Mexican Cauliflower Rice

This Mexican cauliflower rice is the perfect, lighter twist on the traditional taco night side dish. It will make a great addition to any favorite Mexican recipes or serve it as a base for the best burrito bowl ever.

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Mexican cauliflower rice being spooned out of serving dish.

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Mexican Cauliflower Rice Recipe

Traditional Mexican rice is always my favorite side dish when we eat our favorite Mexican food. But this cauliflower twist is a great way to make these hearty meals a little lighter - and to sneak in some yummy vegetables that the whole family will eat.

This spiced and riced cauliflower tastes so good that I bet you'll love it even if you're not a fan of fresh cauliflower! It's a delish side dish with bold flavor that's honestly just as good as traditional rice.

We make a big batch of Mexican cauli rice frequently on Taco Tuesday when we love to make these salsa verde pulled pork tacos (or any time we are enjoying TexMex food). . But it's really perfect for any meal!

Add in your favorite beverage like a sweet orange margarita or savory michelada and you've got yourself a fiesta, even if it's the middle of the week.

Mexican cauliflower rice in a round, rectangular white serving dish.

Why You'll Love this Recipe

Mexican cauliflower rice is one of my favorite ways to prepare cauliflower! It always turns out so tender and full of flavor. I don't think I've had this easy recipe turn out as flop. You're going to love how simple it is to turn a head of cauliflower into the perfect side dish!

Mexican cauliflower rice is a great recipe to make for meal prep. Make a large batch and divide into the servings you need.
This recipe is vegan, low carb, gluten free and even lower in calories. It's a great one to serve for dinner guests whose dietary preferences you don't know.
It only takes 20 minutes to make this easy side dish. Great for busy evenings when you need to get dinner on the table quickly.

Bowls containing chopped bell peppers, tomato paste, lime juice, cumin, salt and pepper, sliced jalapeños, and riced cauliflower on a blue background.

Ingredients

These basic ingredients are all that you need to make this easy Mexican dish:

whole head of cauliflower
olive oil
diced red and green bell peppers
diced jalapeños
tomato paste
salt
pepper
cumin
lime juice
chopped cilantro

Substitutions and Variations

Cauliflower shortcut: Although this recipe calls for a large head of cauliflower to make your own cauliflower rice, you can use store-bought cauliflower rice instead. If it is frozen, allow it to thaw completely before using it in this recipe.

Flavor mashup: Give this rice even more flavor with minced garlic or a dash garlic powder. Diced onion would also be a tasty addition.

Other peppers: Red and green bell peppers have the most complimentary flavors for Spanish rice, but you could use yellow or orange if your prefer.

Looking to make this recipe with real rice? Then use my traditional Mexican rice recipe instead of trying to adapt this one!

How to Make Mexican Cauliflower Rice

Here's how to make this easy Mexican side dish recipe. First, after cleaning the whole head of cauliflower well, chop it into individual florets. Chop up the core as well, but discard the leaves.

Raw cauliflower chunks in food processor.

Raw cauliflower diced in food processor.

Place the cauliflower florets and core into a large food processor and pulse until it form rice-sized pieces.

You may have to stop a few times and shake the food processor to ensure all large florets get chopped up.

Diced red and green peppers in a skillet.

Diced cauliflower mixed together with red and green peppers.

Then, heat a large skillet or dutch oven with one teaspoon of olive oil over medium heat.

Add the fresh cauliflower rice to the pan, along with bell peppers and the jalapeño pepper. Sauté the mixture until softened.

Diced cauliflower, red and green peppers seasoned with spices in a skillet.

Then add tomato paste, spices and fresh lime juice to the pan and stir to coat. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Serve immediately and garnish with chopped fresh cilantro. Add another spritz of fresh lime juice if desired.

What to Serve with Mexican Cauliflower Rice

Serve a super low carb meal by pairing this cauliflower rice with beef taco lettuce wraps. You could make corn and tomato salad too as a second low carb side dish.

It serves as a delicious healthy side dish with other Mexican favorites like rotisserie chicken enchiladas and grilled chicken fajitas.

This dish would also pair well with the flavor of my cilantro lime marinade. You can use it on cilantro lime chicken or even make grilled shrimp for shrimp tacos. You can also use it to make a breakfast burrito bowl the next day!

Horizontal photo of Mexican cauliflower rice being spooned out of serving dish.

How to Store Leftover Mexican Cauliflower Rice

Storing in the fridge: Place leftovers into an air tight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can reheat each serving on the stove top or in the microwave.

Freezer instructions: Mexican cauliflower rice can also be frozen. However, keep in mind that the texture of riced cauliflower will change after being frozen. But, if you choose to freeze it place leftover in an airtight container or a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Tips for Success

Here are some tips and tricks for making this recipe:

To make this recipe more like the texture of rice, don't process the cauliflower into pieces that are to small. It's also important not to over-mix the ingredients when they cook or it can become a mushy mess.
Make sure to sauté over a medium heat or low heat so that the cauliflower rice doesn't stick on a pan that is too hot.
When you are at the grocery store looking for cauliflower, be sure to choose a fresh bunch. Look for a some that is creamy white and doesn't have any brown spots or brown leaves.

Close up photo of mexican cauliflower rice in a round, rectangular white serving dish.

FAQ

Why is my cauliflower rice soggy?

If you end up with a soggy end result, you like sautéed the cauliflower too long. Make sure you dice the bell peppers into small pieces so that they cook evenly with the cauliflower rice. Then, once the rice and bell peppers are soft add the rest of the ingredients and immediately pull it off the heat.

Why replace rice with cauliflower rice?

There are many different reasons why people choose to eat cauliflower rice, but the main two are because it is low carb and low calorie. Cauliflower can also very easily take on many of the same flavors that white rice can and, if cooked correctly, has a similar texture to rice. This healthy alternative is also a great way to get more fresh vegetables into your diet.

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Did you make this recipe?

If you make and love this recipe, please leave a ★★★★★ review below! It means so much to me when you try my recipes, and I'd love to know how it goes. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions.