Published: May 8, 2019 · Modified: Jul 13, 2024 by Carolyn

Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

Name: Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 16 ounces cauliflower rice ((fresh or frozen)); 2 tbsp butter; 3/4 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp pepper; 1/2 tsp chipotle powder ((optional)); 3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro; 2 tbsp lime juice

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Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice takes only 5 simple ingredients and has spectacular flavor. This copycat of the famous Chipotle rice goes with all of your favorite healthy dinners.

A serving of Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice on a plate with chicken.

This easy Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice might just be the perfect keto side dish. It’s light and fresh, has only 5 ingredients, and takes 10 minutes to make. I developed this recipe years ago after a trip to Chipotle and it was an instant family favorite.

And I’ve been making it the same way ever since. It goes with just about anything, but is particularly good with Mexican inspired dishes. We love to pair it with mains like Mexican Shredded Beef, Keto Carnitas, and Easy Keto Chicken Fajitas.

Top down image of Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice in a skillet on a white wooden table.

Why you need this recipe

If you’ve been craving Mexican food on your keto diet, then you’re going to love this Chipotle cauliflower rice. It’s so incredibly simple and yet bursting with fresh flavor.

And unlike dishes made with real rice, it doesn’t weigh you down or spike your blood sugar. So you can enjoy your meal without worry and without feeling overly full afterwards!

You could easily consider this keto convenience food. You can use fresh or frozen cauliflower rice, so it’s easy to have the ingredients on hand at all times. And it really is ready in about 10 minutes, start to finish.

And this easy cauliflower rice recipe has a mere 4g of carbs per serving.

Reader Reviews

“Made this many times…so often, in fact, that I made my husband plant cilantro in our backyard. This is a religious experience.” – Lynn

“I love Chipotle cilantro lime rice and THIS tastes just like it!!! My husband who does not like cauliflower rice didn’t know he was eating cauliflower rice!” – Lisa

“I served this with your Chicken Fajita Kebobs recipe, and they were a hit even with the young grandkiddos. Both of these recipes are definitely keepers!” – Lynn B.

Ingredients you need

Top down image of the ingredients needed for Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice.

Riced cauliflower: I don’t bother making my own cauliflower rice anymore as almost every grocery store carries pre-chopped versions. You can use fresh or frozen, as they take about the same time to cook. If you are making your own, a medium head of cauliflower should be about right for 4 cups of rice.
Butter: I like to use butter for the rich flavor but you can use any oil. Want a dairy free version? Use good quality olive oil or avocado oil.
Cilantro: Nothing compares to the flavor of fresh cilantro. Add as much or as little as you like.
Lime: Please don’t use bottled lime juice. Fresh is always best and you can taste the difference. I find that a single lime usually has enough juice for this recipe. You can also use some lime zest for added flavor.
Seasonings: Salt, pepper, and chipotle powder. The chipotle powder is entirely optional but it gives the rice a nice little kick.

Step-by-step directions

A collage of four image showing the steps for making Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice.

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter until it begins to froth. Add the cauliflower rice and toss to coat in the butter.
Sprinkle with the salt, pepper, and chipotle powder, if desired. Cook, stirring frequently, until tender crisp and just beginning to brown, about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and add chopped cilantro, lime juice and any additional salt and pepper to taste.

A wooden spoon lifting Keto Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice out of the skillet.

Expert Tips

Although I prefer to buy riced cauliflower, you can easily make it yourself at home. I like to pop the florets in my blender with some water and blend until it resembles grains of rice. Then I simply pour everything into a sieve to drain off the water. Adding water like this helps the grains become more uniform.

I recommend doing half a head of cauliflower at a time at a time when making your own. Otherwise you tend to overwhelm the blender or food processor.

Choose a good sized skillet for this, one that is at least 10 inches in diameter. Cast iron, stainless steel, or good non-stick skillets are your best choices. Don’t use a saucepan, as they are too deep and the cauliflower rice doesn’t cook through as quickly or evenly.

Chopping cilantro is an exercise in frustration, as it likes to stick to the knife. But I learned a great trick from a chef friend. Place the cilantro in a glass and use scissors to cut as you turn the glass frequently. It works like a charm and you can see it in action in my Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice video!

A plate with chicken and Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice in front of a Mexican glass jug.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make cauliflower rice not soggy?

Overcooking cauliflower rice makes it become soggy quickly. I recommend sautéing it in oil or butter until it’s just becoming tender, then removing it from heat. It will continue to cook a little longer in the pan so this ensures you don’t overcook it.

How many carbs are in cilantro lime cauliflower rice?

This cilantro lime cauliflower rice recipe has 6.4g of carbs and 2.4g of fiber per serving. That comes to 4g net carbs.

Does Chipotle have cilantro lime cauliflower rice?

The popular fast food chain Chipotle came out with a cauliflower version of their popular Cilantro Lime Rice in 2021. Sadly, they removed this low carb option from their menu later that same year. But the good news is that you can easily make it at home in 10 minutes!

Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice on a stoneware pate with grilled chicken thighs.

More Delicious Keto Cauliflower Recipes

Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

Looking for a truly delicious cauliflower rice recipe? Then this cilantro lime cauliflower rice is for you. This low carb side dish is a healthy copycat version of Chipotle’s Cilantro Lime Rice, but so much lighter and healthier.

4.93 from 27 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: chipotle cauliflower rice, cilantro lime cauliflower rice

Prep Time: 3

Cook Time: 7

Total Time: 10

Servings: servings

Calories: 81kcal

Ingredients

16 ounces cauliflower rice (fresh or frozen)
2 tablespoon butter
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon chipotle powder (optional)
3 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoon lime juice

Instructions

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter until it begins to froth. Add the cauliflower rice and toss to coat in the butter.
Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and a little chipotle powder, if desired. Cook, stirring frequently, until tender crisp and just beginning to brown, about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and add the chopped cilantro, lime juice and any additional salt and pepper to taste.

Video

Notes

Storage Information: Store the cauliflower rice in a covered container in the fridge for up to 5 days. I do not recommend freezing it after it’s been prepared and cooked.

Nutrition Facts

Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

Amount Per Serving

Calories 81 Calories from Fat 50

% Daily Value*

Fat 5.6g9%

Carbohydrates 6.4g2%

Fiber 2.4g10%

Protein 2.3g5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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Comments

4.93 from 27 votes (3 ratings without comment)