Easy Garlic Butter Cauliflower Rice Recipe with Spinach (2024)

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Katerina

4.67 from 12 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!

    4.67 from 12 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? ›

    In a large skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the scallions and cauliflower and sauté until heated through, about 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lime juice to help remove any bitterness from the raw cauliflower.

    How do you squeeze moisture out of cauliflower rice? ›

    One additional step I like is to press any excess moisture from the rice by transferring the cauliflower rice to a large paper towel or absorbent dish towel and squeeze/press to remove any remaining water. This ensures no excess moisture remains, which can make your dish soggy.

    Why is cauliflower rice soggy? ›

    Sautéing for too long. Riced cauliflower can benefit from a quick sauté, but be mindful of the clock. Leave riced cauliflower on the heat too long and it will become soft and soggy.

    Is it cheaper to make cauliflower rice or buy it? ›

    Cheaper: Making riced cauliflower from scratch will save you money in the grocery store. A head of cauliflower is cheaper than buying fresh or frozen riced cauliflower. Tastes Great: Because it's made fresh, it also tastes better. You can use it in any recipe that calls for rice.

    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.

    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.

    Why does cauliflower rice taste sour? ›

    While product is hot, you can taste something a bit sour which is the malic acid, a NATURAL product (look it up, it's also used in cosmetics). **Product tastes best after stirred & cooled a little!** Before opening, use hands to squish around contents before opening to mix up the cauliflower.

    How do you thicken riced cauliflower? ›

    You can add a litle softened cream cheese to the pot in the final step and stir until melted. Or you can add a keto thickener like glucomannan or xanthan gum. Be sure to whisk it in well when the mashed cauliflower is hot. You don't need more than about ¼ teaspoon per head of cauliflower.

    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.

    What happens if you eat too much cauliflower rice? ›

    While everyone's tolerance is different, too much cauliflower can create G.I. distress, like excess gas and bloating. “Make sure to drink enough water to move it through your system,” suggests Lincoln. Cooking it can also dial back digestion woes.

    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.

    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.

    What is the best appliance to make cauliflower rice? ›

    While using a food processor is one of the fastest and easiest ways to chop cauliflower into rice, there are a handful of other methods that can also be used. Chopping by hand, using a box grater, or substituting a food processor for a blender are all techniques that can also make cauliflower rice.

    Which is better broccoli or cauliflower rice? ›

    While they are both very nutritious vegetables, broccoli has a higher vitamin content, specifically in vitamin K and C, than cauliflower and is specifically known to be great for eye health. Broccoli florets also provide more minerals and fiber as well as contains vitamin A that isn't in cauliflower.

    Is cauliflower rice actually healthy? ›

    Cauliflower has always been considered a healthy vegetable with a significant amount of nutrients. It also contains plant compounds that help reduce the risk of some diseases, including heart disease and cancer. Recently, it has been used as a substitute for white rice as a way to cut back on carbs.

    Why is my cauliflower rice bitter? ›

    Individual florets can be bitter sometimes if the grower isnt careful. Too much heat or sun and uneven waterings will do it. You have no control over that unless you grow it yourself so nothing for it. Overcooking can do it too.

    Why is my cooked cauliflower bitter? ›

    Over-cooking causes cauliflower to release sulfurous compounds that produce an unpleasant odor and bitter taste. (You'll also lose more phytochemicals.) Check the "doneness" of cauliflower by pricking it with a fork a few minutes before the suggested cooking time is up.

    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? ›

    1. Hi, rice can sometimes taste bitter due to a few reasons:
    2. Here's what you can do to prevent or fix bitter rice:
    3. If your cooked rice is already bitter, you can try to salvage it by adding some seasoning or ingredients like soy sauce, vegetables, or proteins to mask the bitter taste.
    May 4, 2023

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