Cauliflower Rice Pilaf

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A bright and easy holiday side dish, coming right up! This cauliflower rice pilaf hits all the right notes, with cranberries, pecans, and herbs. It is the perfect pairing to any main dish this holiday season.

Keto Rice Pilaf in a black bowl with a spoonful being lifted out of it.

Most of us tend to fall into a trap thinking big holiday dinners have to be an all day cooking event. Especially if family and friends are coming over and we want to impress them. It can be incredibly stressful at times.

Well the good news is that this doesn’t have to be the case at all. Sometimes the simplest recipes are the best, and it doesn’t take much to bring out the best flavors.

This Cauliflower Rice Pilaf with Cranberries and Pecan is a prime example. A pat of butter, some garlic, and some of my sugar free dried cranberries make it so flavorful. And a few toasted pecans add great crunch and texture.

Pair this easy keto side dish with holiday classics like turkey or standing rib roast. It’s also pretty tasty smothered in keto gravy!

A wooden spoon lifting some cauliflower rice pilaf with cranberries and pecans out of the pan.

Why this recipe is so awesome

Does it seem odd to pair cauliflower rice with pecans and cranberries? Well trust me, it works! I recently re-made this and was reminded of how much I like it. The savory of the butter and garlic offsets the sweet tang of the berries. And the pecans add a delightful crunch. Even the colors are visually appealing.

Best of all, you can whip this up in minutes on the stovetop, while the turkey, beef, or ham is resting. It has less than 4g net carbs per serving and won’t sit heavily in your belly. Which means you can enjoy the rest of your holiday meal.

Need to feed more than 6 people? This recipe can easily be doubled. And the leftovers are fabulous!

I promised you some tips on how to make your holiday meals less stressful. Trust me, this easy keto side dish will be something you can whip up in minutes if you follow my hacks.

Ingredients you need

Top down image of ingredients needed for Cauliflower Rice Pilaf.

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Cauliflower: You can use fresh or frozen, as they take about the same time to cook. If you are making your own, a medium head of cauliflower should be about right for 4 cups of rice.
Butter: Butter adds fat and flavor to many cauliflower rice recipes. You can also use olive oil or avocado oil, but you will want to add a little additional salt.
Dry white wine: White whine deepens the flavor, similar to my cauliflower rice risotto. But you can use chicken broth instead.
Garlic: Fresh garlic always adds more aroma and flavor, but you can use powder if you don’t have fresh. Try half a teaspoon
Pecans: You can also use chopped walnuts or sliced almonds.
Sugar-free dried cranberries: You can buy unsweetened dried cranberries or make your own. I definitely recommend my recipe!
Fresh sage: I prefer the flavor in fresh sage, but you can also use dried sage, about 1 ½ teaspoons.
Salt and pepper: Taste the cauliflower pilaf and adjust as desired.

Step-by-step directions

A collage of 6 images showing how to make Cauliflower Rice Pilaf.

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, add the butter and let melt. Once melted, add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

2. Add the wine or broth to deglaze the pan. Bring to a simmer and cook until reduced by half, about minutes.

3. Stir in the cauliflower rice and toss to coat in the butter and wine.

4. Cover the pan and let cook until the cauliflower is tender, 5 to 7 minutes.

5. Remove from heat and stir in the pecans, cranberries, and sage.

A keto thanksgiving plate with turkey, cranberry sauce, delicata squash and cauliflower rice pilaf.

Expert tips

This keto cauliflower rice is easy enough to make as is, but I have a few quick hacks to make it even easier.

Avail yourself with the pre-riced cauliflower option. It doesn’t matter if it’s fresh or frozen as they both tend to cook just as quickly. And I don’t know of a single grocery store that doesn’t sell frozen cauliflower rice now. This saves you loads of time on both the chopping and the clean up.

Save yourself even more time by grabbing some pre-minced garlic. I love the little frozen cubes, but the pastes from the refrigerated section can work too.

Finally, use pre-chopped, pre-toasted nuts. Not only does this save time, but it saves you the grief of accidentally burning them. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve done this when I am paying attention to other dishes. Nuts toast incredibly quickly and can burn very easily.

Use a large skillet so you do not overcrowd the pan. This will help cook everything evenly and keep the cauliflower rice from steaming and turning mushy.

A black bowl filled with cauliflower rice pilaf on a white table with a red kitchen towel.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is cauliflower rice pilaf?

Cauliflower rice pilaf is a low carb version of a rice pilaf made with finely chopped, or “riced”, cauliflower. Cauliflower is very low in carbohydrates making it a key vegetable in the keto diet. This pilaf makes a terrific side dish for the holidays or any meal.

Can I eat dried cranberries on the keto diet?

Conventional dried cranberries are very high in added sugar, so I don’t recommend them for a low carb diet. But it’s quite easy to make your own sugar-free dried cranberries. They have 5.2g of carbs and 2g of fiber per 3 tablespoons, making it 3.2g net carbs per serving.

How many carbs are in cauliflower rice pilaf?

This keto cauliflower rice pilaf recipe has 5.7g of carbs and 2g of fiber per serving. That comes to 3.7g net carbs per serving, about ½ cup.

More easy keto holiday recipes