Taco Cauliflower Rice Skillet Recipe - Healthy, Low Carb, Gluten Free (2024)

This Taco Cauliflower Rice Skillet is quick, easy, healthy, low carb, and absolutely delicious! Loaded with ground turkey or chicken, vegetables, and frozen cauliflower rice!

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If thisTaco Cauliflower Rice Skillet is your jam, you’ll also love: chicken cauliflower fried rice, cauliflower fried rice, and lemon garlic cauliflower rice.

You guys KNOW how much I love Mexican food, right?

Of course you know, because I say that at LEAST once a week.

When Trevor and I were living in Seattle, Friday Night = Mexican Night.

Bring ooooon the chips, salsa, and pollo en crema <– y.u.m.

Taco Cauliflower Rice Skillet Recipe - Healthy, Low Carb, Gluten Free (2)When I’m making Mexican food at home, however, I try to keep it at least sliiightly healthier, and today, I took it all the way, and made something ULTRA healthy.

Bring ooooon theTaco Cauliflower Rice Skillet.

Taco Cauliflower Rice Skillet Recipe - Healthy, Low Carb, Gluten Free (3)Ok, so, this definitely isn’t authentic Mexican food.

In any way.

Whatsoever.

But it has taco flavors, so that’s good enough for me. 😉

Plus, it’s super healthy, so there’s no guilt involved!

Although, I never feel guilty for eating Mexican food, because it literally makes my heart happy.

ThisTaco Cauliflower Rice Skillet makes my heart AND my body happy.

It also makes my brain happy, because it’s extremely quick and easy to whip up.

You ready?

Taco Cauliflower Rice Skillet Recipe - Healthy, Low Carb, Gluten Free (4)Throw some ground turkey (or chicken) into a hot saute pan (or a cast iron skillet) with diced onion, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and two packets of your favorite taco seasoning. If you don’t have any taco seasoning on hand or want to make your own, I suggest trying my Homemade Taco Seasoning.

Once the meat is cooked, you’ll stir in a can of diced tomatoes, diced green chiles, a bag of frozen cauliflower “rice”, and some chicken broth.

Let’s back it up for a second though and address the elephant in the room.

THE CAULIFLOWER RICE.

What the whaaaaat?!

Here are a few questions I get a lot:

Is cauliflower rice good for you?

Oh HECK yes! It’s literally just cauliflower, so it’s full of nutrients. It’s also a great substitute for “regular” rice if you’re looking to:

  1. Cut calories
  2. Add more veggies to your diet

1 cup of cauliflower rice has about 25 calories vs approx. 215 for brown rice.

What are the benefits of cauliflower rice?

Pretty much what I said above. It’s great to keep calories low and up the nutrients in any recipe calling for rice!

Can you buy cauliflower rice?

Yes!! I personally prefer buying my cauliflower rice over making it myself. It’s easier, it’s more consistent, and heck, it tastes really good. You can find it in the freezer section . . . I always use the Green Giant brand.

How do you prepare cauliflower rice?

Although I prefer store bought, if YOU’RE interested in the homemade version, you can check out thiscauliflower fried rice recipe for instructions on how I make my own cauliflower rice.

Basically, cauliflower rice is super healthy and convenient and really does taste yummy. It’s a super bland base for all those yummy taco flavors we’re adding in today’s recipe.

So. We all feel better about cauliflower rice?

Yes? Yes!

Moving on . . .

Let the mixture simmer for about 5-10 minutes, or until it’s warmed through and the “rice” is cooked to your liking.

Season with salt, to taste and dinner is served!

The mixture above is amazing on it’s own, but it’s also great with a little shredded cheese, non fat plain greek yogurt, pico de gallo, avocado. . . and makes a GREAT “dip” for some tortilla chips. 😉

I also have plans to make some KILLER nachos with this.

Quick. Easy. Healthy. Taco flavored deliciousness.

Taco Cauliflower Rice Skillet Recipe - Healthy, Low Carb, Gluten Free (5)What’s not to love?!

– Jennifer

Taco Cauliflower Rice Skillet Recipe - Healthy, Low Carb, Gluten Free (6)

Taco Cauliflower Rice Skillet Recipe

4.90 from 29 votes

This Taco Cauliflower Rice Skillet is quick, easy, healthy, low carb, and absolutely delicious! Loaded with ground turkey or chicken, vegetables, and frozen cauliflower rice!

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 4 people

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Equipment for this recipe

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Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Taco Cauliflower Rice Skillet

  • 1 (16 oz) package extra lean ground turkey or chicken
  • 1/2 yellow onion diced
  • 1/2 red bell pepper diced
  • 1/2 green bell pepper diced
  • 2 (1 oz) packets taco seasoning
  • 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes drained
  • 1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles drained
  • 1 (12 oz) bag frozen cauliflower rice
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • salt to taste

Optional Additions

  • shredded cheese
  • non fat plain greek yogurt
  • avocado
  • Pico de Gallo
  • Tortilla Chips

Recipe Video

Instructions

  • Heat a large non stick skillet over medium - medium high heat.

  • Spray with cooking spray and add in ground meat, onion, bell peppers, and taco seasoning.

  • Cook, breaking up the meat as you go, until the meat is cooked through, about 10 minutes.

  • Once cooked, stir in tomatoes, green chiles, rice, and broth.

  • Simmer about 5-10 minutes, or until heated through.

  • Taste and season with salt, to taste and serve with your choice of optional additions!

  • Take 5 seconds to rate this recipe below. We greatly appreciate it!

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STORING

Room Temp:N/A

Refrigerator:3-4 Days

Freezer:2-3 Months

Reheat:Microwave or heat on stove until warmed

*Storage times may vary based on temperature and conditions

Notes

If you don't have taco seasoning available, you can make your own with my Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe.

