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    Home » Recipes » Side Dish

    Super Easy Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice Recipe

    Modified: Apr 17, 2025 • Published: Jun 5, 2017 by Dr. Erin Carter • This post may contain affiliate links • Leave a Comment

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    A bowl of cilantro lime cauliflower rice garnished with cilantro and lime wedges.
    A bowl of cilantro lime cauliflower rice garnished with cilantro and lime wedges.
    A bowl of cilantro lime cauliflower rice garnished with fresh cilantro and lime wedges.

    You are going to love this cilantro lime cauliflower rice recipe. This cauliflower rice is full of flavour and you'll love how easy it is to make in just one pan. This healthy side dish is also Whole30, low carb, keto, gluten free, vegan and paleo!

    A bowl of cilantro lime cauliflower rice garnished with cilantro and with lime wedges in it.

    Is there anything that cauliflower can't do? You can make it into cauliflower cheese sauce, cauliflower Alfredo sauce and cauliflower rice including Spanish cauliflower rice. It's a pretty versatile vegetable and the caulirice recipe I am sharing with you today is so good!

    Table of Contents
    • Why you will love this recipe:
    • Ingredients and substitutions:
    • Recipe variations and add ins:
    • How to make cilantro lime cauliflower rice:
    • Top tips - how to prevent cauliflower rice from getting soggy!
    • Serving ideas:
    • Cilantro lime cauliflower rice FAQs:
    • Other rice recipes and info you will love:
    • Recipe

    Why you will love this recipe:

    • The flavour! This is no boring cauliflower rice recipe. The flavours of lime and cilantro are so good together!
    • It is so quick and easy to make and takes less than 10 minutes to cook.
    • This lime and cilantro cauliflower rice is healthy, paleo, AIP, Whole30, vegan, low carb, keto, sugar free, gluten free and dairy free.
    • It can be used in so many different ways including as a healthy side dish and as a base for Mexican dishes like burrito bowls and tacos, just like healthy sweet potato rice. 

    If you love the flavours of cilantro and lime together you will also love creamy cilantro lime dressing.

    Ingredients and substitutions:

    For the full ingredient list and exact measurements refer to the recipe card later in this post.

    Jump to the Recipe Card.
    The ingredients for making cilantro lime cauliflower rice in separate bowls including riced cauliflower, chopped onion, salt, cilantro and limes.
    • Cauliflower rice - you can either rice your own cauliflower florets or buy pre-riced cauliflower rice.
    • Limes - fresh limes are used for both the lime zest and lime juice to give this lime cauliflower rice the perfect refreshing taste.
    • Cilantro - fresh cilantro adds a unique flavour to this cilantro cauliflower rice. You can add as much or as little as you like depending on how much you like cilantro.
    • Coconut oil - this cooking oil helps make this caulirice so soft and tender when it's fried and gives it a subtle coconut flavour. Instead of coconut oil you could use avocado oil or olive oil.
    • Onion - you can use white onion, yellow onion or sweet onion to make this healthy rice recipe.

    Recipe variations and add ins:

    • This recipe is very flexible - if you don't like cilantro, you can use less. If you don't like lime flavour, add less lime zest and skip the lime juice.
    • If you can't find pre-packaged cauliflower rice you can make your own by either grating fresh cauliflower florets on a cheese grater or box grater, or using a food processor to chopped it into fine, rice sized pieces. 
    • You can easily double or triple this Mexican cauliflower rice recipe if you are serving a crowd. 
    • To change up the flavour you can add other seasonings such as garlic powder, ground black pepper, red pepper flakes, ground cumin, or onion powder. 

    How to make cilantro lime cauliflower rice:

    Pieces of onion cooking in a pan on the stovetop.
    1. Step 1: First, place a large pan or large skillet on the stovetop on medium heat and add the coconut oil. Once the oil is melted, add the chopped onion and cook it for a few minutes, until the onion is translucent.
    Riced cauliflower cooking in a pan on the stovetop.
    1. Step 2: Add the cauliflower rice to the pan and stir everything well to combine. Cook the rice for 5-6 minutes (stirring frequently), until the cauliflower has a rice-like texture and the texture you prefer. 
    Riced cauliflower topped with chopped cilantro and lime zest in a pan on a stovetop.
    1. Step 3: Add the lime zest, salt and chopped cilantro to the cauliflower rice and stir everything well to combine. Cook it for another minute or so.
    A pan on the stovetop filled with riced cauliflower topped with chopped cilantro.
    1. Step 4: Taste the cauliflower rice, and if it is to your liking, serve now. If you want it to have a bit more lime flavour, squeeze a little fresh lime juice over it and stir it all together.

    Top tips - how to prevent cauliflower rice from getting soggy!

    • Use fresh rather than frozen cauliflower rice.
    • If you washed the cauliflower be sure to dry it completely before cooking.
    • Leave the lid off the pan when you cook cauliflower rice (if you put the lid on it traps moisture inside the pan which can make the cauliflower soggy).
    • Don't add too many liquids to the cauliflower rice when you cook it or fry it.

