Mexican Style Cauliflower Rice – Easy 10 Minute Side Dish
Mexican cauliflower rice is one of my favorite ways to turn a bag of frozen cauliflower into something that actually feels like a real side dish. I’ve been making this recipe since 2018 whenever we’re having tacos, fajitas, or anything Mexican-inspired and I want a veggie that doesn’t feel like a veggie. It has all the flavors of classic Mexican rice with cumin, garlic, lime, and cilantro, but it’s made with cauliflower rice so it cooks in about 10 minutes.
At this point I’ve created more than 40 cauliflower recipes on my site, so I’m always looking for ways to make vegetables easy and actually enjoyable to eat. This one is a staple because it uses mostly pantry spices and frozen cauliflower rice, so there’s very little prep involved. It’s bright, flavorful, and the perfect quick side dish when you want something simple that still makes the meal feel complete.
If you love easy ways to cook cauliflower, be sure to check out my 40 Ways to Cook Cauliflower for more simple recipes and side dishes. This Mexican cauliflower rice is especially good alongside tacos and other Mexican-inspired meals. I love serving it with Air Fryer Chicken Tacos, Chipotle Salmon Tacos, or a batch of Instant Pot Shredded Mexican Chicken. It also works perfectly with Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas when you want a quick dinner that feels like a full restaurant-style meal at home.
Ingredient spotlight
This is not a full list of ingredients, but a few that deserve a little spotlight on why they are in the recipe, and how to make this recipe as easy as possible. The full list of ingredients is below in the recipe card.
- Onion – You can use whatever onion you have on hand here. White, yellow, or red onions all work well. If you’re short on time or feeling a little cooking burnout, frozen diced onions work perfectly and save you the chopping step.
- Frozen Cauliflower Rice – Frozen cauliflower rice is actually my preferred option for this recipe. It tends to have a milder cauliflower flavor than fresh and it’s incredibly convenient to keep on hand. Just open the bag and add it to the skillet.
- Fresh Lime Juice – Fresh lime juice adds brightness and helps balance the flavors of the dish. It also helps mellow any cauliflower flavor so the final result tastes more like a flavorful Mexican rice-style side dish rather than a vegetable.
How to make Mexican cauliflower rice
Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. Add avocado oil or avocado oil and the chopped onion. Cook 2-3 minutes until the onion starts to soften. Break up the cauliflower rice as much as possible in the bag before opening it. Add the frozen cauliflower to the skillet with the onions and cook 5-7 minutes until fully defrosted. Stir often. Once soft and fluffy, add the spices to the cauliflower rice and stir well. Turn off the heat. Add the lime juice and chopped cilantro and stir well. Serve hot.
Tips for success
- Break up frozen cauliflower rice before cooking – Frozen cauliflower rice sometimes freezes into large chunks. Press the bag on the counter with the heel of your hand to break up clumps before adding it to the skillet.
- Cooking fresh cauliflower rice – If using fresh cauliflower rice instead of frozen, cook it covered for the first 3–4 minutes to help it soften before finishing uncovered.
- Cooking burnout shortcut – Short on time? Skip sautéing the onions and add 1–2 teaspoons of dried onion flakes instead. It gives a similar flavor with zero chopping.
Mexican Cauliflower Rice (Easy 10-Minute Recipe)
Guided Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1/2 medium white onion, chopped
- 2 bags frozen riced cauliflower (12 oz bags) - or 1 large head cauliflower, riced
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 medium lime, juiced
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the avocado oil and coat the bottom of the pan1 tablespoon avocado oil
- Add the onions and cook for 2-3 minutes.1/2 medium white onion, chopped
- Add the frozen cauliflower rice and cook well (5-7 minutes) until fully defrosted and hot.2 bags frozen riced cauliflower (12 oz bags)
- Add the spices and stir well.1 teaspoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Remove from heat and add the lime juice and chopped cilantro.1 medium lime, juiced, 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Recipe Notes
- Use a large skillet – Use your largest skillet (at least 12 inches) so the cauliflower rice has plenty of surface area. This helps the moisture evaporate quickly and keeps the cauliflower rice fluffy instead of mushy.
- Cook frozen cauliflower rice in a hot skillet – Add frozen cauliflower rice to a hot skillet over medium-high heat and cook until the moisture evaporates. This prevents soggy cauliflower rice.
- Don’t overcook the cauliflower rice – Cauliflower rice cooks quickly. Once the water has evaporated and the cauliflower is tender, remove it from the heat to avoid a mushy texture.
Nutrition Information
Can I make this spicy?
Yes! If you like a little heat, you can easily add it with the rest of the spices. Try one of these simple options:
- Sliced jalapeños (fresh or jarred)
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Cayenne pepper
- Chipotle powder for a smoky heat
Start with a small amount and adjust to taste.f you love a spicy cauliflower rice recipe, you can add one or two of the following items to add more heat:
Ways to serve Mexican Cauliflower Rice
This Mexican cauliflower rice works as a quick veggie side or an easy base for simple meals. Here are a few of my favorite ways to use it:
- Serve it with tacos, fajitas, or burritos instead of traditional rice
- Add it to burrito bowls or taco salads
- Use it as a base for a Mexican-style cauliflower rice bowl with seasoned black beans, shredded chicken, and a simple sauce
- Pair it with eggs for breakfast as a savory veggie side
- Make it ahead for meal prep and enjoy it throughout the weeks
easy and delicious.
This was awesome!! So very yummy!
This cauliflower rice is very tasty, although it has much more of a salsa flavor than a Mexican rice flavor. I made it with white chicken enchiladas so it was great with them, and it’s veg and easy. Win-win for me. I’ll be playing with the spices is the future. Thank you for sharing this!
Fast, easy and delicious! Thank you!!
Fast and easy to make on my first attempt. It definitely needs the lime, so don’t leave that off (I did leave the cilantro off, though). Quick and easy to prepare. It was really dry, though, which was the reason for the 4 stars.
How much is in a bag of frozen riced cauliflower?
Also, could you make this with fresh cauliflower?
Yes you could make it with fresh cauliflower that you rice yourself. Just be sure to steam it for a few minutes first, the frozen cooks quickly where fresh takes a few more minutes to get tender. A bag of frozen is 3 cups!
This recipe looks awesome, we will love it! Thanks so much for sharing your post with us at Full Plate Thursday. Have a great week and come back soon!
Miz Helen
I’m craving this! Thanks for sharing!