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? ›

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 ).

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.

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.

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.

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.

How many calories and carbs are in 2 cups of cauliflower rice? ›

Riced cauliflower benefits

One cup of cauliflower rice has: 25 calories. 2 grams of protein. 4 grams of carbohydrates.

Which is healthier, quinoa or cauliflower rice? ›

Brown rice actually has more selenium (good for heart health) and vitamin B3 (needed for the production of sex and stress hormones) than quinoa, but quinoa is still the healthier choice. Cauliflower rice is a grain-free, gluten-free and nutrient-dense way to replace the white rice on your plate.

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 are the side effects of eating too much cauliflower? ›

Here are 5 possible side effects of cauliflower that you must be cautious of.
  • Gastrointestinal Distress and Flatulence. Cauliflower and other cruciferous veggies contain a complex sugar called raffinose. ...
  • Hypothyroidism. ...
  • Allergy. ...
  • Might affect your blood-thinning medication.
  • Might make you feel less hungry.
Jan 20, 2023

How do you get the cauliflower taste out of cauliflower rice? ›

It has a neutral flavor, so you can season it with various ingredients to change how it tastes. For the simplest way, sauté it with a little onion and garlic, as I mentioned above. You can also use it in any recipe that calls for cauliflower rice.

Is cauliflower rice bad for cholesterol? ›

Like most vegetables, cauliflower is very healthy, and a cup of boiled cauliflower has around 28 calories and 5 grams of carbohydrates. A diet high in fiber has a lot of benefits. Fiber helps us normalize our bowel movements and health, lower cholesterol levels, control blood sugar, and aid in weight loss.

How long does cauliflower rice last in the fridge? ›

Cooked Cauliflower Rice

Cooking cauliflower rice prevents it from developing a funky smell as quickly. Cooked cauliflower rice keeps for approximately 4 days in a sealed container in the fridge.

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

Broccoli contains fiber and a nutrient called sulforaphane, which may help keep your blood sugar levels stable. Novella Lui, RD, M.H.Sc. Novella Lui, RD, M.H.Sc.

Can drinking a lot of water lower your blood sugar? ›

Summary. Drinking water won't lower your blood sugar levels, but staying hydrated can help you manage them if you have diabetes. Regularly drinking enough water is healthy, and research has linked it to a reduced risk of high blood sugar and diabetes.

What foods will lower blood sugar quickly? ›

Here are five foods that can make a difference.
  • Berries. Don't make your trip to the store fruitless. ...
  • Go nuts. That's right—go ahead and snack on almonds, cashews or even pistachios. ...
  • Leafy greens. ...
  • Non-starchy vegetables. ...
  • Whole grains.

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.

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!

What has more carbs rice or cauliflower rice? ›

Fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans are all high in carbs but low in fat.

Is cauliflower rice a starchy carb? ›

Vegetables can be classified into two main types based on their starch content. Starchy vegetables include potato, corn, peas and lentils, while non-starchy varieties include broccoli, tomatoes, cauliflower and mushrooms.

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