    Serving ideas:

    You can serve this easy cilantro lime cauliflower rice in so many ways. Here are a few ideas:

    • As a base for burrito bowls, burritos or tacos.
    • Serve this cilantro rice as a side dish with grilled chicken, fish, shrimp or steak. I love serving it with my blackened Mahi Mahi, blackened cod and healthy air fryer salmon cakes.
    • Use it in place of regular rice to make rice and black beans or rice and beans. 
    A bowl of cilantro and lime cauliflower fried rice garnished with fresh cilantro and lime wedges.

    Cilantro lime cauliflower rice FAQs:

    Can I use frozen cauliflower rice?

    You can, but just note that frozen cauliflower rice tends to get a bit soggy when it cooks so you are better off using fresh cauliflower rice.

    Is cauliflower rice good for a low carb diet?

    Yes, cauliflower rice is a great option for a low carb or keto diet as it is naturally low in carbs and sugar so is a great replacement for traditional sides like white rice or brown rice.

    Can I freeze this cauliflower rice?

    You can but I don't recommend it. Cauliflower rice will get a bit mushy when reheated after it's been frozen, so it is better to serve fresh or shortly after it's been made.

    How do I store leftover cauliflower rice?

    Store any leftover cauliflower rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.

    Can I freeze this rice?

    I do not recommend trying to freeze this rice. If you freeze it, when it gets reheated it tends to get a bit mushy.

    Other rice recipes and info you will love:

    • A bowl filled with cauliflower fried rice filled with chopped vegetables including bell peppers, carrots and broccoli.
      The Best Gluten Free Cauliflower Fried Rice (paleo & Whole30)
    • A bowl of cooked sweet potato rice topped with black pepper.
      Sweet Potato Rice (so easy!)
    • A pan filled with tuna fried rice with chop sticks on top.
      Quick and Easy One Pan Tuna Fried Rice
    • White rice with a spoon in it with the title 10 Low Carb Alternatives to Rice over it.
      The 10 Best Low Carb Alternatives to Rice

    Since you made it this far we are basically best friends so be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Facebook where I share even more recipes and healthy living tips! And don’t forget to leave this recipe a star review before you go!

    Recipe

    A bowl of cilantro lime cauliflower rice garnished with fresh cilantro and lime wedges.

    Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

    This cilantro lime cauliflower rice is the best. It's so easy to make and has such a unique flavour. This healthy side dish can be served in so many ways!
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Low Fat, Low Lactose, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 75kcal
    Author: Dr. Erin Carter

    Equipment

    • Skillet or pan

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoon coconut oil
    • 1/2 white onion, finely chopped
    • 1 package cauliflower rice (340 grams)
    • 2 limes, for zest and juice (approximately 2 tablespoon of lime zest)
    • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (more or less to taste)
    • 1 cup chopped cilantro

    Instructions

    • Place a large pan on the stove on medium heat and add the coconut oil. Once the oil is melted, add the chopped onion and cook it for a few minutes, until it's translucent.
    • Add the cauliflower rice to the pan and stir to combine. Cook everything for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently until the cauliflower has the texture you prefer.
    • Stir in the lime zest, chopped cilantro and salt and cook for another minute or so.
    • Taste the cauliflower rice, and if it is to your liking, serve it now. If you want it to have a bit more lime flavour, squeeze a little fresh lime juice over it and stir it all together. 
    • Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    1. You can either rice your own cauliflower or use pre-packaged cauliflower rice. 
    2. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 75kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 0.5g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Sodium: 294mg | Potassium: 76mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 287IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 0.3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @pureandsimpleno or tag #pureandsimpleno!

    DISCLAIMERS: The statements made on this website have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. You assume full responsibility for how you use this information. Always consult with your physician or other health professionals before making any diet or lifestyle changes. This post may contain affiliate links whereby if you purchase these products I receive a small percentage of the sale price. This allows me to keep the blog running and I thank you for allowing me to do that!

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    A bowl of cilantro lime cauliflower rice garnished with cilantro and lime wedges.
    A bowl of cilantro lime cauliflower rice garnished with cilantro and lime wedges.
    A bowl of cilantro lime cauliflower rice garnished with fresh cilantro and lime wedges.
    A photo of Dr. Erin Carter wearing a floral dress in her kitchen.

    Hi everyone!

    My name is Dr. Erin Carter and I am so thrilled you are here. I am a physician with specialties in both internal medicine and rheumatology, and I believe that food and healthy living are forms of medicine. In my spare time I share health information and delicious, healthy recipes here on Pure and Simple Nourishment.

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    A bowl of cilantro lime cauliflower rice garnished with cilantro and lime wedges.
    A bowl of cilantro lime cauliflower rice garnished with cilantro and lime wedges.
    A bowl of cilantro lime cauliflower rice garnished with fresh cilantro and lime wedges.

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