Cauliflower rice is so versatile and is a go-to ingredient in many of my recipes, so I’m sharing the best way to make it plus 32 recipes to use it in! Once you know how to make cauliflower rice there are endless ways to use it. Cauliflower rice casseroles, side dishes, meal-prep ideas, and cauliflower bread buns are just a few of the recipes I’m sharing.
How to Make Cauliflower Rice
Regular readers know how much I love cauliflower and I’ve shared countless recipes that feature it, but I really love to make cauliflower rice. It’s a low-carb alternative to regular rice and I love to use it in a lot of my rice-based recipes. It’s easy to dress up just like regular rice, but it’s full of good nutrients and a great way to make favorite rice dishes healthier and lighter.
After developing lots of recipes I’ve learned so much about how to make cauliflower rice and so I’m sharing all of my tips plus 32 cauliflower rice recipes! If you want even more cauliflower ideas be sure to check out my Cauliflower Side Dish Recipes, too.
Ingredients
- Olive oil
- Minced garlic clove
- Cauliflower florets or prepared riced cauliflower
- Salt to taste
You can buy riced cauliflower or you can make it yourself with either a food processor or with a box grater.
Food Processor
Using a food processor is an easy way to rice a head of cauliflower. Before you make the rice, you’ll want to cut cauliflower into florets.
Secure the chopping blade in the food processor and then place the cauliflower florets inside the food processor and secure the lid.
Pulse the florets until they break down into pieces that are of similar size to grains of rice.
Grater Method
If you don’t have a food processor you can grate the cauliflower to make cauliflower rice. Just cut the head of cauliflower into pieces and grate the cauliflower against the side of the grater with the large holes.
How to Store Uncooked Cauliflower Rice
Raw cauliflower rice will keep in the refrigerator for up to three days in an airtight container. Or, you can freeze cauliflower rice in an airtight container for up to three months.
How do you make cauliflower rice not soggy?
It will get soggy if you cook it for too long. The nice thing about cauliflower rice is that it cooks really fast – much faster than regular rice.
If you want to make plain cauliflower rice all you need to do is cook it in a skillet with some olive oil and season it with salt and pepper. It cooks in less than 10 minutes and once it’s crisp-tender, it’s ready to serve.
Does it taste like regular rice?
It tastes like cauliflower, but the flavor is mild. So, no, it doesn’t taste like regular rice. The texture is similar and because the flavor is mild it goes with practically any flavor.
Is it keto-friendly?
Yes, if you’re following keto cauliflower rice is a good choice. It’s low in carbs and has many health benefits – you can use it in place of rice in practically any dish.
Can I buy cauliflower rice?
Yes, you can buy cauli rice! When I first started making cauliflower rice dishes, I used the food processor method to make it. Now you can find fresh cauliflower rice at a lot of stores in the produce department or you can buy frozen cauliflower rice. Using store-bought cauliflower rice definitely makes it easier!
Most grocery stores have bags of it in the freezer section near the other frozen veggies. I prefer frozen cauliflower rice and buy mine at Costco or Whole Foods. You can also buy frozen cauliflower rice at Aldi and Trader Joe’s.
How to Cook Cauliflower Rice
If you want to make plain cauliflower rice all you need to do is cook it in a skillet with some olive oil and season it with salt and pepper. It cooks in less than 10 minutes and once tender, it’s ready to serve.
Cauliflower Rice Recipes
Cooking in the skillet all on its own is just one way to cook your cauliflower rice, so for more cauliflower rice inspiration keep scrolling! I rounded up 32 of my favorite cauliflower rice recipes including side dishes, main dishes, meal-prep recipe and creative ways to turn your cauliflower recipes into “bread”! If you’re looking for even more ideas be sure to check out my Cauliflower Dinner Recipes.
Flavored Cauliflower Rice Recipes
I love cauliflower rice so much I make it several times a week for me and my husband. So, I have quite a few ways to serve it so we never get tired of it. Just like regular rice, cauliflower rice works with lots of different flavors and I love coming up with new ways to dress it up. Here are a few of my best cauliflower rice recipes!
