Asiago Cauliflower Rice

Name: Asiago Cauliflower Rice
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon butter; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1½ teaspoon Italian seasoning; 1 small yellow onion (finely diced); 8 ounces sliced mushrooms; salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste); 4 cloves garlic, (minced); ¼ cup vegetable broth (you can also use chicken broth); 4 cups cauliflower rice; ½ cup finely grated Asiago cheese; chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)

by Katerina Petrovska

5 from 9 votes

Jun 05, 2020, Updated Sep 23, 2025

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Quick, easy, garlicky, and cheesy asiago cauliflower rice with mushrooms is the creamy, filling side dish you need to spice up your dinner routine. It’s done in 10 minutes and can be paired with your favorite juicy oven baked chicken or a churrasco steak!

top view of a skillet filled with cauliflower rice and mushrooms topped with asiago cheese

An Easy Cauliflower Rice Recipe

Do you ever get sick of plain rice?! Me too! I mean, it’s so easy to make and goes with just about anything, so I end up making it a lot. But this alternative, an asiago cauliflower rice side dish, has become quite the showstopper here lately. The hubby loves all the flavor, the kids love that it’s cheesy, and I love that it’s a lighter option.

If you’ve ever felt the same way and are ready for a more flavorful, more exciting substitute for white rice, you need this riced cauliflower recipe.

What is Cauliflower Rice?

Cauliflower rice is simply cauliflower that has been finely chopped to the size of rice. You may also see it referred to as riced cauliflower. You can either purchase cauliflower rice fresh or frozen, or you can purchase a whole head of cauliflower and rice it yourself on a box grater. To do it yourself, follow my recipe for how to make cauliflower rice.

With the trend in low carb foods, it has quickly become a super popular alternative to white or brown rice in a similar way to how mashed cauliflower subs for mashed potatoes, and cauliflower crust is used for pizza or quiche.

frying sliced mushrooms and onions in a cast iron skillet

Recipe Ingredients

Butter – For richness and flavor. Olive oil or ghee works too.
Olive oil – Helps everything cook evenly.
Italian seasoning – A quick way to get that herby flavor.
Yellow onion – Sweet and savory base. White or sweet onions are good alternatives.
Mushrooms – Meaty and earthy. Use cremini, white, or baby bellas.
Salt & black pepper – Simple seasonings that tie it all together.
Garlic – Because you know I can’t skip it. 😉
Vegetable broth – Adds moisture and depth. Chicken broth is okay to use.
Cauliflower rice – Soaks up all the flavor. Fresh or frozen, both work.
Asiago cheese – Nutty and sharp. Parmesan or Romano will work in a pinch.
Fresh parsley – For a pop of freshness at the end.

What Mushrooms to Use

For this recipe, you really want to choose firm mushrooms. No one is going to be happy eating mushy mushrooms in their cheesy cauliflower rice. My favorite mushroom to use in this recipe is cremini. You could also go with portobellos or baby bellas.

When selecting mushrooms, make sure they are fresh by giving them a little squeeze. You don’t want to purchase mushrooms with soft spots. Also make sure they don’t smell fishy or feel slimy.

cooking and stirring cauliflower rice and sliced mushrooms

How to Make Cauliflower Mushroom Rice

Saute: Heat the olive oil and melt the butter in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Stir in Italian Seasoning and cook for 10 seconds. Add the onions and mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the garlic and cook for 20 seconds.
Add: Stir in the broth. Add the cauliflower rice. Mix and stir until everything is incorporated and continue to cook, uncovered, for 5 minutes, or until the cauliflower rice is tender. Stir frequently.
Melt: Stir in the Asiago cheese until melted.
Serve: Remove from heat, garnish with parsley, and serve.

Variation Ideas

This dish is so yummy as-is, but you can also make super simple variations for a completely different flavor profile or to suit your taste.

Cheese options. If you don’t have or can’t find Asiago cheese, you can swap it for Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Romano for a similar flavor. You could even use cheddar, Swiss, or goat cheese for a completely different taste.
Spice it up. Instead of using Italian seasoning, you could use Mexican, Cajun, or Indian spices.
Customize. You could ditch the cheese all together along with the Italian seasoning and instead add a dash of soy sauce for an Asian take. Add garlic butter sauce to make garlic butter cauliflower rice.
Add vegetables. You can pack in even more veggies if you’d like! I love to add chopped fresh spinach, carrots, and corn to mine. Broccoli and leeks go really well, too!

mixing cauliflower rice with wooden spoon inside a skillet

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How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Storage. You can store your cauliflower rice in an airtight container in your fridge for about 3-5 days. Make sure it cools completely before transferring it to the container.
Reheat. When you are ready to reheat and enjoy your leftovers, simply warm them over medium-low heat until heated throughout. You may want to add a splash of broth to loosen them up.

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