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Crispy Gluten Free Cauliflower Pancakes

By 70 Comments

I would be grateful if you shared this recipe :-)

Gluten free cauliflower pancakes make a wonderful appetizer, side dish, or vegetarian meal. Crispy on the outsides and cheesy tender on the inside, you will love this easy riced cauliflower recipe.

Gluten Free Cauliflower Cheddar Pancakes on a wooden board. Each pancake has sour cream and fresh cut scallions on top

Have you seen all of those fun riced cauliflower recipes on Pinterest lately?

I have always wanted to try one, but the thought of ricing a cauliflower was a bit overwhelming. Do visions of cauliflower flying around my kitchen and creating a huge mess flash before your eyes?

Not to mention, my kids are not big fans of cauliflower unless it is served raw with extra ranch dressing. These gluten free cauliflower pancakes are going to change all of that! Kids love them.

bag of Trader Joe's riced cauliflower

Riced Cauliflower Pancakes

Luckily, I found this riced cauliflower at Trader Joe’s this week. (I love when Trader Joe’s makes something so incredibly easy to want.) It was the shortcut I was looking for. They did all of the work and this bag of riced cauliflower costs the same as a big head of cauliflower. Win-win! (*If you can’t find pre-packaged cauliflower rice, check out this simple step by step method to create your own riced cauliflower.)

And you can even use riced cauliflower instead of rice in risotto, check out this recipe for Shiitake Risotto!

Cauliflower Cheddar Pancake ingredients mixed in a bowl

Toss the cauliflower rice into a large bowl and added the cheddar, leeks, and other ingredients.

Frying cheesy gluten free cauliflower pancakes in a cast iron skillet

I formed pancake shaped cauliflower patties with my hands and carefully dropped them into the hot oil. The riced cauliflower pancakes get so crispy and delicious.

Try cayenne for a spicy kick!

Click here to see all of my gluten free appetizer recipes.

Top view of Gluten Free Cauliflower Cheddar Pancakes on a wooden cutting board

(*Please note this post has affiliate links. Ordering through my site will not change the price you pay. A tiny commission will come to Fearless Dining to help offset the cost of running this blog. I truly appreciate the support.)

Tools To Make This Riced Cauliflower Pancakes Recipe:

  1. Lodge Cast Iron Skillet: This is by far my favorite pan and I do almost all of my frying in this.
  2. Food Chopper: I bought my cauliflower already riced, but if you can’t find it pre-chopped, this inexpensive food chopper will do the trick for you.
  3. Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 Blend: My favorite gluten free flour, it works beautifully in this recipe without making my pancakes gummy.

recipe

How to Make Gluten Free Cauliflower Pancakes:

Gluten Free Cauliflower Cheddar Pancakes

Gluten Free Cauliflower Cheddar Pancakes

Yield: 12 pancakes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Easy riced cauliflower cheddar pancakes.

Ingredients

  • 1 bag riced cauliflower, or a head of cauliflower riced
  • 3/4 cup Vermont cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 large leek, sliced
  • 1 egg
  • 3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/4 cup gluten free flour blend
  • 1/2 cup almond milk, (or regular milk if you have it.)
  • **Optional 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • garnish with sour cream and scallion.

Instructions

  1. Start heating oil in a pan on medium high heat.
  2. Add riced cauliflower, egg, cheese, salt, flour, leek and milk to a bowl and mix well.
  3. Test oil temperature by dropping a drip of water into the pan. If it sizzles, it is ready.
  4. Form patties.
  5. Drop patties into the hot oil.
  6. Cook until golden on each side, about 3-4 minutes per side.
  7. Remove from heat and put each patty onto a plate covered in paper towels (to absorb extra oil)
  8. Serve with sour cream and scallions
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 121 Saturated Fat: 2g Cholesterol: 9mg Sodium: 140mg Carbohydrates: 13g Fiber: 4g Sugar: 5g Protein: 7g
© Sandi Gaertner
Cuisine: American / Category: Appetizer

If you love vegetable pancakes, give these Delicata Squash Cheddar Fritters.

Gluten Free Delicata Squash Cheddar Fritters in a row on a rectangle plate

Looking for a meal to enjoy after these appetizers?

How about this amazing gluten free fried chicken recipe from San Francisco’s Proposition Chicken?

gluten free Fried chicken on a plate

These flourless chocolate peanut butter brownies would make a fabulous dessert!