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Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts

Taco Cauliflower Rice Skillet Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 255 Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Fat 10g15%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Cholesterol 83mg28%

Sodium 1369mg60%

Potassium 849mg24%

Carbohydrates 20g7%

Fiber 6g25%

Sugar 9g10%

Protein 24g48%

Vitamin A 2090IU42%

Vitamin C 94mg114%

Calcium 87mg9%

Iron 4.1mg23%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.

Keywords: cauliflower rice, healthy, low carb recipes

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Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Mexican

Taco Cauliflower Rice Skillet Recipe - Healthy, Low Carb, Gluten Free (2024)

FAQs

Can you eat cauliflower rice on low carb diet? ›

Cauliflower rice is a popular low carb substitute for rice that's made by shredding or grating fresh cauliflower.

How many carbs are in cauliflower rice? ›

Cauliflower rice is probably the most popular with Paleo and low-carb crowds, because cauliflower is low in calories and carbohydrates. One cup of cauliflower rice has only 25 calories and 3 net carbs, while a cup of cooked brown rice has 218 calories and 42 grams of net carbs.

Is cauliflower rice good for diabetics? ›

Carb-rich foods, especially ones made of simple carbs, tend to be high on the glycemic index (GI) scale. This means they may cause your blood sugar to rise faster than foods that have lower GIs. While white rice has a relatively high GI, cauliflower has a very low GI, making the swap a diabetes-friendly one.

What does cauliflower rice taste like? ›

Riced cauliflower doesn't taste like real rice; it tastes like cauliflower florets, which have a mild, slightly cabbage-y flavor, like most brassicas. Its delicate flavor takes a backseat to whatever you season it with, whether that's soy sauce or parmesan.

Can I lose weight eating cauliflower rice? ›

Cauliflower has several properties that may help with weight loss. First, it is low in calories with only 27 calories per cup (107 g), so you can eat a lot of it without significantly increasing your calorie intake ( 1 ). It can also serve as a low calorie substitute for high calorie foods, such as rice and flour.

Can too much cauliflower kick you out of ketosis? ›

You do not have to limit vegetables if you are on the keto diet or are considering it. Plenty of low-carb vegetable options include arugula, asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, mushrooms, spinach, and tomatoes.

Can I eat cauliflower rice every day? ›

While everyone's tolerance is different, too much cauliflower can create G.I. distress, like excess gas and bloating. “Make sure to drink enough water to move it through your system,” suggests Lincoln. Cooking it can also dial back digestion woes.

What is the difference between cauliflower rice and riced cauliflower? ›

As far as we can tell, it's the same thing, just a different name. The term “cauliflower rice” didn't become an internet sensation until around 2012. But ever since then, this nutrient-rich rice substitute has been booming in popularity!

Is cauliflower rice actually healthy? ›

Substituting cauliflower rice for white rice is a great way to get more antioxidants while reducing calories and carbohydrates in order to save room for other nutrient dense foods.

What is the number one vegetable to lower blood sugar? ›

Still, this nonstarchy cruciferous vegetable has many more benefits to offer, particularly around lowering blood sugar levels. If you have prediabetes or diabetes, keep reading to discover why broccoli is our top veggie choice for helping with blood sugar management.

Which is better for diabetes broccoli or cauliflower? ›

If this feels like splitting hairs, it sort of is—both veggies are low in carbohydrate and even for someone with, say, diabetes, choosing one vegetable over the other wouldn't make much of a difference. But if you're on the keto diet, a very low-carb way of eating, cauliflower might be the smarter veg.

What is the healthiest rice for diabetics? ›

What types of rice are most diabetes-friendly? The type of rice is important when selecting what to eat. It's better to eat rice that packs a nutritional punch. Brown rice, wild rice, and long-grain white rice include more fiber, nutrients, and vitamins than short-grain white rice.

Which is better broccoli or cauliflower rice? ›

While they are both very nutritious vegetables, broccoli has a higher vitamin content, specifically in vitamin K and C, than cauliflower and is specifically known to be great for eye health. Broccoli florets also provide more minerals and fiber as well as contains vitamin A that isn't in cauliflower.

What rice has no carbs? ›

It's Skinny rice is also known as shirataki rice. Like It's Skinny pasta, It's Skinny rice has ZERO carbs in a 1 cup serving and only 9 calories in the entire two-serving bag! That's right!

How to stop cauliflower from smelling? ›

To avoid cauliflower smell while cooking, add a few drops of white vinegar - it kills the smell.

Is cauliflower good for a no carb diet? ›

Cauliflower is another vegetable that's low in carbs, but also very high in vitamins and phytochemicals,” Fear says. Add chopped cauliflower to your salads, or top with paprika and garlic powder and roast in the oven. Riced cauliflower also makes a great low-carb replacement for traditional rice.

Is there any rice that is keto friendly? ›

Miracle Rice — The Lowest Carb Keto Rice, No Cauliflower Necessary. Made from konjac root, miracle rice (and shirataki noodles) only contain trace amounts of net carbs and are packed with health-promoting fiber.

What is healthier cauliflower rice or regular rice? ›

However, rice can be high in calories and carbohydrates, meaning it will fill you up without providing you with many additional nutrients. Substituting cauliflower rice for white rice is a great way to get more antioxidants while reducing calories and carbohydrates in order to save room for other nutrient dense foods.

Is cauliflower rice better than brown rice for weight loss? ›

One of the main benefits of cauliflower rice is its low calorie and carbohydrate content. While a cup of cooked brown rice typically contains around 215 calories and 45 grams of carbohydrates, a cup of cauliflower rice has only about 25 calories and 5 grams of carbohydrates.

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