Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List
- My Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice Is Perfect For Taco Night
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How To Make Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
- My Recipe Tips
- Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice (10 Min) Recipe card
- Serving Ideas
- Recipe Reviews
My Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice Is Perfect For Taco Night
This cilantro lime cauliflower rice is one of my favorite ways to add a bright, fresh flavor to just about any Mexican-inspired meal . I’ve made it more times than I can count, and it was actually the very first recipe I picked to share from my second cookbook , so you know it’s a good one. It’s quick, easy, and always makes dinner feel just a little more put together. Here’s why you’ll love it too:
- Bright, zesty flavor – The combo of lime juice, lime zest, and fresh cilantro gives it that punchy flavor that goes so well with tacos , taco skillets , or even grilled Mexican chicken .
- Just 5 simple ingredients – You don’t need much to make this taste amazing. I love that it comes together in just 10 minutes with a few pantry staples and a squeeze of fresh citrus.
- Perfectly cooked every time – I’ve made cauliflower rice at least a hundred times, and I’ve fine-tuned the method so it has that classic rice texture, and not like steamed cauliflower . See my tips below to learn how I do it.
It’s one of my favorite easy Mexican sides for a reason. Make it with me!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my cilantro cauliflower rice recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .
- Cauliflower Rice – You’ll need about 4 cups of cauliflower rice, which is roughly one medium head. You can also use a bag of frozen cauliflower rice . It works just as well and saves time.
- You can rice your own cauliflower rice (simply pulse cauliflower florets in a food processor or grate with a box grater until it reaches rice size) or buy pre-made cauli rice, either fresh or frozen. This recipe calls for 4 cups of cauliflower rice, which is equivalent to about one head of cauliflower. You can make your own cauliflower rice (instructions can be found in my full guide to cauliflower rice ) or use a prepared fresh or frozen cauliflower rice. Or use frozen cauliflower rice .
- Fresh Cilantro – It’s key for that cilantro lime cauliflower rice flavor. If cilantro’s not your thing, try parsley or chives instead.
- Lime – You’ll need the zest and juice from a whole lime. If you only have lemons, they work in a pinch, but they’re just a little different flavor-wise.
- Olive Oil – I usually use olive or avocado oil, but any cooking oil works. I skip seed oils like canola or soybean.
- Garlic – Fresh minced cloves are best, but 1 teaspoon jarred garlic totally works in a pinch.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
VARIATION: Want to kick it up a notch?
Try adding diced onions by sautéing them before the garlic. You can also sprinkle in some spices like cumin, chili powder, cayenne, or red pepper flakes for extra flavor.
How To Make Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .
- Sauté the garlic. Heat some of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook the garlic until it smells amazing (just a minute or so).
- Add the cauliflower rice. Stir in the cauliflower rice, along with the lime zest, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Cook just until it softens.
- Finish it off. Once it’s done, I take it off the heat and stir in the chopped cilantro to make the perfect cilantro lime cauliflower rice.
My Recipe Tips
- If your cauliflower rice is soggy, you’re probably overcooking it or using heat that’s too low. Keep the lid off and crank up the heat a bit. Tt cooks fast and needs to stay dry, not steam! For more tips, see my cauliflower rice post .
- Too much cauliflower rice at once will trap steam and make it soggy. If you’re making a big batch, cook it in batches.
- I recommend ricing the cauliflower with a food processor because it’s the easiest and fastest way. I use this one with the grater blade for the best texture, but the S blade works too if you pulse it a few times and watch it closely.
- I use a large nonstick skillet to cook cauliflower rice. This one heats evenly, helps it brown instead of steam, and keeps it from sticking.
Recipe Video
Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.
- 3 tbsp Olive oil ▢
- 2 cloves Garlic (minced) ▢
- 1 lb Cauliflower rice (~4 cups, fresh or frozen) ▢
- 1/2 medium Lime (zested and juiced) ▢
- 1 tsp Sea salt (to taste) ▢
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper (to taste) ▢
- 1/2 cup Fresh cilantro (chopped) ▢
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Add the cauliflower rice, lime zest, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Stir-fry for 3 to 5 minutes , until cauliflower rice is soft.
- Remove from heat. Stir in the fresh cilantro.
Did You Like It?
