Cilantro lime rice is packed with fresh herb and zesty flavors. Better than Chipotle’s, because it’s homemade and you get to adjust the flavors. A filling side dish to any Mexican meal (or Tex-Mex) especially in burritos.
Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe Is The BEST
- If you are bored of plain rice, try light flavored rice, try this lime cilantro rice. It’s bright, fresh and has zippy lime flavors. A side dish that you want to have with any Mexican meal. This recipe is copycat of popular Chipotle cilantro lime rice recipe, but it’s even better.
- Like I always say homemade scores better. You get to adjust the flavors and taste as per your preference and you also can make it healthy as possible.
- A rice recipe that is delicious, easy to make and you can whip it up pretty fast too. And it goes great with everything…almost! Rice is so inexpensive, if you are on budget meals, rice is what you should be putting as side dish.
If you don’t have to eat this as main course. Use this light, filling, fresh as side dish with not just Mexican inspired meal, but also with BBQ, roast chicken. And like you guessed, this rice goes perfect with burrito bowls and tacos.
Planning taco Tuesday? Upgrade you plain rice to bright, fresh rice instead of boring plain rice.
A side dish recipe that needs very few, inexpensive ingredients, less hands on work and quick on the clock. We are talking less than 30 minutes.
White long grain rice is best for the recipe. As long grain rice has less starch, once cooked they remain drier and each grain separated. Sticky rice varieties are not ideal choice for this lime cilantro rice recipe.
Long grain rice also has a distinct flavor that works great with the flavors used in the recipe.
Why Should You Make Chipotle Copycat Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe?
- Because plain rice is boring. You need an upgrade. Cilantro and lime recipe is perfect fit.
- This flavoured rice is not overpowering. The subtle flavors are fresh, light and so wonderful.
- Not just for Mexican cuisine, but you can serve this with any American and Asian recipes too. Think BBQ or roasted meat and lime cilantro rice on the side. On the sides on chicken wings – yum.
- Love taco nights? Then this rice recipe is just for you. It’s great with tacos and burrito bowls.
- With very less prep work, and very little cooking time this rice dish is ready.
- Rice cooks in less than 30 minutes.
Ingredients Needed
All simple, readily available ingredients that will work under your budget.
- Long grain rice (basmati rice) – long grain rice cooks fast and the texture is better for this recipe. However you can use short grain normal rice too, cooking time may vary for short grain rice. Check this post to know how to cook rice.
- Water or chicken stock or vegetable stock – definitely recommend stock (chicken stock or vegetable stock if you want vegan option)
- Olive oil – can use vegetable cooking oil too or any other flavorless oil for the recipe.
- Butter – unsalted butter. Butter is usually added in the end to enrich the taste and texture of rice.
- Lime juice – best to use only freshly squeezed lime juice. I wouldn’t recommend bottled lime juice at all.
- Lime zest – freshly grated lime zest
- Cilantro – please adjust the amount of cilantro you want to use in the rice as per your taste preference. Many people aren’t a fan of cilantro, for those use as much as you can bare. I wouldn’t recommend any other alternatives for cilantro, as the recipe is all about cilantro.
- Pinch of salt (optional)
What Kind Of Rice Is Best To Use?
You need rice that has less starch, so you get non sticky rice once cooked. Long grain rice are the best choice. Any long grain rice like –
basmati rice,
long grain brown rice,
extra long grain white rice
Jasmine white rice
or brown rice
are the ones you should be picking.
How To Make Cilantro Lime Rice?
- Rinse the rice : Always rinse rice before you cook it. This helps removes excess starch (surface starch) and keeps it from sticking together. Rinsing gets rid of any dirt. Place rice in fine mesh strainer or a bowl and rinse it for several times. Rinse by scrubbing rice gently with finger tips.
