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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Tag @showmetheyummy on Instagram and hashtag it #showmetheyummy

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Mexican

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

FAQs

Is cauliflower rice low in carbs? ›

Both of these factors may reduce your calorie intake ( 4 ). In addition, cauliflower rice is low in carbs. It provides only 3 grams of net carbs per cup (107 grams) — 18 times fewer carbs than the same quantity of rice ( 1 , 2 , 3 ).

What is a good substitute for cauliflower rice? ›

It's a yummy, low-carb substitute for regular rice in bowls, stir fries, burritos, and more. So what is it? It's simply cauliflower pulsed in a food processor until it forms into granules that are about the size of rice.

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.

Is Costco cauliflower rice healthy? ›

Cauliflower rice is a popular alternative to traditional rice since it's low in carbohydrates and calories, making it a great choice for those who are on a keto, low carb diet and weight loss journey.

Are there any negatives to eating cauliflower? ›

Cauliflower and other cruciferous veggies contain a complex sugar called raffinose. It is hard to break down and is instead fermented by the bacteria in the large intestine. As a result, you may experience bloating and flatulence among other gastric issues.

Is cauliflower rice good for weight loss? ›

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.

Which type of rice is lowest in carbs? ›

There are 50 grams of carbs in one cup of cooked brown rice, while the same amount of cooked, enriched short-grain white rice has about 53 grams of carbs. On the other hand, cooked wild rice only has 35 grams of carbs, making it one of the best options if you want to reduce your carb intake.

What kind of rice has no carbs? ›

Shirataki Rice

Shirataki rice is referred to as “miracle rice” for good reason. Made from konjac root—an herb grown in parts of Asia—shirataki rice and noodles are not only free from calories, soy, and gluten, it typically contains between 1 and 3 grams of carbs per serving.

Is it cheaper to make cauliflower rice or buy it? ›

Cheaper: Making riced cauliflower from scratch will save you money in the grocery store. A head of cauliflower is cheaper than buying fresh or frozen riced cauliflower. Tastes Great: Because it's made fresh, it also tastes better. You can use it in any recipe that calls for 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 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!

Why does my cauliflower rice smell? ›

Cauliflower, like all cruciferous vegetables (cabbages, mustard, broccoli, etc.) contains sulfur compounds which will begin to smell when the vegetable is overcooked. Blanching, roasting or steaming just until the cauliflower is fork tender will keep it from smelling up your kitchen.

How many carbs are in Trader Joe's cauliflower rice? ›

Trader Joe's Riced Cauliflower (0.67 cup) contains 4g total carbs, 2g net carbs, 0.5g fat, 2g protein, and 25 calories.

Is frozen or fresh cauliflower rice better? ›

Frozen has nearly identical nutritional values to fresh cauliflower rice. Similar to fresh produce that's available to us when it's fully ripened and at its nutritional peak, frozen produce is also processed at its prime, which means vital nutrients are maintained even long after sitting in the freezer aisle for weeks.

Is frozen cauliflower rice still healthy? ›

Low-carb: Frozen cauliflower rice is an ideal choice if you're looking for a low-carb or keto alternative to rice. It's lower in calories and carbohydrates than rice and packed with vitamins and minerals. Versatile: Frozen cauliflower rice is incredibly versatile.

What is the lowest carbohydrate rice? ›

Compared with other types of rice, wild rice is significantly lower in carbs, with 32 grams of net carbs in each 1 cup (164 gram) serving of cooked wild rice ( 18 ). Plus, wild rice is brimming with health-promoting antioxidants.

What kind of rice has the lowest carbs? ›

There are 50 grams of carbs in one cup of cooked brown rice, while the same amount of cooked, enriched short-grain white rice has about 53 grams of carbs. On the other hand, cooked wild rice only has 35 grams of carbs, making it one of the best options if you want to reduce your carb intake.

Can I eat cauliflower rice everyday on keto? ›

With only 5 grams of carbs (3 grams net carbs) per cup, yes: Cauliflower rice is keto. Normal portions of cauliflower rice are unlikely to kick you out of ketosis, especially if you consume them with plenty of healthy fat. Don't be shy with the olive oil.

Which 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!

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