Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

  • Why You’ll Love This Cauliflower Fried Rice Recipe
  • Ingredients & Substitutions
  • How To Make Cauliflower Fried Rice
  • Tips For The Best Cauliflower Fried Rice
  • Storage Instructions
  • What To Serve With Fried Cauliflower Rice
  • More Cauliflower Rice Recipes
  • Tools For This Recipe
  • Cauliflower Fried Rice Recipe card
  • Recipe Reviews

Not sure about cauliflower rice ? This cauliflower fried rice recipe is sure to convert you! I get it, it didn’t appeal to me right away either. But I have learned that when you season it and cook it properly, it can taste just as amazing as regular fried rice — even if it’s not exactly the same. It was so good that I even included it in my first cookbook !

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 !

Why You’ll Love This Cauliflower Fried Rice Recipe

Maya in the kitchen. - 1
  • Classic Asian flavors like traditional fried rice, but loaded with good-for-you veggies
  • Fresh, simple ingredients
  • Ready in just 20 minutes
  • Very easy to make
  • Naturally low carb, gluten free, and healthy
Maya's signature. - 2 Cauliflower fried rice in a skillet. - 3

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.
VARIATION: Make it a meal! - 4

VARIATION: Make it a meal!

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 .

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 .

  1. Rice the cauliflower. Make cauliflower rice using a food processor or box grater . Learn how to make cauliflower rice here .
  2. Saute the veggies. Cook the garlic, onions, and red peppers in a large saute pan or large wok over medium heat, until the onions are translucent and just starting to brown.
Riced cauliflower in a food processor. - 5 Sauteed vegetables in a skillet. - 6
  1. Cook the eggs. Whisk the eggs in a small bowl. Push the veggies to the side and pour the eggs on the other side of the pan. Scramble and cook.
  2. Stir fry. Push the veggies and eggs to side of the pan and add more butter to pan. When it melts, add the riced cauliflower. Stir everything together, and stir fry until the cauliflower is tender, but not mushy.
  3. Season. Stir the coconut aminos, sesame oil, and chopped green onions into the cauliflower fried rice. Garnish with more green onions if you like, or even sesame seeds.
Scrambled eggs next to veggies in skillet. - 7 Finished cauliflower fried rice recipe. - 8 Tips For The Best Cauliflower Fried Rice - 9

Tips For The Best Cauliflower Fried Rice

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.

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.
Cauliflower fried rice in a bowl with chopsticks. - 10

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:

  • 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:

Korean beef bowl with chopsticks. - 11 Korean beef bowl with chopsticks. - 12

Korean Beef Bowl

Keto cheeseburger casserole lifted out of baking dish. - 13 Keto cheeseburger casserole lifted out of baking dish. - 14

Low Carb Cheeseburger Casserole

Cauliflower pizza crust topped with pepperoni and melty cheese. - 15 Cauliflower pizza crust topped with pepperoni and melty cheese. - 16

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Cauliflower hash browns  on a plate with dipping sauce - 17 Cauliflower hash browns  on a plate with dipping sauce - 18

Cauliflower Hash Browns

Tools For This Recipe

  • Food Processor – This appliance is a workhorse! It will take all of the heavy lifting and grate cauliflower rice in seconds! But, you could also use a box grater .
  • Sauté Pan – Durable and even heating for one pan dinners like this one.

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

  • 2 tbsp Unsalted butter (or olive oil for dairy-free or ghee for whole30; divided) ▢
  • 2 cloves Garlic (minced) ▢
  • 1/2 large Onion (finely diced) ▢
  • 1/2 medium Red bell pepper (finely diced; or 1/2 to 2/3 cup peas and carrots) ▢
  • 2 large Eggs ▢
  • Sea salt (to taste) ▢
  • Black pepper (to taste) ▢
  • 1 medium head Cauliflower (or 4 cups riced cauliflower) ▢
  • 2 tbsp Coconut aminos ▢
  • 1 tsp Toasted sesame oil ▢
  • 3 medium Green onions (chopped) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

  1. Rice the cauliflower: Remove the cauliflower leaves and stems. (Cut off as much of the stems as you can.) Push the cauliflower florets into a running food processor with a grating attachment, to make cauliflower rice. Alternatively, rice the cauliflower using a box grater .
  2. Saute the veggies: In a large saute pan over medium heat, heat a tablespoon of butter. Add the garlic, onions, and red peppers. Saute for about 8-10 minutes , until the onions are translucent and just starting to brown.
  3. Cook the eggs: Meanwhile, whisk the eggs with 1/2 tsp (2 g) sea salt and a pinch of black pepper. When the onion is done enough, push the veggies to one side of the skillet. (If the pan is dry, you can melt in more butter.) Add the whisked eggs to the other side and cook for a few minutes, until barely scrambled.
  4. Stir fry the cauliflower: Push everything to the side again and add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the pan. Once it melts, increase heat to medium-high, immediately add the cauliflower, and stir everything together to coat. Season with sea salt and black pepper. Stir fry for about 5 minutes , until the cauliflower is soft, but not mushy.
  5. Finishing flavors: Remove from heat. Stir in the coconut aminos, sesame oil, and chopped green onions.

