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Easy Keto Mexican Cauliflower Rice Skillet Recipe

This EASY Mexican cauliflower rice recipe takes 7 ingredients + 10 minutes! This delicious keto Mexican cauliflower rice skillet makes a healthy paleo low carb side dish.

by Maya Last Updated on May 29, 2020 20 Comments

Keto Easy Mexican Cauliflower Rice Skillet - Mexican Rice in bowl
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This EASY Mexican cauliflower rice recipe is a must for your next taco night! Every bite of this keto Mexican cauliflower rice skillet is bursting with all the zesty flavors that remind me why I love Mexican so much. Tomatoes, onions, garlic, cauliflower rice and seasonings that taste so good, you won’t miss the white rice at all.

My favorite part of Mexican style cauliflower rice is that it takes only 7 ingredients that you usually already have around the house. Plus, I wanted to make a low carb Mexican rice for those of you who don’t tolerate grains at all. Enter this delicious and EASY Mexican cauliflower rice recipe.

This naturally paleo, keto Mexican cauliflower rice makes a delicious base for taco bowls or as a side to any Mexican inspired dinner. Bonus points if there are paleo margaritas involved. 😉

What Is Mexican Style Cauliflower Rice?

Mexican cauliflower rice is the perfect low carb white rice alternative. Cauliflower has around 5 grams of carbohydrates for 1 cup, compared to 53 grams of white rice!

Mexican flavored cauliflower rice is essentially grated cauliflower and seasonings that have been sauteed. Truly so easy to make, and the flavors are the same as the grain version.

How To Make Mexican Cauliflower Rice

This is a super simple Mexican cauliflower recipe!

First, you need to decide if you are going to use riced cauliflower that has already been grated or if you are going to chop it up yourself.

Personally, I got a little help from frozen riced cauliflower. Let’s just say I’ve loved having cauliflower rice ready-to-go without destroying my kitchen. I can’t be the only one who ends up with cauliflower everywhere when I make it right? All I have to do now is open a bag.

Otherwise, you can quickly make your own cauliflower rice. Just cut the cauliflower into florets so that they can fit into your food processor, then run it through using the grate attachment.

TIP: You can rice cauliflower with a food processor, blender, by hand with a knife or with a box grater. These methods are all excellent, but I prefer the food processor because it’s the FASTEST. And I am all about the ease of this paleo rice recipe!

Okay, back to this Mexican cauliflower rice recipe. Seriously, it’s the easiest side dish to throw together:

  • Saute a bit of onion and garlic in a little oil, until they are soft, but not brown. You don’t want to overcook them for this keto Mexican cauliflower rice skillet.
  • Add in the cauliflower rice and stir fry until there isn’t any moisture. You’ll get the best cauliflower rice if you let it crisp up a little!
  • Toss in crushed tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste. You can add as much or as little tomato you want, but I like a full 14.5 ounce can. I am a tomato freak though, so go by your taste!

That’s it, now you know how to make cauliflower rice Mexican style, and it takes all of around 15 minutes!

Keto Easy Mexican Cauliflower Rice Skillet - Cauliflower rice skillet side dish

Serving Ideas For Mexican Cauliflower Rice Skillet

There are so many ideas I want to share with you on how to serve keto cauliflower rice:

  • Soft Tacos – Add some keto Mexican cauliflower rice to soft tacos to add an amazing flavor and texture. I like ’em on plantain tortillas.
  • Pico de Gallo – If you are looking for a light lunch, serve keto cauliflower rice with this delicious homemade pico de gallo recipe. It is one of the best combinations ever!
  • Enchiladas – It doesn’t matter if you serve Mexican style cauliflower rice as a side dish or actually inside the enchiladas. It will be a huge hit!
  • Fajitas – This slow cooker chicken fajitas recipe is a go-to favorite for Mexican night. It pairs perfectly with a keto Mexican cauliflower rice skillet!

Is Keto Mexican Cauliflower Rice Healthy?

Yes, keto Mexican cauliflower rice is healthy! It’s packed with nutrients including potassium, vitamin B6, fiber, and vitamin C.

Plus, cauli rice is light on calories, low carb, paleo friendly, and a great way to get veggies in even if you’re not following any special diet. So load up on this guilt-free side dish!

How Do You Store Mexican Style Cauliflower Rice?

You can store Mexican style cauliflower rice by refrigerating leftovers. Keto Mexican cauliflower skillet will last 3 to 5 days in the fridge.

I prefer to store leftovers in glass bowls, but you can also use plastic. It doesn’t matter as long as they are airtight.

Can You Freeze Cauliflower Rice?

Yes, of course you can freeze cauliflower rice! There’s a reason they sell it frozen, right?

In this case, feel free to freeze the whole dish after cooking if you have leftovers or want to stock up. Just give it a good stir fry over medium-high heat to get rid of moisture after thawing.

Keto Easy Mexican Cauliflower Rice Skillet - Close up of keto cauliflower rice

More Mexican Paleo Recipes

If you’re obsessed with Mexican food like I am, here are more ideas for you to try:

  • The Best Pork Belly Tacos
  • Pomegranate Mexican Slaw
  • Mexican Sweet Potato Egg Boats

Keto Mexican Cauliflower Rice Recipe:
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RECIPE CARD

Keto Easy Mexican Cauliflower Rice Skillet - Mexican Rice in bowl
4.91 from 11 votes

Easy Keto Mexican Cauliflower Rice Skillet Recipe

This EASY Mexican cauliflower rice recipe takes 7 ingredients + 10 minutes! This delicious keto Mexican cauliflower rice skillet makes a healthy paleo low carb side dish.

Course Side Dish
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword Keto Easy Mexican Cauliflower Rice Skillet
Calories 93 kcal
Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Author Maya Krampf from WickedSpatula.com
Servings 4 servings

Recipe Video

Click or tap on the image below to play the video and learn how to make this recipe!
https://www.wickedspatula.com/wp-content/uploads/wickedspatula-easy-keto-mexican-cauliflower-rice-skillet-recipe.mp4

★ Review Print

Ingredients

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  • 1 tablespoon Olive oil
  • 1/4 medium White onion
  • 1 clove Garlic
  • 1 tablespoon Chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin
  • 1 lb Cauliflower rice (about one very large head)
  • 1 14.5 oz. can Diced tomatoes
  • Sea salt (o taste)
Click to convert between US & metric measurements:
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

More TIPS about this paleo recipe in the post above!

  1. If you plan to rice the cauliflower yourself trim of the greens and cut into sizes that will fit into your food processor. Pulse until it resembles a rice like texture.
  2. In a large skillet heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add in the onion and garlic. Saute for 2 minutes until soft but not browned.

  3. Sprinkle in the chili powder and cumin. Stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

  4. Add in the cauliflower and stir letting it crisp up and any moisture evaporates. About 5 minutes.

  5. Add in the tomatoes and stir to combine. Taste for salt and add as needed.

  6. Sprinkle with cilantro and a squeeze of lime just before serving.

Recipe Notes

Serving Size: 1 cup

Video Showing How To Make Keto Mexican Cauliflower Rice:

Don't miss the VIDEO above - it's the easiest way to learn how to make Keto Mexican Cauliflower Rice!

Nutrition Information Per Serving

Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.
Calories 93
Fat 4g
Protein 3g
Total Carbs 12g
Net Carbs 7g
Fiber 5g
Sugar 6g

Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database. Net carb count excludes both fiber and sugar alcohols (though the latter are rarely seen on this site), because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.

© Copyright Wicked Spatula. We'd LOVE for you to share a link to this recipe, but please DO NOT COPY/PASTE the recipe instructions to social media or websites. You may share a photo with a link back instead.

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Filed Under: Keto

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    4.91 from 11 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    20 Comments

  1. Courtney

    ReplyJanuary 29, 2021

    Delicious!!

