This Chipotle Copycat Cilantro Lime Rice recipe is easy, flavorful, fluffy, and perfectly tender, made in an Instant Pot pressure cooker or Stovetop. Serve it alongside beans, burritos, bowls, or tacos for a quick weeknight dinner.
When we're on a road trip, craving a quick meal, or can't decide what to eat, Chipotle is always our go-to spot. I’m a huge fan of their Burrito Bowl, and the cilantro lime rice that comes with the vegetarian burrito bowl is my favorite! You may also like my Mexican rice.
Today, I’m sharing a homemade version of their chipotle cilantro lime rice, and it’s incredibly easy to make with a few ingredients in less than 20 minutes. You can make this dish in the Instant Pot, rice cooker, microwave, or stovetop pot.
More Mexican Recipes
Jump to:
- What is Cilantro Lime Rice?
- Ingredients
- How to Make Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice in an Instant Pot
- Stovetop Pot Method
- How to Serve Cilantro Rice
- Tips to Make the Best Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice
- Variations
- Storage Suggestions
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Instant Pot Rice Recipes
- Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
What is Cilantro Lime Rice?
Cilantro lime rice is a flavorful rice dish made with long-grain basmati rice, fresh cilantro, and lime juice. This seasoned, herby, tangy rice pairs perfectly with the seasoned Mexican black beans, guacamole, and tomato salsa used in bowls, burritos, tacos, and salads.
This versatile rice dish is a part of authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine. It is also used as a side dish with other cuisines like Asian and Indian.
Ingredients
You will require very few simple ingredients to make this easy cilantro lime recipe.
- Butter & Oil: I used both butter and olive oil in this recipe. Vegans, skip the butter and substitute it with vegan butter or any cooking oil.
- Rice: Use good quality long grain Basmati rice or jasmine rice for the restaurant-style cilantro lime rice.
- Vegetable Broth (or Water): Use low-sodium vegetable broth to add the best flavor to the rice. However, you can even use water if that's what you have.
- Lime juice: It’s important to use freshly squeezed lime juice for the best flavor (instead of bottled). Lime can be swapped for lemon if you don't have in hand.
- Lime zest: Helps to enhance the flavor of the rice dish. However, it's optional.
- Cilantro: You’ll need about ¼ cup of freshly chopped cilantro.
- Bay Leaf: This gives a nice flavor to the rice, but it's optional.
How to Make Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice in an Instant Pot
Rinse 1 cup of basmati rice 2-3 times until the water runs clear (removes extra starch), and drain the remaining water.
Firstly, press SAUTE on the Instant Pot. Next, add 2 tablespoons oil, and once it's hot, add 1 bay leaf, followed by rinsed basmati rice.
Toast the rice for 30 seconds (or till aromatic). This step helps your rice cook up into separate grains and adds more flavor. This step is optional.
Add 1 ¼ cups vegetable broth (or water), salt to taste, and give a stir.
Close the lid securely, and turn the vent to "SEALING". Select the PRESSURE COOK/MANUAL (High Pressure) setting and set the cooking time to 4 minutes.
Once the pot beeps, allow natural pressure release for 5 minutes, and then do Quick Release for any remaining pressure.
Lastly, add 1 tablespoon butter, ¼ cup fresh cilantro/coriander leaves (chopped), 2 tablespoons lime juice, and zest of 1 lime (optional). Stir well to combine.
Serve instant pot chipotle cilantro lime rice with a homemade burrito bowl.
Stovetop Pot Method
- Firstly, heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add oil, and once it’s hot, add bay leaf, followed by 1 cup of rinsed basmati rice. Stir for 30 seconds (till aromatic).
- Then add 1.5 cups of water (or vegetable broth), salt, and give a stir. Reduce the heat to low and cover with a lid.
- Simmer for 15-18 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. Then, remove from heat and let it sit for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Then, add the lime juice, lime zest, butter, and cilantro to the rice.
How to Serve Cilantro Rice
Serve cilantro lime rice in a bowl with Mexican black beans, guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream, cheese, and lettuce, or stuff it into a burrito for a delicious and satisfying meal!
Tips to Make the Best Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice
- Rinsing the Rice: Rinse Always rinse the uncooked basmati rice before you cook it. This helps to remove excess starch, make it less sticky, and prevent it from clumping together.
- Add lime juice and cilantro after the rice cools a bit: For the freshest flavor, add cilantro and lime juice after the rice has cooled a bit. Also, the heat of the rice will cook the cilantro and wilt it.
- Use fresh cilantro: Always use fresh cilantro, dried ones don't work well.
- Don't skip toasting the rice: Toasting your basmati rice before adding liquid helps release the rice's aromatics. It also helps the grain separate easily from one another. However, this step is certainly not a required step in cooking rice.
- 'Rice' Setting: You can follow the same instructions and Press the Rice button instead of Pressure Cook/Manual mode. It will default to 12 minutes at LOW pressure. Once the rice is cooked, allow it to cool a bit, and then add the fresh cilantro, lime zest, and juice at the end. Mix well.
