This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

With a light, fluffy texture and all the traditional flavors, this Mexican Cauliflower Rice stands in beautifully for the original version of this classic Mexican restaurant side dish. It’s made quick and easy on your stovetop – less than 30 minutes start to finish.

mexican cauliflower rice served in a white serving bowl
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email for this recipe and weekly cooking inspiration!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Mexican food is all about fresh, vibrant ingredients prepared simply. Tender cauliflower rice, mildly sweet white onion, tangy roma tomatoes, spicy jalapeños, pungent garlic, earthy cumin, and rich tomato paste unite for an authentic tasting Mexican restaurant-style cauliflower rice. A scatter of chopped cilantro and squeeze of fresh lime juice guarantee a dish that’s tastier than the sum of its parts.

Ingredients You Need to Make Mexican Cauliflower Rice

Mexican Cauliflower Rice Ingredients on a white marble board
  • Cauliflower: large head or store-bought cauliflower rice
  • Onion: Ideally a white onion, but a yellow onion will also work.
  • Tomatoes: fresh, ripe Roma tomatoes (You can use plum tomatoes, but they’re less firm and won’t hold their shape as well.)
  • Tomato Paste: Instead of a can, look for tomato paste sold in a tube that you can store in your refrigerator. It’s a convenient way to have it on hand for recipes that require a small amount.
  • Garlic: Look for a plump, firm head with smooth, silvery-white skin.
  • Jalapeños: Look for deeply green, firm, smooth-skinned fresh jalapeños. Leave the seeds intact for a spicier dish.
  • Chicken Broth: or vegetable broth or water
  • Cumin: ground cumin
  • Oil: neutral flavored, high heat vegetable oil like avocado oil
  • Chipotle Chili Powder: Note that this is not standard chili powder, which is a blend of spices. It’s purely dried and ground chipotle chiles that add a smoky flavor to the dish.
  • Cilantro: for finishing plus more for garnish if desired
  • Lime(s): fresh lime juice for finishing the dish plus additional wedges for serving if desired
  • Kosher Salt
Mexican Cauliflower Rice served in a white bowl

How to Make Uniform Cauliflower Rice

Though you can use store-bought cauliflower rice, it’s simple and fresher to make your own. If you have one, a food processor makes quick work of making riced cauliflower with a similar texture to regular rice. Many recipes call for using the standard S blade to rice cauliflower florets, but I find that it’s easy to over-process them and end up with something more like cauliflower couscous.

The shredding disc provides more reliable results. First remove the stem from a head of cauliflower and separate / cut into small florets. Then, with the food processor running, push florets through the chute onto the shredding disc for uniform cauliflower rice. If you don’t have a food processor, you can shred cauliflower florets by hand on a box grater. It will take a bit longer to make, but it’s worth the effort.

This lightened-up version of the classic Mexican dish is great for gluten free, low carb / keto diets (also try my Cauliflower Potato Salad). An excellent low-carb side dish for Cinco de Mayo! Swap in water or vegetable broth for the chicken broth to make it vegan / vegetarian. With the essential Mexican flavors and authentic texture, you won’t have to sacrifice a thing.

Serve With

How to Make Mexican Cauliflower Rice

In a large, non-stick skillet cook cauliflower rice in hot oil until tender and lightly toasted. Transfer to a clean bowl. 

To same skillet add oil and swirl to coat. Add onion, garlic, jalapeños and salt and cook until onion is translucent. Add tomatoes, chicken broth, cumin and chipotle chili powder and cook and until tomatoes are softened. Stir in tomato paste.

Return cauliflower rice to skillet; cook and stir until cauliflower is fluffy, tender and heated through. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro and fresh lime juice. Season to taste with salt, garnish with more cilantro and serve with lime wedges if desired.

Mexican Cauliflower Rice

5 from 4 votes
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 181
Servings: 4 people
This fluffy cauliflower rice is a lightened up version of the classic that doesn't sacrifice a bit in flavor or texture.

