This easy Cilantro Lime Rice is so simple and a great enhancement to Mexican-inspired meals like burrito bowls or rice bowls! Fluffy rice is mixed with fresh cilantro, fresh lime juice, a little olive oil, and salt & pepper for the most versatile side dish.
As a dietitian, I love starting the week with meal prep or ingredient prep by making a few things I can use in various dishes throughout the week. Cilantro rice is a great side dish and an easy way to use up leftover rice!
This easy cilantro lime rice recipe pairs great with Black Beans & Corn Dip or in a Southwest Chicken Bowl! If you're looking for more recipes with cooked rice, try my Unstuffed Pepper Skillet, one of my favorite recipes!
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Key Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Cilantro lime rice is made with simple ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes. Be sure to check the printable recipe card at the bottom for exact ingredient measurements and full recipe.
- Rice - I like to use jasmine rice for this recipe because it cooks quickly. It's also fluffy and slightly sticky and one of my favorite kinds of rice. You can use whatever your favorite rice is! Basmati rice or long-grain rice work. Brown rice has slightly more fiber than plain white rice.
- Cilantro - chopped cilantro adds a ton of fresh flavor and also some antioxidants. Feel free to substitute with parsley if you don't like cilantro.
- Fresh Limes - fresh lime juice adds moisture and a zesty flavor. It also provides some vitamin C! While you're at it, feel free to add lime zest too.
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil - just a little bit of olive oil helps everything combine evenly and provides heart-healthy fatty acids that have been shown to support hormone health and brain health.
- Garlic Powder - an easy way to add more flavor. Feel free to use fresh minced garlic cloves if you prefer.
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper - to tie everything together.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice
Below are the instructions for how to make this homemade cilantro lime rice in just a few easy steps. Don't forget to check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
- Step 1: Rinse the rice under cool water in a fine mesh strainer to get rid of some of the excess starch. Then cook the rinsed rice according to the instructions on the package in a medium saucepan or a rice cooker.
- Step 2: Let the rice cool for a few minutes and then add the cilantro, fresh lime juice, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Mix it to combine and add more salt as needed.
Hint: for best results, fluff the rice after cooking and before adding the other ingredients.
Dietitian Tip
White rice is slightly lower in fiber and antioxidants than brown rice and it has a higher glycemic index. By adding a bit of olive oil and the citrus juice from the lime and cooling the rice before eating it, you can reduce the glycemic index a bit. But if you want to get more dietary fiber, use brown rice! The difference is that brown rice is a whole grain whereas white rice has had the bran and germ of the grain removed. Just be aware that brown rice takes longer to cook and the nutritional difference aren't massively different.
Video of How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice
Here's a video of how to make this recipe that I hope is helpful!
Variations
The best part about this delicious side dish is you can customize the recipe to your liking. Below are some suggestions for variations, but feel free to get creative.
- Spicy - add a kick with some cayenne pepper, jalapeno, or red pepper flakes.
- Fancy - add green onions and lime zest - so much flavor!
- Sweet - if you like a sweet and savory combo, mix in a bit of honey.
Ideas for Serving Cilantro Lime Rice
- Southwest Chicken Bowl - my favorite way to enjoy this cilantro-lime rice is in a rice bowl with chicken, romaine lettuce, black beans, fresh corn, tomatoes, and a simple Southwest dressing! It's a favorite meal of mine.
- Homemade Burrito Bowl - add mixed greens, steak or chicken, black beans, salsa, guacamole, and sour cream for a delicious Mexican dish with the flavors of chipotle's cilantro lime rice!
- With a Turkey Taco Skillet - make an easy skillet meal with ground turkey, seasonings, corn, black beans, and salsa and serve it on top of this flavorful cilantro lime rice!
- Salmon Bowl - this simple side dish pairs great with Asian dishes, too! make air fryer salmon bites and serve it over this rice side dish with cucumber slices and edamame!
Storage for Cilantro Lime Rice
- Refrigerator - let the rice cool completely and store in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
Expert Tips
Here are some tips for making the perfect rice when cooking rice on the stovetop.
- Rinse the rice under cold water in a mesh strainer before cooking. This helps get rid of some of the starch and will prevent the rice from becoming gummy while it cooks.
- Use a liquid measuring cup to measure the water or broth you will cook the rice in. This helps ensure accuracy.
- Don't remove the lid from the pot while the rice cooks! It will release some of the steam.
- After the rice is done, remove the pot from the heat and let it stand for 5-10 minutes, covered, before removing the lid.
- For more flavorful rice, you can cook it in chicken broth or a half water/half chicken broth mixture.
FAQ
I like to use jasmine rice for this recipe because it cooks quickly and is fluffy and a little bit sticky. But you can use your favorite rice! Long-grain white rice works great because it's fluffy and will absorb the flavors well similar to Jasmine rice. Brown rice is a higher fiber option, but takes longer to cook.
If your rice turns out sticky, it's likely either because it's overcooked or too much water was used when cooking the rice.
Yes, this is a gluten-free recipe.
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Perfect for Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Cilantro Lime Rice :
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I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
Easy Cilantro Lime Rice, Chipotle Copycat with Video
Equipment
- 1 saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 cup jasmine rice, uncooked
- 1¾ cup water
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 lime, juice of about 2 tablespoon lime juice
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Rinse the rice under cool water in a fine mesh strainer to get rid of some of the excess starch. Then cook the rinsed rice according to the instructions on the package in a medium saucepan or a rice cooker.
- Let the rice cool for a few minutes and then add the cilantro, fresh lime juice, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Mix it to combine and add more salt as needed.
- Hint: for best results, fluff the rice after cooking and before adding the other ingredients.
Video
Notes
- Rinse the rice under cold water in a mesh strainer before cooking. This helps get rid of some of the starch and will prevent the rice from becoming gummy while it cooks.
- Use a liquid measuring cup to measure the water or broth you will cook the rice in. This helps ensure accuracy.
- Don't remove the lid from the pot while the rice cooks! It will release some of the steam.
- After the rice is done, remove the pot from the heat and let it stand for 5-10 minutes, covered, before removing the lid.
- For more flavorful rice, you can cook it in chicken broth or a half water/half chicken broth mixture.
- Refrigerator - let the rice cool completely and store in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
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