Cilantro Lime Rice
A savory and flavorful side dish, Cilantro Lime Rice is easy to make either on the stovetop or in the instant pot and pairs well with any favorite Mexican meal from fish tacos to chicken fajitas. This recipe is super versatile and loved by all. Make a batch this week!
Cilantro lime rice is one of those dishes that I always love to order when I eat out at our favorite local Mexican restaurant. This is my take on the classic side, and it turned out better than I could have imagined. It’s ready in under 30 minutes, and cooks up light and fluffy with plenty of delicious flavors. You can serve this as a side dish alongside chicken enchiladas, wrap it up in a burrito or add it into a bowl with all of your favorite Mexican ingredients for the ultimate burrito bowl. Yum!
Why you should make this recipe
- So tasty. Cilantro lime rice is satisfying, flavorful, perfectly tender and is great served alongside so many different meals!
- Easy and fast to make. You will love how simple this is to prep with just a handful of ingredients! It makes a large batch, and you only need about 30 mins from start to finish!
- Make ahead. We love to meal prep this and have a delicious side to serve with different lunches and dinners throughout the week.
Ingredients needed
This cilantro lime rice recipe is so simple and SO good. The taste is even better than Chipotle’s version! The flavors from the fresh cilantro and slightly tart citrusy lime make this dish super tasty! Here’s everything you’ll need to make it:
- Butter or oil. You’ll need a bit of butter or oil for cooking the onion and garlic.
- Onion + garlic. Diced onion and minced garlic add delicious aromatic flavor to the rice.
- Green chilies. You’ll need one small can of green chiles. Be aware that you can buy spicy or mild.
- Salt. To bring out all of the flavors!
- Broth. We recommend using a low-sodium broth because then you can control the amount of salt in the rice. Feel free to use vegetable broth to keep this recipe vegan. Sub with 4 cups water, if preferred.
- White rice. I like to use Uncle Ben’s parboiled long-grain white rice because it cooks up nice and fluffy. Other rice varieties may be used, but you might need to adjust the cook time.
- Cilantro. I know that there are many people who don’t enjoy cilantro. You can leave it out, if you prefer. However, what’s cilantro lime rice without the cilantro?!
- Lime juice. Definitely use fresh lime juice in this recipe! Add in a little lime zest, if you’d like.
- Green onions. Delicious freshness in every bite!
Recipe tip
Use the cilantro stems! They have just as much flavor as the leaves. Just be sure to mince them finely, so there is no unpleasant texture.
How to make this recipe on the stovetop
Making this rice dish couldn’t be any easier. You can either make it on the stove top or in an instant pot. Here’s a rundown of how to make this recipe on the stovetop:
- Cook veggies. Melt butter or heat oil in a pot or medium saucepan and then add the onion. Sauté about 5 minutes and until soft, add garlic and sauté for one more minute.
- Cook rice. Add green chilies, salt, broth and rice. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low and cook for 18 minutes.
- Serve. Once cooked, remove from heat and uncover. Fluff rice with a fork, and add cilantro, lime juice and green onion. Enjoy!
How to make this recipe in an instant pot
If you want this rice on the table in 10 minutes, you’re in luck, cilantro lime rice cooks up wonderfully in the pressure cooker! Here’s how:
- Sauté. Push “sauté”, add butter/oil and onion. Cook, stirring until onion is soft, then add garlic and cook for another minute.
- Cook. Add green chilies, salt, 2.5 cups broth, and rice. Seal the lid (make sure steam valve is sealed) and push “cancel” (To get it off the “sauté” function) then cook on manual/high pressure for 3 minutes. Let cook, and when the cooking cycle is complete, let the pressure release naturally (which means, when it’s done and it beeps, don’t twist the pressure valve to vent) for at least ten minutes, then you can release the pressure after ten minutes.
- Serve. Turn the instant pot “off”, remove the lid, and fluff with fork. Add cilantro, squeeze the lime juice in, add green onion and give it a final stir. Enjoy your instant pot cilantro lime rice!
Expert tips
This makes such a great side dish, but here are several tips so that you end up with the best cilantro lime rice possible.
- Rice varieties. I recommend using a parboiled long grain white rice for this dish. Short grain rice tends to be stickier, which doesn’t work as well in this preparation. Brown rice would work, you’ll just have to increase the simmer time to about 45-50 minutes. It may also be necessary to increase the amount of broth needed.
