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If you love bold flavors but want to keep your meals light and veggie-packed, this Cauliflower Rice Chicken Biryani is about to be a new go-to. It is everything we love about classic Indian food with warm spices, tender chicken, and that cozy comfort, but with a low-carb, grain-free twist.
Instead of rice, this version uses Cauliflower Rice to keep it Paleo and Whole30 friendly. Honestly, cauliflower has quickly become one of my favorite ways to lighten up comfort food. It is mild in spice, super easy to make, and perfect for busy weeknights. You can have it ready in less than 20 minutes, but the flavor gets even better if you let it sit for a bit and soak up all those delicious spices.
Why We Love This Recipe
Indian food is a staple in our house. Dishes like Chicken Vindaloo and Chicken Korma make regular appearances on our dinner table, but Biryani has always been one of my kids’ favorites. It is hearty, full of flavor, and surprisingly simple to make.
The traditional version is made with basmati rice, but I love using cauliflower rice to keep things lighter and sneak in more veggies. The best part? My kids hardly notice the swap because the chicken and spices are the real stars of this dish.
Mild, Flavorful, and Great for Leftovers
I keep this Biryani mild so the whole family can enjoy it. If you like more heat, it is easy to toss in a chopped pepper or your favorite spicy seasoning. The beauty of this recipe is how the flavors come together over time. Even though it is ready in just 20 minutes, letting it sit for a bit or enjoying the leftovers the next day makes it taste even better.
This recipe is perfect for anyone looking to enjoy the bold, comforting flavors of Indian food without the heavy carbs. It is simple, nourishing, and packed with all the goodness your body will love.
Enjoy, friends! Let me know if you try it and how your family likes it.
Cauliflower Rice Chicken Biryani
Ingredients
- 1 large head of cauliflower
- 2 tbsp ghee, avocado oil, or olive oil
- 1.5 lbs chicken breast, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 medium sized yellow onion, diced
- 2 tbsp finely diced ginger
- 2 tsp garam masala*
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/3-3/4 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds or chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro to taste
Instructions
- Begin by ricing your cauliflower. Cut your cauliflower into florets. Place inside a high powered blender or food processor and pulse for 10-20 seconds. Scrape down the sides to remove any cauliflower sticking to the side. Once cauliflower is evenly riced, set aside.
- Heat a large skillet to medium – medium high heat. Add oil or ghee and coat the pan. Toss in chicken and cook for 3-5 minutes, evenly browning all sides (inside might still be a little pink).
- Now toss in onion and ginger. Stir and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- Finally add in spices, salt, tomatoes, chicken broth, and raisins. Mix, then toss in cauliflower rice. Bring mixture to a quick boil, and reduce heat to low. Cover with a lid and let simmer for 5-7 minutes or until cauliflower rice is softened.
- Remove from heat. Top with almonds and cilantro. Serve hot!
Thank you for sharing this recipe. It’s very good…I like the flavor and texture of the added ginger, almonds, cilantro, and raisins. The prep time is extremely misleading. I tripled the batch because I have a large family and wanted leftovers for during the week. Just peeling the ginger took more than 5 minutes. Then there’s washing and chopping/ricing cauliflower, onion, garlic, tomatoes, and cilantro. It was a time-consuming process, and the dish turned out bland. I added more garam masala toward the end, and it was good. If someone really likes authentic food, they should double or triple the garam masala.
Hi, I was wondering why this recipe isn’t considered keto also. Thanks!
Hi Ann,
It is Keto! Just an older recipe that was never marked with the indicator.
Delicious!! I added peas for more color, but the recipe is really fantastic, thanks!!
Thank you so much for this recipe! I was afraid I’ll get bored of the same meal for whole30 and then I came across this one 🙂 it’s super delicious!!
Love to hear that!