Flourless Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies with ice cream and hot fudge on top

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I would be grateful if you shared this recipe :-)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. these are great little appetizers and a delicious gluten-free option. It seems like everyone wants a gluten-free snack so it’s always nice to have a few options at the parties

    Reply

    • Hi Geri, I tend to cook with my computer open. If you send your email, I can send a copy of this recipe to you…although I am not sure that would help if you can’t print? Please let me know.

      Reply

  8. Sandi you had me at cheesy tender!!! Oh man!!!

    We don’t have trader Joe’s here and I have never seen cauliflower rice in the grocery store, but that isn’t going to stop me…..I have a food processor and I am not afraid to use it 😉

    These look sensational. A dollop of sour cream, a ribbon of smoked salmon and a few baby capers and I think my guests would be super happy!!!

    Reply

  9. Amazing! Usually anything this delicious is not exactly healthy but you’ve managed to make something crispy, deliciously cheesy AND nutritious.
    I wish we had Trader Joe’s in Australia. I’m afraid I’ll still have bits of cauliflower flying around my kitchen if I make these, but it’ll be worth it 😀

    Reply

  10. Sandi, looking for some new gluten free recipes of some classic dishes my family enjoys and saw this one. When I tried AP flour for a roux, I did not like how it changed the flavor. The pic looks great. Did you notice any flavor difference? Did it hold together?

    Reply

    • I haven’t really done much with roux Peter. I find potato starch (like in a chowder) works really well as a replacement. I didn’t notice any off taste with these cauliflower cheddar pancakes. They hold together pretty well, but you do have to make sure the oil is really hot so it cooks quickly.

      Reply

    • Hi Melissa, I have not tried either of the flours you ask about with this recipe. I would say definitely not to the almond flour as that wouldn’t help bind the ingredients. I am not sure about the coconut flour. It definitely absorbs a lot of moisture, but I haven’t tested it in this way. If you try it, please let me know how it turns out.

      Reply

  13. This sounds like a great way around my potato pancake obsession – way healthier anyway!!! I constantly use cauliflower as a substitute for everything, it’s so delicious and earthy!

    Reply

  15. These sound awesome! I’ve been trying to figure out a new way to use cauliflower….and I’ve actually been craving zucchini fritters, but haven’t tried making them gluten free yet….so this should satisfy my craving 😉 Also, just to put it out there, if your food processor is in good shape, making cauliflower rice is super duper easy! I’ve been making a gluten free jambalaya which my husband didn’t realize the “rice” was cauliflower until I told him!

    Reply

    • Hi Nina, I love that your husband couldn’t tell it was cauliflower rice 🙂 I hope you like these, even my kids gobbled them up. I appreciate your taking the time to write. Have a great week.

      Reply

    • I am so sorry Maureen. Let me see if I can help you. Can I ask a few questions? Which gluten free flour blend did you use? If it didn’t contain xanthan gum, you would need to add 1/2 teaspoon. Also, how hot was the oil when you dropped in a spoonful? I make sure the oil is bubbly hot, then I drop the batter in, then lastly press it down a bit to make the shape.

      Reply

  18. Oh yum, we LOVE cauliflower around here – my kids are ridiculous and start cheering when they see it at the farmers market! I had no idea TJ’s had a pre-riced mix, looks great for a quick and easy alternative.

    Reply

  30. Sandi, These look crispy and delicious. Lol. You are right about ricing cauliflower at home. I have…and it did get all over my kitchen! The lid came off the blender at a very inconvenient time. Water and cauliflower everywhere! I’ll look for it in the stores! Thanks!

    Reply

  31. Thank you for the heads up on Trader Joes — we are due to go there soon and I’ve been wanting to make cauliflower rice. This is great. Your pancakes look delicious. Now I don’t like overly sweet things for breakfast — the pancakes would work beautifully.

    Reply

  33. Someone is making riced cauliflower – really? I should move to USA, because (just like you sad) these pancakes will make a nice mess in my tiny kitchen, but I’ll give them a try 😉

    Reply

  36. These look tasty, Sandi. And thanks for letting us know that TJs has already riced cauliflower! I sent the link to my daughter, who is a big cauliflower fan. I haven’t been converted yet but these make me want to try!

    Reply

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