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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Mexican Cauliflower Rice Recipe {Paleo + Whole30 Compliant} (10)

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Reader Interactions

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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

Is chipotle cauliflower rice Whole30? ›

Chipotle-Style Cilantro Lime Cauli-Rice :: paleo, GAPS, Whole30.

What is a Whole30 rice substitute? ›

Frozen or Fresh Riced Cauliflower

We can't emphasize this enough — a bag of cauliflower rice should be a staple in your freezer or fridge, especially during the Whole30. Mix it with veggies and top with a protein, and you've got a hearty meal.

What is the difference between cauliflower and cauliflower rice? ›

While cauliflower is a mild-tasting, versatile vegetable, it doesn't have the same neutral flavor you get with rice. Instead riced cauliflower is mild, with nutty, slightly bitter undertones.

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.

Is anything at Chipotle Whole30 approved? ›

The Wholesome Bowl at Chipotle. Exclusively at Chipotle, you can get a Wholesome Bowl, the perfectly compatible, on-the-go or travel meal for your Whole30.

Does Chipotle no longer have cauliflower rice? ›

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 is the paleo version of rice? ›

Use a food processor to process fresh cauliflower into a rice-like consistency. Konjac rice. This paleo-friendly rice substitute is made from a type of root vegetable known as konjac. Miracle Rice and Magic Rice are two popular commercially produced brands of konjac rice.

What rice is paleo friendly? ›

Some paleo folks say white rice is okay because it provides straight glucose for your body, (which your body needs for fuel provided you aren't keto); however, you should stay away from brown rice because the whole grain contains phytates, lectins, and arsenic which can cause digestive unrest.

What can I replace rice with no carbs? ›

There are many alternatives to rice that can help you meet your personal health goals or simply add variety to your diet. Quinoa is a great gluten-free, high-protein option. Vegetables, such as riced cauliflower, riced broccoli, and chopped cabbage, are low-calorie and low-carb alternatives packed with nutrients.

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.

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.

Which is better broccoli or cauliflower rice? ›

While they are both very nutritious vegetables, broccoli has a higher vitamin content, specifically in vitamin K and C, than cauliflower and is specifically known to be great for eye health. Broccoli florets also provide more minerals and fiber as well as contains vitamin A that isn't in cauliflower.

What can I use instead of cauliflower rice on keto? ›

Cauliflower Rice

You can also try cabbage rice, broccoli rice, and zucchini rice to similar effect. Look for these veggies already “riced” in the produce section or easily dice them into rice-sized bits yourself with a food processor.

What is the point of cauliflower rice? ›

Cauliflower rice is a food trend with some surprising benefits. Instead of using traditional rice, some people use shredded or grated cooked cauliflower as a low-carb, low-calorie alternative. Cauliflower works as a rice substitute because it has a mild taste and you can cook it in a variety of ways.

What is healthier rice or cauliflower rice? ›

Substituting cauliflower rice for white rice is a great way to get more antioxidants while reducing calories and carbohydrates in order to save room for other nutrient dense foods.

Does Chipotle cauliflower rice have carbs? ›

Here are the nutrition facts for 1 serving of Chipotle's cauliflower rice: Calories: 40. Carbohydrates: 7 g. Sugar: 2 g.

How many calories in a bowl of Chipotle cauliflower rice? ›

431 Calories

Is the hot salsa at Chipotle Whole30? ›

Salsa is a tasty alternative, though, and it doubles as a dressing. The Tomatillo-Green Chili Salsa, Tomatillo-Red Chili Salsa, and Fresh Tomato Salsa are all Whole30-approved, so choose your favorite or ask for all three. Top it off with guacamole: If you don't add guac, did you even go to Chipotle?

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