Leave a rating to help other readers (this also helps me continue to provide free recipes on my site), or get the recipe sent to your inbox.
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 cup
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the best texture, perfect flavor, and a fluffy, rice-like result every time.
- Serving ideas: See my serving ideas below for tasty ways to pair this with your favorite Mexican dishes or build a bowl everyone will love.
- Store: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
- Meal prep: Make cilantro lime cauliflower rice 3-5 days in advance and portion out into meal prep containers with your favorite protein.
- Reheat: Cook in a hot skillet or in the microwave until warmed.
- Freeze: Store in an airtight container in the freezer for 3-6 months.
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Easy Keto Carboholics’ Cookbook here !
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .
Add Your NotesYour Notes
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.
Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
Serving Ideas
I love whipping up a burrito bowl or taco bowl with cauliflower cilantro lime rice. I usually load it up with guac , fresh salsa , and whatever else I’m craving that day.
It also makes a great side for taco salad , or you can serve it with one of my favorite Mexican-inspired mains . Think carne asada , beef barbacoa , chicken fajitas , or cilantro lime chicken .
Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List
- Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
- The Basic Keto Meal Formula
- Understanding Macros
- Keto Food Swaps
- Keto Food List
- Electrolyte Basics
- Keto Diet Types
- Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
- Recipe Reviews
Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.
You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).
Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:
- Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
- Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
- Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
- Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
- Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
- Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
- Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
- Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
- FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.
Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)
The Basic Keto Meal Formula
Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.
Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.
Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.
| Pick A Protein | Pick A Veggie | Add Fat |
|---|---|---|
| Beef Chicken Pork Eggs Lamb Turkey Fish Shellfish Protein powder Venison | Cauliflower Broccoli Zucchini Leafy Greens Cucumbers Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Asparagus Radishes Bell Peppers Jicama Celery | Butter Avocado Oil Cheese Bacon Avocado Lard Ghee Mayo Nuts MCT Oil |
Understanding Macros
Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.
You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.
Carbs Are A Limit.
Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.
A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.
“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.
A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.
Protein Is A Goal.
Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].
“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.
Fat Is A Lever.
Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.
A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).
Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.
Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.
“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.
Keto Food Swaps
One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.
So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .
Keto Swaps For Breakfast
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Pancakes | Almond flour pancakes or coconut flour pancakes |
| Oatmeal | Keto oatmeal with hemp seeds |
| Cinnamon rolls | Fathead cinnamon rolls |
| Cereal | Keto nut granola |
| Muffins | Almond flour muffins or coconut flour muffins |
| Donuts | Almond flour donuts |
| Scones | Almond flour scones |
| High-sugar smoothies | Smoothie with berries or avocado |
| Hash browns | Cauliflower hash browns |
| Breakfast casserole | Breakfast casserole with no potatoes |
| Egg whites | Whole eggs |
| Turkey bacon | Bacon |
| Waffles | Chaffles |
Keto Swaps For Bread
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Bagels | Fathead bagels |
| English muffin | Almond flour English muffin |
| White bread | Keto white bread |
| Multigrain bread | Coconut flour bread with seeds |
| Tortillas for wraps | Coconut flour tortillas |
| Corn taco shells | Cheddar cheese taco shells |
| Burger buns | Oopsie rolls , portobello mushroom caps |
| Breadsticks | Cauliflower breadsticks |
| Biscuits | Almond flour biscuits |
| Cornbread | Almond flour cornbread |
| Croutons | Parmesan crisps |
| Rice | Cauliflower rice , konjac rice |
Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Breaded wings | Crispy air fryer wings (unbreaded) |
| Low-fat meat & poultry | High-fat cuts, or cook low-fat cuts with fat |
| Mashed potatoes | Mashed cauliflower |
| Roasted potatoes | Roasted or fried radishes |
| Tacos | Taco salad |
| Pizza | Fathead crust , chicken crust , or cauliflower crust pizza |
| Lasagna | Eggplant lasagna |
| Potato salad | Cauliflower “potato” salad |
| French fries | Jicama , rutabaga , or zucchini fries |
| Tater tots | Cauliflower tots |
| Wraps | Lettuce wraps , almond flour tortillas |
| Sushi | Naruto-style or homemade rice-free sushi |
| Breaded chicken or fish | Breaded cuts with almond flour or pork rinds |
| Spaghetti | Zoodles , spaghetti squash , shirataki noodles, kelp noodles |
Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Nachos | Cheese crisps |
| High-sugar fruit | Berries & other keto fruits |
