Cilantro Lime Rice (Chipotle Copycat)
96 Comments
Oct 10, 2023
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Cilantro lime rice is a bright and zesty recipe! This Chipotle copycat is so easy to make and really infuses so much flavor into your basic bowl of rice. Use it as a side dish for any chicken, pork, or beef main, or as the base of a burrito bowl or grain bowl.
Rice is truly a blank slate for so much color and flavor. Mexican rice gets an earthy spin with tomatoes and cumin. Spanish rice gets a tinge of yellow sweetness from saffron. And today’s recipe for cilantro lime rice gets fresh herbal flavor with fresh cilantro, zesty lime juice, and flavorful garlic. Plus, it tastes just like your favorite staple item at Chipotle!
A simple bowl of rice adds a delicious fluffy texture to any meal. But once you add a few simple ingredients to it, it magically transforms. So grab your bag of rice and let’s get cooking!
Cilantro Lime Rice Ingredients
For this recipe, a long-grain rice is ideal as it produces firm grains that become light and fluffy after cooking. That makes it perfect for using as a side dish or as the base for any bowl.
- Rice: You can use long-grain white rice or brown rice. There’s just a slight difference in cook time for each type. Today, I’m using a long-grain white Jasmine rice.
- Cilantro: A small handful of finely chopped fresh cilantro adds a pop of green and fresh flavor.
- Lime Zest & Juice: Using both the zest and juice of a lime really amps up the flavor.
- Garlic: Minced garlic that’s sauteed in oil adds savory flavor without being pungent.
How To Make Cilantro Lime Rice
- Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and saute for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Add the rice and salt to the pot, then give it a stir for a minute before adding the water.
- 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.
- 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 serve immediately!
Ways to serve it
This cilantro lime rice pairs well with virtually any Mexican dish, from chicken fajitas to ceviche to huevos rancheros. You can also pair it with a protein and side of veggies for a perfectly balanced meal. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Carne asada: Grill up some carne asada for that smoky delicious flavor, and top it with a few spoonfuls of pico de gallo and a side of rice.
- Carnitas: If you want juicy and tender shredded pork with crispy, flavorful edges, make my slow cooker carnitas. Serve it up with a side of rice, fajita veggies, and dollop of guacamole.
- Barbacoa: Let your slow cook cooker do all the work (again) with this barbacoa recipe! Shred it, serve it with the rice, and drizzle chipotle sauce or lime crema on top for the finishing touch.
Storage Options
- To store for the week: Let it cool to room temperature, then place it in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.
- To freeze for later: Store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- To reheat: Thaw it in the fridge overnight, then microwave a portion for a minute, or saute it on the stovetop, until warmed through. You can also give it a quick squeeze of lime for freshness.
if You Love That Cilantro Lime Flavor
You can also make these delicious recipes that highlight my favorite cilantro lime pairing.
- Cilantro Lime Chicken
- Cilantro Lime Bacon Coleslaw
- Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice (low carb option!)
I hope you love this cilantro lime rice as much as I do! Once you make this recipe, let me know your thoughts in the comment box below. Your review will help other readers in the community.
Cilantro Lime Rice (Chipotle Copycat)
Description
Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ cup water or broth
- 1 lime, zested and juiced (about 2 tablespoons juice)
- ½ cup finely chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Rinse the rice in a fine mesh sieve until the water runs clear. Set aside.
- 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.
- Add the water, bring it to a boil, cover the pot, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 12 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.
- Add the lime juice, lime zest, and chopped cilantro. Stir everything together and serve immediately!
Nutrition
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Recipe originally posted May 2020, but updated to include new information for your benefit!
Loved it
I made this recipe this week, had great flavor, but the rice was gummy. Will try it again with a rice cooker.
I made this cilantro lime rice this week as a side to compliment a work taco salad potluck. It came out so flavorful, and the team finished it all up. This will definitely be a go to rice for me.
What a great dish to complement a taco salad! I’m happy to hear everyone enjoyed this cilantro lime rice, Adriana.
hi Lisa? I would love to make this rice for my partner…. she LOVES cilantro, but doesn’t like Lime? what could I substitute the lime for???
You can try making it without the lime!
Cooked perfectly! Next time I will definitely double the recipe.
Awesome! So happy you loved it, Robin.
I made this but 3x it came out perfect0 and delicious, thank you!!
Glad this turned out perfectly!
I couldn’t tell how many this would serve, anyhow how make it for 60 people!!
How long do you cook the rice for 2 cups of rice? Thanks in advance
Delicious!! It was gone before I could take a picture.
Glad this cilantro lime rice was a hit Maria!
