Mexican Cauliflower Rice Recipe {Paleo + Whole30 Compliant} (2024)

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Get your mexican food fix while on a diet with this mexican style cauliflower rice. It is gluten free, dairy free, Paleo and Whole30 compliant and 100% insanely delicious!
Mexican Cauliflower Rice Recipe {Paleo + Whole30 Compliant} (1)

You can take the girl out of Texas but you can’t take Texas out of the girl. I have been gone from where I was born and raised now for over 10 years, but there is just something that will always seem like home when I am there. One observation I have made since living in seven states and traveling through countless others, since I have been gone, is that the food in Texas really is just better. I mean really. It’s delicious. And on every corner.

I distinctly remember one time when we were moving across the country and drove though probably 15 states, there was not more than a McDonald’s and Burger King for the first 15 hours of the drive. Then we crossed the border of Texas and all of a sudden it was like a ray of heaven shown down and boom. Delicious food everywhere. Even in the middle of NOWHERE!

Mexican Cauliflower Rice Recipe {Paleo + Whole30 Compliant} (2)

Another thing I love about Texas food is that even the fast food can be really great! If you ever find yourself driving through Texas and see a Rosa’s Cafe, do yourself a favor. Stop immediately, go in and order the taco plate with 3 soft chicken tacos. Oh my stomach started rumbling just thinking about it.

Anyway, I have had to seriously evaluate my love for mexican food on the whole30 diet. (You can see why I decided to do it here) I knew it was going to have to happen. Much kitchen experimentation ensued and the outcome was some pretty stellar fajita seasoning mix (paleo and whole30 compliant of course!) Since I dreamed up some mexican inspired main dishes that would hit the spot, I knew I had to figure out something to fill in for the primo mexican food side dish, rice.

Mexican Cauliflower Rice Recipe {Paleo + Whole30 Compliant} (3)

I had made cauliflower rice a few times and thought it just might be able to transformed into a recipe that would give me my fix. Oh and it did. Although I will totally admit that cauliflower rice is no dead ringer for real rice, it does give you the texture you crave when the real thing is forbidden. Even though it is different, it is still really good!

Mexican Cauliflower Rice has become a favorite at our house these days. It is quick to throw together and super healthy. You can even customize it with anything extra you like.

Mexican Cauliflower Rice Recipe {Paleo + Whole30 Compliant} (4)You can read the detailed instructions in the printable recipe below, but the basic idea is that you take your raw cauli rice, onion, bell pepper, tomato paste, fajita seasoning, and whatever extras you want and throw it in a skillet with hot oil to pan fry it. I added chopped zucchini in because we have TONS of it this time of year and it was delicious! If you don’t have it or don’t want it, you can leave it out too. You cook it on high so it doesn’t get mushy and once it starts to brown give it a flip with a wide spatula. You let it brown and flip 3-4 times then right before you take it off the heat, stir in the fresh chopped cilantro.

This is just so good. And so crazy healthy. You can’t beat that combo!

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Author:Kimber

Print Review Recipe

Ingredients

  • 3 cups raw cauliflower rice
  • 1/2 yellow onion diced
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1 cup finely diced zucchini optional
  • 1 red bell pepper diced (optional)
  • 1 Tbsp fajita seasoning
  • 1 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large skillet on high heat. Add cauliflower, onion, zucchini, bell pepper and fajita seasoning and mix well.

  • Mix in the tomato paste until evenly distributed and then spread the rice evenly over the skillet and let cook until it starts to brown, 3-5 minutes.

  • Once the bottom starts to brown, stir the rice, even it out again and let bottom brown again. Repeat 3-4 times. The longer it cooks, the more quickly the bottom will brown.

  • Once it is cooked through, and browned to your liking, stir in the chopped cilantro and serve hot.

  • Enjoy!

(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)

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11 Comments

  1. Veronica says

    What is in the fajita seasoning?

    Reply

    • Debbie Prokop says

      Mexican Cauliflower Rice Recipe {Paleo + Whole30 Compliant} (13)
      You can buy it in any large grocery store. Look for it in the spice section. Or you can use the envelope package for chicken fajita’s.

      Reply

  2. Sam says

    What is the serving size for this recipe?

    Reply

  3. Mel says

    Mexican Cauliflower Rice Recipe {Paleo + Whole30 Compliant} (14)
    I made this last night and we loved it. I added green bell peppers and my own fajita seasoning. The next day I added it to my scrambles eggs, fantastic! Thank you for sharing this recipe!

    Reply

    • Kimber says

      Oh scrambled eggs is such a great idea. I bet that was delicious!

      Reply

  4. Karen B says

    How many servings does this makes…or for how many people?

