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 68 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 head of cauliflower

For seasoned cauliflower rice:

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped scallions
  • juice of 1/2 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.

 

70 comments

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  1. Donna
    09.16.2020

    What if you don’t have a food processor

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      09.16.2020

      Hi Donna, I’ve heard it can be done using a box grater but I haven’t personally tried it that way.

      • Vino
        10.12.2020

        I always use a box grater, comes out perfect.

  2. Tess Shuman
    09.09.2020

    5 stars
    Delicious and oh so easy!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      09.12.2020

      I’m so glad you loved it!

  3. Marian
    03.07.2020

    What if I want to freeze it for future use?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      03.08.2020

      Hi Marian, I haven’t tried freezing it, but I think it could work. I’d freeze it flat on a baking sheet and then transfer it to a container. That way it won’t freeze together as a big clump.

      • gerry
        08.08.2020

        I always freeze it – I put it straight in a zip lock bag and into the freezer. If it does come out a bit clumpy just give the bag a bash on you counter top!

        • Helen
          10.21.2020

          Love your answer ! what would we do without a counter top ! my granite counter top comes in handy for so many things cooking related ! 🙂 🙂

  4. mobasir hassan
    02.21.2020

    5 stars
    i have not tried cauliflower rice yet. your recipe sounds great and i am sure to try only this one. Its really simple for me. looking in future for more such lovely recipe.

  5. Dawn
    02.19.2020

    Thank you for a great recipe. Can I pulse the rice in my nutripro or is it best to grate it?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      02.19.2020

      It’s best in a food processor or grated – a blender will start to puree it.

    • Chantal
      06.22.2020

      Hi Dawn,

      I am not sure what type of Nutripro you have. As long as it’s a blender & not juicer, you should be fine.

      You would only run into the trouble that Jeannine mentions, if you left the blender on continuously; instead of pulsing.

      Typically I have pulsed the cauliflower in my Ninja blender; with no problem! It only took seconds and 2 pulses to rice 8 ounces perfectly.

      If I were you, I would experiment. Try one pulse, then evaluate if another is needed. And if you were feeling ambitious, you might also grate some to see if you prefer the texture of one vs the other.

      Hope that helps

    • Ashley
      01.14.2021

      How much is one serving? 1 cup?

  6. Jeanine Donofrio
    02.19.2020

    So glad you enjoyed it!

  7. Linda
    10.18.2019

    Hi, which blade is best for this? Thank you!

  8. Beth Carpenter
    09.18.2019

    Can lemon juice be used instead of lime when preparing cauliflower rice? Thanks

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      09.18.2019

      yep! I would do 1/2 to 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (to taste).

    • Sherrill
      12.18.2019

      Will try making cauliflower rice when I harvest 6 heads from my small garden . Can’t wait.

  9. Joshua Howard
    08.22.2019

    5 stars
    Hi! Two days ago I made it and it was the best cauliflower rice I’ve ever tried! Thank you for posting this!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      08.23.2019

      Hi Joshua, I’m so glad you loved it!

  10. Juanita
    07.05.2019

    How long will riced cauliflower last?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      07.10.2019

      about 2 to 3 days in the fridge.

      • Pamela
        09.06.2020

        Can it be frozen for future use?

        • Jeanine Donofrio
          09.12.2020

          Yes, I’d spread it out in a thin layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Put that in the freezer for a few hours, and then break apart the frozen pieces and transfer to freezer-safe container. That way it won’t freeze together in one big clump.

  11. Diane
    06.16.2019

    Hi new cook here. I do not have a food processor will a blender work? How long should it take?

    Thank you.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      06.17.2019

      Hi Diane, a blender won’t work because it’ll puree it before it turns into rice shapes. A food processor is best for this recipe.

      • Elizabeth
        07.01.2019

        You could just use a cheese grater and it will work fine.

        • Jeanine Donofrio
          07.01.2019

          that’s a great idea!

    • Kayla Reign
      07.08.2019

      You can go to the fresh vegetable are and find chopped cauliflower. All you gotta do is cook it. The hard part is already done for you =) hope this helps

  12. Fit Food Wizard
    04.29.2019

    I love cauliflower rice with any kind of meat or even tofu. I will try out your recipe with scallions too, thank you!

  13. Bev
    03.06.2019

    5 stars
    My family loves this! Thanks for the recipe 🙂

  14. June
    02.02.2019

    5 stars
    Made this tonight but used onion powder. Put my liver & onions with almond flour gravy over it. Delish!,

  15. cake lover
    01.30.2019

    5 stars
    awesome recipe its really new recipe for me i like it

  16. Gerri
    12.13.2018

    This rice is awesome!
    I have to say I was sceptical at first as my hubby and I have never tried cauliflower rice.
    I doubled up on the lime. Put 1 whole lime 5 scallions, 2 coves of garlic and about half cup of chopped cilantro.
    saved it with steamed chicken with chopped fresh ginger! Yummy!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      12.22.2018

      Hi Gerri, I’m so glad you both loved the cauliflower rice!

    • Julie
      09.21.2020

      5 stars
      I just copied your recipe above. It is DECLICIOUS!!!

  17. Talita
    01.30.2018

    5 stars
    I made it with my boyfriend to do some variations on our luch, and it is amazing!
    Thank you very much!

  18. Thilo from belvita.it
    01.28.2018

    5 stars
    I made this today and it was so delicious!

    Best regards from the hotels in Italy

  19. Gaby Dalkin
    01.22.2018

    Everyone needs this recipe in their life!!

    • Komala Wilson
      01.13.2021

      Very good, easy to cook no carbs but taste & satisfying like eating rice

  20. Mimi from chefmimiblog.com
    01.22.2018

    I love food processors!

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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.