  2. Hesther

    ReplyOctober 5, 2020

    Found your Avocado Meatloaf, then found the Cauliflower Mexican Rice as a side dish.
    Just happened to have all the ingredients for both. They will be on my monthly menu plan easy to whip up. . Thank you.

  3. Cindy

    ReplyJune 29, 2020

    This made a perfect side dish. Thank you for the recipe. I spiced mine up a little by chopping up a few jalapeño peppers. I also think this would make a wonderful entree by adding your favorite meat and cheese.

  4. Maricruz

    ReplyMay 11, 2020

    This was good. However, I used a fresh cauliflower head. Instead of canned tomatoes two fresh diced tomatoes (I emptied the insides out first,) and two table spoons of Knorr Tomato bullion, I threw the fresh tomatoes in at the same time as the cauliflower. Came out just like my regular Mexican rice and wasn’t soggy.

  5. Mimi Conwell

    ReplyMarch 7, 2020

    I was wondering if you could substitute the frozen plain cauliflower rice for the fresh riced cauliflower?

  6. Paulette

    ReplyAugust 12, 2019

    5 stars
    Thanks for sharing. I make this often, so easy and yummy. I like spicy, so I use Rotel tomatoes and decrease the chili powder a tad.

  7. Lori

    ReplyDecember 10, 2016

    5 stars
    This was delicious! I used an 8 oz can of tomato sauce with about 1/4 cup or less of water instead of the diced tomatoes as I don’t care for the diced pieces of tomato in this dish. A little too spicy for me but still good. Next time I will try 1 1/2 teaspoon chili powder.

  8. Nan Holcomb

    ReplyJuly 17, 2016

    5 stars
    Oh yum. This will be for dinner tonight!

  9. Lauren

    ReplyJuly 1, 2016

    5 stars
    What an awesome idea! I’m doing the 21 day fix, so I don’t get to consume a whole lot of carbs! One question, though: does the can of tomatoes need to be drained or do you leave it undrained? Thanks!

    • Lauren

      ReplyJuly 5, 2016

      Hi Lauren! I leave the tomatoes undrained! If you want the “rice” on the dryer side you can pour off some of the liquid. The brand I use doesn’t have a ton of liquid to begin with but it does vary between brands. Hope this helps!

  10. Erin

    ReplyFebruary 29, 2016

    5 stars
    WHAT??!! I am going to make a special trip to TJs today to hunt down this riced cauliflower. Genius. I am spoiled by having two Trader Joe’s within 10 minutes of my house here in Charlotte! Although if I *had* to go to AVL to get this, I would take one for the team. 😉

  11. Florian

    ReplyFebruary 29, 2016

    5 stars
    I love cauliflower rice! This was amazing and delicious!

  12. Kacey

    ReplyFebruary 29, 2016

    5 stars
    Okay, genius! We LOVE Mexican rice, and the idea of using cauliflower here is perfect since my husband has been having issues with rice lately!

    • Lauren

      ReplyFebruary 29, 2016

      Thanks Kacey! My husband doesn’t do great with rice either, he crashes right after!

  13. Faith

    ReplyFebruary 29, 2016

    5 stars
    I need to get my tush over to TJ’s and stock up! This makes cauli rice come together so quick. I love your Mexican version! The rice was one of my favs at Mexican restaurants too. 🙂

    • Lauren

      ReplyFebruary 29, 2016

      Thanks Faith! YES!! I tried to grab more yesterday but they were out yet again 🙁

  14. Christie

    ReplyFebruary 29, 2016

    5 stars
    Another reason to take the long drive to Trader Joe’s. I love their whole bean espresso too. I will definitely use cauliflower more often if it is already riced for me. Plus yours was so flavorful.

    • Lauren

      ReplyFebruary 29, 2016

      Ohhh my husband loves their espresso!

  15. Taylor

    ReplyFebruary 29, 2016

    5 stars
    Love a hearty and filling meal and this rice is PERFECT! You know the way to my bloggin heart 🙂

    • Lauren

      ReplyFebruary 29, 2016

      haha Thanks Taylor!!

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