Did You Like It?

Leave a rating to help other readers (this also helps me continue to provide free recipes on my site), or get the recipe sent to your inbox.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 cup

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Easy Keto Cookbook here .

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Cauliflower Fried Rice

Cauliflower fried rice recipe pin. - 19

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

  • Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
  • The Basic Keto Meal Formula
  • Understanding Macros
  • Keto Food Swaps
  • Keto Food List
  • Electrolyte Basics
  • Keto Diet Types
  • Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
  • Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 20

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

  1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
  2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
  3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
  4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
  5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
  6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
  7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
  8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
  9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Pick A ProteinPick A VeggieAdd Fat
Beef Chicken Pork Eggs Lamb Turkey Fish Shellfish Protein powder VenisonCauliflower Broccoli Zucchini Leafy Greens Cucumbers Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Asparagus Radishes Bell Peppers Jicama CeleryButter Avocado Oil Cheese Bacon Avocado Lard Ghee Mayo Nuts MCT Oil

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Instead Of This…Eat This
PancakesAlmond flour pancakes or coconut flour pancakes
OatmealKeto oatmeal with hemp seeds
Cinnamon rollsFathead cinnamon rolls
CerealKeto nut granola
MuffinsAlmond flour muffins or coconut flour muffins
DonutsAlmond flour donuts
SconesAlmond flour scones
High-sugar smoothiesSmoothie with berries or avocado
Hash brownsCauliflower hash browns
Breakfast casseroleBreakfast casserole with no potatoes
Egg whitesWhole eggs
Turkey baconBacon
WafflesChaffles
Keto food swaps - breakfast - 21

Keto Swaps For Bread

Instead Of This…Eat This
BagelsFathead bagels
English muffinAlmond flour English muffin
White breadKeto white bread
Multigrain breadCoconut flour bread with seeds
Tortillas for wrapsCoconut flour tortillas
Corn taco shellsCheddar cheese taco shells
Burger bunsOopsie rolls , portobello mushroom caps
BreadsticksCauliflower breadsticks
BiscuitsAlmond flour biscuits
CornbreadAlmond flour cornbread
CroutonsParmesan crisps
RiceCauliflower rice , konjac rice
Keto food swaps - bread and grains - 22

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Instead Of This…Eat This
Breaded wingsCrispy air fryer wings (unbreaded)
Low-fat meat & poultryHigh-fat cuts, or cook low-fat cuts with fat
Mashed potatoesMashed cauliflower
Roasted potatoesRoasted or fried radishes
TacosTaco salad
PizzaFathead crust , chicken crust , or cauliflower crust pizza
LasagnaEggplant lasagna
Potato saladCauliflower “potato” salad
French friesJicama , rutabaga , or zucchini fries
Tater totsCauliflower tots
WrapsLettuce wraps , almond flour tortillas
SushiNaruto-style or homemade rice-free sushi
Breaded chicken or fishBreaded cuts with almond flour or pork rinds
SpaghettiZoodles , spaghetti squash , shirataki noodles, kelp noodles
Keto food swaps - meals and sides - 23

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Instead Of This…Eat This
NachosCheese crisps
High-sugar fruitBerries & other keto fruits
CrackersAlmond flour crackers
HummusCauliflower hummus
Soft pretzelsFathead pretzels
PopcornPuffed cheese
Granola barsGrain-free granola bars
JamSugar-free berry chia jam
Sweet fruity yogurtFull-fat plain Greek yogurt with berries
Sweet salad dressingRanch , blue cheese , or plain vinaigrette
KetchupMustard and/or sugar-free ketchup
BBQ sauceSugar-free BBQ sauce
Sweetened peanut butterNatural, sugar-free nut butters
Light mayoAvocado oil mayo
Maple syrupSugar-free, maple flavored syrup
Potato chipsZucchini chips , pepperoni chips , pork rinds
Keto food swaps - snacks and sauces - 24

