This easy low-carb Inside Out Egg Roll in a Bowl is a super quick and easy weeknight dinner that’s a true crowd pleaser. It is made with ground chicken or turkey, shredded vegetables and cauliflower rice, and topped with spicy and refreshing mayo-sriracha sauce. It is paleo, whole30 approved, gluten-free and fantastic for meal prep.
I also have this vegan Tofu Egg Roll in a Bowl recipe for another dinner idea.
Inside Out Egg Rolls or Egg Roll in a Bowl is one of those recipes that you will keep coming back to and making over and over again because it is amazingly easy, healthy, insanely flavorful and comes together in no time (less than 30 minutes if you have your cabbage and carrots shredded).
Another great thing about this Asian inspired dish is that it is made in one skillet which means less time spent on washing dishes = more time for things you actually like doing (Netflix or a bubble bath for the win!).
With a little bit of forethought, egg roll in a bowl can be thrown together when you’re short on time but still crave a wholesome homemade dinner after a long day at work or your kids’ sports practice.
Looking for more easy Asian-inspired dinners? Try this amazingly delicious Shrimp Yaki Udon, my Salmon Sushi Bake recipe or these Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs!
Jump to:
What is an inside out egg roll?
Essentially, inside out egg roll, or egg roll in a bowl is all the wonderful flavors you would find inside an egg roll, minus the wrapper. In Asian cuisines, egg rolls are usually made with ground pork and cabbage, wrapped in dough and deep fried.
For this deconstructed version, we lose the fried dough all together and focus on the delicious filling to create an easy and complete one-skillet meal drizzled with wonderfully creamy, tangy and spicy sauce.
Most egg roll in a bowl recipes I’ve seen use a bag of coleslaw mix which is definitely the fastest option. Since I had 2 cabbages and a bag of shredded carrots in my fridge waiting to be used up, I chopped the vegetables myself. It’s totally up to you though.
To bulk the meal up a bit, I also used riced cauliflower, which goes really well with the rest of the flavors. If you have picky eaters who swear by NOT liking cauliflower, this egg roll in a bowl is a fabulous way to add it without nobody noticing. Seriously, the cauliflower taste completely disappears in the sea of aromatics, such as coconut aminos, garlic, ginger and lime.
Ingredient notes
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Ground meat: you can use ground chicken, ground turkey or pork for this recipe.
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White and red cabbage: shred your own fresh cabbage by hand or pulse it in the food processor (you will need to cut it into pieces first). If you prefer, use bagged coleslaw mix.
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Shredded carrots: bagged shredded carrots are the fastest and easiest option. If you shred it yourself, grate the carrot using a box grater.
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Cauliflower rice: use fresh or frozen cauliflower rice or make your own by ricing fresh cauliflower florets in the food processor. If using frozen cauliflower rice, add it to the skillet before the rest of the veggies and cook until mostly thawed.
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Onion: both white or yellow onion will work.
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Garlic & ginger: use fresh garlic and ginger for the best results.
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Coconut aminos: to add Asian flavor to the dish. You can swap it for low-sodium soy sauce or tamari.
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Toasted sesame oil: it adds a wonderful warm and nutty flavor to the dish. You can usually buy it at Asian markets or the Asian section of your grocery store.
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Mayo: avocado oil mayo with clean ingredients or homemade mayo are your best choices.
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Sriracha sauce: my favorite brand is Huy Fong but use whatever Sriracha you have on hand. See my note below for a paleo/whole30 version.
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Lime: to add acidity to the dish and the sauce.
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Scallions or Green Onions: as garnish
How to make a low-carb egg roll in a bowl
- Step 1: Make the sauce. Just add all sauce ingredients in a medium bowl and stir together until combined. A small whisk works best.
- Step 2: Chop and shred the veggies. Because this dish comes together in no time, it’s good to have all the vegetables prepared ahead of time. Shred the cabbage using a knife or a food processor. Chop the onion, mince or grate garlic and ginger and shred the carrot.
- Step 3: Cook the meat. Heat up some sesame oil in a large skillet, add the onion, cook for about 2 minutes stirring until softened. Then, add the meat and cook it until lightly browned, stirring often and breaking the meat into small pieces. I find that a potato masher does a decent job for this task! Add ginger and garlic, cook together until fragrant, remove from the skillet and set aside.
- Step 4: Stir fry the vegetables. Add the remaining oil to the now empty skillet and dump the cabbages, carrots and cauliflower rice into the skillet. Cook together, stirring until softened.
- Step 5: Combine all the flavors. Add coconut aminos (or soy sauce or tamari), the cooked meat and rice vinegar (if using). Stir fry a little longer until all the flavors are combined.
- Step 6: Finishing touches. I like to squeeze half a lime into the mixture at the end, sprinkle some fresh herbs (scallions and cilantro) and season with salt and pepper. If it tastes like it still needs a little something, add a bit more coconut aminos and/or sesame oil.
- Step 7: Serve in bowls with a drizzle of sriracha-mayo sauce.
Storage and meal prep tips
Low-carb Egg Roll in a Bowl is perfect for meal prep. Just stir fry the meat and vegetables according to the recipe and divide between airtight containers. Prepare the sauce and transfer to a separate container (or mini dressing containers if you’ll be packing your lunches).
Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To serve, reheat in the microwave for about 2 minutes or on the stove in a skillet until warmed through.
To freeze, divide between airtight container(s) and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in a skillet with a little oil or in the microwave. I don’t recommend freezing the sauce but you can make it fresh and serve with the reheated stir-fry.
Substitutions and special diets
- This dish is suitable for many diets because it is naturally gluten and dairy free (as written)
- For paleo and whole30, use coconut aminos (naturally soy-free) and check your labels, especially on the mayo and Sriracha.
- You can swap coconut aminos for regular soy sauce or tamari sauce, which is gluten free.
- If you don’t feel like shredding cabbage, use store bought coleslaw mix.
- Cauliflower rice can be fresh or frozen. If you want, you can also add other vegetables to the dish, such as sliced bell peppers, broccoli slaw or mushrooms.
- If you want to, you can serve this dish hot or cold in lettuce wraps
- Ground chicken can be swapped for turkey, pork or lean ground beef
Recipe FAQs
Not in its original form. Because this recipe uses a ton of veggies, this Egg Roll in a Bowl is very low in sugar and high in fiber. However, some of the veggies, such as carrots and onions are high in carbs and not keto friendly. To make this dish keto, stick to cabbage only. It will still be delicious!
Yes! For a vegetarian/vegan version use impossible meat or crumbled tempeh instead of meat. You can also use crispy tofu marinaded in coconut aminos or soy sauce but cook it separately from the veggies and add at the very end.
More low-carb dinner ideas
- Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Cauliflower Rice Casserole
- Italian Stuffed Zucchini Boats
- Spaghetti Squash with Bacon, Goat Cheese and Spinach Skillet
- Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus Stuffed Chicken
- Brined Chicken Wings
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Recipe
Inside Out Egg Roll in a Bowl (with ground chicken)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb ground chicken turkey or pork
- 12 oz cauliflower rice
- 12 oz shredded white cabbage
- 5 oz shredded red cabbage
- 5 oz shredded carrot
- ½ large onion chopped
- 2 large garlic cloves crushed or minced
- ½ cup coconut aminos or low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
- ½ lime
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar optional
- 2 scallions sliced
- 4 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh chopped cilantro for garnish optional
For the sauce:
- ½ cup mayo
- 2 tablespoon Sriracha sauce
- ½ lime
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce. Place the mayo, Sriracha and juice from ½ lime in a medium bowl and stir with a small whisk until fully combined and creamy. Set aside.
- In a large skillet heat 2 teaspoons of sesame oil and cook onion until softened. Add the ground meat and cook until no longer pink and slightly browned. If you’re using pork, drain the fat. Add minced garlic and ginger and stir together for another minute or 2. Remove the meat from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the remaining sesame oil to the now empty skillet and add both cabbages, carrots and cauliflower rice and cook stirring on medium high heat until softened, about 5-7 minutes. You may need to add a splash of water if it starts browning.
- Add coconut aminos or soy sauce and rice vinegar (if using). Give everything a stir, add the cooked meat and cook together stirring for about 3-5 minutes. Add juice squeezed from ½ lime and sliced scallions. Stir together, try it and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- You can also add a little more coconut aminos and sesame oil at this stage if you want more flavor. Garnish with more scallions and/or chopped fresh cilantro.
- Serve hot with a drizzle of mayo-Sriracha sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
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Meet the Author
Hi, I'm Agnieszka. I'm a mom of three and recipe developer, writer and photographer behind Wholly Tasteful. I love creating comforting, delicious, family-friendly recipes that you can feel good about.
Deb K. says
This reminded me of mu-shu from the Chinese restaurant i went to as a kid. I wrapped it up in a steamed tortilla and it was amazing! Will definitely make again and wrap in chinese style mu-shu pancakes.
Beth says
Yum! This is perfect for lunch and my hubby is going to absolutely love this! Excited to try this!
Sara Welch says
Such a great tasting recipe that is not only easy on the wallet, but also on the waistline! Easily, a new favorite dish; the whole family loved it!
Rachna says
I absolutely love one-pot meals that are quick and easy to put together. This here is so good. I am going to try it soon.
veenaazmanov says
Best for a light and Happy Meal option. Perfect combination and perfect Bowl too.
David says
I love this deconstructed egg roll recipe! I often have extra carrots and / or cabbage on hand and this is a perfect way to use them. And I love the sriracha to finish the dish!
Freya says
Wow, this really did come together quickly and was so delicious!
Jeri says
I made this last night for supper and it was a hit! My kids had no idea there was cauliflower in it! They just gobbled it up and asked for seconds. Thanks for the recipe!
Kay says
So excited to have found a quick midweek healthy dinner for those nights when I haven't got time!
Shannon says
35gs of total carbs for one serving or is that the entire recipe? If not then that is WAY too many carbs /serving!
Agnieszka says
Thanks for catching that, Shannon! If you're following a keto diet, this recipe is indeed too high in carbs (though it's low in sugar and high in fiber). I removed this recipe from the keto category on my website and added a note about how to adjust it to make it keto friendly.
Ceci says
So good. Tastes just like an eggroll. We will make often I’m sure.
Agnieszka says
I'm so glad to hear that, Ceci!