Easy Garlic Butter Cauliflower Rice Recipe with Spinach (2024)

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Katerina

4.70 from 10 votes

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Easy, crunchy, incredibly flavorful Garlic Butter Cauliflower Rice is simple, healthy, and so surprisingly GOOD!

Easy Garlic Butter Cauliflower Rice Recipe with Spinach (2)

    MY NEW FAVORITE WAY TO MAKE CAULIFLOWER RICE

    Cauliflower rice is cooked in butter with garlic and spinach for a healthy, delicious and very easy side dish. This is a perfect side dish for chicken or fish, and it’s done in about 15 minutes.

    I don’t really know what more to say about this than that I am crazy in love with cauliflower rice. I really AM! It’s SO good. Better than rice, and better than non-riced cauliflower… does that even make ANY sense? It does to me.

    Few of my favorites include, Coconut Lime Cauliflower Rice, Honey Sriracha Chicken with Cauliflower Rice, as well as Shrimp Fried Cauliflower Rice – YUM!

    Easy Garlic Butter Cauliflower Rice Recipe with Spinach (3)

    GARLIC BUTTER CAULIFLOWER RICE

    ThisGarlic Butter Cauliflower Rice with Spinach is an easy low carb, keto, gluten free, paleo, vegetarian, and most importantly, SUPER DELICIOUS recipe that will have even the pickiest eater licking up her plate.

    I have a 9 year old that pretty much hates food – well, food that is NOT chocolate and cereal – but she devoured this cauliflower rice, caveman style.

    I served it with my Juicy Stove Top Chicken Thighs, and it was just the ideal meal during one of our busy, soccer-filled weeknights.

    Easy Garlic Butter Cauliflower Rice Recipe with Spinach (4)

    HOW TO MAKE GARLIC BUTTER CAULIFLOWER RICE

    In this recipe, I used already riced cauliflower that I picked up at my local grocery store because I didn’t have time to mess around with a whole head of cauliflower. BUT, if you want to rice your own cauliflower, no biggie! Just follow my easy recipe for How to Make and Store Cauliflower Rice.

    • First, you will need to melt some butter and add a few minced cloves of garlic in there; cook until fragrant.
    • Add the cauliflower rice, chili powder, salt, and pepper; stir and cook for 2 minutes, or until tender.
    • Add a little vegetable broth, lime juice, baby spinach, and continue to stir until spinach is wilted and liquid evaporated.
    • Remove from heat; taste for seasonings and adjust accordingly.

    Garlic Butter Cauliflower Rice with Spinach is simple to make, and its buttery and garlicky flavor will make a fan out of you, and you, and you!

    Easy Garlic Butter Cauliflower Rice Recipe with Spinach (5)

    WHAT TO SERVE WITH CAULIFLOWER RICE

    • Maple Mustard Salmon in Foil
    • Lemon Garlic Herb Shrimp in Packets
    • Spicy, Sweet, and Sticky Chicken Thighs
    • Tender and Juicy Instant Pot Chicken Breasts

    HOW TO STORE COOKED CAULIFLOWER RICE

    • Store cooled down, cooked cauliflower rice in covered airtight containers. Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
    • You can also freeze cooked cauliflower rice in covered airtight containers. Freeze for up to 5 months.
    • Defrost cauliflower rice on the counter before reheating.

    YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

    • Almond Brown Rice Pilaf
    • Cauliflower Cheese Soup
    • Garlicky and Cheesy Cauliflower Broccoli Bake
    • One Pan Chicken Piccata and Rice
    • Tomato Pesto Salmon and Rice

    ENJOY!

    Easy Garlic Butter Cauliflower Rice Recipe with Spinach (6)

    Garlic Butter Cauliflower Rice with Spinach

    Katerina | Diethood

    Easy, crunchy, incredibly flavorful Garlic Butter Cauliflower Rice is simple, healthy, and so surprisingly GOOD!

    4.70 from 10 votes

    Rate this Recipe!

    Servings : 4 serves

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save

    Prep Time 10 minutes mins

    Cook Time 10 minutes mins

    Total Time 20 minutes mins

    Ingredients

    • 3 tablespoons butter
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • 4 cups cauliflower rice
    • 1/4 teaspoon to 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, or to taste
    • salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
    • 1/4 cup low sodium vegetable broth (you can also use chicken broth, bone broth, beef broth, etc...)
    • 1 lime, juiced
    • 6 ounces baby spinach

    Instructions

    • Melt butter over medium heat.

    • Add garlic and cook and stir for 2 minutes; careful not to burn the garlic.

    • Stir in the cauliflower rice; season with chili powder, salt, and pepper.

    • Cook and stir for 2 minutes, mixing around until everything is thoroughly combined.

    • Add in the vegetable broth and lime juice.

    • Stir in baby spinach; cook and stir for 1 minute or until spinach is wilted and the liquid has evaporated.

    • Remove from heat and taste for seasonings; adjust accordingly.

    • Serve.

    Notes

    HOW TO STORE COOKED CAULIFLOWER RICE

    • Storecooled down, cooked cauliflower ricein covered airtight containers. Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
    • You can also freeze cooked cauliflower rice in covered airtight containers. Freeze for up to 9 months.
    • Defrost cauliflower rice on the counter before reheating.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 cup | Calories: 135 kcal | Carbohydrates: 12 g | Protein: 4 g | Fat: 9 g | Saturated Fat: 5 g | Cholesterol: 22 mg | Sodium: 221 mg | Potassium: 741 mg | Fiber: 4 g | Sugar: 3 g | Vitamin A: 4375 IU | Vitamin C: 94.6 mg | Calcium: 89 mg | Iron: 2 mg

    Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

    Course: Side Dish

    Cuisine: American

    Keyword: cauliflower rice, easy cauliflower recipe, easy vegetable side dish, side dish recipe

    Did you make this recipe?Leave a Rating!

