Still Making Rice? These 15 Low-Carb Sides Will Change That

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Still making rice with every meal? These easy, low-carb sides are so filling and flavorful that you won’t even miss it. Whether you’re looking for lighter options, better blood sugar control, or just want to switch things up, these delicious alternatives will make you wonder why you didn’t start sooner.

Baked Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Still making rice as a go-to side? This baked cauliflower mac and cheese proves there’s a better way to bring comfort to your plate without the extra carbs. Creamy, cheesy, and baked to golden perfection, it delivers all the nostalgia of classic mac and cheese with none of the guilt. Once you taste this, you’ll wonder why you didn’t ditch the rice sooner.
Get the Recipe: Baked Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Beer Cheese Soup

If you’re looking for a warm, hearty side, forget the rice and ladle up this rich beer cheese soup instead. Packed with bold flavors and creamy goodness, it’s the perfect low-carb swap for a starchy side dish. Whether it’s a chilly night or you just need an easy, comforting option, this one-pot wonder does the trick without piling on the carbs.
Get the Recipe: Beer Cheese Soup

Cauliflower Tortillas with Garlic and Oregano

Rice is great, but have you tried low-carb cauliflower tortillas? These sturdy, flexible, and flavorful wraps are the perfect way to switch things up. Use them for tacos, burritos, or even as a side to scoop up your favorite dish, once you see how versatile they are, you’ll never go back to plain rice again.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Tortillas with Garlic and Oregano

Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes

Mashed potatoes might have already replaced rice for some meals, but this mashed cauliflower takes things to the next level. Light, fluffy, and packed with buttery flavor, it’s a side that complements any main dish without the carb overload. Serve this instead of rice, and you’ll never look back.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes

Homemade Sauerkraut

Looking for something bold, crunchy, and full of gut-friendly goodness? Swap out rice for this easy homemade sauerkraut, it’s naturally low in carbs and adds a tangy kick to everything from grilled meats to roasted veggies. Simple to make with just two ingredients, this side dish brings way more flavor than a plain bowl of rice ever could.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Sauerkraut

Buttermilk Drop Biscuits

Rice might be easy, but these buttermilk drop biscuits are just as simple, and way more exciting. Soft, buttery, and golden brown, they come together with minimal effort and no rolling or kneading required. Serve them as a cozy, low-carb alternative to rice, and you’ll never go back.
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Drop Biscuits

Savory Pancakes

Instead of a plain side of rice, why not enjoy something light, low-carb, fluffy, and packed with flavor? These Greek-inspired savory pancakes work beautifully alongside grilled meats, roasted veggies, or even on their own with a drizzle of olive oil. Once you try this fun and unexpected side, you’ll forget rice was even an option.
Get the Recipe: Savory Pancakes

Creamed Collard Greens

Rice can’t compete with the rich, velvety goodness of these creamed collard greens. Simmered with garlic, onions, and a creamy coconut milk sauce, this dish brings serious flavor to your meal without the extra carbs. Whether you serve it with steak, chicken, or fish, you’ll love this comforting alternative.
Get the Recipe: Creamed Collard Greens

Cabbage Fritters

If you’re tired of serving rice with every meal, these crispy cabbage fritters will be your new obsession. Bursting with warm, aromatic spices and topped with a garam masala yogurt sauce, they add way more flavor and texture to your plate than rice ever could. They’re ready in just minutes, easy, delicious, and completely low-carb.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage Fritters

Cheddar Cheese Broccoli Fritters

If you usually pair your meals with rice, these crispy cheddar cheese broccoli fritters will make you rethink your routine. Crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed with cheesy goodness, they’re a fun and delicious way to add more vegetables to your plate minus the carbs. Serve them once, and no one will ask for rice again.
Get the Recipe: Cheddar Cheese Broccoli Fritters

Parmesan Chicken Wings

Still reaching for rice as your go-to side? Shake things up with these crispy, cheesy Parmesan chicken wings instead. They’re packed with savory flavor and make the perfect pairing for any meal, from casual dinners to game night snacks. Skip the carbs and dig into something way more exciting.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Chicken Wings

Chicken Miso Soup

Skip the rice and start your meal with this comforting, protein-packed chicken miso soup instead. Infused with savory miso, seaweed, and tender chicken, it’s a light, low-carb, yet filling side that adds warmth and depth to any meal. It’s so easy to make, you won’t miss the rice one bit.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Miso Soup

Mozzarella-Stuffed Meatballs

Rice might be filling, but these mozzarella-stuffed meatballs are next-level satisfying. Juicy, cheesy, and packed with flavor, they make the perfect side dish or main event when you want something hearty without the carbs. They come together with just three ingredients, so much easier than cooking rice.
Get the Recipe: Mozzarella-Stuffed Meatballs

Savory Muffins

Ditch the rice and serve up these low-carb savory muffins instead. They’re packed with hidden veggies, making them a nutritious and delicious way to add variety to your meals. Whether you enjoy them as a dinner side or a grab-and-go snack, these muffins prove that skipping rice doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor.
Get the Recipe: Savory Muffins

Coleslaw with Creamy Dressing

Rice is fine, but if you want something fresh, crunchy, and bursting with flavor, this coleslaw is the way to go. Crisp cabbage tossed in a creamy, tangy dressing makes for the perfect low-carb side, whether you’re pairing it with BBQ, grilled meats, or roasted veggies. One bite, and you’ll see why this is a far better choice than plain old rice.
Get the Recipe: Coleslaw with Creamy Dressing