Gluten-Free Cheese & Bacon Bread (Slow Cooker)
Making gluten-free bread can feel tricky, but this recipe makes it fool proof. No kneading, no oven, no stress – just 2 hours on high in the slow cooker and you’ll have a soft, cheesy loaf that tastes like a cross between a savoury quick bread and a pull-apart loaf. Packed with bacon and melty cheese, it’s the kind of bread kids beg for and parents love because it just works.
Perfect for lunchboxes, after-school snacks, or serving warm with soup, this gluten-free cheese and bacon bread is about to become a family favourite.
You will however, need a slow cooker, and 2 hours of waiting around time. I promise it is worth it though!
Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Bread Recipe
- No oven needed – cooks entirely in the slow cooker.
- Kid-approved flavours – bacon and cheese = instant win.
- Naturally gluten-free – safe, simple ingredients.
- Versatile – serve with soup, slice for lunchboxes, or just enjoy warm as is.
- Make-ahead friendly – freezes beautifully into slices.
Ingredients To Make GF Cheese & Bacon Bread
While you will need a slow cooker to make this recipe, the ingredients are fairly simple for the standard ‘gluten-free’ household. You will need:
- Gluten-free self-raising/rising flour*
- Milk
- Butter
- Salt (if using)
- Cheese
- Bacon pieces
*If you don’t have gf self-raising/rising flour on hand, but still have gluten-free all-purpose/plain flour, then you can use the same quantity, just add 3 teaspoons of baking powder to make sure the bread rises.
You can also add your desired spices or herbs to this recipe, just make sure the flour, milk and butter ratio stays the same.
Slow Cooker Tea Towel Trick
You will notice in this recipe that I recommend placing a clean, dry tea towel (what you dry your dishes with) under your slow cooker lid.
The tea towel will absorb any condensation that occurs during the slow cooker process, and stops it dripping down onto your cheese and bacon bread. Just make sure your tea towel is not dangling onto any hot parts of your slow cooker, but folded back up onto the lid (i.e., NOT like I have done in the photo above 😂)
Easy Cheese & Bacon Bread
I’m not kidding when I say this recipe is easy. Leave the electric mixer in the cupboard, I just put all the ingredients in a bowl and mix it with a spoon.
There’s no resting or rising time either:
Substitutions and Variations
- Dairy-free – use plant-based milk and a good vegan cheese alternative.
- Meat-free – swap bacon for sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onion, or sun-dried tomatoes.
- Cheese options – cheddar gives sharpness, mozzarella melts gooey, Colby is mild and kid-friendly.
- Egg-free (vegan) – I haven’t tested, but flax eggs may work (expect denser texture).
Tips for Success
- Tea towel trick – prevents soggy tops by catching the condensation in the slow cooker.
- Check at 2 hours – every slow cooker runs differently; some may need up to 2.5 hours.
- Grate cheese yourself – pre-shredded cheese has starches that can affect melt and texture.
- Slice & freeze – once cool, wrap slices individually for quick lunchbox fillers.
How to Store and Freeze
- Fridge – store in an airtight container up to 3 days.
- Freezer – slice, wrap, and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge, reheat in toaster/air fryer.
Serving Suggestions
- Slice warm with soup or chili.
- Pack cold slices into lunchboxes.
- Great by itself after school sports trainings.
- Cut into fingers for easy toddler snacks.
FAQs About Gluten-Free Cheese and Bacon Bread
Can I bake this in the oven instead?
Yes. Bake in a lined loaf pan at 350°F (180°C) for 35–40 minutes until golden and cooked through.
What’s the best gluten-free flour for this recipe?
A quality gluten-free all-purpose/self-raising flour blend (with xanthan gum included) works best.
Why make bread in a slow cooker?
It keeps the loaf super soft and moist, with no risk of drying out like some oven-baked gluten-free breads.
Can I make this dairy-free?
Yes – use plant-based milk and vegan cheese.
Why is my bread dense?
Check your baking powder is fresh, and don’t overmix the batter.
Gluten-Free Cheese & Bacon Bread (Slow Cooker)
Equipment
- 1 Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1¾ cups (280 g) gluten-free self-raising/rising flour *if you only have plain, all purpose gf flour, then you will need to add 3 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1 cup (250 ml) milk
- pinch of salt, to taste
- 2 oz (60 g) butter, melted
- 1.5 cups cheese, shredded
- 1 cup bacon pieces, or more if you like
Instructions
- Line your slow cooker with baking paper
- In a large bowl, mix together the gluten-free flour, milk, salt and the melted butter. The batter will be thick and sticky.
- Add in a sprinkle of the bacon pieces and roughly a half cup of the cheese. Mix through the batter.
- Pour the batter onto the baking paper, and use the back of a spoon to smooth it out across the width and length of your slow cooker. Sprinkle the top with the remaining bacon and cheese.
- Place a tea towel under the slow cooker lid, as this will prevent any condensation falling back onto your bread during the cooking process.
- Cook on high in your slow cooker for 2 hours.
- Lift out the bread and allow to cool slightly, before cutting.
- Serve either on it's own, or spread with butter.
Recipe Notes:
- If you only have plain, all-purpose gf flour on hand, then you will just need to add 3 teaspoons of baking powder as well. This will allow for the bread to rise during the slow cooker process.
- This recipe can be reheated lightly in the microwave as required and would last up to 3 days. It always gets finished off within an hour or two in our home though, so I’m no expert on freezing this 🙂
Omg this was delicious – might need to double the recipe next time.
In the instructions it doesn’t tell you what to do with the rest of the bacon an cheese. I’m guessing you put it on top..??
Yes Alistair, sprinkle the remaining bacon and cheese on top. I have updated the recipe instructions to include this now, thanks for letting me know. Hope you enjoy it!
I did. Came out beautifully although it did need an extra half hour in our slow cooker.