Garlic Roasted Cauliflower Rice | This flavorful cauliflower rice is great to pair with your favorite dishes. Roasting the cauliflower gives it a unique sweet and nutty flavor. This is one of my favorite ways to eat cauliflower rice.
Cilantro-Lime Cauliflower Rice | This cilantro-lime cauliflower rice is an easy way to replace regular rice in tacos, fajitas, burritos and all of your other favorite Mexican-inspired dishes.
Sheet Pan Cauliflower Fried Rice | You’ll skip the take-out when you try this cauliflower fried rice. It’s my favorite way to make fried rice for a crowd because it cooks on a sheet pan in the oven!
Cauliflower Risotto | Risotto is a classic Italian dish and this cauliflower version is a low-carb way to enjoy all the creamy cheesiness you love about the original.
Cauliflower Tabbouleh | This cauliflower rice salad is a low carb, gluten free, wheat free and paleo-friendly version of the classic Middle Eastern salad. It’s easy to make and full of fresh flavors.
Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Rice | This is one of my favorite cauliflower recipes ever! After I started making this garlic parmesan cauliflower rice, I didn’t miss the regular rice version at all. This is a light meal all on its own or pair it with chicken or beef for dinner.
Sriracha Cauliflower Fried Rice | This is another cauliflower fried rice recipe but this time it has a spicy kick from some sriracha.
Mexican Cauliflower Rice | This cauliflower rice dish incorporates the flavors found in Mexican rice for an easy, low carb, gluten free dish that is ready in less than 30 minutes.
Curry Cauliflower Rice | This curry cauliflower rice is quite flavorful on its own, but not so overpowering so that you can eat it with other dishes. I like to pair it with grilled salmon and stir-fried broccoli.
Pesto Cauliflower Rice | This cauliflower rice is flavored with homemade pesto, but you can always substitute store-bought to make it even easier. It’s a delicious side dish that goes with a lot of other dishes like grilled chicken, steaks, or salmon.
Thai Cauliflower Fried Rice | Thai Fried Rice made with riced cauliflower is a healthier and low carb alternative to traditional Thai Fried Rice. It’s easy to make and ready in less than 30 minutes.
Cauliflower Bread Recipes
Who would have guessed you can make “bread” out of cauliflower? Starting with basic cauliflower rice, it’s possible to turn it into bread buns for burgers or savory muffins, mug cakes, and even waffles.
Cauliflower Bread Buns | Cauliflower bread buns are low carb and gluten free. They are perfect to use with hamburgers, sandwiches and more.
Cauliflower Waffles | These cheesy cauliflower waffles are so flavorful that you can easily eat them on their own. You can also serve them with eggs and bacon for a breakfast dish, top them with something for an appetizer, make mini sandwiches for lunch, etc. The possibilities are endless.
Cheesy Cauliflower Muffins | These low carb, gluten-free, savory muffins are made with cauliflower and cheese. They are great as an appetizer, snack, side dish or a quick meal.
Cauliflower Pizza Mug Cake | This single serving savory mug cake is cooked in the microwave for a quick and easy meal that is also keto, gluten free and low carb. The mug cake starts with a cauliflower bread, topped with marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese and mini pepperoni.
Cauliflower Bread Mug Cake | Single serving cauliflower bread can be made in a mug and cooked in the microwave. It’s ready in just a few minutes!
Main Dishes
As much as I love cauliflower rice as a side dish, I also love incorporating it into main dishes. Using cauliflower rice instead of regular rice is a great way to lighten up main dishes and I’ve used it to make grits, fried rice, and casseroles.
Thai Pineapple Cauliflower Fried Rice | I love Thai Pineapple Fried Rice. It’s savory, with hints of sweetness from the pineapple chunks. It’s always a must-order for me when we get Thai food, but it’s a carb-heavy so when I make it at home, I use cauliflower rice instead!
One Pot Taco Cauliflower Rice | This easy and flavorful taco cauliflower rice dish cooks in one pot or skillet for a quick meal ready in less than 30 minutes. Ground turkey and cauliflower rice are cooked in a homemade taco seasoning and then mixed with taco toppings like black beans, tomatoes, cheese and cilantro.
