How to Make Cauliflower Rice

Learn how to make cauliflower rice with this easy recipe! It's a yummy, low-carb substitute for regular rice in bowls, stir fries, burritos, and more.

How to Make Cauliflower Rice

Cauliflower rice! It’s seems like it’s everywhere and in everything, so I thought I would take a few minutes to “dive deep” on this phenomenon, especially because I keep using it, and now I can just link to this post in future recipes 🙂

So what is it? It’s simply cauliflower pulsed in a food processor until it forms into granules that are about the size of rice. Is it as good as rice? Not on its own, but it’s a great starting point health-wise and texture-wise. When it’s seasoned well and used in a recipe with other great flavors and textures going on, it IS delicious and you’ll feel great about getting more vegetables into your day!

How to Make Cauliflower Rice

Stores often sell “riced” cauliflower in bags, but I prefer to make it myself because you never know how fresh those things are! Plus, it’s SO easy to make… here’s how I do it:

How to Make Cauliflower Rice

  1. Cut the cauliflower into chunks, including the cores.
  2. Place into a food processor.
  3. Pulse until the cauliflower resembles the texture of rice. Work in batches, if necessary, and be careful not to over-process or it’ll get mushy. If you don’t have a food processor, you can grate the cauliflower with a box grater.

How to Make Cauliflower Rice

After your cauliflower is “riced,” you can use it plain in any recipe that calls for raw cauliflower rice. Follow the directions in that specific recipe.

If you plan to use it as a side dish without a recipe, or if you want to sub it for regular rice, I recommend lightly cooking and seasoning it to take off the raw, often bitter, bite. See specific instructions in the recipe below.

How to Cook Cauliflower Rice

 

Cauliflower Rice Recipes

Here are some of my favorite recipes that use riced cauliflower, or would be delicious with cauliflower in place of the regular rice:

Cauliflower Rice Recipes

More Plant-Based Essentials

If you love this recipe, try making these plant-based essentials next:

For more vegan recipes, check out this post. Then, find more rice recipes here!

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How to Make Cauliflower Rice

rate this recipe:
5 from 72 votes
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Serves 4
Learn how to make cauliflower rice with this easy recipe! It's excellent in healthy stir fries, burrito bowls, fried rice, and more.

Ingredients

  • 1 medium cauliflower

For seasoned cauliflower rice:

  • 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup chopped scallions
  • Juice of ½ lime
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Make sure your cauliflower is fully dry. Chop the cauliflower into large pieces. You can include the cores, but discard the leaves or save for another use. Place the cauliflower pieces in a food processor and pulse until it has the texture of rice. Work in batches if necessary and don’t over process or it will get mushy. Use in any recipe that calls specifically for riced cauliflower. Continue following that recipe’s instructions.
  • If you plan to serve your cauliflower as a side dish or use it in place of regular rice, I recommend lightly cooking it and seasoning it to take off the raw bite. In a large skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the scallions and cauliflower and sauté until heated through, about 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lime juice to help remove any bitterness from the raw cauliflower.

 

74 comments

5 from 72 votes (45 ratings without comment)

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Michael Coplan
    02.21.2024

    5 stars
    Simply cut whole cauliflower in half and grate each half on a box grater.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      02.23.2024

      Great tip, Michael!

  2. Michael
    02.02.2024

    5 stars
    Love the recipe!

    How long would this stay good in the refrigerator?

    Thank you!

  3. Jasmine
    01.22.2024

    5 stars
    Simple. Delicious. A staple!! Thank you

  4. Julianne
    10.15.2023

    5 stars
    This is the best cauliflower rice I’ve tried. I honestly haven’t been a huge fan of others but this is awesome! Thank you so much!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      10.18.2023

      I’m so glad you loved it!

  5. Allison
    09.13.2023

    5 stars
    Thank you for a simple and straightforward recipe! I can’t wait to try it 🙂

  6. Margarida
    05.17.2023

    5 stars
    Did it and it tastes amazing!
    Never thought I could like cauliflower!
    When I was a kid my mother used to boil it and I always hate the smell and the taste.
    You made me think I should give it a try and do more recipes!
    Thank you so much!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      05.19.2023

      Yes, it’s amazing how preparing a vegetable in a different way can change how much you enjoy it! I hope you find some other cauliflower recipes you like!

  7. Megan Haigh
    03.28.2023

    5 stars
    I wasn’t so sure it was going to taste ok but given the reviews I tried it anyway. I loved it… every bite! Recommended and will make again

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      03.29.2023

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  8. castor from home%20owners
    02.17.2023

    5 stars
    yes, I think i’ll mix a brown cook rice .

  9. Chris David
    08.16.2022

    5 stars
    Really delicious recipe. I love it yummy!!! It’s really awesome

  10. Colleen
    06.27.2022

    5 stars
    This is exactly what I was looking for to add to my low-carb life. I have not tried it yet, but have so many variations on my head, with my preserved lemons and fresh basil, with scallions, eggs and shrimp for a fried rice…I have missed rice. I would also like to steam it and try to make a dough with the addition of almond flour. Thanks for the inspiration.

  11. Meshack from healthservices.uonbi.ac.ke
    05.20.2022

    a wonderful recipe, my family really enjoyed.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.20.2022

      I’m so happy to hear!

  12. Debra S
    02.10.2022

    5 stars
    This was the best! Served with salmon and asparagus. Sorry, no picture because we finished it off!

  13. 5 stars
    I loved this recipe. Yummy and healthy. thank you!!

  14. Jess
    03.07.2021

    5 stars
    This is seriously so surprisingly good! I’m eating it as I’m waiting for my stir fried veggies to cook it’s so good!

  15. Allyson
    01.14.2021

    I have some raw cauliflower rice left over that would have been too much if I added it to my dish. Do I need to cook it first in order to freeze?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      01.14.2021

      Hi Allyson, you could freeze it raw and cook it in the pan to thaw it.

      • Emily
        06.09.2021

        If I was to make and freeze some, would I make the complete recipe including frying and then freeze?

        How do I then cook once defrosted again boil or fry again?

        • Jeanine Donofrio
          06.09.2021

          Hi Emily, I think this one is best fresh – it’ll get watery as it thaws out of the freezer.

          • Helen in CA
            05.11.2024

            Having eaten commercial frozen cauliflower rice, you saute it frozen without defrosting. So the “watery” steams the “rice”.

            Now to follow this recipe tonight and eat fresh!

  16. I am about to start an elimination diet for myself and my four young children. This recipe and your website will be perfect! Thank you. 🙂

  17. Sabrina
    10.14.2020

    5 stars
    Absolutely love this recipe.
    Thank you.
    Your recipe is perfect for our diet.
    I incorporated some left over chicken once the
    Rice was completely cooked.
    Was amazing.

  18. Fi - Devon, UK
    10.10.2020

    5 stars
    My partner was sooooh impressed and loved this healthier ‘rice’ So mega quick and easy peasy to do (I love anything that is quick and easy) Tasted great, light and fluffy!

  19. fi
    09.24.2020

    5 stars
    Love this recipe! Quick, easy, and super healthy! Thank you. Great help as reducing carbs in our diet.

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Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.