Chicken Gyro Cauliflower Rice Skillet (Low Carb | Healthy)
Pan fried ground chicken gyro with Mediterranean lemon cauliflower rice and refreshing homemade tzatziki is a super easy low carb one pan meal you can have on the table in just 30 minutes.
A perfect way to use frozen ground chicken, turkey, or pork and Mediterranean spices to jazz up plain old riced cauliflower.
With only 11g of carbs (8g net carbs) and a healthy 24g of protein, this fast stovetop skillet is healthy and keto friendly!
This keto recipe is also high in potassium and vitamin C!
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Why You Should Make This Skillet
- Cauliflower rice skillets are super easy and lazy keto meal you can make using a single pan.
- Using ground chicken makes this skillet and affordable low carb meal.
- Simple ingredients and spices anyone can find.
- Packed with electrolytes like potassium, as well as vitamin C, and protein, this easy recipe great for anyone tired of plain old cauliflower rice.
Recipe Inspiration
This recipe is a cheater version of the gyro and Greek lemon rice you find behind the counter at many take out Greek restaurants (Which we LOVE).
Its not truly a gyro recipe but the way it combines with the Greek lemon rice and tzatziki really hits the same vibe.
Fresh or frozen ground chicken, pan fried in olive oil and butter until golden brown resembles the thin slices of shaved gyro or donair, (except we don’t have to use any flour or breadcrumbs in this kebab) tossed into a cauliflower rice skillet seasoned with fresh lemon and simple Mediterranean species.
This recipe is an entire healthy gluten free low carb meal in one.
Using Fresh or Frozen Ground Chicken
No need to thaw anything, this recipe uses frozen ground chicken straight from the freezer and personally I think it’s the best choice for this recipe. It’s a perfect recipe for those cheap frozen tubes of ground chicken you can find on sale.
When you cook the meat from frozen, it cooks in thin layers that you peel off as you go, and you end up with these golden brown little strips of meat that are very similar to the thin slices of gyro you can get at many Greek restaurants.
You can of course use fresh ground chicken as well, it will still taste amazing!
Fresh or Frozen Cauliflower Rice
Fresh, store made, frozen, or homemade riced cauliflower can be used for this recipe.
I always like to make my own from scratch. Ricing fresh cauliflower is SO EASY and has the best flavour, especially if you have a food processor with a grating disk. You can also use a cheese grater or simply dice the full head of cauliflower very finely with a knife.
If you want to learn everything you need to know about making your own riced cauliflower check out my dedicated post on cauliflower rice.
If you want to make this the quickest and easiest way possible then you can of course use store bought or frozen cauliflower rice.
Substitutions and Variations
This low carb rice skillet is incredibly versatile and easy to customize. Here are some yummy ideas I tried while testing this recipe:
- Use ground pork, or turkey – We have been leaning heavily on frozen ground chicken lately since it’s very affordable at the moment, however don’t let that stop you from trying ground turkey or pork instead.
- Use different spices – The seasoning used in this recipe is made from simple easy to find Mediterranean spices, and is similar to generic Greek seasoning (which you can also use) but you can customize this however you like. Some great additions are sage, thyme, sumac, and smoked paprika.
- Use a different low carb rice – Not everyone loves cauliflower rice I get it, if that’s you and you still want to try this recipe then diced sautéed cabbage pan fried until golden brown is a dynamite choice. I have not tried this recipe with palmini rice or miracle rice but if you like those go ahead!
- Add feta, Kalamata olive, sautéed zucchini or tomatoes – any of your favourite Greek style ingredients can add a burst of fresh flavour and texture.
- The tzatziki is a great place to add flavour – The tzatziki style sauce in this recipe is inteded as a quick “cheater” version, but there is lots of flavour potential here! Grated cucumber, roasted garlic, lemon zest, or feta are worth a try.
Leftovers, Meal Prep and Storage
Cauliflower rice skillets make excellent leftovers and work lunch meal prep. The flavours develop and meld together and it reheats really well using just a microwave.
Allow the leftovers to cool and then place in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheating – The quickest way to reheat is to use the microwave until warmed through. You can also use a pan on the stove over medium heat. Add some extra butter to the pan and heat the cauliflower rice until warmed through.
