Southwest Cauliflower Rice is a savory dish of riced cauliflower, bell peppers, green onions, jalapenos, tomatoes, and homemade taco seasoning from my own fresh herbs and spices. It can be served as a side dish or turn it into a whole meal easily and your whole family will love it. You can make it as mild or spicy as you like by just changing one or two ingredients.
If you are looking for a gluten-free keto-friendly diet, this recipe fits that description! Unlike regular rice, it has low carbs because you are using cauliflower rice. And you can add as many keto-friendly veggies as you like including olives, spinach, mushrooms, zucchini, or whatever else you want.
For this healthy and delicious southwest cauliflower rice recipe, you will only need riced cauliflower, diced tomatoes, jalapenos, red bell pepper, green onions, and garlic. Then season it with our own homemade southwest seasoning. It only takes a few minutes, and it is so delicious!
Ingredients needed:
Are you ready to make this sensational southwest cauliflower rice? Gather the ingredients below and then go down to the bottom of the page to find our recipe card when you are ready to begin. There, you will find the specific measurements and cooking instructions.
- Cauliflower rice
- Diced tomatoes with green chiles
- Diced jalapeno
- Diced red bell pepper
- Green onions: Sliced.
- Minced garlic cloves
- Olive oil
Southwest seasoning ingredients:
- Chili powder
- Smoked paprika
- Ground cumin
- Dried oregano
- Kosher salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper
How to make southwest cauliflower rice from scratch?
- Saute the garlic: First, mince the garlic and saute on medium heat with a tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet. Cook for one minute or until it is slightly softened and fragrant.
- Cooking the rice: Then, add the riced cauliflower and continue to cook for about five minutes or until the cauliflower is a little bit softer.
- Add the rest of the ingredients: Immediately, pour in the whole can of diced tomatoes including the juices, the bell pepper, and jalapeño. Then stir in all the spices and keep stirring as you cook for another five minutes or until most of the juice is absorbed.
- Season and eat: Finally, taste the rice and adjust the seasonings to your liking. Top with sliced green onion and serve with black beans, corn, or whatever side dish you like.
Recipe variations:
- More protein: Add cooked black beans or whatever beans you like for more protein and a healthy portion-sized serving.
- Make it a meal: To make it a meal, you can add ground turkey, shredded chicken, sliced pork, or ground beef.
- Add more veggies: Another way to beef up this dish is to add your favorite veggies like avocados, zucchini, carrots, mushrooms, corn, and olives.
- Different oil: Instead of olive oil, feel free to use whatever you prefer such as avocado, vegetable, or coconut oil. You could even use soybean oil.
- Spicy kick: Give your southwest cauliflower rice a spicier flavor by adding ground chipotle pepper or cayenne pepper.
- Use real rice: Instead of cauliflower rice, you can use regular rice.
How to serve:
You can serve southwest cauliflower rice as a side dish, or a meal and it is ready to eat in minutes. You do not need any special tricks or fancy ingredients for this basic but delicious and healthy dish. Try one of these serving suggestions or share your own with your honest review in the comments section.
- Top with your favorite shredded cheese. We suggest sharp cheddar or Mexican blend. Or set out a small bowl of shredded cheese for guests to add as they wish.
- Steamed broccoli pairs well with this southwest cauliflower rice bowl.
- If you are looking for a great meat dish to go with this side dish, try this slow cooker corned beef. Its so good, it melts in your mouth.
- Turn this into a homemade mixed veggie dip by adding mayo and sour cream or Greek yogurt. Serve with tortilla chips or veggie sticks for a fun meal or snack. Even the kids will love it. You do not have to tell them it is healthy!
- This is a great additive to any meal, especially taco night with the family.
- In fact, this is one of those recipes you can add to anything you are having for dinner from beef to turkey.
- Sprinkle fresh cilantro on top for a true southwest flavor.
- Top with nuts for some crunchiness. We suggest chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds.
Frequently asked questions
Is cauliflower rice really better for you than regular rice?
Yes, cauliflower rice has fewer carbs and calories than any kind of rice, especially white rice, which is full of carbs. In fact, one cup of cauliflower rice only has 20 calories and 4 grams of carbs compared to 210 calories and 46 grams of carbs in a cup of white rice. It also has more calcium, potassium, and fiber. Cauliflower rice is also a good source of vitamins B, C, and K.
How can I make my own southwest seasoning?
If you ask Google, you can find millions of different recipes for taco or southwest seasoning. Some are the same while others are completely different. You can play with the ingredients to make it taste how you like it but we use 1 tablespoon of chili powder, 1 teaspoon each of smoked paprika and cumin, 1/2 teaspoon each of pepper, salt, and oregano, and 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne.
What are the nutrition facts in this recipe?
This is an estimate of nutrition facts based on USDA nutrient data and the exact ingredients. Each serving has about 120 calories, 11 carbs, and 9 grams fat with 6 grams saturated fat. It also has 4 grams sugar and 445 mg sodium. But you also get 3 mg iron, 60 mg calcium, 110 mg vitamin C, 1,750 mg vitamin A, 5 grams fiber, and 600 mg potassium.
How to store leftovers:
- Store: After your leftover southwest cauliflower rice cools to room temperature, put it in an airtight container or gallon-size zip baggie. Refrigerate for four to five days.
- Freeze: If you want to save your leftovers for longer, put them in a freezer bag and push out all the excess air. Freeze for three to four months.
- Thaw: Thaw overnight before serving.
- Reheat: You can reheat for 30 to 90 seconds in the microwave depending on how much you are making.
Recipe tips:
- Shorten prep time by using a packet of store-bought taco seasoning instead of the seasoning ingredients listed in this recipe.
- Another way to save time is by using frozen cauliflower rice and frozen vegetables instead of making your own. You can find frozen riced cauliflower in the freezer section at any major grocery store.
- Use a food processor to chop your veggies to make it easier and to chop all the pieces about the same size for uniformity and taste.
- If you do not have fresh garlic, you can substitute it with garlic powder.
- We used a 10 oz. can of Del Monte diced tomatoes with green chiles for this recipe.
Recipe:
Serv: 4 servings as a side dish
Prep: 10 min
Cook: 20 mins
4 cups cauliflower rice
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeño, deseeded and diced
1 red bell pepper, deseeded, deveined, and chopped
1 10oz. can dice tomatoes with green chiles
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 tsp salt
Pinch of ground black pepper
2 green onions, sliced
INSTRUCTIONS
Place a large skillet, a cast iron one will work well, over medium heat.
Add the olive oil, and once hot, add the garlic. Stir and sauté for 1 minute, until fragrant.
Add the cauliflower rice, and continue to sauté for about 5 minutes, or until softer.
Next, add the diced tomatoes with green chilies, jalapeño, and red bell pepper, the spices, and season everything with salt and pepper to taste.
Stir well to combine and continue to cook for about 5-7 minutes, or until most of the liquid has evaporated.
Top with sliced green onions, and a dollop of sour cream, and serve.