Amazing! Taking a good classic to a whole new level. Fresh and light with just the right amount of zip from the citrus. So versatile.
A must add to any evening dish but especially yummy with cilantro lime shrimp!
Gotta love all those cilantro lime flavors coming together. :)
Love the recipe for the rice, got to know this first In Mexico 30 years ago and ever since do I love it.It is so good and tasteful anyone who will make your recipe will certainly enjoy each and every bite. You have fantastic recipes, I have followed you for a while and made a lot of them, thank you for every one of them.
Happy to hear you have been enjoying Downshiftology recipes, including this cilantro lime rice!
Can this be made with Jasmine rice?
Yes, no problem.
Hi! I would love to give this recipe a try tonight, is there anyway it can be made in a rice cooker?
Late to the party, but this was amazing! I didn’t see any comments regarding doubling the recipe, so I wanted to let anyone else know that it can be done! We’ve made it twice in three days it was such a hit! Thank you!!
Doubling is a smart idea for meal prep! Happy you loved it!
Hello Ma’am🙂 I how that you’re having a great day! After reading your review, I have a quick question for you. You mentioned “Doubling the recipe” So my question is, are you referring to how at the very top/beginning of this recipe l, it gives you the option to click on wether you’re making a single serving, a double serving, or a triple serving? Bc if you click on the numbers, it shows you the exact correct account to make a single, double or triple serving. Is that what you’re referring to?
Yes, you can use the serving ticker to change the amounts based on how many servings you plan to make :)
Better than Chipotle!
Yay, love to hear that! :)
Added this great rice to Buddha bowls with quinoa, veggies, roasted chickpeas and pesto. Definitely a good recipe.
Thanks for leaving a review Karen!
Cilantro lime rice
Love it and so simple to make
I cook it weekly now
I made this recipe but with using quinoa, and it was delicious!! This is going on the “Make Again!” list 😋🤤
I made this delicious rice over the weekend. My family and I enjoyed it very much. In addition, I added red and green bell peppers for added flare. Thank you for this great receipe.
Love the idea of adding bell peppers to this for an additional crunch!
Love this recipe alongside carne asada. The only addition I make is to add a can of black beans to make it more filling!
Glad you enjoyed this cilantro lime rice! It really is the perfect addition to a carne asada plate or tacos :)
I love your method for cooking the rice. I have been making it this way for years. The ratio of water to rice if perfect and it comes out great every time. I made it exactly as written with the exception of adding a little finely chopped jalapeno along with the lime and cilantro. Delicious! Thank you for a fabulous recipe.
Happy to hear this method provided perfect results Susan!
Thanks dear Lisa we are grateful
Glad you enjoyed this falafel flatbread :)
Made this rice recipe for first time, didn’t use the salt, but it turned out soo good we all loved it even my 23 month old granddaughter m. Served it with carnita taco’s. Making it again today with Chile verde chicken enchiladas. YUM!! The best ever thanks for the recipe
Happy to hear everyone enjoyed this recipe Cathy! It really is the perfect addition to taco night :)
Perfect! Tasted just like Chipotle’s but better! I made this in a rice cooker and paired it with the Slow Cooker Barbacoa recipe.
That’s always the perfect pairing! Glad you enjoyed this rice :)
Can you use instant rice
Yes, but just make sure you cook the instant rice to the package instructions.
I want to try this! Can it be used with minute rice as well? How many servings does this recipe have?
Hi Lisa – I will always put the servings in the recipe card down below, but it’s 4 servings! As for rice, you can add the same flavors to it if you’d like.
How did it turn out using the minute rice? I am going camping and was thinking of making this but with minute rice!
BEST CILANTRO RICE EVER!!! I actually feel like it has far more flavor than chipotle’s!!! This recipe is definitely a HIT!!!!
So glad you love this cilantro lime rice Priscilla! :)
This is way better than the Chipotle lime rice!!
Wow! Now you can make a homemade version that’s much better :)
If I could give this recipe 10 stars, I would. Seriously, after you make this cilantro lime rice, you’ll never want to eat any other rice recipe again! I’ve been actually making it several times a week, ever since I discovered it on Lisa’s blog. This recipe made me get back to rice, after not making it for MANY years. Thanks so much Lisa!
So glad you love this cilantro lime rice! It definitely gives plain ol’ rice tons of flavor :)
Excellent flavour in the rice. Made it with chicken stock and served with cilantro lime chicken. My two year old liked this too!
Hi Ace – I’m happy you both loved this recipe!
