Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice is the perfect low carb, flavorful alternative to traditional rice, and it’s packed with fresh ingredients that make it both light and satisfying. Whether you’re looking for a healthy side dish or a versatile base for bowls, this recipe delivers bold flavors with minimal effort.

The Best Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice Recipe

Cilantro lime cauliflower rice is fresh and bright with the mild nutty taste of cauliflower! The cilantro and lime add a refreshing element, while the garlic and onion give the cauliflower rice a lovely savory depth. This rice alternative is simple to make, with just a few steps in the preparation process. 

I like to think of this as a copycat chipotle cilantro rice recipe, using cauliflower instead of white rice for a healthy, low carb option! You can use this cilantro cauliflower rice anywhere you would serve regular rice!

Ingredients Needed

• Olive Oil & Butter: The combination of olive oil and butter help to add richness and crisp up the cauliflower in the skillet!
• Onion & Garlic: Add lots of flavor to the rice!
• Cauliflower: Cauliflower is the base for this dish! It is the perfect low-carb substitute for rice. Pulsing the cauliflower in a food processor gives it a rice-like texture.
• Cilantro: Fresh cilantro gives this rice its signature flavor, adding a bright, herbaceous note.
• Lime: You will need both fresh juice and zest here! The zest adds lime flavor and the juice will add a bit of tang.

How to Make Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

1. Prep Cauliflower: Cut cauliflower into large florets. Add to a food processor with the blade attachment and pulse until the cauliflower resembles rice.

2. Sauté Onion: Meanwhile heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add in olive oil and butter. Add in onion and sauté for 4-5 minutes to soften and get some color on it.
3. Add Garlic: Stir in garlic and cook for an additional minute.

4. Add Cauliflower: Next add in the riced cauliflower and saute for a couple of minutes to slightly brown the cauliflower.

5. Add Cilantro & Lime: Remove from the heat and stir in the cilantro, lime juice and lime zest. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy!

Serving Suggestions

Cilantro lime cauliflower rice is an amazing side dish to so many things! This is a great alternative to my cilantro lime brown rice, when you need a low carb option that has hidden veggies in it! It goes great as a side to Mexican-inspired dishes or as a base to bowls! Here are some of my favorite things to pair with it:

• Chicken Burrito Bowls
• Honey Chipotle Chicken Rice Bowls
• Beef Enchilada Skillet
• Slow Cooker Mexican Beef
• Whole Roasted Mexican Chicken

If you are a fan of cauliflower rice like me, you have to try my cauliflower fried rice and Mexican cauliflower rice, too!

More Easy Side Dish Recipes to Try

• Roasted Cauliflower
• Harissa Cauliflower
• Spanish Rice
• Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
• Enchilada Rice