Name: Copycat Chipotle Cauliflower Rice
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: ½ medium head cauliflower; 1 Tbsp olive oil (15 mL); 2 bay leaves; ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro (15 g); 1 ½ Tbsp fresh lime juice (22 mL); ½ tsp salt

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If you love Chipotle’s cilantro lime rice but want to keep things low-carb, this Chipotle copycat cauliflower rice is about to be your new best friend. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s packed with all the same signature zesty, fresh flavors—minus the heavy carbs!

Cauliflower rice with cilantro and lime in a glass bowl on a green background

The Side Dish Of Your Dreams

Let’s be real—Chipotle’s cilantro lime rice is basically the glue that holds those burritos together. The distinctly fresh, herby, citrusy goodness just goes with everything on the menu.

But what if I told you that you could get all that flavor in a low-carb twist using cauliflower rice? You won’t even be able to tell the difference, especially when you load up your burrito or burrito bowl with all your favorite toppings.

And the best part? It’s even easier to make than regular rice! Just grate your cauliflower, sauté it with some aromatics, and stir in the cilantro and lime. Boom—low-carb, full-flavor magic in under 15 minutes!

Reader rating

★★★★★

“This was absolutely delicious. The bay leaves were a lovely soft undertone. Really appreciate you taking your time. This recipe is a keeper!” —Das

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Here’s Everything You’ll Need

Cauliflower: When riced, cauliflower takes on a texture similar to traditional rice (but with way fewer carbs!). For the best flavor, look for a fresh cauliflower head without any blemishes.
Olive Oil: We’ll add a splash of olive oil to sauté the cauliflower. You can substitute it with avocado oil or coconut oil if you prefer.
Bay Leaves: These aromatics infuse the rice with a fragrant, earthy flavor that gives it more depth. Just remember to remove them before serving!
Cilantro: Fresh cilantro adds a burst of freshness that pairs perfectly with lime juice. If you’re not a cilantro fan, feel free to substitute with parsley or green onions!
Lime Juice: This provides that extra tangy kick that makes the dish so refreshing. For the best flavor, use fresh limes (not bottled juice).

Making This Is Easier Than The Original

Rice the head of cauliflower using your preferred method.
Cook the cauliflower rice and bay leaves until tender.
Mix in chopped cilantro, lime juice, and salt.

Turning head of cauliflower into cauliflower rice on green background — I recommend using your food processor’s grating attachment. You might need to rice it in batches to prevent large chunks and some sections of mashed cauliflower.

Sarah’s Ricing Tip

No food processor? No problem! Here’s how to rice cauliflower 3 ways, using just a few simple kitchen tools. My personal favorite alternative is the box grater—just shred cauliflower florets on the largest holes. You can also chop the florets into small pieces with a knife or use a blender on the pulse setting for quick results.

Is cauliflower rice keto?

While cauliflower has some carbs, it is much less than starchy vegetables. Each serving (1/2 cup) of this rice has just 2.3 g net carbs (3.4 g carbs – 1.1 g fiber)!

Plays Well With

This cilantro lime cauliflower rice pairs well with virtually any Tex-Mex dish for a flavor fiesta! But my favorite is to replace regular rice with this recipe in our vegan burritos.

This Chipotle Copycat Cauliflower Rice packs all the signature lime and cilantro flavors of your favorite Chipotle rice (but in low carb cauliflower rice form!)

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