This cilantro lime rice is a simple yet flavorful side dish, perfect for any meal. The fresh, citrusy flavors of lime, lemon, and cilantro blend beautifully with fluffy rice, creating a light and refreshing addition to your table.
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Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the
recipe card at the bottom of the post.
You can find important tips/tricks in the
blog post.
I made a Copycat version of Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice while recreating restaurant recipes at home. This recipe is one of my favorites, and it’s pretty easy to whip up at home.
This recipe elevates basic white rice. To make it, add bay leaves, salt, and oil to the rice and water while it cooks. Once done, fluff the cooked rice and add lime juice, lemon juice, more salt, and cilantro.
I make this rice on the stovetop, but you could also use this recipe in your rice cooker or oven. I like to serve it with chipotle chicken. It also serves as a side for turkey tacos, curried shrimp, or braised chicken thighs.
Ingredients at a Glance (Full detailed list of ingredients and instructions in the recipe card below)
- Rice: long-grain white rice (such as Basmati or Jasmine)
- Liquid: water, lime, and lemon juice
- Seasonings: 2 bay leaves, salt, and cilantro
- Oil: olive oil (Chipotle uses rice bran oil)
How to make Cilantro Lime Rice
Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Then, combine the rinsed rice, water, bay leaves, salt, and olive oil in a medium saucepan. Stir to mix everything well. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 22 minutes.
Then, remove the saucepan from the heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Then, remove the bay leaves and fluff the rice with a fork.
Drizzle the lime juice and lemon juice over the rice. Add the chopped cilantro, and gently fold everything together to distribute the flavors evenly.
Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary, adding more salt, lime juice, or lemon juice to suit your taste.
What type of rice is best for cilantro lime rice?
Long-grain white rice, such as Basmati or Jasmine, is typically recommended for its fluffy texture and flavor absorption.
Can I use brown rice instead of white rice?
Yes, you can use brown rice, but you may need to adjust the cooking time and water quantity as brown rice takes longer to cook.
Can I make cilantro lime rice in a rice cooker or multicooker?
Yes! You can make this recipe in a rice or multicooker, like the Instant Pot. Simply follow the recipe as written, adding the rice, water, bay leaves, and oil to the inner pot.. Close and follow the instructions for cooking white rice on your machine. Once done, open and add the lemon, lime, and cilantro. Then fluff the rice.
Looking for other rice recipes? Try these out:
I hope you enjoy this cilantro lime rice recipe as much as we do. If you tried this recipe, please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below! Your feedback is greatly appreciated and helps others find and enjoy this recipe.
Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup long-grain white rice such as Basmati or Jasmine
- 2 cups water
- 2 bay leaves depending on size and preference
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus salt to taste
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons fresh cilantro finely chopped
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice from 1 medium lime
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice from 1/2 medium lemon
Instructions
- Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Then, combine the rinsed rice, water, bay leaves, salt, and olive oil in a medium saucepan. Stir to mix everything well. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 22 minutes, or until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender.
- After the rice is cooked, remove the saucepan from the heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Then, remove the bay leaves and fluff the rice with a fork.
- Drizzle the lime juice and lemon juice over the rice. Add the chopped cilantro, and gently fold everything together to distribute the flavors evenly.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary, adding more salt, lime juice, or lemon juice to suit your taste.