- Saute : Another step I follow to make rice cook perfectly with separated grains. Heat up little oil (olive oil or canola oil). Saute rinsed rice in a heavy bottom sauce pan om medium heat. Keep stirring until rice begins to brown. This step will ensure rice is cooked perfectly and also every grain remains separated. Note : Sauteing rice in oil has another advantage. If you follow this step, rice will not stick (and burn) at the bottom.
- Water To Rice Ratio : We shared detailed recipe on how to steam rice a few days back which covers in detail information of everything about how to steam rice along with water to rice ratio for each type of rice. Check how to steam rice post for details. For long grain rice, use 1:2 ratio. For every 1 cup long grain rice, add 2 cups liquids. Once rice is sauted, add liquid of your choice – water or chicken stock to pack in more flavors. For vegetarian option, use vegetable stock. Scrape rice sticking to the side of pan into the liquid.
- Simmer and Cook : Simmer flame to medium low heat and bring water to boil. Pro-Tip: it’s important to cook rice in correct temperatures. If cooked on high heat, water will evaporate very quickly preventing rice from absorbing the liquids, thus you rice won’t get cooked as desired. Cook uncovered until the water level drops below the surface of the rice.
Then reduce flame to low. Now cover pan with lid (when almost 90% of water is absorbed) and simmer cook for about 12 minutes. Note : Heat should be at it’s lowest temperature. Else rice will begin to burn at the bottom. DO NOT Stir rice in between. Leave it untouched.
- Let it Rest : Once cooked remove sauce pan from heat and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes undisturbed. Do not open the lid. This helps rice to cook through. Rice absorbs moisture from steam and makes it fluffy and perfect.
- Flavor : Open lid. Add butter, lime juice, cilantro, lime zest and gently fluff it with fork or spatula. If needed add salt as per taste.
How Long Does Cilantro Lime Rice Last?
If you choose to, you can make this rice ahead and store it in fridge. Any left over rice can be refrigerated. Make sure cooked rice is cooled completely. Then store in air tight containers or air tight zip lock bags and store in fridge for about 3 days to 3 months (freezer).
To store longer -freezer rice in air tight bags for upto 3 months.
To re-heat – thaw frozen rice in fridge for couple of hours. Then transfer into microwave safe bowl and reheat in microwave for about 3 to 4 minutes. Add a splash of water before reheating if you feel rice is too dry. This will help rice stay moist even after reheating.
Tips To Make Best Cilantro Lime Rice
- Use long grain rice for best results. Wouldn’t recommend sticky rice types.
- Always rinse rice. This helps remove excess starch and rice stays separated.
- Use chicken stock (or vegetable stock) to add more flavors to rice instead of plain water.
- Sautéing rice first in oil helps brings out flavors from the rice (long grain rice are aromatic and full of flavors) plus prevents rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Begin with 1:2 ratio. It works perfectly for me all the time. In case if the ratio doesn’t work for you, reduce water level the next time you cook to 1 ¾ cup instead of 2 cups for every 1 cup long grain rice.
- For perfectly cooked rice, simmer heat to low and cook. Rice will absorb all the moisture from the steam and cook perfectly.
- Allow rice to rest once cooking is done, without opening the lid.
LOVE RICE ? DON’T MISS OTHER RICE RECIPES FROM THE BLOG –
- How To Make Steamed Rice
- Cooking Rice In Instant Pot
- Thai Pineapple Fried Rice
- Chicken Meal Prep
- Coconut Rice
- Lemon Rice
- Curd Rice
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Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice
Equipment
- Sauce Pan
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup long grain rice basmati rice
- 2 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon butter optional, highly recommended
- 3 tablespoon lime juice freshly squeezed
- Zest of one lime
- 1 cup cilantro leaves finely chopped
Instructions
- Rinse the rice : Always rinse rice before you cook it. This helps removes excess starch (surface starcand keeps it from sticking together. Rinsing gets rid of any dirt.
- Place rice in fine mesh strainer or a bowl and rinse it for several times. Rinse by scrubbing rice gently with finger tips.
