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I think this Easy Cauliflower Rice with Garlic and Green Onion is the BEST Cauliflower Rice Recipe, and I make this over and over!
PIN this BEST Cauliflower Rice Recipe to try it later!
Cauliflower rice has become pretty mainstream, but even though I’ve made a quite a few different versions of it I still consider this recipe for Easy Cauliflower Rice with Garlic and Green Onion to be the BEST cauliflower rice recipe, and this is the one I find myself making over and over.
It’s the flavor added from the garlic that seasons the oil and the crunch of the green onions that I think makes this cauliflower rice recipe so flavorful, and I do like to use a lot of green onion! And whether you make this with freshly-chopped raw cauliflower, purchased chopped fresh cauliflower rice, or frozen cauliflower rice, this cauliflower rice is so tasty with the garlic and green onion. If you haven’t been that excited about cauliflower rice I hope you’ll try this way of cooking it!
What ingredients do you need for this recipe?
- smallish same-size cauliflower pieces, stems included (or bag of riced cauliflower or frozen cauliflower rice)
- olive oil
- cloves of garlic
- green onion
- salt and fresh-ground black pepper to taste
Why this is the BEST Cauliflower Rice Recipe:
I think that cauliflower rice can be a bit meh if you don’t take care to season it well when you cook it, right? So I think flavoring the oil with fresh garlic cloves before you pan-fry the rice, and then stirring in a generous amount of sliced green onion to add some crunch and flavor really makes this recipe the best way to cook cauliflower rice!
What kind of cauliflower rice do you need for this recipe?
I don’t find chopping cauliflower in the food processor to be that labor intensive, and when I make my own cauliflower rice that way I like to use 4 cups of riced cauliflower. But sometimes you just need to use pre-chopped cauliflower rice or frozen cauliflower rice, and both those options will also be delicious cooked this way. The fresh or frozen packaged cauliflower rice comes in a package that’s smaller than the four cups I use; see the different amounts listed in the recipe if you’re using one of those. And you might also need to check the cooking time on the package to see if it needs to be adjusted.
Can you use less green onion for the recipe?
Of course you can use less green onion for this recipe if you prefer. But it’s the crunch of the green onion added just before serving that I think really makes this good, so I encourage you to use a generous amount of green onion and try it!
Want more ideas for Cauliflower Rice?
Check out Cauliflower Rice Casserole Recipes, Low-Carb and Keto Soups with Cauliflower Rice, My Favorite Low-Carb Recipes with Cauliflower Rice, and Low-Carb and Keto Cauliflower Rice Recipes (from Kalyn’s Kitchen and around the web) for more tasty ideas using cauliflower rice!
How to Make Easy Cauliflower Rice with Garlic and Green Onion:
(Scroll down for complete printable recipe, including nutritional information.)
- If you’re making your own riced cauliflower, start with smallish pieces of cauliflower and buzz it in the food processor until it’s finely chopped.
- Also prepare 6-8 large cloves of garlic, slicing them in half, and slice a cup of green onions.
- Heat the olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat and cook the garlic slices just long enough to “season the oil” with garlic flavor. (This only takes a minute or so; don’t let the garlic burn.)
- Remove the garlic and add the cauliflower and season well with salt and fresh ground black pepper.
- Cook the cauliflower over medium-high heat, stirring often, until it’s just starting to soften and lose the raw flavor, about 3-4 minutes. (Check the package for cooking time if you’re using purchased cauliflower rice or frozen cauliflower rice.)
- Turn off heat, stir in the green onions, and serve.
I promise, people will devour this, especially if you serve it with some kind of tasty saucy meat or vegetables over the top!
More Recipes Using Cauliflower Rice:
Cauliflower Fried Rice with Shrimp
Buffalo Chicken Cauliflower Rice Bowl
Instant Pot Cauliflower Rice Greek Chicken Bowl
Ingredients
Ingredients If You’re Chopping Your Own Cauliflower
- 4 heaping cups smallish same-size cauliflower pieces, stems included
- 2 T olive oil
- 8 large cloves of garlic, peeled and cut in half lengthwise if really big
- 1 cup sliced green onion
- salt and fresh-ground black pepper to taste
Ingredients If You’re Using a 12 oz. Bag of Riced Cauliflower or Frozen Cauliflower Rice
- 1 bag (12 oz.) riced cauliflower or frozen cauliflower rice
- 1 1/2 T olive oil
- 5-6 cloves garlic, peeled and cut in half lengthwise
- 3/4 cup sliced green onion
- salt and fresh-ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cut the cauliflower, including the stems, into smallish same size pieces until you have 4 generous cups of cauliflower pieces.
- Using the steel blade, process 2 cups of cauliflower pieces at a time in the food processor, buzzing it in short bursts until it’s finely chopped enough to resemble rice, but slightly larger. I use my beloved Cuisinart 7 Cup Food Processor (affiliate link) for this, which does a great job.
- If you’re using a bag of cauliflower, just open the bag!
- Peel garlic cloves and slice in half lengthwise.
- Chop enough green onions for the amount of cauliflower you’re using.
- Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat until it feels hot when you hold your hand there; then add the garlic cloves and stir-fry until you smell garlic.
- As soon as you see the tiniest color change in the garlic, IMMEDIATELY remove the garlic and discard. (Don’t let it brown or the garlic will leave a bitter taste.)
- Add the cauliflower to the hot pan and season generously with salt and fresh-ground black pepper.
- Stir fry the cauliflower, turning it over often, until it’s starting to soften and lose the raw taste, about 3-4 minutes. (Taste a little to see if it’s done to your liking; I prefer it still slightly crisp.)
- (Check the package for cooking time if you’re using purchased cauliflower rice or frozen cauliflower rice.)
- Turn off the heat, stir in the green onions, and serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 79Total Fat: 5.4gSaturated Fat: .8gUnsaturated Fat: 4.3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 175mgCarbohydrates: 7.6gFiber: 2.4gSugar: 2.1gProtein: 2.3g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.
Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
This Easy Cauliflower Rice is a great dish for so many healthy diets, including Low-Carb, Keto, Paleo, Whole 30, and the original South Beach Diet!
Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Side Dishes to find more recipes like this one.Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest or on Facebook to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.
Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This recipe was first posted in 2016, and has been popular ever since! It was last updated with more information in 2022.
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