I never comment on recipes….and I’ve made a few copycat chipotle rice recipes and this is hands down the best!! I have a rice cooker and don’t usually cook rice on the stove. But this turned out perfect!!! Even my picky eaters liked it! I did only use half a lime because my kids don’t like lime as much as I do. Thanks!!
So glad to hear you and your family has found a winning cilantro lime rice recipe!
This rice is just perfect 👌
Teamed it with some Soy Salmon, Made a sauce of Soy,ginger,garlic and honey and cooked this in foil.
The rice accompanied this perfectly,
Thanks Lisa for the perfect rice
Hi Pam- Wonderful! That sounds amazing with a soy salmon.
I thought I was the rice queen until you created this masterpiece and it’s so easy! I can’t believe I never thought of this. Absolutely delicious and it goes with pretty much everything I cook. Thanks Lisa, you are AWESOME!
Hi Natalia- So glad you enjoyed this rice recipe! It really is a staple that can pair nicely with just about any meal :)
I just made it and it was soo good! Finally a great side dish that is not boring as plain white rice! Thank you so much for your tips and recipes, Lisa! Next on my list: tuna salad ;)
Yay, glad you enjoyed this side dish! Can’t wait for you to make both the tuna and chicken salad 😊
I’ve never been able to make perfect rice before and I did it finally-with this recipe! I highly recommend trying it, will absolutely make it again. Followed recipe exactly-thanks Lisa!
Hi Roman- So glad this helped you create the perfect batch of rice!
Lisa this rice is delicious! How would you do this with brown rice?
Hi Trista- You can find instructions on how to cook brown rice in my “How To Cook Rice” post :) Then just add the same ingredients.
Holy WOW. The FLAVORS, the texture, EVERYTHING about this recipe is so incredible. Thanks to Lisa’s rice cooking hacks/tips, this was my first EVER rice making success!! Can’t beat that it was for this delicious dish.
Hi Delaney- Ah that’s amazing! What a success and great recipe for your first rice dish :)
Thank you! This rice turned out well! And normally mine doesn’t! I will now follow your tips and tricks and has made this turn out good! The recipe was simple to follow and fresh and clean tasting! Thank you!
Hi Christina- Wonderful! Happy to hear the few tips I had helped create the perfect batch of rice :)
One of many Downshiftology recipes I made for Cinco de Mayo. Made with the carnitas and also served with the carnitas bowl. It will be a great side dish for ANY Mexican meal. YUM!!!
I couldn’t agree more! Glad you were able to utilize this rice in so many ways :)
The only word I can use to describe this recipe is amazing!!!!! Easy to make and delicious!
Hi Khilsy- Thrilled to hear you loved this rice recipe :)
Easy and tasty. My daughter especially enjoyed this recipe.
Wonderful! Glad you both enjoyed this cilantro rice :)
I made this delicious rice today to celebrate “Cinco de Mayo” and my family loved it! I just added a little bit of chopped raw white onion when I mixed the cooked rice with the cilantro and lime! Thank you so much for sharing!
Hi Jenny- So glad everyone enjoyed this for Cinco De Mayo!
Never stop making and sharing these simple tasty recipes. This is a delicious rice dish that is easy to make and is very quick, thank you.
I’m so glad you loved the recipe Andrew! And I’ll keep them coming for sure. :)
I always saute my Spanish rice, but never thought to saute white rice. This is such a nice change to plain rice side dish. Served with pulled pork tacos. Will make often. Thank you.
It really is great way to spruce up white rice and it’s perfect with pulled pork tacos. Enjoy the recipe Sandra!
This was the simplest and Quickest way to Jazz up a meal. Two thumbs up.
It’s amazing what some simple flavors and herbs can do to jazz up up rice, isn’t it? So glad you loved the recipe!
I made this with jasmine rice. It’s so good and so easy. :)
Hi Anita – So glad you enjoyed this one!
Yum! I love cilantro and lime together. It’s a match made in heaven. This looks so good and looks really easy to make too. Saving it for later.
Hi Krissy- It really is the best combination, especially for a rice dish!
Cilantro Lime Rice is simply my favourite. I have never tried adding garlic to the recipe though. Love the spin.
The garlic adds that perfect punch of flavor. Hope you enjoy it!
I have this recipe saved to make for Cinco de Mayo tomorrow! I love the combination or lime and cilantro!
Oh perfect! It’s always a hit for Cinco de Mayo. Enjoy!
Why would you use white rice? Even long grain is bad isn’t it?
Hi Michelle – white rice is a great gluten-free side dish option. And no, I don’t believe rice is bad. Rice can definitely be enjoyed in moderation as part of a healthy diet.