- Saute : Another step I follow to make rice cook perfectly with separated grains. Heat up little oil (olive oil or canola oil). Saute rinsed rice in a heavy bottom sauce pan om medium heat. Keep stirring until rice begins to brown. This step will ensure rice is cooked perfectly and also every grain remains separated.Note : Sauteing rice in oil has another advantage. If you follow this step, rice will not stick to the bottom.
- Water To Rice Ratio : We shared detailed recipe on how to steam rice a few days back which covers in detail information of everything about how to steam rice along with water to rice ratio for each type of rice. Check how to steam rice post for details. For long grain rice, use 1:2 ratio. For every 1 cup long grain rice, add 2 cups liquids. Once rice is sauted, add liquid of your choice – water or chicken stock to pack in more flavors. For vegetarian option, use vegetable stock.
- Scrape rice sticking to the side of pan into the liquid.
- Simmer and Cook : Simmer flame to medium low heat and bring water to boil.Pro-Tip: it’s important to cook rice in correct temperatures. If cooked on high heat, water will evaporate very quickly preventing rice from absorbing the liquids, thus you rice won’t get cooked as desired.
- Cook uncovered until the water level drops below the surface of the rice. Then reduce flame to low. Now cover pan with lid (when almost 90% of water is absorbeand simmer cook for about 12 minutes.Note : Heat should be at it’s lowest temperature. Else rice will begin to burn at the bottom.
- DO NOT Stir rice in between. Leave it untouched.
- Let it Rest : Once cooked remove sauce pan from heat and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes undisturbed. Do not open the lid. This helps rice to cook through. Rice absorbs moisture from steam and makes it fluffy and perfect.
- Flavor : Open lid. Add butter, lime juice, cilantro, lime zest and gently fluff it with fork or spatula. If needed add salt as per taste.
- Serve
Video
Notes
- Use long grain rice for best results. Wouldn’t recommend sticky rice types.
- Always rinse rice. This helps remove excess starch and rice stays separated. NOTE (to rinse or not to rinse you DECIDE) – for those who disagree which rinsing rice, please remember this is how I always cook rice and this is how my mom always cooked rice for more than 40 years. Rinsing not just removes excess starch but also helps remove any dust or dirt in the rice. This isn’t ASIAN dish where you would need sticky rice, so I do recommend rinsing rice, but I would leave the decision to you. If you don’t want to rinse rice, go ahead, but note your cilantro rice would turn a but sticky and if you don’t mind sticky rice you’re good!
- Use chicken stock (or vegetable stock) to add more flavors to rice instead of plain water.
- Sautéing rice first in oil helps brings out flavors from the rice (long grain rice are aromatic and full of flavors) plus prevents rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Begin with 1:2 ratio. It works perfectly for me all the time. In case if the ratio doesn’t work for you, reduce water level the next time you cook to 1 ¾ cup instead of 2 cups for every 1 cup long grain rice.
- For perfectly cooked rice, simmer heat to low and cook. Rice will absorb all the moisture from the steam and cook perfectly.
- Allow rice to rest once cooking is done, without opening the lid.
Leslie
I agree with you! As much as I love chipotle’s rice, homemade is always much better and better for you! Great recipe!
jyothirajesh
Thank you Leslie
Brooke
Great recipe but WAAAY too much cilantro! Next time I will use 1/4 cup! 1 cup literally ruined it.
Jyothi Rajesh
Brooke – i understand. Do adjust cilantro as per your taste preference. I love cilantro and I have had many of my readers say they’ll add more cilantro next time.
