Easy Cauliflower Rice Pizza Skillet

April 24, 2025

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This cauliflower rice pizza skillet has all the cheesy, saucy flavor of pizza, but with no crust, just low-carb cauliflower rice. Done in 20 minutes!

Cauliflower rice pizza topped with cheese and fresh herbs in a skillet

If you love pizza, you’re going to be obsessed with this pizza cauliflower rice! It’s got the good stuff like melted, gooey cheese, zesty sauce, and spicy pepperoni, but in a healthier, low-carb form.

Even if you’re not into cauliflower rice, you might be surprised since it doesn’t taste like cauliflower. It just has a rice-like texture that feels cozy and comforting, but tastes similar to fresh, homemade pizza.

Ingredients include cauliflower rice, turkey pepperoni, fresh grape tomatoes, garlic, Rao’s marinara sauce (we use arrabbiata), and shredded cheese. Fresh grape or cherry tomatoes are a must as they make the skillet vibrant and fresh. Of course, you can always toss in more veggies or protein if you like.

And no crust-making required! Simply sauté cauliflower rice until it’s flavorful and infused with fresh pizza sauce flavor, toss in turkey pepperoni, and top with shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

This one-pan skillet meal is quick, easy, full of flavor, and done in 20 minutes. It’s a weeknight win!

Ingredients

Cauliflower rice: This is the light, low-carb base of the dish. Frozen cauliflower rice works well, but fresh is great too. The key is to sauté it for 10 to 15 minutes to cook off excess moisture and mellow out the strong cauliflower flavor.

Extra-virgin olive oil: Used to sauté the garlic and cauliflower rice. Extra-virgin olive oil adds nice flavor, but avocado oil will work as well.

Garlic: Fresh garlic brings a delicious aromatic kick. You can sub garlic powder if needed (about ¼ teaspoon or slightly more to taste).

Grape or cherry tomatoes: These are crucial since they add fresh, juicy bursts of flavor and mimic the brightness of a fresh homemade sauce.

Rao’s Sauce: We use Rao’s pasta sauce for the pizza sauce since it’s our go-to sauce. We prefer arrabbiata sauce since it has more flavor (and heat) than regular marinara sauce. However, you can use another flavor of Rao’s sauce if preferred.

Turkey pepperoni: A lighter take on classic pepperoni that still brings that salty, spicy flavor.

Mozzarella cheese: The melty, gooey layer that ties it all together. We use part-skim for less fat.

Parmesan cheese: Adds a nutty, salty flavor and helps create that pizza-like flavor. Grated Pecorino Romano is a great alternative.

Oregano (optional): A classic pizza herb! We use just ¼ teaspoon for a light touch, but you could use up to ½ teaspoon if you like.

How to Make

STEP 1: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the cauliflower rice and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it’s lightly golden and most of the moisture has evaporated. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt.

STEP 2: Push the cauliflower rice to one side of the skillet. Reduce the heat to medium-low, then add the remaining ½ tablespoon olive oil, minced garlic, and grape tomatoes to the empty side. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often, until the tomatoes soften and the garlic is fragrant.

sauteing cauliflower rice in pan until lightly golden

Sauteing garlic and tomatoes on one side of pan

STEP 3: Stir the tomato-garlic mixture into the cauliflower rice. Add ½ cup Rao’s sauce and ¼ teaspoon dried oregano (optional), then stir until everything is well combined.

STEP 4: Stir in chopped turkey pepperoni. Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.

Cauliflower rice mixed with tomatoes, sauce and pepperoni

Grated cheese sprinkled over the top and melting under broiler

STEP 5: Transfer the skillet to the oven and broil for a few minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve immediately.

Finished cauliflower rice pizza with melted cheese and fresh herbs.

Variations

Of course you can switch up this skillet dish! Here are a few easy twists:

Add protein: Stir in some shredded rotisserie chicken and crumbled sausage for a more hearty meal.
Spicy kick: Add red pepper flakes or top with pickled jalapeños.
More veggies Toss in chopped spinach, mushrooms or bell peppers when cooking the cauliflower rice.

How to Store

Let the skillet cool completely, then store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat or in the microwave until warmed through.

For best texture, avoid freezing this dish, as the cauliflower rice can get soggy after thawing.

More Low Carb Pizza Dishes

If you try this recipe, we would love to hear your feedback! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag @lowcarbsimplified on your photo of this recipe on Instagram or Facebook. We hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!

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