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Instead Of This…Eat This
SugarMonk fruit or allulose
Powdered sugarPowdered monk fruit or allulose
White flourAlmond or Coconut flour (use in tested recipes)
Making baked goods soft/chewyXanthan gum, flax seed meal, psyllium husk powder
BreadcrumbsPork rinds or almond flour
MargarineButter, coconut oil, or ghee
Vegetable oilOlive or avocado oil
BananasBanana extract
Chocolate chipsSugar-free chocolate chips
Cornstarch or flour rouxXanthan gum or gelatin powder (used at the end)
Simple syrupDissolve monk fruit allulose blend in water over heat
Keto food swaps - baking and cooking - 25

Keto Swaps For Drinks

Instead Of This…Eat This
LemonadeWater with lemon
SodaFlavored sparkling water
MilkAlmond milk, coconut milk, heavy cream
LatteButter coffee
Coffee creamerHeavy cream
Sweet wineDry wine
BeerUltra light beer
Mixed drinksHard liquor with soda + lemon

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto food swaps - drinks - 26

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Keto foods to eat and avoid summary - 27

Foods To Eat On Keto

  • Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
  • Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
  • Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
  • Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
  • Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
  • Avocados
  • Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
  • Almond flour and coconut flour
  • Eggs
  • Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

  • White flour & sugar
  • Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
  • Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
  • Cereal
  • Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
  • Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
  • Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
  • Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
  • Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
  • Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 28

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

SodiumMagnesiumPotassium
Bone broth Boullion cubes Bacon Salted nuts PicklesSeaweed Seeds Nuts Avocado Leafy greensPotassium chloride Avocado Bone broth Spinach Broccoli Mushrooms Beef Pork

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

  • Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
  • Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
  • Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
  • Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

  1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
  2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
  3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
  4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
  5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
  6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
  7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
  8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
  9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.
Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 29

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Cauliflower Fried Rice

Cauliflower fried rice in a bowl. - 30

Cauliflower fried rice has all the flavor of the classic, but it’s low carb and gluten-free. Ready in 20 minutes, with simple ingredients!

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/cauliflower-fried-rice/

Cauliflower Fried Rice - 31 Cauliflower Fried Rice - 32 Cauliflower Fried Rice - 33 Cauliflower Fried Rice - 34

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp Unsalted butter (or olive oil for dairy-free or ghee for whole30; divided)
  • 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
  • 1/2 large Onion (finely diced)
  • 1/2 medium Red bell pepper (finely diced; or 1/2 to 2/3 cup peas and carrots)
  • 2 large Eggs
  • Sea salt (to taste)
  • Black pepper (to taste)
  • 1 medium head Cauliflower (or 4 cups riced cauliflower)
  • 2 tbsp Coconut aminos
  • 1 tsp Toasted sesame oil
  • 3 medium Green onions (chopped)

Instructions

  1. Rice the cauliflower: Remove the cauliflower leaves and stems. (Cut off as much of the stems as you can.) Push the cauliflower florets into a running food processor with a grating attachment, to make cauliflower rice. Alternatively, rice the cauliflower using a box grater .
  2. Saute the veggies: In a large saute pan over medium heat, heat a tablespoon of butter. Add the garlic, onions, and red peppers. Saute for about 8-10 minutes , until the onions are translucent and just starting to brown.
  3. Cook the eggs: Meanwhile, whisk the eggs with 1/2 tsp (2 g) sea salt and a pinch of black pepper. When the onion is done enough, push the veggies to one side of the skillet. (If the pan is dry, you can melt in more butter.) Add the whisked eggs to the other side and cook for a few minutes, until barely scrambled.
  4. Stir fry the cauliflower: Push everything to the side again and add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the pan. Once it melts, increase heat to medium-high, immediately add the cauliflower, and stir everything together to coat. Season with sea salt and black pepper. Stir fry for about 5 minutes , until the cauliflower is soft, but not mushy.
  5. Finishing flavors: Remove from heat. Stir in the coconut aminos, sesame oil, and chopped green onions.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 cup

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Easy Keto Cookbook here .

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

  • Why You’ll Love This Cauliflower Fried Rice Recipe
  • Ingredients & Substitutions
  • How To Make Cauliflower Fried Rice
  • Tips For The Best Cauliflower Fried Rice
  • Storage Instructions
  • What To Serve With Fried Cauliflower Rice
  • More Cauliflower Rice Recipes
  • Tools For This Recipe
  • Cauliflower Fried Rice Recipe card
  • Recipe Reviews

Not sure about cauliflower rice ? This cauliflower fried rice recipe is sure to convert you! I get it, it didn’t appeal to me right away either. But I have learned that when you season it and cook it properly, it can taste just as amazing as regular fried rice — even if it’s not exactly the same. It was so good that I even included it in my first cookbook !

