Cilantro lime recipe is soft, fluffy and so easy to make at home! This side dish is a Chipotle copycat recipe that adds fresh, bright flavor to all your Mexican favorites.
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Chipotle’s Cilantro Lime Rice
I absolutely love the lime and cilantro rice from Chipotle and Café Rio. We’ve been making this copycat recipe for years as a Mexican side dish to burrito bowls, taco salads and our favorite ground beef tacos.
Cooking your own rice on the stove can seem a bit scary at first, but trust me, this cilantro lime rice recipe is super simple to make at home. It’s great for beginners and is made in just one pot in 30 minutes. You’ll have perfectly fluffy and tender rice every time!
Recipe Ingredients
- Salted butter: Olive oil can also be used.
- Minced garlic: Two minced garlic cloves.
- Long grain rice: Any long grain white rice works such as American white, Jasmine rice or Basmati rice. Avoid short grain rice as it is too clumpy.
- Broth: Chicken or vegetable broth adds flavor to the rice.
- Lime juice and zest: Fresh lime juice plus the zest of 1 lime.
- Chopped cilantro: Fresh cilantro adds signature flavor.
- Granulated sugar: This is optional but recommended to help balance the flavors.
- Salt and pepper: To taste.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice
Making this copycat version of Chipotle’s cilantro lime rice is both simple and quick to make right at home in your own kitchen.
- Combine rice ingredients: In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter then add minced garlic and cook 1 to 2 minutes. Add the rice, chicken broth, and lime zest then bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Stir once then cover with a lid.
- Cook rice until tender: Cook your rice 18 to 20 minutes or until tender. Turn off heat. Remove lid and let water evaporate.
- Season rice: In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, cilantro, sugar, if using. Season with salt and pepper. Pour evenly over the rice and fluff with a fork.
- Serve: Taste and adjust adding additional salt, pepper or a squeeze of lime juice. Serve with all your favorite Mexican or Asian dishes.
Serving Suggestions
There are so many Mexican food recipes that this rice pairs well with! Here are some ideas:
- Burrito bowl: Make a copycat Chipotle burrito bowl using this slow cooker chicken taco bowl for inspiration.
- Fajita bowl: Build your own chicken fajitas bowl complete with salsa or pico de gallo, guacamole or even refried beans.
- Café Rio copycat: Make a copycat dish with Cafe Rio Sweet Pork, this cilantro and lime rice and my creamy cilantro lime dressing.
Love rice recipes? You’ll also love my fried rice recipe, chicken and rice and easy authentic Mexican rice.
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Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
Cilantro lime recipe is soft, fluffy and so easy to make at home! This side dish is a Chipotle copycat recipe that adds fresh, bright flavor to all your Mexican favorites.
Video
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons salted butter , or olive oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
- 1 cup long grain rice
- 1 (15-ounce) can chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon lime zest , plus more if desired
- 2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (about 1 lime)
- 3 Tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 1-2 teaspoons granulated sugar , optional
- Kosher salt , to taste
- Ground black pepper , to taste
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, melt 2 Tablespoons butter over medium heat. Stir in 1 teaspoon garlic and cook 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1 cup rice, 15 ounce can chicken broth, and 1 teaspoon lime zest. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low. Stir the rice once and cover with a lid.
- Cook 18 to 20 minutes, or until rice is tender. Turn off heat. Remove lid and let water evaporate.
- In a small bowl, whisk together 2 Tablespoons lime juice, 3 Tablespoons cilantro, 1-2 teaspoons sugar, if using. Season with salt and pepper. Pour evenly over the rice and fluff with a fork.
Notes
Cooking tips:
- Use REAL lime juice. None of that bottled stuff you can buy at the grocery store. Use the juice and zest from a fresh lime for the best flavor.
- Rinse the rice. Before cooking the rice, make sure to give it a good rinse under cold water. Simply place it in a mesh strainer and rinse until it runs clear. This will remove the extra starch and prevent it from becoming too sticky.
- Sugar. It may sound strange, but adding in a few teaspoons of sugar really enhances the flavor. It helps balance out the tang from the citrus and gives the dish the perfect hint of sweetness. You don’t have to add it, but I definitely recommend it!
- Stir ONCE. That’s right. There’s not a lot of stirring when cooking rice on the stove. After you bring the rice to a boil, turn the heat to low and then give it ONE quick stir. Then cover the pan with the lid and let it continue to cook for about another 20 minutes.
- Don’t remove the lid. While the rice is simmering, make sure not to remove the lid. I know it may seem tempting to give it a quick peak, but don’t! You want to keep the steam trapped so that it cooks properly and will easily loosen from the bottom of the pan.
- Fluff with a fork. Just before serving, use a fork to gently mix the rice around in the pot for about a minute. This will help break up any lumps, as well as allow any extra moisture to evaporate. Make sure to be gentle as you fluff, so that the rice doesn’t get mushy and holds it’s shape.
Nutrition
Calories: 155kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 295mg | Potassium: 59mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 134IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Tips and Variations
- Use REAL lime juice. None of that bottled stuff you can buy at the grocery store. Use the juice and zest from a fresh lime for the best flavor.
- Rinse the rice. Before cooking the rice, give it a good rinse in a mesh strainer under cold water. This removes extra starch and prevents it from becoming too sticky.
- Sugar. It may sound strange, but adding in a few teaspoons of sugar really enhances the flavor. It helps balance out the tang from the citrus.
- Stir ONCE. After you bring the rice to a boil, turn the heat to low and then give it ONE quick stir. Then cover the pan with the lid and let it continue to cook.
- Don’t remove the lid. While the rice is simmering, do not remove the lid. You want to keep the steam trapped so that it cooks properly.
- Fluff with a fork. Use a fork to gently mix rice around in the pot for about a minute. This will break up lumps, separate grains and allow extra moisture to evaporate.
Storage
- Storing: This rice will keep in the fridge for about 3-4 days if stored in an airtight container. You can also extend it’s shelf life by storing in the freezer.
- Freezing: To freeze, simply add to a freezer bag (make sure it cools completely first) and seal any extra air out. Then place in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: To reheat in the microwave, place rice in a bowl with a splash of broth and cover bowl with a damp paper towel. Cook until warm.
Categorized as: Cinco De Mayo, Mexican, One Pot, Rice, Side Dishes, Stovetop, Vegan, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
This is a go-to family favorite. It’s easy to make and so delicious. I don’t have to fight my kids to eat it. It’s the best.
ha! I love that everyone loves the cilantro lime rice so much!
This is such a perfect side dish!! It is so easy and really flavorful! Thanks for the recipe!
This rice is so tasty! Goes so well with grilled chicken and and fish tacos! Thanks for sharing this recipe with us!
I think it’s even better than the rice at Chipotle! I love that you add the cilantro at the end so the leaves don’t get all wilted!
Loved this cilantro lime rice. Simple and tasty. Thanks for the how-to.
This rice is the perfect accompaniment to my Mexican enchiladas, I love it!
This cilantro lime rice is the beesssssssst!
Yum – my favorite rice! Easy and delicious recipe!
What a great recipe to keep on file! This will go great with the enchiladas I am making tonight!
What a great recipe! Loved this with tacos!
I love simple side dishes like this and the fact that it all comes together in one pot. Can’t beat that!
Hope you enjoy! :)
I love eating lime rice on my tacos. I mean, it’s great as a side for a lot of stuff, but that’s my preference.
I love the cilantro-lime combo. I’ll have to try your version soon, because it looks too good not to.