This easy Cilantro Lime Rice is so simple and one of my favorite ways to make plain rice a lot more flavorful! 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 a great enhancement to meals like burrito bowls or a tropical cooked poke salmon rice bowls!
This easy cilantro lime rice recipe pairs great with Black Beans & Corn Dip and Hot Honey Lime Shrimp, in a Southwest Chicken Bowl, or in a poke style salmon rice bowl. If you're looking for more rice recipes, you may like my Lemon Garlic Rice or Bone Broth Rice.
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Key Ingredient Notes and Substitution Ideas
Cilantro lime rice is made with simple ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes. Check the recipe card at the bottom for measurements.
- Rice - I like to use jasmine rice for this recipe because it gets fluffy and is slightly softer than regular long grain white rice. You can use whatever your favorite rice is! Basmati rice or regular long-grain rice work. Brown rice has slightly more fiber than plain white rice and will take longer to cook but works here too.
- 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! If you like a stronger lime flavor, add the 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 - I cook the rice with garlic powder so the flavor really gets into the rice. If you want to substitute with fresh garlic cloves, I suggest to grate or mine a couple cloves of garlic finely.
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper - to tie everything together.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice
Below are the instructions for how to make homemade cilantro lime rice in just a few easy steps. 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 add the rinsed rice, water, extra-virgin olive oil, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper to a saucepan. Give it a stir and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, give it another stir, reduce heat to low, and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Let simmer for 15 minutes or according to the timing on the package.
- Step 2: Remove the rice from the heat and let it sit at least 10 minutes with the lid on. Then fluff the rice with a fork and add the lime juice, cilantro, and lime zest if using. 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 so follow the instructions on the package for cook time.
Variations
The best part about this delicious side dish is you can customize the recipe to your liking. Below are some suggestions.
- Spicy - add a kick with some cayenne pepper, jalapeno, or red pepper flakes.
- Lemon Garlic Rice - switch up the flavors with lemon and parsley instead of lime and cilantro!
- 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.
- In a Chicken Fajita Bowl - with sheet pan chicken and bell peppers, black bean pico de gallo, and avocado mash!
- 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 Rice 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 - store leftovers 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. 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.
Related
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Perfect for Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Cilantro Lime Rice:
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 Rice Recipe
Equipment
- 1 saucepan (or rice cooker)
Ingredients
- 1 cup jasmine rice, uncooked
- 2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 lime, juice of (about 2 tablespoon lime juice)
- 1 teaspoon lime zest, optional
Instructions
- Rinse the rice under cool water in a fine mesh strainer to get rid of some of the excess starch. Then add the rinsed rice, water, extra-virgin olive oil, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper to a saucepan. Give it a stir and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, give it another stir, reduce heat to low, and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Let simmer for 15 minutes or according to the timing on the package.
- Remove the rice from the heat and let it sit at least 10 minutes with the lid on. Then fluff the rice with a fork and add the lime juice, cilantro, and lime zest if using. Mix it to combine and add more salt as needed.
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 - store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
Lila Roberts
I don’t eat rice because I thought it was high in carbs.
Mallory
Hi Lila, Thanks so much for reaching out about this! Carbs do contain carbs and while everyone is different, carbs are part of a healthy and balanced eating pattern and actually your body (and brain's) preferred source of energy! As with all things when it comes to nutrition, everyone is different but I have no problem eating carbs but I do suggest pairing them with fiber and protein to keep you full for longer!