Ingredients  

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil divided, such as avocado oil or other neutral, high heat oil
  • 6 cups cauliflower rice about 1 large head of cauliflower separated into florets and shredded (see recipe note)
  • 1 small white onion finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 jalapeños minced (stems, ribs, and seeds removed – gloves recommended!)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
  • 2 large roma tomatoes finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth or vegetable broth or water
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder or more for extra heat
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems, plus more for garnish
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice about 1/2 a lime, plus more lime wedges for serving, optional

Instructions 

  • Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering; swirl to coat the pan. Add cauliflower rice and spread into an even layer; cook, undisturbed, for 2-3 minutes or until lightly browned on one side (take care not to burn it). Stir and again spread into an even layer to cook, undisturbed, for 2-3 minutes more or until lightly browned on the other side. Stir and transfer toasted cauliflower rice to a clean bowl.
  • Add remaining tablespoon of oil to skillet (no need to wipe it out) and swirl to coat. Add onion, garlic, jalapeños and salt; cook and stir until mixture is fragrant and onion is translucent, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, chicken broth, cumin and chipotle chili powder; cook and stir until tomatoes are softened, about 3 minutes more. Stir in tomato paste. Return cauliflower rice to skillet and stir to combine; cook and stir 2-3 minutes more, or until cauliflower is fluffy, tender and heated through. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro and fresh lime juice. Season to taste with salt.
  • Serve with lime wedges, garnished with more cilantro if desired.

Notes

  1. To make uniform cauliflower rice at home, core a large head of cauliflower and separate into florets. Quarter or halve any large florets. Attach the shredding disc to your food processor and, with the machine running, add florets through the chute. (It’s easier to get a consistent size cauliflower rice with the shredding disc than using the standard S blade.)

Nutrition

Calories: 181kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Sodium: 777mg | Potassium: 970mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 639IU | Vitamin C: 136mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Leave a comment & rate the recipe below!

Related Recipes

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating





15 Comments

  1. Connie Lee Bills says:

    5 stars
    This is a great recipe! I added more tomatoes because I prefer it and more cumin. Loved it!

    1. Marissa Stevens says:

      That’s wonderful to hear, Connie! Love that you’re making it your own.

  2. Sabine says:

    Can you use frozen cauliflower rice?

    1. Marissa Stevens says:

      Hi Sabine! I haven’t tested this recipe with frozen cauliflower rice, but it should work just fine. I recommend that you thaw and drain it, then squeeze out any excess water with a paper towel. Note that the texture may be a bit different from fresh, but it should still be delicious.

  3. Arianne says:

    5 stars
    SO GOOD! Amazing alternative to regular Mexican rice as a burrito filling or in its own. Love it, will definitely make it again.

    1. Marissa Stevens says:

      Thank you, Arianne! Great idea to use it as a burrito filling!

  4. Susan Harvey says:

    5 stars
    I made this recipe for friends on Cinco de Mayo. It was a total hit and one friend insisted she needed to go home with leftovers. The ‘rice’ paired perfectly with your homemade pico salsa and pulled pork nachos.

    1. Marissa Stevens says:

      You made my day, Susan! So glad these recipes were a hit.

  5. David @ Spiced says:

    5 stars
    What a fun idea to make cauliflower rice using all of the seasonings of Mexican rice. This is perfect for Cinco de Mayo…and all summer long!

    1. Marissa Stevens says:

      Thank you, David! It really is a big flavor dish!

  6. sherry says:

    sounds delicious and good for you!

    1. Marissa Stevens says:

      Thank you, Sherry!

  7. Valentina says:

    My husband loves cauliflower rice and Mexican flavors, so this is a huge win for him. We’ll all love it, I’m sure. The combination of flavors is unbeatable! ๐Ÿ™‚ ~Valentina

    1. Marissa Stevens says:

      Perfect! I hope you and your family will love this one, Valentina!

  8. angiesrecipes says:

    This just has me crave some cauliflower! Gorgeous colour and wonderful flavour, Marissa.