| Crackers | Almond flour crackers |
| Hummus | Cauliflower hummus |
| Soft pretzels | Fathead pretzels |
| Popcorn | Puffed cheese |
| Granola bars | Grain-free granola bars |
| Jam | Sugar-free berry chia jam |
| Sweet fruity yogurt | Full-fat plain Greek yogurt with berries |
| Sweet salad dressing | Ranch , blue cheese , or plain vinaigrette |
| Ketchup | Mustard and/or sugar-free ketchup |
| BBQ sauce | Sugar-free BBQ sauce |
| Sweetened peanut butter | Natural, sugar-free nut butters |
| Light mayo | Avocado oil mayo |
| Maple syrup | Sugar-free, maple flavored syrup |
| Potato chips | Zucchini chips , pepperoni chips , pork rinds |
Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Sugar | Monk fruit or allulose |
| Powdered sugar | Powdered monk fruit or allulose |
| White flour | Almond or Coconut flour (use in tested recipes) |
| Making baked goods soft/chewy | Xanthan gum, flax seed meal, psyllium husk powder |
| Breadcrumbs | Pork rinds or almond flour |
| Margarine | Butter, coconut oil, or ghee |
| Vegetable oil | Olive or avocado oil |
| Bananas | Banana extract |
| Chocolate chips | Sugar-free chocolate chips |
| Cornstarch or flour roux | Xanthan gum or gelatin powder (used at the end) |
| Simple syrup | Dissolve monk fruit allulose blend in water over heat |
Keto Swaps For Drinks
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Lemonade | Water with lemon |
| Soda | Flavored sparkling water |
| Milk | Almond milk, coconut milk, heavy cream |
| Latte | Butter coffee |
| Coffee creamer | Heavy cream |
| Sweet wine | Dry wine |
| Beer | Ultra light beer |
| Mixed drinks | Hard liquor with soda + lemon |
If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .
Keto Food List
When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.
The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!
Foods To Eat On Keto
- Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
- Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
- Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
- Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
- Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
- Avocados
- Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
- Almond flour and coconut flour
- Eggs
- Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.
Foods To Avoid On Keto
- White flour & sugar
- Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
- Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
- Cereal
- Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
- Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
- Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
- Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
- Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
- Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.
That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:
Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)
Electrolyte Basics
Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.
For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .
The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.
Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:
| Sodium | Magnesium | Potassium |
|---|---|---|
| Bone broth Boullion cubes Bacon Salted nuts Pickles | Seaweed Seeds Nuts Avocado Leafy greens | Potassium chloride Avocado Bone broth Spinach Broccoli Mushrooms Beef Pork |
Keto Diet Types
People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.
Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.
Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!
- Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
- Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
- Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
- Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.
For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!
Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:
- Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
- Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
- Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
- Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
- Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
- Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
- Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
- Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
- FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.
Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)
Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice (10 Min)
This cilantro lime cauliflower rice is zesty, fresh, and ready in minutes. It’s my favorite easy side for taco night, burrito bowls, and more.
Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/cilantro-lime-cauliflower-rice/
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp Olive oil
- 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 1 lb Cauliflower rice (~4 cups, fresh or frozen)
- 1/2 medium Lime (zested and juiced)
- 1 tsp Sea salt (to taste)
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper (to taste)
- 1/2 cup Fresh cilantro (chopped)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Add the cauliflower rice, lime zest, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Stir-fry for 3 to 5 minutes , until cauliflower rice is soft.
- Remove from heat. Stir in the fresh cilantro.
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 cup
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the best texture, perfect flavor, and a fluffy, rice-like result every time.
- Serving ideas: See my serving ideas below for tasty ways to pair this with your favorite Mexican dishes or build a bowl everyone will love.
- Store: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
- Meal prep: Make cilantro lime cauliflower rice 3-5 days in advance and portion out into meal prep containers with your favorite protein.
- Reheat: Cook in a hot skillet or in the microwave until warmed.
- Freeze: Store in an airtight container in the freezer for 3-6 months.
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Easy Keto Carboholics’ Cookbook here !
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)
