'll explore!