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 !

Why You’ll Love This Cauliflower Fried Rice Recipe

Maya in the kitchen. - 35
  • Classic Asian flavors like traditional fried rice, but loaded with good-for-you veggies
  • Fresh, simple ingredients
  • Ready in just 20 minutes
  • Very easy to make
  • Naturally low carb, gluten free, and healthy
Maya's signature. - 36 Cauliflower fried rice in a skillet. - 37

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.
VARIATION: Make it a meal! - 38

VARIATION: Make it a meal!

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 .

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 .

  1. Rice the cauliflower. Make cauliflower rice using a food processor or box grater . Learn how to make cauliflower rice here .
  2. Saute the veggies. Cook the garlic, onions, and red peppers in a large saute pan or large wok over medium heat, until the onions are translucent and just starting to brown.
Riced cauliflower in a food processor. - 39 Sauteed vegetables in a skillet. - 40
  1. Cook the eggs. Whisk the eggs in a small bowl. Push the veggies to the side and pour the eggs on the other side of the pan. Scramble and cook.
  2. Stir fry. Push the veggies and eggs to side of the pan and add more butter to pan. When it melts, add the riced cauliflower. Stir everything together, and stir fry until the cauliflower is tender, but not mushy.
  3. Season. Stir the coconut aminos, sesame oil, and chopped green onions into the cauliflower fried rice. Garnish with more green onions if you like, or even sesame seeds.
Scrambled eggs next to veggies in skillet. - 41 Finished cauliflower fried rice recipe. - 42 Tips For The Best Cauliflower Fried Rice - 43

Tips For The Best Cauliflower Fried Rice

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.

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.
Cauliflower fried rice in a bowl with chopsticks. - 44

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:

  • 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:

Korean beef bowl with chopsticks. - 45 Korean beef bowl with chopsticks. - 46

Korean Beef Bowl

Keto cheeseburger casserole lifted out of baking dish. - 47 Keto cheeseburger casserole lifted out of baking dish. - 48

Low Carb Cheeseburger Casserole

Cauliflower pizza crust topped with pepperoni and melty cheese. - 49 Cauliflower pizza crust topped with pepperoni and melty cheese. - 50

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Cauliflower hash browns  on a plate with dipping sauce - 51 Cauliflower hash browns  on a plate with dipping sauce - 52

Cauliflower Hash Browns

Tools For This Recipe

  • Food Processor – This appliance is a workhorse! It will take all of the heavy lifting and grate cauliflower rice in seconds! But, you could also use a box grater .
  • Sauté Pan – Durable and even heating for one pan dinners like this one.

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

  • 2 tbsp Unsalted butter (or olive oil for dairy-free or ghee for whole30; divided) ▢
  • 2 cloves Garlic (minced) ▢
  • 1/2 large Onion (finely diced) ▢
  • 1/2 medium Red bell pepper (finely diced; or 1/2 to 2/3 cup peas and carrots) ▢
  • 2 large Eggs ▢
  • Sea salt (to taste) ▢
  • Black pepper (to taste) ▢
  • 1 medium head Cauliflower (or 4 cups riced cauliflower) ▢
  • 2 tbsp Coconut aminos ▢
  • 1 tsp Toasted sesame oil ▢
  • 3 medium Green onions (chopped) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

  1. Rice the cauliflower: Remove the cauliflower leaves and stems. (Cut off as much of the stems as you can.) Push the cauliflower florets into a running food processor with a grating attachment, to make cauliflower rice. Alternatively, rice the cauliflower using a box grater .
  2. Saute the veggies: In a large saute pan over medium heat, heat a tablespoon of butter. Add the garlic, onions, and red peppers. Saute for about 8-10 minutes , until the onions are translucent and just starting to brown.
  3. Cook the eggs: Meanwhile, whisk the eggs with 1/2 tsp (2 g) sea salt and a pinch of black pepper. When the onion is done enough, push the veggies to one side of the skillet. (If the pan is dry, you can melt in more butter.) Add the whisked eggs to the other side and cook for a few minutes, until barely scrambled.
  4. Stir fry the cauliflower: Push everything to the side again and add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the pan. Once it melts, increase heat to medium-high, immediately add the cauliflower, and stir everything together to coat. Season with sea salt and black pepper. Stir fry for about 5 minutes , until the cauliflower is soft, but not mushy.
  5. Finishing flavors: Remove from heat. Stir in the coconut aminos, sesame oil, and chopped green onions.

Did You Like It?

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Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 cup

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Easy Keto Cookbook here .

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

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Cauliflower Fried Rice

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