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.
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
- 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
- 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.
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!
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
This cilantro lime cauliflower rice recipe has 6.4g of carbs and 2.4g of fiber per serving. That comes to 4g net carbs.
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!
More Delicious Keto Cauliflower Recipes
Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
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
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
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
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.
Free Bonus: Secrets to Keto Baking!
Sign up for your favorite recipes delivered straight to your inbox plus get our FREE bonus: Secrets to Keto Baking!
Do you have a link to this chicken? I’d love to try this whole recipe!
Those were just some chicken thighs that I cooked in my air fryer with some Mexican spices on top.
I love, love, this version of cauli rice. It’s just so flavorful. I didn’t have lime, used lemon. Used butter and little avocado oil…Yummmy
Thanks!!!
So glad to hear it!
This sounds delish! I just love cilantro- it makes everything better. I am pinning this cauliflower rice recipe to try soon!
Do you defrost the frozen cauliflower rice before you put it in the pan? Is there excess water with the frozen cauliflower rice?
No, not at all. I’ve made this with both fresh and frozen, no need to defrost.
Thanks Carolyn! Love all your recipes and cookbooks.
This cauliflower rice is going to be on repeat all summer long!!
this would be so delicious with the cafe rio sweet pork
I have really learned to love cauliflower rice! I love making it! It’s a great, healthier option & so good!!
This was such an easy recipe to make and was the perfect side dish with our grilled chicken last night!
We could eat this with almost every meal! Thanks for the recipe
I can’t find the link to the video. What am I missing?
There is no link to the video. It’s right in the recipe. Try a different browser…
I’ve tried making cauliflower rice (not this recipe yet) before but after it’s done, I can still taste and smell the cauliflower so I gave up. Is there a trick when cooking it to get rid of it? I’d love to completely switch over to using Cauliflower as rice but I can’t seem to get the cauliflower smell and taste out? And the end product stinks up my kitchen. I would love any suggestions!!!!
Nothing is ever going to truly taste like rice but rice. But I do think this method of pan-frying the rice does help.
Ok, I read somewhere recently that someone mentioned something about cooking it longer or something and that helped to get rid of it but I haven’t tried that yet. I will try your recipe with frying the rice. I saved a fried rice recipe on another blog that I want to try but was hesitant but maybe if it’s in the method, then maybe it will work. I can’t remember the method used when I tried it before because it has been a while. Thank you for the input!
I love their carnitas!!! Love cilantro lime rice, too. So this is perfect.
Cilantro and Lime are such fresh flavors together. I love this combo!
I just made cauliflower rice for the first time the other day! I was really impressed with how it turned out. I’d love to make this version next time.
I saw this on FB earlier this morning and haven’t forgotten it!! This has my name all over it!!
Sounds like a great addition to my usual Chipotle! I will get a burrito bowl with chicken, mild salsa, cheese, and lettuce to go, then use my own low carb tortillas at home. It’s one of my three fast-food options. the others are getting Arby’s roast beef, then swapping out the bun , and getting gyros and using low carb pita bread at home.
We do what we gotta do on this WOE! 🙂