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, a bowl, or tacos for a quick weeknight dinner.
When you are on a road trip, looking for a quick meal, or you can’t decide on what you want to eat, Chipotle is always a go-to spot at our home.
I am a big fan of their burrito bowl. When you order a vegetarian burrito bowl at Chipotle Restaurant, the rice that comes with it is called Cilantro lime rice. Today's cilantro lime rice recipe is inspired by Chipotle's. It is very easy to prepare and takes less than 20 minutes.
If you are looking for a low-carb or keto version, try Cilantro-Lime Cauliflower rice.
Today I have prepared this dish in my electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT. You can use any equivalent electric pressure cooker like Mealthy Multipot.
Jump to:
- What is Cilantro Lime Rice?
- Cilantro Lime Rice Ingredients
- Why You'll Love This Cilantro Lime Rice
- How to Make Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice in 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 Mexican Recipes
- 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 beans, and salsas used in bowls, burritos, 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 recently.
This Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice is the copycat recipe from the restaurant chain Chipotle in the USA.
It is very easy to recreate this recipe at home, and it needs only a few ingredients. You can make this dish in the Instant Pot, Rice cooker, microwave, or stovetop pot.
Cilantro Lime Rice 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.
Why You'll Love This Cilantro Lime Rice
- Fresh, bright herby, tangy citrus flavor
- This a perfect copycat recipe for Chipotle lovers!
- Ready in less than 15 minutes.
- Easy to make & need simple ingredients
- One-pot recipe
- Great way to use up the herbs in the refrigerator.
- Perfect side dish for a burrito, rice bowl, salad, or beans.
- Vegetarian, gluten-free, and can be made vegan.
How to Make Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice in Instant Pot
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 easy 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 rinsed basmati rice. Stir for 30 secs (till aromatic).
- Then add water or vegetable stock, salt, and give a stir. Reduce the heat to low and cover with a lid.
- Simmer for 20-25 minutes, until all liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender.
- Then follow the steps to add the lime juice, zest, butter, and cilantro to the rice. Note make sure to add an extra 1 cup of water while cooking on a stovetop.
How to Serve Cilantro Rice
Serve cilantro lime rice in a rice bowl with Mexican black beans, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, and lettuce, or stuff it in a burrito.
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.
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 on the microwave oven or stovetop to get steamy fresh cilantro lime rice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Any long or short-grain white rice is preferable. I used long-grain fragrant 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 also it 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 Mexican Recipes
- Mexican Black Beans
- Guacamole
- Vegetarian Chili
- Taco Pasta
- Quinoa Black Bean Salad
- Avocado Cilantro Dressing
More Instant Pot Rice Recipes
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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
- 2 tablespoon 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. Add oil and once it’s hot add Bay leaf followed by rinsed basmati rice. Stir for 30 secs (till aromatic).
- Then add water or vegetable stock, salt and give a stir. Reduce the heat to low and cover with lid.
- Simmer for 20-25 minutes, until all liquid has been absorbed and rice is tender.
- Then follow the steps to add the lime juice, zest, butter, and cilantro to the rice. Note: make sure to add an extra 1 cup of water while cooking on a stovetop.
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.
Westfield Mama says
This truly was the easiest Rice I have ever made in the instant pot.
bhavana says
Thank you for trying ?