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You are here: Home / Recipes / Side Dishes / Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Rice

Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Rice

Published April 1, 2019. Last updated October 15, 2020 by Lauren Vavala

Thanks for sharing!

Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Rice is an easy keto side dish. Made with riced cauliflower, broccoli, and plenty of cheddar cheese, this low carb recipe is also naturally gluten free!

Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Rice on a small white plate with a fork next to it and in a skillet with a wood spoon in it on a wood backdrop

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Back in my vegetarian days, I used to buy prepackaged broccoli cheddar rice and eat just that as a meal. It probably wasn’t the best choice, even if carbs weren’t an issue, but it was so darn good! It’s one of the many foods that I miss now that I have to follow a low carb diet. So, I decided to come up with my own low carb version.

Cauliflower rice serves as the base for this recipe. To get a similar consistency to the boxed brand, I also rice the broccoli. This helps make it so that both vegetables cook more evenly. The sauce is a basic cheese sauce that can be used for a variety of recipes, but is really what gives this side dish recipe so much flavor.

You can serve this rice alongside of just about any meat or seafood, or eat it just on it’s own. Try stirring in some chicken, crumbled bacon, sausage, or diced ham for more heartiness.

Why This Recipe Works

  • This is an easy side dish recipe that can be served alongside most meats and seafood, or enjoyed on it’s own.
  • It’s a low carb, gluten free recipe that is also suitable for those following a keto diet.
  • This is a great recipe to sneak in more vegetables. With plenty of cheese, even the kids won’t complain about eating broccoli!

How to Make Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Rice

Prep!

Riced cauliflower and rice broccoli in 2 silver bowls over a wood backdrop

Rice the cauliflower and broccoli, and shred the cheese.

You can reference this post on How to Rice Cauliflower, if needed.

Some grocery stores carry riced cauliflower in the produce section now, as well.

Use fresh cauliflower and broccoli for the best results. If you choose to use frozen, you may have to cook it longer to get all of the extra moisture out.

It is strongly recommended to shred the cheese from a block rather than using pre-shredded bagged cheese. Cheese from a block melts better and doesn’t contain any added starches.

Create!

Riced broccoli and cauliflower cooked in a skillet over a wood backdrop

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat and add the cauliflower and broccoli rices. Season with the salt and pepper.

Cook, stirring often, until just tender – about 8-9 minutes. Transfer the rice mixture to a bowl, wipe the pan clean, and return it to medium heat on the stove top.

Cheddar cheese sauce in a black skillet over a wood backdrop

Add the butter, heavy whipping cream and mustard powder to the skillet and whisk until the butter is fully melted and the mixture is hot and bubbly.

Mix in the cheddar cheese until melted.

Cheddar Broccoli Cauliflower Rice in skillet with a wood spoon

Stir back in the rice mixture and continue to cook an additional 2-3 minutes until everything is well combine and heated through.

Present!

A forkful of cheesy broccoli cauliflower rice with a plate of rice and blue napkin blurred in the background

Serve straight out of the skillet or transfer to a serving dish. Garnish with extra cheese, if desired.

Tips & Techniques for the Best Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Rice

  • You can rice the cauliflower and broccoli in a food processor by cutting it into florets, adding it to the bowl of the food processor fitting with a blade, and pulsing a few times. You may need to work in batches.
  • Shred the cheese from a block rather than using pre-shredded bagged cheese. Cheese from a block melts better and doesn’t contain any added starches.
  • Use fresh cauliflower and broccoli rather than frozen for the best results.
  • Add in some cooked chicken, crumbled bacon, sausage, or diced ham for added protein, flavor, and heartiness!
  • Store any leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Use within 3-5 days.

FAQ’s

  • Can you substitute the heavy cream with half and half or milk? Yes, just be aware that the cheese sauce may be on the thinner side should you choose not to use heavy cream.

Other Recipes to Try

  • Green Bean Cauliflower Salad
  • Bacon Ranch Cauliflower Salad
  • Au Gratin Cauliflower

Love this Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Rice Recipe? Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for more!

Cheddar Broccoli Cauliflower Rice in skillet with a wood spoon
Print

Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Rice

Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Rice is an easy keto side dish. Made with riced cauliflower, broccoli, and plenty of cheddar cheese, this low carb recipe is also naturally gluten free!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American, Gluten Free, Low Carb
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 520kcal
Author Lauren Vavala

Ingredients

  • 4 cups cauliflower rice * see notes
  • 2 cups broccoli rice
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon mustard powder
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. 
  • Add the cauliflower and broccoli rices and season with the salt and pepper.
  • Cook, stirring often, until just tender - about 8-9 minutes.
  • Transfer the rice mixture to a bowl, wipe the pan clean, and return it to medium heat on the stove top.
  • Add the butter, heavy whipping cream and mustard powder to the skillet and whisk until the butter is fully melted and the mixture is hot and bubbly.
  • Mix in the cheddar cheese until melted, then stir back in the rice mixture.
  • Continue to cook an additional 2-3 minutes until everything is well combine and heated through.

