Loaded Mexican Cauliflower Rice Recipe

This amazing Mexican Cauliflower Rice is full of tasty seasonings, hearty ground beef, and lots of healthy veggies. It is the perfect one-pot dinner that you can feel good about eating.

cast iron skillet with mexican cauliflower rice.

Pin this recipe now to save it for later

This cheesy cauliflower rice recipe is going to completely transform Mexican night in your house. It is healthier than regular rice bowls and also easier to make. No need to wait around while the rice cooks and cooks… cauliflower rice is done in just minutes!

All the taco seasonings, spices, and veggies that go into this dish are out of this world. You have sweet and spicy peppers, tender ground beef, and so much amazing cheese.

The best part is that you can make this whole Mexican cauliflower rice recipe in one big skillet. You can even serve it to your family in that same skillet. Everyone can just scoop their own servings right from the pan!

wooden spoonful of mexican cauliflower rice.

Loaded Mexican Cauliflower Rice Recipe

Cauliflower rice is definitely one of my favorite foods. It really has it all. It is healthy, flavorful, and is also really easy to make. Since authentic Mexican cauliflower rice is so popular right now, you don’t even have to make it—you can just buy it in the freezer section of the grocery store! It doesn’t get any simpler than that.

Plus, cauliflower is packed with antioxidants, beneficial fiber, tons of choline, and other nutrients that make it such a powerhouse food. (We love it in our Cauliflower Au Gratin and Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole too!) This low-carb Mexican cauliflower rice is going to be one of your favorite, healthy meals ever!

Cast Iron Skillet

Rubber Spatula

Liquid Measuring Cups

Cutting Board

ingredients to make mexican cauliflower rice.

Ingredients for Loaded Mexican Cauliflower Rice

See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

Olive oil
Ground beef – I like to use 85/15 ground beef, which means the meat is 15% fat. I find that this is the perfect amount of juicy meat and marbled fat. You can use leaner meat if you’d like, but keep in mind that fat is flavor!
Chopped onion
Red bell pepper – Red bell peppers are sweeter than any other color bell pepper, which is why they’re my favorite use. They also add a great pop of color to the dish that makes it even more appealing.
Taco seasoning – You can use store-bought or homemade taco seasoning.
Fire roasted tomatoes – Fire-roasted tomatoes have a beautiful, flavorful char on the outside that makes the sauce for this cauliflower rice dish really tasty.
Cauliflower rice – You can make your own cauliflower rice by pulsing cauliflower florets in a food processor until they’re small and crumbly, like rice. Or, you can just buy frozen cauliflower rice, which can be found in almost every grocery store.
Chicken broth
Shredded Mexican cheese – Shredded Mexican cheese is a blend of cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese.
Cilantro

Variations

I adore this cauliflower rice recipe exactly as it is written, but there are a few tweaks and substitutions you may want to try:

Make this dish vegetarian by using veggie broth in place of chicken broth and swapping the beef with vegetarian beef crumbles or mushrooms.
Add more nutrients with extra veggies like zucchini, sliced mushrooms, or even some sliced jalapeños for a hint of spice. Add the veggies along with the bell pepper, and continue with the recipe as written.
Replace the fire-roasted tomatoes with 2 cups of fresh chopped tomatoes. I like to do this when I have lots of fresh tomatoes in my garden in the summer.

step 1 to make mexican cauliflower rice. — Step 1

step 2 to make mexican cauliflower rice. — Step 1

How to Make Mexican Cauliflower Rice

Cook the beef: Heat the olive oil in a large, oven-safe skillet, and add the ground beef. Cook the beef until it is no longer pink and starting to brown. Be sure to break up the beef with your spatula as it cooks.
Cook the veggies: Add the onion, bell pepper, and taco seasoning to the same skillet with the ground beef. Sauté the veggies until they are nice and tender. Then, stir in the cauliflower rice.
Add the broth: Stir the chicken broth into the skillet, and let the mixture simmer for about 6 minutes. Almost all the liquid will evaporate, preventing the rice from becoming mushy.
Add the cheese: Remove the skillet from the heat, and sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the entire dish. Place the skillet under a broiler to melt and brown the cheese.
Serve: Once the cheese is bubbling and browned, sprinkle the cauliflower rice with some chopped cilantro, and enjoy while it is nice and hot!

bowl of mexican cauliflower rice garnished with cilantro.

Quick Tip

Adjust the cooking time as needed, depending on the veggies used. For example, fresh cauliflower rice is a little less watery than frozen varieties. As a result, it takes a minute or two longer to finish cooking.

How to Store Mexican Cauliflower Rice

If you happen to have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. To reheat the cheesy cauliflower rice, pop it into the microwave for about a minute, or warm it in a skillet over medium heat. Once the rice is steaming hot, it is ready to eat!

Serving Suggestions

This cauliflower rice is filling enough that it can be served on its own as a one-dish dinner. However, if you want to add more bulk to your meal, try serving some tasty taco dip as an appetizer, or make a tray of sheet pan nachos. Finally, a delicious coconut tres leches cake is the perfect way to finish your Mexican-themed meal!

FAQs

How do you make cauliflower rice not soggy?

To make sure your cauliflower rice is not soggy, be sure to cook the rice until all the liquid evaporates. Once there is no liquid in the pan, the cauliflower will crisp a little bit, drying out just enough not to become soggy.

Can I freeze this recipe?

You can freeze this recipe for several months. Just note that the taste and texture may change slightly as it thaws.

Does cauliflower rice spike blood sugar?

Cauliflower is very low in carbs, so it will have less of an effect on blood sugar levels than regular rice. It is a great option for those with diabetes or anyone following a keto diet.