- December 2, 2020
- 30 Minute Meals
Bacon Cauliflower Fried Rice
This bacon cauliflower fried rice is savory, smoky, and packed with bold flavor from crispy bacon, garlic, and sesame. It’s a quick skillet-style dish that delivers all the comfort of fried rice with a lighter, vegetable-forward base.
Cauliflower fried rice is all about technique. When cooked properly, it becomes tender, lightly crisped, and perfectly seasoned without turning watery or bland. Adding bacon brings richness and smoky depth, turning this simple dish into something crave-worthy.
This bacon cauliflower fried rice is fast, flexible, and works equally well as a main dish or a hearty side.
Why Bacon Cauliflower Fried Rice Works
The key to good cauliflower fried rice is removing excess moisture before it ever hits the pan. Par-cooking frozen cauliflower rice in the oven dries it out just enough so it can be sautéed instead of steamed.
Cooking everything over high heat with bold seasonings builds flavor quickly, while bacon adds fat and salt that carry the dish.
Ingredients:
Frozen Cauliflower Rice: Let’s be honest, it’s easier, faster, and 100% works in most cases (over fresh cauliflower). While it’s cheaper to purchase a whole head of cauliflower rice, I’d rather not dig out the food processor if I can help it. Splurge and spend an extra dollar and get the pre-priced cauliflower when possible. Find it in the frozen food section at your local store.
Bacon: Use regular pork bacon or turkey bacon. You could use other forms of protein (or not meat at all) if you prefer. I like to pre-cook the bacon so it’s just slightly undercooked to my liking. This helps in rendering the fat enough, but not overcooking.
Sesame Oil: While you can use other oils in this fried rice dish, sesame oil adds that signature flavor to it that really helps tie everything together. Additionally, it has a higher heat smoke point than olive oil and is better when used in a wok or on a grill griddle, too.
Green Onion: I like to keep my added veggies to a minimum and keep the dish simple. Adding some thinly sliced green onions works great here when pairing it with bacon and eggs.
Minced Garlic: Garlic is amazing in everything, but especially with cauliflower rice. It NEEDS some flavor, so garlic it is! Pro Tip – Wait to add it to stir fry the last 60 seconds of cooking when using medium-high heat to prevent it from burning.
Chili Paste: Adds a much-needed spicy zing to the cauliflower rice. Use less if you are not a fan of spicy foods, but it really adds something extra.
Soy Sauce: I mix a little into the chili paste mixture to add a little salt and that signature soy flavor to the cauliflower to soak up.
Sesame Seeds: Honestly, it just makes everything look prettier, but it tastes good, too.
Eggs: I opt to add soft boiled in at the end. That delicious yolk soaks up nicely in the seasoned cauliflower rice at the end for a nice touch.
Salt and Pepper: ALWAYS!
How to Prep Frozen Cauliflower Rice
Frozen cauliflower rice holds a lot of moisture, so par cooking is essential.
Spread the frozen cauliflower rice evenly on a baking sheet and bake briefly to defrost and dry it out. This step prevents soggy fried rice and helps achieve better texture in the pan.
How to Cook Bacon for Fried Rice
Cook the bacon until just shy of fully crisp. It will continue to cook slightly when added back to the hot pan with the cauliflower rice.
Drain on paper towels, then chop into bite size pieces so it distributes evenly throughout the dish.
Cooking Bacon Cauliflower Fried Rice
Heat a wok or large skillet over medium high heat. Add sesame oil, then the cauliflower rice and green onions.
Let the rice cook undisturbed for a minute or two to develop some color, then stir occasionally. Add the chopped bacon and cook briefly to combine.
Finish by stirring in garlic, chili paste, and soy sauce, tossing everything together until well coated and heated through.
Soft Boiled Eggs for Serving
Soft-boiled eggs add richness and help balance the salty, savory flavors.
Cook eggs until the whites are set and the yolks are jammy, then peel and set aside. Slice just before serving so the yolk stays creamy.
How to Serve Bacon Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Serve the fried rice hot, topped with a soft-boiled egg.
- Finish with extra bacon, sliced green onions, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. The egg yolk acts like a sauce, tying everything together. Top it off with homemade garlic chili oil for a pop of heat.
- This dish works well on its own or alongside grilled chicken, shrimp, or vegetables.
Storage and Make Ahead Tips
- Bacon cauliflower fried rice stores well for meal prep.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat in a hot skillet for the best texture.
- Eggs are best added fresh when serving rather than reheated.
Expert Tips for the Best Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Finish with sesame oil, not at the beginning, for a better aroma
- Always dry out frozen cauliflower rice before sautéing
- Use high heat to prevent steaming
- Do not overcrowd the pan
- Add garlic toward the end to avoid burning
- Season lightly at first and adjust after cooking
More Recipes To Try
Easy Bacon Cauliflower Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 4 cups Frozen Cauliflower Rice
- 8 Slices Cooked Bacon
- 4 Eggs Soft Boiled
- 2 Green Onions sliced thin
- 2 Garlic Cloves minced
- 1 tbsp. Chili Paste
- 1 tbsp. Soy Sauce or coconut aminos
- 2 tsp. Sesame Oil
- Sesame Seeds Salt, Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Par cook/ defrost your frozen cauliflower rice by placing it all onto a baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes at 350 F. in the oven. Additionally, cook your bacon until it’s almost crispy and remove and place to a paper towel and chop and set aside.
- Heat a wok or grill griddle to medium high heat.
- Add the sesame oil and then add the cauliflower rice and green onion. Let it cook for 2 minutes or so and stir it occasionally with a spatula. Add in your bacon and continue to cook another minute.
- Mix in the chili paste, soy sauce, and minced garlic. Toss everything together until the cauliflower is coated in the sauces and heated through. Remove the mixture and season with any additional salt and pepper to taste and mix in some toasted sesame seeds.
- Serve the bacon cauliflower rice with a soft boiled egg and any extra bacon or green onion to garnish.
Can you freeze leftovers?
Yes, you should be able to freeze this no problem. Just defrost and toss it back in a pan or throw it in the oven on a baking sheet to absorb any moisture that may have formed during the freezing process.
If I make fresh Cauliflower rice do I need to put it in the oven before? Can’t wait to try!
I think it still helps to do this, yes!
I’m not into hot spicy food, what can I use in place of chilli thanks
You can just omit it.