- Rice rinsing: Be sure to rinse the rice before cooking. This will remove any extra starch and prevent the rice from becoming overly sticky while cooking.
- Lime juice. Bottled lime juice simply cannot compare to freshly squeezed lime juice. I highly recommend using fresh for this recipe!
- Make it spicy. For a little added kick, cook diced jalapeño along with the onion. You can also use spicy green chilies instead of the mild variety.
- Low carb. Looking for a low carb version of cilantro lime rice, try our delicious cilantro lime cauliflower rice.
Frequently asked questions
On Chipotle’s website, they mention that their cilantro lime rice is steamed with bay leaves to impart their herbal fragrance, then it’s seasoned with lime and lemon juices and finished with cilantro for its fresh, slightly tart flavor.
We like Uncle Ben’s long-grain white rice for this recipe. You can also use jasmine rice or basmati rice. These types of rice will yield a firmer, fluffier texture. Short-grain rice does not work well in this recipe and will become too moist and sticky.
This recipe will make at least 8, 1/2 cup servings of cilantro lime rice, making it great for meal prep! You can also half the recipe, if you don’t want quite that much.
Variations
This is a basic recipe for cilantro lime rice, you can add a variety of other ingredients to make your own flavor combinations.
- Vegetables. Try adding diced tomato, corn kernels, red bell pepper, or diced zucchini.
- Beans. Stir in a can or two of drained pinto or black beans.
- Cheese. A sprinkle of cotija, cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese would definitely be tasty.
- Spices. For a little extra zip add in chili powder, crushed chili flakes or ground coriander.
Serving suggestions
Cilantro lime rice easily pairs with a variety of protein options and Mexican dishes. Serve it on the side or make a burrito bowl with some seasoned chicken, black beans, guacamole, and pico de gallo! Here’s some other delicious pairing options:
- Beef enchiladas
- Crockpot chicken fajitas
- Crispy beef tacos
- Shrimp fajitas
- Grilled chicken tacos
- Pan fried cod with corn salsa
- Pork carnitas
- Carne asada tacos
- Shrimp tacos
Storing and freezing recommendations
This is a great make-ahead side because it will keep well in the fridge for up to about 5 days. And then through the week, you can use it to make burrito bowls or as sides for other meals you make.
- Storing leftovers. Place any leftover rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to about 5 days.
- To reheat. Pop it in the microwave and cook for 30 second intervals until warm. You can also give it a quick stir in a saucepan or skillet, over low to medium heat, on the stovetop.
- Freezing. Place leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container or a freezer-safe baggie in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Cilantro lime rice is one of my family’s favorite side recipes ever! Trust me, everyone will LOVE this flavorful dish and it’s SO easy too! If you enjoy this recipe, be sure to give my Mexican Brown Rice a try, too.
More delicious side dish recipes
If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves this recipe as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.
Cilantro Lime Rice
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter or cooking oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 (3 ounce) can diced green chilies
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups chicken stock or broth , (2.5 cups if using instant pot)
- 2 cups Uncle Ben's parboiled long-grain white rice
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- juice of one lime
- 2 green onions, chopped
Instructions
Stovetop directions:
- In a medium pot over medium high heat, melt butter and add onion. Sauté about 5 minutes and until onion is soft, add garlic and sauté for one more minute.
- Add green chilies, salt, broth and rice. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low and cook for 18 minutes.
- Once cooked, remove from heat and uncover. Fluff rice with a fork, and add cilantro, lime juice, and green onion.
Instant pot directions:
- Push “sauté”, add butter/oil and onion. Cook, stirring until onion is soft, then add garlic and cook for another minute. Add green chilies, salt, 2.5 cups broth, and rice. Seal the lid (make sure steam valve is sealed) and push “cancel” (To get it off the “sauté” function) then cook on manual/high pressure for 3 minutes. Let cook, and when the cooking cycle is complete, let the pressure release naturally (which means, when it’s done and it beeps, don’t twist the pressure valve to vent) for at least ten minutes, then you can release the pressure after ten minutes.
- Turn the instant pot “off”, remove the lid, and fluff with fork. Add cilantro, squeeze the lime juice in, and green onion and give it a final stir.
Notes
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