- Scaling: You can double or triple the recipe if you want to cook more rice. The cooking time will remain the same.
Variations
- Protein: Add a can of black beans or kidney beans to the rice at the same time you add the cilantro and lime juice. This helps to boost plant-based protein in your diet.
- Vegan: If you want to make vegan cilantro lime rice, simply skip the butter or use vegan butter.
- Low-Carb: Substitute rice with cauliflower rice to make Cilantro-Lime Cauliflower rice.
- Brown Rice: You can substitute white basmati rice with brown rice. Simply Pressure cook for 22 minutes at high pressure, followed by Natural Pressure Release.
Storage Suggestions
- Store: Store cilantro lime rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Freeze: Freeze the leftover rice in a freezer-safe ziplock or storage container for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Sprinkle some water and reheat in the microwave or stovetop pot until warm. If frozen, allow it to defrost in the refrigerator for a few hours and then reheat it in the microwave oven or stovetop to get steamy-fresh cilantro lime rice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Any long or medium-grain rice is preferable. I used long-grain fragrant white basmati rice in this recipe. Do not use any easy-to-cook rice like Arborio or risotto rice.
Yes, it can be. Follow the same steps as above. Pressure cook for 22 minutes at high pressure, followed by a 10-minute natural pressure release. Everything else remains the same in the recipe.
Toasting your rice before adding liquid adds flavor to your rice, and it also helps to cook it up into separate grains. However, this step is certainly not a required step in cooking rice.
No, I used butter in this recipe to add richness to the dish. However, to make it vegan, either skip the butter or use vegan butter.
You can substitute cilantro with chopped fresh parsley.
Yes, absolutely. Cilantro stems are not bitter, so feel free to combine cilantro leaves and stems. They add a ton of flavor.
More Instant Pot Rice Recipes
Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 bay leaf (optional)
- 1 cup basmati rice rinsed
- 1 ¼ cups water (or vegetable broth) (1.5 cups water for stovetop)
- salt adjust to taste
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ¼ cup cilantro (coriander leaves)
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- zest of 1 lime (optional)
Instructions
Instant Pot Method:
- Rinse the basmati rice 2-3 times until the water runs clear (removes extra starch), and drain the remaining water.
- Firstly, press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Next, add oil, and once it's hot, add Bay leaf, followed by rinsed basmati rice.Toast the rice for 30 seconds (or till aromatic). This step helps your rice cook up into separate grains and adds more flavor. This step is optional.
- Add water (or vegetable broth), salt and give a stir.
- Close the lid securely, and turn the vent to "SEALING". Select the PRESSURE COOK/MANUAL (High Pressure) setting and set the cooking time to 4 minutes.Once the pot beeps, Allow natural pressure release for 5 minutes, and then do Quick Release for any remaining pressure.
- Lastly, add butter, fresh cilantro/coriander leaves, lime juice, and lime zest. Stir well to combine.
- Serve this cilantro lime rice with homemade burrito bowl.
Stovetop Pot Method:
- Firstly, heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Then, add bay leaf followed by 1 cup of rinsed basmati rice. Stir for 30 secs (till aromatic).
- Then add 1.5 cups of water (or vegetable broth), salt, and give a stir. Reduce the heat to low and cover with lid.
- Simmer for 15-18 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. Then, remove from heat and let it sit for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Then, add the lime juice, zest, butter, and cilantro to the rice. Mix everything.
Video
Notes
Tips to Make the Best Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice
- Rinsing the Rice: Rinse Always rinse the uncooked basmati rice before you cook it. This helps to remove excess starch, make it less sticky, and prevent it from clumping together.
- Add lime juice and cilantro after the rice cools a bit: For the freshest flavor, add cilantro and lime juice after the rice has cooled a bit. Also, the heat of the rice will cook the cilantro and wilt it.
- Use fresh cilantro: Always use fresh cilantro in this recipe, dried ones don't work well.
- Don't skip toasting the rice: Toasting your basmati rice before adding liquid helps to release the aromatics of the rice. It also helps the grain separate easily from one another. However, this step is certainly not a required step in cooking rice.
- 'Rice' Setting: You can follow the same instructions and Press the Rice button instead of Pressure Cook/Manual mode. It will default to 12 minutes at LOW pressure. Once the rice is cooked, allow it to cool a bit, and then add the fresh cilantro, lime zest, and juice at the end. Mix well.
- Scaling: You can double or triple the recipe if you want to cook more rice. The cooking time will remain the same.
Variations
- Protein: Add a can of black beans or kidney beans to the rice at the same time you add the cilantro and lime juice. This helps to boost plant-based protein in your diet.
- Vegan: If you want to make vegan cilantro lime rice, simply skip the butter or use vegan butter.
- Low-Carb: Substitute rice with cauliflower rice to make Cilantro-Lime Cauliflower rice.
- Brown Rice: You can substitute white basmati rice with brown rice. Simply Pressure cook for 22 minutes at high pressure, followed by Natural Pressure Release.
Nutrition
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Westfield Mama
This truly was the easiest Rice I have ever made in the instant pot.
bhavana
Thank you for trying ?