Cilantro Lime Rice
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Cilantro lime rice, brightly flavored with freshly chopped cilantro and lime juice, is the perfect accompaniment to tacos, burritos, salads, and more. A Chipotle copycat recipe!
Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: Just a couple of easy additions make ordinary white rice into something special.
How long it takes: 25 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: saucepan or rice cooker
Servings: 6
This recipe is SO simple and so good. Fresh cilantro and slightly tart citrusy lime make plain rice fresh and interesting, and pretty, too!
If you enjoy the food at Chipotle restaurants, this rice may sound familiar. It is a copycat of their delicious rice (did you know they also have brown rice now?). This version probably has much less sodium, oil and fat than their version and tastes just as great. It’s way more economical to make your own, too.
About this Recipe
Any long grain white rice will work: jasmine rice, basmati rice, or regular long grain white rice. You can make it with brown rice, too.
There are various methods for cooking rice: on the stovetop which is the method I use for this recipe, with a rice cooker, or in your Instant Pot. Use the cooking method you’re most comfortable with.
I’ll get you started on the recipe here and give you some helpful tips. As always, look for the printable recipe card near the end of the post. It has complete instructions, measurements, and nutrition information.
What You’ll Need
- Long Grain White Rice: The recipe calls for two cups of rice but it’s easy to halve or double the recipe, depending on how much rice you need.
- Water: Use a ratio of 2 cups water to 1 cup rice.
- Salt: Salt is needed to season the rice. Without it, the rice will taste bland.
- Olive Oil: Olive oil has great flavor and is heart-healthy but it’s fine to substitute a different oil if you like.
- Lime Zest and Lime Juice: You’ll need two fresh limes. Using both the zest and juice ensures that the rice will have plenty of lime flavor. Zest the limes before you halve them and squeeze the juice. It’s way easier that way, trust me.
- Fresh Cilantro: Wash this fresh herb thoroughly in cold water. It’s surprising how much dirt can cling to the leaves and stems. Dry it in your salad spinner or with a clean lint-free cloth or paper towels.
Rinsing Rice
Why rinse rice before cooking it? Rinsing long grain white rice removes excess starch which coats the dry grains. By removing some of the starch, the cooked rice will be less sticky or gummy. Note: Enriched white rice may lose some of the added nutrients by rinsing.
How to rinse rice: Simply put the rice in a fine mesh strainer and run cool water over it until the water runs clear, 1-3 minutes. Cook as directed.
How To Make “Chipotle Rice”
So whichever method and type of rice you choose, get the rice cooking.
In the meantime, zest and juice the lime and chop fresh cilantro. Don’t worry about throwing in a few stems as well as the leaves, as long as they’re pretty finely chopped.
Mix the lime zest, juice and cilantro with olive oil in a small bowl. Sometimes I just stir them together right in the serving bowl but then you do have to be careful to get it all up from the bottom of the bowl when you add the rice. You can also just add the mixture to the top of the rice and mix it in.
When the rice is finished cooking, spoon it into the serving bowl and mix with the lime/cilantro mixture. Isn’t that easy? If you want, garnish with more cilantro or lime zest. A few turns of coarsely ground black pepper is good, too!
FAQs
Cilantro lime rice is very versatile. It is a great alternative to plain white rice and can dress up any meal.
Add cilantro lime rice as a side dish with a Mexican meal. Its bright flavors are a perfect foil to what can be a rich and spicy meal. Add it to your burritos, or burrito bowls. It’s great as a side with tacos or chili. Try serving cilantro lime rice with taco chicken tenders.
Cilantro lime rice also goes great with stir fries or this Instant Pot honey Sriracha chicken. Serve this easy meal with steamed broccoli and you have a delicious and well-balanced dinner.
I can’t 100% say this with all certainty, but I believe Chipotle rice is basmati rice, a long grain white rice. They also offer brown rice.
Make It Your Own
Since this is such a simple recipe with only a few ingredients, any changes you make will have a pretty dramatic effect on the finished product.
- Not a cilantro fan? Substitute chopped Italian flat leaf parsley.
- If you prefer, substitute brown rice. It’s more nutritious and has a nutty, more wholesome flavor. Keep in mind that brown rice takes quite a bit longer to cook.
- No limes available? Use lemons instead. Obviously, the flavor will be somewhat different but that isn’t a bad thing.
- Want to add protein? Make the rice with black beans added. They add protein, nutrients, fiber, and visual appeal.
- It’s easy to halve or double this recipe. Just keep the same ratio of rice to water, and increase the rest of the ingredients accordingly.
Storage & Reheating Tips
Refrigerate any leftover rice in a tightly covered container for up 4 days or in the freezer for a couple of months.