Looking for more keto meal prep ideas and make ahead meal inspiration?
Check out this dedicated roundup full of over 60 amazing low carb meal prep recipes. The list is ever growing so if you like what you see be sure to save it a check back regularily for new inspo!
Recipe Card
Easy Chicken Gyro and Cauliflower Rice Skillet (Low Carb, 30 min)
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Equipment
- Knife and Cutting Board
- food processor with grating disc optional
- box grater optional
- deep wok or skillet
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 4 tablespoons butter divided
- 1 lb ground chicken* fresh or frozen
- 1 large cauliflower (1 1/2 - 2 lb) riced, grated, or finely diced
- Mediterranean Seasoning mix or Greek seasoning** recipe below
- 4 whole cloves
- 1 whole bay leaf
- 1 small onion chopped
- ⅓ cup fresh parsley chopped
- 1 whole lemon juice and zest
- Tzatziki*** recipe below
Mediterranean Seasoning Mix
- 1 teaspoon salt plus more to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper plus more to taste
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano or 1 tbsp fresh
- ½ teaspoon dried dill or 1 tbsp fresh
- ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary or 1/2 tbsp fresh
Quick Homemade Tzatziki (Optional)
- 1 teaspoon Mediterranean Seasoning mix see above
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder or 2 cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup Plain Greek yogurt
Instructions
- Prepare the Mediterranean seasoning - In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, oregano, dill, and rosemary. Set aside. Now is a good time to make the tzatziki (instructions at the bottom) for maximum flavour.1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon dried dill, 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
- Brown the ground chicken - Add 2 tbsp of olive oil, and 2 tbsp of butter to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the fresh or frozen ground chicken to the skillet and brown on one side completely. Flip over a scrape the browned chicken off leaving it in bite sized chunks or strips. Repeat until the chicken is cooked through a fully browned. Season to taste with salt and pepper, add additional butter and olive oil as needed. Remove from the pan and set aside leaving all the drippings in the pan. **Frozen works best for this as it looks and feels like gyro meat. **4 tablespoons olive oil, 4 tablespoons butter, 1 lb ground chicken*
- Sauté the riced cauliflower - Add 2 tbsp olive oil, and 2 tbsp butter to the skillet. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the riced cauliflower, lightly season with salt and pepper. Sauté for 5-8 minutes stirring occasionally until the cauliflower has started to soften. Add additional butter or olive oil as needed.1 large cauliflower (1 1/2 - 2 lb)
- Add the seasoning - Push the sautéed cauliflower rice the sides of the skillet to expose the bottom of the pan and make a well. If dry add more butter and olive oil. To the well add the prepared Mediterranean seasoning (save 1 tsp for the Tzatziki sauce), cloves, bay leaf, and chopped onion. Allow the onion and spices to sauté for around 1 minute and then combine everything in the skillet.4 whole cloves, 1 whole bay leaf, 1 small onion, Mediterranean Seasoning mix or Greek seasoning**
- Add the Gyro Meat - Reduce the heat to medium, add the cooked chicken back to the skillet along with any juices on the plate. Stir to combine and Cook for around 5 minutes until the onion has softened and the cauliflower rice is tender.Tzatziki***
- Garnish and serve - Remove the skillet from the heat, season to taste, and stir in the fresh chopped parsley, lemon zest and lemon juice. Serve with homemade or store bought tzatziki and fresh lemon.1/3 cup fresh parsley, 1 whole lemon
Homemade Tzatziki (optional)
- Prepare the Tzatziki (if using) - Add 1 tsp of the seasoning mix, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 2 cloves minced garlic (or 1/2 tsp garlic powder), 1 tbsp olive oil, a pinch of salt, and 1/2 Greek yogurt to a small bowl and combine well. Allow the sauce to marinate for at least 10 minute for best flavour.1 teaspoon Mediterranean Seasoning mix, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 cup Plain Greek yogurt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or 2 cloves minced
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated using the recipe calculator and verified database available from Cronometer. Although every reasonable effort is made to provide accurate information this estimate is provided as courteously and convenience only. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in any given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe.
Try the free recipe calculator at Cronometer
Enjoy!