    Categories:

    • Dinner Recipes
    • Freezer Friendly Meals
    • One Pot Meals
    • Quick Dinner Ideas
    • Side Dishes
    • Vegetarian
    Easy Garlic Butter Cauliflower Rice Recipe with Spinach (2024)

    FAQs

    How do you take the bitterness out of cauliflower rice? ›

    Season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lime juice to help remove any bitterness from the raw cauliflower.

    How do you make cauliflower rice not soggy? ›

    Easy DIY Raw Cauliflower Rice Recipe (That's Not Mushy!)

    In a food processor, add the cauliflower florets and pulse for 30-60 seconds. Add 2-3 cups at a time and remove as it is riced. This will prevent the cauliflower from being over-processed. With a towel, pat dry or squeeze the liquid out from the cauliflower.

    Why is my cauliflower rice so mushy? ›

    Leave riced cauliflower on the heat too long and it will become soft and soggy. Follow this tip: Quickly cooked in a little butter or olive oil on the stovetop, riced cauliflower becomes softer and more tender. As a rule of thumb, about three minutes over medium heat and not too oil much should do the trick.

    How do you hide the taste of cauliflower rice? ›

    Try adding lime juice and cilantro to make cilantro-lime rice, which works great as a base or a side. Drizzle on sauce. A spoonful of sauce such as chimichurri can mask any cauliflower-iness in the rice.

    What makes cauliflower bitter? ›

    Vegetables like Brussels sprouts, kale, and cauliflower all contain a group of natural chemicals called glucosinolates. These compounds can taste bitter to some people—but not to everyone.

    How do you thicken riced cauliflower? ›

    The key to a thicker consistency is to drain the steamed cauliflower really well before pureeing or blending it up. Put the puree back into the warm pan and add grated cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted and you should have a nice, thick texture. You can also add a keto thickener like glucomannan or xanthan gum.

    Is cauliflower rice good for weight loss? ›

    Cauliflower has several properties that may help with weight loss. First, it is low in calories with only 27 calories per cup (107 g), so you can eat a lot of it without significantly increasing your calorie intake ( 1 ). It can also serve as a low calorie substitute for high calorie foods, such as rice and flour.

    How do you squeeze water out of cauliflower rice? ›

    Wrap the cauliflower rice in a clean tea towel or paper towels, twist, and squeeze as much water as possible from the rice—you might be surprised by how much water you can wring out, or you might not be.

    Is cauliflower rice healthier than white rice? ›

    However, rice can be high in calories and carbohydrates, meaning it will fill you up without providing you with many additional nutrients. Substituting cauliflower rice for white rice is a great way to get more antioxidants while reducing calories and carbohydrates in order to save room for other nutrient dense foods.

    Why does cauliflower rice hurt my stomach? ›

    Cauliflower provides essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients, but it can also cause stomachaches or abdominal cramps. The culprit behind the stomachaches is cauliflower's fiber content, which becomes most troublesome when you increase your fiber intake too rapidly without giving your body time to adjust.

    Can you overcook cauliflower rice? ›

    Why is my cauliflower rice soggy? The key to preventing soggy cauliflower rice is making sure you don't overcook it. Once the 'grains' are hot, you're ready to serve. The best cooking method to avoid any sogginess is to roast the cauliflower grains on a wide, shallow tray.

    Why does cauliflower rice make me bloated? ›

    The reason for this is that cauliflower, as well as other cruciferous veggies, such as kale and broccoli, contains raffinose and other oligosaccharides. These are specific types of sugars that remain undigested until bacteria in the gut ferment them, producing gas, and, in turn, causing bloating and gas.

    What is the difference between cauliflower rice and riced cauliflower? ›

    As far as we can tell, it's the same thing, just a different name. The term “cauliflower rice” didn't become an internet sensation until around 2012. But ever since then, this nutrient-rich rice substitute has been booming in popularity!

    Why does my cauliflower rice smell? ›

    Cauliflower, like all cruciferous vegetables (cabbages, mustard, broccoli, etc.) contains sulfur compounds which will begin to smell when the vegetable is overcooked. Blanching, roasting or steaming just until the cauliflower is fork tender will keep it from smelling up your kitchen.

    How do you change the taste of cauliflower? ›

    Blanch: Cut the cauliflower into small flowers and blanch in boiling water for 1-2 minutes, then remove and drain. Blanching removes the astringency of cauliflower and makes it taste more like broccoli.

    Why does cooked cauliflower taste bitter? ›

    The results showed that neoglucobrassicin and sinigrin were responsible for the bitterness of cooked cauliflower.

    How do you fix bitter rice? ›

    If you've tasted bitter rice, there are several things you can do to correct the problem:
    1. Cook the rice properly - Undercooked or overcooked rice can have a bitter taste. Make sure you cook the rice properly to the right tenderness and texture.
    2. Soaking - Soak the rice in water for at least 30 minutes before cooking. ...
    3. Rin.
    May 4, 2023

    What do you soak cauliflower in? ›

    The separated florets have to be washed properly under a tap. This removes dirt and large parasites such as worms. The next step is cleaning the cauliflower in mildly warm water in which a little salt was dissolved. This process – which should last 10-20 minutes - destroys several microbes and large parasites.

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