Notes

Tips & Techniques for the Best Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Rice

  • You can reference this post on How to Rice Cauliflower, if needed.
  • Shred the cheese from a block rather than using pre-shredded bagged cheese. Cheese from a block melts better and doesn’t contain any added starches.
  • Use fresh cauliflower and broccoli rather than frozen for the best results.
  • Add in some cooked chicken, crumbled bacon, sausage, or diced ham for added protein, flavor, and heartiness!
  • Store any leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Use within 3-5 days.

FAQ's

  • Can you substitute the heavy cream with half and half or milk? Yes, just be aware that the cheese sauce may be on the thinner side should you choose not to use heavy cream.
** Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 520kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Cholesterol: 130mg | Sodium: 718mg | Potassium: 700mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1640IU | Vitamin C: 117.7mg | Calcium: 488mg | Iron: 1.4mg

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Filed Under: Gluten Free, Low Carb, Recipes, Side Dishes

Comments

  1. Jenny H. says

    January 28, 2021 at 6:54 pm

    I wish I had read the nutritional info before making this. It is 520 calories per serving and 12 grams of carb. Not very LOW carb! It was delicious, but too high in carbs to be low carb. No wonder I’m feeling so full after dinner tonight :-/

    Reply
    • Lauren Vavala says

      January 28, 2021 at 7:14 pm

      Hi Jenny. The nutritional information is for 1/4th of recipe. So, if you ate that much, then the *estimate* is 520 calories and 12 TOTAL carbs, or 8 NET CARBS (after you subtract fiber). If you ate 1/6 or 1/8, then it would vary, of course.
      This is absolutely considered low carb and the majority of the carbs come from the vegetables. Again, it’s an estimate that is pulled from a nutritional database and is not brand specific. To get the exact nutritional information, you’d have to use a nutritional calculator and plug in the brands you use and exact amounts.

      Reply
      • Cindy says

        June 28, 2022 at 7:20 pm

        I agree.. totally low carb for me, I count Net carbs and 8 is low enough 👍🏼 Trying this tonight.

        Reply
        • Lauren Vavala says

          June 29, 2022 at 8:06 am

          Thanks Cindy! I think some people forget that low carb is not always keto. And, if you used actual rice, the carb count would be MUCH higher. I hope you love the recipe!!

          – Lauren

          Reply
  2. Susn says

    January 24, 2021 at 5:56 pm

    Ocean I freeze this?

    Reply
    • Lauren Vavala says

      January 24, 2021 at 6:48 pm

      Hi Susn. You can freeze this, but cheese tends to change in texture once reheated..it may be more grainy, but the flavor will stay good.

      Reply
  3. J slabaugh says

    January 22, 2021 at 4:36 pm

    This was absolutely delicious,will be making this again and again!

    Reply
    • Lauren Vavala says

      January 24, 2021 at 6:45 pm

      Thank you! Glad to hear that you enjoyed it!!

      Reply
  4. FloridaMomof3 says

    July 19, 2019 at 11:45 pm

    This was great and VERY Filling!
    Honestly, hubby wasn’t impressed but he is a tough one LOL
    Thanks! 🙂

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      July 20, 2019 at 8:42 pm

      Thank you! Super cheesy stuff isn’t my fiance’s favorite either – I just say, more for me! Haha!

      Reply
  5. Rachel says

    April 15, 2019 at 1:41 pm

    What is the serving size of this?

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 15, 2019 at 1:48 pm

      Hi Rachel – I wish there was a way to make this a little more clear/obvious/accurate to readers AND to myself because we get asked this once in awhile usually in regards to nutritional information. Because recipes are made out of my home and not in a test kitchen with a more precise way of figuring these things out, I based the nutritional information off of 1/4th of the recipe as written. So, divide the final dish into 4 equal parts for 4 servings. I hope this helps a little – Lauren

      Reply
      • Sonia says

        August 11, 2019 at 8:06 pm

        What is the serving size in grs? Thanks

        Reply
        • Lauren says

          August 12, 2019 at 2:29 pm

          I’m sorry Sonia, I can’t really answer that for you. Nutritional information is calculated automatically based upon the ingredient name and amount for each that I enter. It’s then divided by the total number of servings. It’s just an estimate since I work out of my own kitchen and not a professional test kitchen/lab.

          Reply
  6. Neli Howard says

    April 6, 2019 at 4:07 am

    WOW!! Such an incredible side dish!! My family would LOVE this! thanks!

    Reply
  7. Natalie says

    April 6, 2019 at 2:19 am

    I love caulirice! Looks so delicious and healthy!

    Reply
  8. Beth says

    April 6, 2019 at 1:12 am

    This is going to be a huge hit in my home! We could eat this as a meal – need to try this ASAP!

    Reply
  9. Adriana says

    April 6, 2019 at 12:45 am

    Perfect recipe idea! The cheese makes it kid-friendly. My grandson is picky with veggies but he loves cheese, so this would be the way to serve him vegetables to his meal.

    Reply
  10. Mikayla says

    April 6, 2019 at 12:42 am

    What a yummy side dish! Love the alternative to carb heavy white rice. And it’s so simple!

    Reply

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Welcome, I'm Lauren!

Delicious Little Bites is where I share all types of recipes from appetizers to desserts. You will also find plenty of keto, gluten free, and vegetarian recipes here to help you put a delicious meal on the table every night that the whole family will love! Read More...

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