    Reply

  5. Briana says

    Can I use the frozen steam bag cauliflower rice?

    Reply

Older Comments

Mexican Cauliflower Rice Recipe {Paleo + Whole30 Compliant} (2024)

FAQs

Why is cauliflower rice soggy? ›

Sautéing for too long. Riced cauliflower can benefit from a quick sauté, but be mindful of the clock. Leave riced cauliflower on the heat too long and it will become soft and soggy.

How do I substitute cauliflower for rice? ›

Just pulse the raw cauliflower into “rice” in the food processor and then stir fry the whole thing up. No soaking, no pressing, no strange and unusual kitchen moves other than just pulsing a few pieces of cauliflower into this magical rice substitute.

Why replace rice with cauliflower rice? ›

Riced cauliflower is an excellent low-carb, low-calorie alternative to rice. Not only does it have a mild flavor, but it's also incredibly versatile, satiating and delicious with some big nutritional benefits.

Is cauliflower rice discontinued at Chipotle? ›

In January 2021, Chipotle tested a cilantro lime cauliflower rice as a lower carb replacement for their standard rice, but it was discontinued later that year.

What happens if you eat too much cauliflower rice? ›

While everyone's tolerance is different, too much cauliflower can create G.I. distress, like excess gas and bloating. “Make sure to drink enough water to move it through your system,” suggests Lincoln. Cooking it can also dial back digestion woes.

Why does cauliflower rice hurt my stomach? ›

Cauliflower provides essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients, but it can also cause stomachaches or abdominal cramps. The culprit behind the stomachaches is cauliflower's fiber content, which becomes most troublesome when you increase your fiber intake too rapidly without giving your body time to adjust.

What is a keto substitute for cauliflower rice? ›

Cauliflower Rice

You can also try cabbage rice, broccoli rice, and zucchini rice to similar effect.

Is cauliflower rice actually healthy? ›

Cauliflower rice is a nutritious alternative to rice that's low in calories and carbs. It may even provide a number of benefits, such as boosting weight loss, fighting inflammation, and even protecting against certain illnesses. What's more, it's simple to make and can be eaten raw or cooked.

Is it cheaper to make cauliflower rice or buy it? ›

Cheaper: Making riced cauliflower from scratch will save you money in the grocery store. A head of cauliflower is cheaper than buying fresh or frozen riced cauliflower. Tastes Great: Because it's made fresh, it also tastes better. You can use it in any recipe that calls for rice.

Does cauliflower rice spike blood sugar? ›

Cauliflower is much lower in carbohydrates than typical white rice, so therefore it has less of an impact on a person's blood sugar levels. When people eat carbs, the digestive system breaks those down into sugar, which enters the blood.

What rice has no carbs? ›

It's Skinny rice is also known as shirataki rice. Like It's Skinny pasta, It's Skinny rice has ZERO carbs in a 1 cup serving and only 9 calories in the entire two-serving bag! That's right!

Which is healthier quinoa or cauliflower rice? ›

Brown rice actually has more selenium (good for heart health) and vitamin B3 (needed for the production of sex and stress hormones) than quinoa, but quinoa is still the healthier choice. Cauliflower rice is a grain-free, gluten-free and nutrient-dense way to replace the white rice on your plate.

Does Qdoba or Chipotle have cauliflower rice? ›

Chipotle is waiving the delivery fee through next Monday on any app or website order of $10 or more that includes Cilantro-Lime Cauliflower Rice, the chain said. Last month, Chipotle competitor Qdoba said it was adding Mexican Cauliflower Mash to its menus nationwide.

Is there cauliflower rice in Costco? ›

Organic Riced Cauliflower, 16 oz, 4 ct | Costco.

How do you make cauliflower rice not soggy? ›

Easy DIY Raw Cauliflower Rice Recipe (That's Not Mushy!)

In a food processor, add the cauliflower florets and pulse for 30-60 seconds. Add 2-3 cups at a time and remove as it is riced. This will prevent the cauliflower from being over-processed. With a towel, pat dry or squeeze the liquid out from the cauliflower.

How do you keep cauliflower from getting mushy? ›

If you cut all the way through the floret, you're cutting through the cell structure of the curd — and when you cook it, that part will get mushy. Easier still: Place the larger florets on a baking sheet, sprinkle with a little olive oil and roast them. Michael Marks is the marketing manager for FreshPoint.

How do you dry soggy cauliflower rice? ›

Adding a bit of oil and cooking it on a high heat will remove some of the moisture and help it crisp up! If you want to steam your cauliflower rice but don't want it to turn mushy, you can press your riced cauliflower with a paper towel to remove any excess water before cooking it.

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