Danielle
I can see so many great ways to use this rice – it looks absolutely increible and will be a wonderful side to so many of my favorite dishes!
jyothirajesh
Thank you Danielle
Mahy
I love your tip about chicken stock. I have been doing it for many years now to add flavor to the rice and just a bit of that special deliciousness. Yum!
jyothirajesh
Thank you Mahy
Cheese Curd In Paradise
Homemade is always the best way to go, IMO. I love the combination of flavors in this dish! Sounds wonderful!
jyothirajesh
Thank you
Swathi
It has been a while I had chipotle rice, your recipe is perfect. I am going to give this one a try. Simple rice with beans is so yum.
jyothirajesh
Thank you Swati
Cindy Bennett
I thought this rice was so tasty and easy to make. I added 1/2 cup of sliced green onions and reduced the cilantro to 1/2 cup. Me and my family loved it. Definitely a keeper. Thanks for sharing!
Jyothi Rajesh
So glad to know you loved the recipe! Thank you!
Sande Wendt
My family loved this rice dish. I made it with brown rice (with adjusted cooking time, of course). Thank you!
jyothirajesh
So glad you and your family liked this rice Sande.
Becky
Can I cook rice in a rice cooker and then add other ingredients?? Can I toast rice first then add to rice cooker?
Jyothi Rajesh
yes you can do that. I haven’t tried it though but I guess it can be done
Brian
A bit too much lime, but it still turned out great, thanks!
Jyothi Rajesh
Glad you liked it. Please do give it a try next time by adjusting the amount of lime you add!
Sylvia
This rice is amazing! From now on, we are gong to cook our rice this way. Thanks for the great recipe!
Jyothi Rajesh
Thank you
Yolanda
Great instructions…perfect results! Thanks.
Jyothi Rajesh
Glad you found the instructions detailed and useful!
Kari
I literally followed every single step in this recipe to a T and my rice turned out like mush.
Jyothi Rajesh
Can you tell me what type of rice you used? I can say for sure you won’t get rice turned into mush from this recipe. Not just me, I have numerous readers try this recipe and they have shared their feedback.
Can you tell me the steps you used?
Marie
This rice is amazing! I will be sure to have limes available always!! This is the most refreshingly tasting rice!! I was skeptical of the cilantro, but NOW, I’m a fan!!
Thank you!!!
Jyothi Rajesh
I’m so glad you liked the rice. Thank you
Tina
Can I double this recipe
Jyothi Rajesh
Yes, sure you can.
Monica Galindo
I have been cooking Mexican and white rice for years and every time was a fail. I decided to try a recipe from Pinterest and I am so glad I did. I am in complete shock with have delicious my rice came out. Thank you so much for this amazing recipe.
Jyothi Rajesh
Thank you so much for your feedback Monica. I’m so glad you tried and loved the rice.
Mlk
This rice was excellent! I made a triple batch and made a burrito bowl buffet for a large crowd.
Jyothi Rajesh
I’m so glad you loved the recipe, thank you for your feedback!
Tracy
Best rice recipe ever! Family favorite. So popular I triple the recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Jyothi Rajesh
I’m so glad you and your family approve this rice recipe! Thank you for sharing! If time permits do check some other recipes from my space and give it a try.
Anisah
SO tasty and very easy to make. Used this recipe for my copycat Chipotle burrito bowl and I think I have them beat. Also, thanks for all the pro tips for making the rice. It came out perfectly!
Jyothi Rajesh
So glad to hear you loved the recipe! Thank you for sharing!
Kim
Excellent and easy recipe! Goes great with Asian, Mexican, and Middle Eastern flavor palettes. I make a double recipe every time and we savor the leftovers!
Jyothi Rajesh
Dear Kim, so glad to hear you loved the recipe. Thank you
Cindie
Delicious!!! Thank you. I love Chipotle’s and your tips on the rice is the greatest. I can’t always get to the restaurant, especially since COVID 19. Now I can get my Chipotle’s fix at home. The rice really makes it.
Jyothi Rajesh
I’m so glad to hear you loved the recipe Cindie!
Kori D.
This is my FAVORITE go to rice! Such good flavors. I almost always adjust recipes to my liking, but this one is perfect as is. Thank you!!
Jyothi Rajesh
I’m so glad to hear you loved the recipe! Thank you for you trying and liking 🙂