Roasted Cauliflower Rice
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Oct 7, 2024 
Roasted Cauliflower Rice Recipe – This roasted cauliflower rice is a game changer! It’s light, flavorful, and packed with nutrients, making it the perfect side dish or base for your favorite meals. Whether you’re meal-prepping for the week or trying to sneak more veggies into your diet, this recipe is sure to become a favorite in your kitchen.
Why We Love This Roasted Cauliflower Rice Recipe
As you can see by the name, this Roasted Cauliflower Rice recipe isn’t really “rice” at all. However, if you are on a strict paleo or low-carb diet, this grain-free recipe is a great substitute.
Perfect for serving with wonderfully sauce-heavy main dishes, like this Panda Express Orange Chicken or Instant Pot Butter Chicken, cauli rice gives you that fluffy yet substantial texture you crave in a side dish.
The first few times I served this grain-free side dish to my family, the kids were halfway through dinner before they realized it wasn’t real rice. And it was so yummy, once they were wise, they couldn’t care less that they were happily enjoying cauliflower!
Ingredients You Need
You only need 3 simple ingredients to make this delicious low carb and grain free side dish.
- Fresh cauliflower – 1 large head or 2 small
- Olive oil – gives the rice flavor
- Salt – a sprinkle of salt
However, you can definitely add a hint of one or two spices or fresh herbs to compliment whatever you are serving for your main dish, like a healthy pinch of garlic, parsley, cumin, turmeric, chili powder, Chinese 5-spice or pepper.
Pro Tip: Depending on how much rice you need to make, you’ll either want one large or two small cauliflower heads for this recipe. You remove the leaves and core, and use just the florets for creating the “rice.”
How to Make Cauliflower Rice
- Cut the head of cauliflower in half and roughly chop into large chunks. Grind the cauliflower florets in the food processor until they become roughly the size of rice.
- Next, toss the raw cauliflower rice with olive oil on a prepared baking sheet, sprinkle with salt and any other desired spices, and roast for a few minutes.
- Stir gently, smooth out again, and continue roasting for another 5 minutes.
Once roasted, the cauliflower “grains” are soft, tender, and fluffy…
Get the Complete Roasted Cauliflower Recipe Below!
Serving Suggestions
If you’re looking to lighten up your diet, or are just curious about the versatility of cauliflower, give this “rice” recipe a try.
You can serve alongside any of these flavorful main dishes for a fantastic low-carb meal!
- Bulgogi Korean BBQ
- Triple Pork Fried Rice
- Ethiopian Doro Wat
- Malabar Chicken
- Instant Pot Chicken Curry
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Go ahead and use your food processor to “rice” a large batch of cauliflower, and then seal portions in freezer-safe bags while still raw.
The uncooked cauliflower will keep well for 2 months in the freezer! Simple defrost and roast per my recipe when you’re ready to enjoy.
Kept in an airtight container, cooked cauliflower rice will keep well in the fridge for 3-4 days or the freezer for up to one month. Enjoy reheated in the oven or microwave.
Note: Because the “rice” will have been sitting with the oil, you won’t get quite the same fluffy and tender side dish when you reheat. However, it is still incredibly tasty and perfect for lunch meal prepping!
Add cold leftover cauliflower rice to fresh salads, use in burritos and “rice” bowls, or try my Cauliflower Fried Rice recipe!
Looking for More Delicious Low Carb Side Dishes? Be Sure to Try:
- Low Carb Keto Tortilla Recipe
- Chipotle Rice (Copycat Recipe)
- Tabouli with Feta and Endive (Tabbouleh)
- Oven Roasted Potatoes and Carrots
- Healthy Baked Zucchini Tots
- The Best Cloud Bread Recipe
- Baked Turnip Fries
- The Best Sauteed Mushrooms
- How to Make Healthy Broccoli Rice
- Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Beer
Get the Complete Roasted Cauliflower Recipe Below!
Roasted Cauliflower Rice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Cut the cauliflower in half and remove the core and leaves. Roughly chop the cauliflower and place in the food processor. Pulse until the cauliflower is small and fine like rice.
- Dump the cauliflower rice out onto a large rimmed baking sheet (If your baking sheet is average sized or small, use two.) Drizzle the olive oil over the top. Then mix with your hands and spread the cauliflower rice out into a thin layer. Sprinkle with salt.
- Roast in the oven for 5 minutes. Then stir and smooth out again. Roast, another 5 minutes. Serve warm.
Such a great alternative for grain rice!
The first batch that I made, I made it just as described. It was wonderful. We ate it as a side for simple roasted chicken. The second time, I toasted some cumin seed and added it prior to the cauliflower during the second 5 minutes of roasting. It was a taste of heaven.
Finally getting around to trying this. Awesome – added it to a veggie burrito with some cumin and chili powder, very tasty.
I’ve really been wanting to try this! It looks so good!
I simply put cauliflower raw in foodprocesser till rice like. Then I saute an onion with some butter and garlic and add cauliflower. Put the lid on and let it cook for about 5minutes. Really nice!
Definitely want to try this recipe!
My kids love roasted cauliflower so I can’t wait to try this “rice” version!
I love cauliflower “mashed potatoes” so I’m anxious to give this a try!
Yours and my friend Adriana told me about you.I love your website and Adriana loves your food.Can’t wait to try your recipes..
Love how this can be an extremely quick way in getting dinner on the table, yet the flavour doesn’t give anything away! Thanks for sharing Sommer! I have a question though: does the cauliflower have to be very fresh? I do hope this can be a smart, yummy way to use up cauliflower that might be on its way out soon.
Ooooh what a great twist on rice! Love it!
We have rice so much, definitely want to try substituting it like this. Looks wonderful :)