Cilantro Lime Rice (Chipotle Copycat)

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Cilantro lime rice is the ultimate Chipotle copycat. Fluffy white rice is infused with bright, zesty, and garlicky flavor, and it’s the perfect accompaniment to any Mexican dish — I’ll share more ideas below!

A bowl of cilantro lime rice.
Photo: Gayle McLeod

Why I Make This Cilantro Lime Rice All The Time

I’m a big Chipotle restaurant fan, with my go-to order being a grilled chicken or carnitas rice bowl topped with guacamole, pico de gallo, and fajita vegetables. But the cilantro lime rice is one of my favorite components. So I was over the moon when this homemade recipe turned out perfectly! Here’s a quick overview as to why I love it (and you will too!)…

  • It has so much flavor with simple ingredients. All you need are fresh cilantro, limes, and garlic to amp up cooked white rice and recreate Chipotle’s golden treasure. 
  • It’s a meal prep and party favorite. Whether you’re prepping dinners for the week or making a large batch of rice for a potluck or dinner party, this recipe satisfies every single time. 
Ingredients for cilantro lime rice.

Cilantro Lime Rice Ingredients

  • Rice: Long-grain rice is ideal as it produces firm grains that become light and fluffy after cooking. Today, I’m using white Jasmine rice. If you want to use brown rice, make sure to look up the proper cooking time for that. 
  • Cilantro and Limes: Grab a bundle of fresh cilantro and a few limes (if you want extra for garnish). You’ll need the zest and juice from the lime for maximum zesty goodness. 
  • Garlic: The cooked minced garlic adds a savory flavor without being pungent. Plus, a touch of garlic makes everything taste better.

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

How To Make Cilantro Lime Rice

Prep the rice. Wash the rice in a fine mesh sieve over running water. Add the minced garlic to a pot over medium heat and cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Then, add the rice and salt, and stir for a minute or so until mixed well.

Cooking rice in a pot.

Cook the rice. Bring the pot to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender.

Cooked white rice in a pot.

Mix in cilantro lime flavor. Remove the pot from heat (keep it covered) and let it steam for about 10 minutes. Then, add the lime juice, lime zest, and chopped cilantro. Give everything a good toss and it’s ready for eating!

A bowl of cilantro lime rice ingredients.

Ways To Serve It

Although a burrito bowl is my go-to, this rice is a delicious side dish for any Mexican spread, even for breakfast with huevos rancheros! Here are a few ideas: 

Cilantro lime rice in a bowl.

Common Questions

How do I store or freeze this? 

If you’re just storing for the week, it can be kept in the fridge for 4 to 5 days. If you’d like to freeze this, it can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw it in the fridge overnight. Then microwave a portion for a minute or saute it on the stovetop until warm. You can also add a squeeze of lime juice to add fresh zestiness. 

Can I make this in a rice cooker?

If you have a rice cooker — absolutely! Simply cook the rice as you would normally, fluff it up, and mix in the chopped cilantro, lime juice, zest, and salt. If you want to add the cooked garlic, you can saute that first and mix it in with the rest of the ingredients. 

Can this be kept in a crockpot for a party?

Yes! I always like to keep mine warm in a crockpot. This makes it easy to transfer and keep it warm and delicious no matter where the party is. 

A spoonful of cilantro lime rice.

If You Love Cilantro Lime Flavor

If you make this cilantro lime rice recipe, I’d love to know how it turned out in the comment box below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more food inspiration (and exclusive content), join my free newsletter.

Cilantro lime rice with fresh limes.

Cilantro Lime Rice (Chipotle Copycat)

4.88 from 58 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Lisa Bryan

Description

Cilantro lime rice is a flavorful side dish that will brighten up any meal. Plus, it's easy to make and comes together quickly. Watch the video below to see how I make it in my kitchen!

Video

Equipment

Ingredients 
 

Instructions 

  • Rinse. Rinse the rice in a fine mesh sieve until the water runs clear. Set aside.
    Washing rice in a sieve.
  • Saute and toast. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add the rice and salt, and stir the rice for a minute, lightly toasting it.
    Rice cooking in a pot.
  • Simmer. Add the water, bring it to a boil, cover the pot, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender. Remove the pot from heat (keep it covered) and let it steam for an additional 10 minutes.
    White jasmine rice in a pot.
  • Add flavor. Add the lime juice, lime zest, and chopped cilantro. Stir everything together and serve immediately!
    Cilantro lime rice in a bowl with spoon.

Nutrition

Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 299mg | Potassium: 81mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 135IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Chipotle rice, Cilantro Lime Rice, Cilantro Rice
Did you make this recipe?Mention @downshiftology or tag #downshiftology!

Recipe originally posted May 2020, but updated to include new photos and information for your benefit!

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About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

4.88 from 58 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




127 Comments

  1. Used instant rice due to time constraints. Worked out well and very delicious paired it with the salsa verde recipe and it was a hit!5 stars

  2. The way this was cooked was great did sauté the rice a little longer. To me the lime was over powering and I like lime. So add some cumin to take away the limey taste and added finely chopped hot peppers. This was good I would add less lime and taste before adding more. Can you freeze this rice?4 stars

    1. Hi Barbara – Glad you were able to enjoy this recipe to your liking! As for freezing, that’s fine.

  3. Full of my two favorite flavor combos, cilantro & lime.
    Served mine with cilantro lime chicken done in slow cooker.😋

  4. I usually only have basmati rice in the house. Would that work? Plan on using my rice cooker too. Love your recipes, Lisa. ❤️

    1. Hi Karen – If that’s all you have, that’s fine. Although, this might taste better with a rice that’s a bit softer.

  5. Sooo delicious and easy to make!!
    My family loved this Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe! I tripled the recipe and it came out perfect!! Gonna share this recipe for sure!! Thanks so much for sharing!5 stars

  6. We loved it, although there was a very strong lime flavor. Next time I will cut the juice in half. This will be in regular rotation.5 stars

  7. I tripled the recipe and followed directions, but it turned out hard and mushy. I used a heavy duty cast iron pot with a lid. Maybe I will try again with my insta pot.2 stars

    1. Hi Heidi – not quite sure how it can be both hard and mushy? Unfortunately, not a lot of guidance I can give there. Sorry!

  8. Very simple, very good. AS someone with food intolerances this Rice and the cilantro Limes Chicken legs where the First food in 5 years someone(my.best friend) Made for me! Both of US remade IT several Times by now, though WE prefere using parsley over cilantro.
    If anyone ever Claims Rice IS boring, their really should try this, IT IS flavorful, but Not so much, that IT overszadows whatever IT IS served with4 stars