Cauliflower Hash Egg Cups | These cauliflower hash egg cups are a low carb and healthier alternative to regular hash egg cups. They make delicious breakfast bites that you can even take on-the-go.
Chicken Enchilada Cauliflower Rice Casserole | One of my husband’s favorite meals is chicken enchilada rice casserole, but it’s not something I make often because it can be really heavy. So, I came up with this cauliflower rice casserole that’s low-carb and healthier, but still tastes like the original.
Cauliflower “Crab” Cakes | These crab cakes use cauliflower instead of crab meat. Even though they don’t contain any crab, they taste like and have the same texture as real crab cakes.
Shrimp and Cauliflower Grits | This is a lightened up and low carb version of shrimp and grits that is just as flavorful and comforting as the original. The cauliflower grits are super creamy and cheesy!
Taco Cauliflower Rice Casserole | This taco cauliflower rice casserole is flavorful and easy to make. It’s a low carb rice casserole dish made with cauliflower rice mixed with taco meat and seasoning and finished with a layer of melted cheese.
Meal Prep Recipes with Cauliflower Rice
Are you a meal prepper? I always feel on top of life when I take the time to prep weekly lunches and dinners ahead of time and a lot of my favorite meal prep recipes have cauliflower rice. Fajita bowls, sushi bowls, and Korean-inspired bowls are some of my favorite ways to incorporate cauliflower rice into my weekly meal planning.
California Sushi Roll Bowls with Cauliflower Rice | Deconstructed California sushi rolls are served with low carb cauliflower sushi rice for an easy meal that can be prepared ahead of time.
Skinny Bang Bang Chicken Cauliflower Rice | Seared chicken with sautéed spinach served with cauliflower rice and drizzled with a skinny version of my bang bang sauce. It’s a low carb, easy meal that can be made ahead of time for your weekly meal prep.
Fajita Bowls with Cauliflower Rice | A healthier, low carb and simplified version of fajita rice bowls made with lean ground meat and vegetables flavored with homemade fajita seasoning and served on a bed of cauliflower rice. Plus, they are easy to make and reheat.
Korean Bibimbap Cauliflower Rice Bowls | These make-ahead bowls are a lighter version of bibimbap (Korean mixed rice bowls) using cauliflower rice and lean ground turkey.
Turkey Taco Bowls with Cauliflower Rice | These colorful meal-prep bowls are made with lean ground turkey cooked in taco seasoning, black beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado, shredded cheese, cilantro, and cauliflower rice.
Chicken Cauliflower Fried Rice | These cauliflower rice bowls are easy to make and reheat well, which makes them great for meal prep. I love to add chicken, but you can switch out different proteins like ground turkey or steak to switch things up!
Side Dishes
To wrap things up I have a few creative cauliflower side dishes that are a twist on classic sides like cauliflower arancini, “tater” tots and my favorite crispy fritters.
Cauliflower Arancini | These baked crispy cauliflower rice balls are a healthier alternative to traditional arancini. They have a crispy coating and are so creamy and cheesy on the inside.
Cauliflower Tots | These crispy homemade tots are so flavorful you won’t miss the potato. The cauliflower texture is so similar to the potato, some might even be fooled into thinking these are regular tater tots.
Cheesy Cauliflower Fritters (Keto, Low Carb) | These cauliflower fritters are so crispy and cheesy and make a delicious side dish! Plus, they are also keto, low-carb, wheat flour-free and gluten-free.
Easy Cauliflower Rice
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 3 cups cauliflower rice
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Add oil to a large skillet and bring to medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add in garlic and cook until lightly browned.
- Add in cauliflower. Stir and cook until cauliflower is tender. If your skillet gets too dry you can add a few tablespoons of water. Season cauliflower rice with salt. Serve warm.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
Love your cauliflower rice,
Please email me your caulflower recipes thank you
Thanks so much! You can browse all of our Cauliflower Recipes if you want more ideas.
I loved this post of yours! So helpful for ideas in one place. I am excited to get started on this cauliflower rice adventure! Thank you for sharing all the deliciousness!!!
I hope you enjoy the recipes!