Once you start incorporating cauliflower rice into your meals, you’ll see how versatile it can be as a low carb side. It takes on the flavor of just about anything. You can make cilantro lime cauliflower rice, or even turn it into cauliflower pizza crust, fresh cauliflower tabbouleh, or serve with keto chicken stir fry!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for cauliflower fried rice, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Unsalted Butter – I use this for sauteing for flavor since we’re not using high temperatures here, but you could also use ghee as a dairy-free or whole30 alternative. Garlic – I recommend using fresh garlic, but you could use 1 teaspoon of jarred minced garlic for convenience. A tablespoon of fresh ginger also makes a nice addition if you like. Onion – Use yellow or white onions for the base, and green onions (a.k.a. scallions, or you can use chives) for the garnish. Veggies – I used a red bell pepper for color and sweetness. You can also substitute or add peas and carrots. Eggs – A must for cauliflower fried rice! Sea Salt & Black Pepper Cauliflower – I make my own riced cauliflower fresh, but you can buy fresh cauliflower rice in the refrigerated section or frozen cauliflower rice in the frozen vegetable section of the grocery store. Coconut Aminos – This is one of my favorite soy sauce alternatives, but you can also use low sodium soy sauce or tamari. Toasted Sesame Oil – Adds flavor at the end. Don’t use this for sauteing, though.
How To Make Cauliflower Fried Rice
This section shows how to make fried cauliflower rice, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card. Simply add a quick protein such as Instant Pot chicken, air fryer shrimp, or flank steak to make this fried cauliflower rice a complete meal. Want your meal all in one pan? Make keto teriyaki chicken with cauliflower rice, or simple cauliflower chicken fried rice.
Storage Instructions
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. Meal prep: Rice the cauliflower ahead of time, place in airtight container, and freeze or refrigerate until ready to use. Reheat: Stir fry the cauliflower fried rice in a hot skillet for best results, but the microwave works in a pinch. Freeze: Portion it into airtight containers or zip lock bags, removing excess air, and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
What To Serve With Fried Cauliflower Rice
I love serving this fried cauliflower rice with a variety of Asian-inspired main dishes. Here are some of my favorite recipes: Here are my best tips to help you achieve that perfect texture and flavor in your cauliflower rice stir fry:
Don’t cover the pan. This causes the cauliflower to steam rather than fry, and will ruin the texture of your cauliflower fried rice. Don’t overcook it. This dish cooks really fast! Overcooking can make the cauliflower rice mushy and release excess moisture, affecting the overall texture and flavor. Add coconut aminos & sesame oil last. Adding the aminos last prevents it from absorbing too much into the cauliflower and making it too mushy. The sesame oil also has to be added after cooking, because it has a very low smoke point.
Chicken – Pair with juicy honey garlic chicken breast or a savory almond chicken for a quick and easy meal. (You can also simply add diced chicken directly to the cauliflower fried rice.) Beef – Try sweet and savory low carb mongolian beef, a robust pepper steak stir fry, or a classic beef stir fry with your favorite veggies. Seafood – My shrimp stir fry is one of the fastest options. I also love making a bowl with air fryer salmon bites over the cauliflower fried rice, along with some broccoli and avocado. Soups & Salads – A crisp smashed cucumber salad or Asian-inspired cabbage salad would taste refreshing, or make a quick egg drop soup when it’s cold outside.
More Cauliflower Rice Recipes
Everyone loves cauliflower rice recipes! You can find all of low carb cauliflower recipes here, or check out a few of these favorites: Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email. 📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Easy Keto Cookbook here.
