Only five simple ingredients and less than ten minutes are needed to whip up a delicious cheesy cauliflower rice. It makes a perfect keto meal.
After reviewing the Keto in Five cookbook series in my keto brownies post, I started thinking that I need some more simple recipes on the site. Well, it doesn't get much easier than the recipe using cauliflower rice that I'm sharing today.
I used a whole head of organic cauliflower and riced it in my food processor. However, you can also buy fresh or frozen cauliflower that's already been riced. They even sell dehydrated riced cauliflower.
Even if you shred a head of cauliflower yourself, it should take no more than ten minutes to make this cheesy cauliflower rice. That's because it cooks up quickly in the microwave.
The method I use to cook the shredded vegetable is described in my post: How to Make Cauliflower Rice the Easy Way. Basically, I just pop it in the microwave for a minute in a covered dish.
I do add bacon the dish. If you don't have any pre-cooked on hand, it will take a little while to cook up the strips. I like to bake bacon in the oven so the grease drains down in a baking pan.
You can certainly leave the bacon out of the cheesy cauliflower rice if you don't have any. But, it adds flavor to the dish and makes it more of a meal.
I like to whip this up for a quick lunch using leftover bacon in the fridge. If I don't have any fresh cauliflower in the refrigerator, there's usually a bag of riced cauliflower in my freezer.
Unfortunately, the closest Trader Joe's never has the organic frozen cauliflower in stock. So, I've been buying the Green Giant version at a local Walmart.
Since it's so quick and easy to make a cheesy cauliflower rice in the microwave, it's sure to become a regular "fast food" in our home. And, I'm glad that riced cauliflower is more widely available in local stores.
I actually enjoy garlic fried cauliflower rice for breakfast. I used to add eggs to it, but now I'll add in whatever leftover meat I happen to have in the fridge. The eggs had to go because of my egg white sensitivity.
Although riced cauliflower is widely available now, I still prefer grating it myself. It only takes a couple minutes to shred it with the grating blade in the food processor.
The other thing is that pre-riced cauliflower is usually sold as crumbles which doesn't really look like rice. If you grate your own, the pieces do look and feel a lot more like the real thing in dishes like this cheesy cauliflower rice.
I hope you give this quick and easy low carb recipe a try. If you have your own version or certain ingredients you like to add-in, be sure to share that with us in the comments.
White rice was such a staple for me growing up in an Asian American family. I'm so glad that cauliflower is such a great low carb substitute that's so convenient to cook up anytime.
What's your favorite way to enjoy riced cauliflower? Microwaving it then adding in bacon and garlic is my favorite way to serve it.
Cheesy Cauliflower Rice Recipe for a Quick Keto Meal
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Recipe
Cheesy Cauliflower Rice
Video
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower riced
- ¾ cup cheddar cheese chopped or shredded
- 2 ounces cream cheese
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 slices no sugar bacon cooked crisp and chopped
- ¼ teaspoon salt optional
Instructions
- Place riced cauliflower in a covered microwavable dish and cook on high power for five minutes in the microwave.
- Add in cheese and stir until it's melted.
- Stir in remaining ingredients. Enjoy!
Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart
Nutrition
Additional Info
Notes on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Copyright
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Cecilia mote
This cheesy cauliflower rice looks yummy!
Edith
Why are measurements in normal US measurements but the cheese? My gram measuring cup must have gotten missed in my standard measuring set.
Lisa MarcAurele
I'm not sure how that happened. It should be 3/4 cup which is about 75 grams.
Cindy
Why didn’t you include the protein from the bacon in the nutrition information?
Lisa MarcAurele
It should have been included by the recipe calculator.
Joan Caputi
I do not have a microwave so how am I able to make the cauliflower rice dish.
Lisa
It can be cooked in a skillet too. To do it that way, just add a little oil and sauté until it's heated. Then cover with a lid for about 5-10 minutes to let it steam until tender.
Elaine Smith
how many ounces is 75 grams? I want to try this and adapt it for Weight watchers...sounds delicious
Lisa
I'm coming up with 2.6 ounces
Melissa
I want to try this recipe but- I don’t have a microwave. How can I cook the cauliflower?
Lisa
You can steam it on the stove with a steamer basket and a little water or just the water.
Jamie Jean Hall
Just made this and loved it. I don't like cauliflower but this tasted like cheesy hash browns. Definitely will make it again. Thanks for the recipe.
Lisa
You're welcome Jamie!
Pam
I made this in my iron skillet -- cooked bacon first, took out, added 2 big garlic gloves, smashed into the bacon grease... Added riced cauliflower, tossed in some sundried tomatoes, and 2 T of tomato paste. Added a little hawaiian salt. Had a chunk of smoke gouda that was getting pretty dry, so I chopped it and put it in. Stirred it up and then added a little chicken bone broth with lots of seasonings in it. Tossed in some shredded cheese and put the bacon chunks in. Warmed it through and OH MY goodness! Homemade garlicy replacement for mac n cheese!
Lisa
Thanks for sharing your method! Sounds yum.
Dave
I really like the sound of this
Goldy
Can you freeze the leftovers?
Lisa
I don't see why not. I've put cooked cauliflower rice in the freezer without issue.
Goldy
Thank you , I’m making this right now.
Karen
If you froze this , would you warm it up in the microwave to reheat?
Lisa
I would as I'm not seeing any issue with that.
Jan
While I appreciate the recipe it’s a bit deceptive to state the dish is only 89 calories. Judging by your own picture of the nutritional info for the cauliflower that alone is 89 calories and adding 2 different cheeses and bacon certainly will disqualify this as a low cal side. I’m sure it is delicious but......
Lisa
I'm using a more accurate nutrition calculator these days so I recalculated the numbers. It should be more accurate now.
Nancy
This was absolutely delicious! I didn't have bacon on hand and only had 2 T. Of Hormel Real Bacon Bits In my pantry and they worked out nicely. I bet the fresh bacon would be really good!
Tiffany
Made for dinner tonight. I’m a fan and will make again.
Lynn
Loved it? Quick and simple yet delicious!
Pam
I Followed the recipe exactly and this turned out delicious! The taste and texture reminded me more of the cheesy hash brown potatoes that always show up at holiday meals, this is a great alternative to those . I am so happy to have found this recipe, thank you!
Lisa
You're welcome Pam! I'm so glad you enjoyed this simple recipe.
Charla Davis
Loved it....
Lisa
Yay! 🙂
Paula
Could you please tell me how many grams of riced cauliflower I would need? I have pre riced my cauliflower and it is frozen ? Thanks
Lisa
I'd use about 16 ounces or about 455 grams.