Reheat individual portions in the microwave in a covered microwave safe dish. Rice can also be reheated in a covered skillet on the stove over medium low heat. Frozen rice will thaw quickly as it’s reheated especially if you can break it into small-sized chunks.
More Southwestern Style Sides
If you like this cilantro lime rice, you may want to try:
- Easy Mexican Rice
- Black Bean and Avocado Salad (great with chips!)
- Frijoles Borrachos (Drunken beans)
- Instant Pot Pinto Beans
- Slow Cooker Refried Beans
- Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Quinoa
- Roasted Cauliflower with chili powder
- Oven Roasted Southwestern Sweet Potatoes
- Pickled Red Onions
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Ingredients
- 2 cups long grain white rice, rinsed if desired (see note)
- 4 cups water
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, canola, or vegetable oil, divided
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (about 2 small limes)
- 1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest (zest the lime before squeezing the juice)
- 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Cook rice with 4 cups water, salt, and 1 tablespoon oil, according to package directions.
- Fluff rice with fork; transfer to large bowl.
- Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil, lime juice, lime zest, and cilantro. Toss lightly until combined.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- To rinse rice before cooking, put it in a fine mesh strainer and run cool water over it until the water runs clear, 2-3 minutes. Rinsing will reduce stickiness but this step is optional.
- Substitute brown rice, cooking it according to package directions.
- 1 cup uncooked rice makes 3 cups of cooked rice.
- Instant Pot Instructions: Add 2 cups rice, 2 cups water, 1 tablespoon oil, and 2 teaspoons salt to Instant Pot and stir. Secure lid. Set to Pressure Cook for 4 minutes. It will take 8 minutes to come to full pressure. After the timer goes off, let the pressure naturally release (i.e. leave the lid on and don’t release the pressure) for 10 minutes more. Continue with recipe as directed.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Tialyn says
This rice was perfect! We use to always buy the box mix but this was so easy and delicious it will be our new go to recipe!
Rachel Gurk says
Yay! It’s so much fresher than the boxed version!
JasmineCooks says
Best rice I have made in a very long time!!! Delish!
Rachel Gurk says
So glad you liked it! Thanks for taking the time to come back and leave a comment!
Missy says
Can you use 2 cups no salt chicken broth and 2 cups of water instead of 4 cups of water for extra flavor?
Rachel Gurk says
You could…but there is already a ton of great flavor from the lime and cilantro so I don’t think it is really necessary.
jasminecooks says
I used chicken broth and it came out amazing
Rachel Gurk says
So happy to hear that! Thanks for coming back to leave a comment and share that tip with everyone!
Amber Stults says
I made this tonight in the rice cooker. Delicious!!!
Swagman420 says
can you use lemon juice innstead of lime?
Rachel Gurk says
I personally wouldn’t — it would completely change the taste.
Patty says
I have never added oil to my cooked rice. Just wondering what it does for the rice.
Rachel Gurk says
Mostly just keeps it from clumping together :)
Patty says
Thanks…`:)
Marie says
Hi. Your are right, this is simple and delicious. Thanks for the recipe.
liz says
Made this last night, will be adding to our weekly meals. Boyfriend who eats chipolte very regularly said it tastes just like it!
Rachel Gurk says
Yay! Thanks for letting me know!
Natalia says
I made this recipe tonight and it was FANTASTIC. Thank you so much for sharing.
Rachel Gurk says
Glad you liked it! Thanks for coming back to let me know.
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says
You want to know something funny? I made this from Skinny Taste a while back but I totally forgot where I got the recipe from lol! You are reminding me of how delicious it was! Mmm lime is so good on rice!
Rachel Gurk says
The flavors are so refreshing, aren’t they?
Kathryn says
This sounds so great and full of flavour – I love how bright and vibrant it sounds!
Aggie says
Yum!! My kids have been LOVING rice lately, need to add this to the rotation!
Nutmeg Nanny says
LOVE Chipotle! Sadly I only get it when I go down to the city. Not sure why they haven’t thought about moving into our area. This rice looks delicious and it’s absolutely perfect for homemade burrito bowls.
Lesa @ Edesia's Notebook says
I made this last night as part of my taco/burrito bar. Yum! It went perfectly with the sweet and spicy pork I made. Such a simple idea, but I never would have thought of it. I was so looking forward to leftovers for lunch today, then found out my husband threw out the leftover rice. :( Guess who’s being sent to the store for more lime and cilantro? :) Thanks for posting, Rachel!
Rachel Gurk says
So glad you liked it! Love that you’re making it again already! :)
Meagan @ Scarletta Bakes says
Such pretty, festive rice! It’s always nice to have a deliciously flavored rice on hand like this one!