Cilantro Lime Rice is an easy, tasty Mexican side dish, made with fresh ingredients and ready in just 30 minutes. Far better than takeout!
Try this for a new Rice Recipe to mix up your Taco Tuesday. Other Mexican-style rice to check out include my Spanish Rice and Arroz Verde.
Why You’ll Love This Cilantro Lime Rice?
- A burst of fresh, zesty flavor that makes even the simplest dinner feel more exciting.
- This easy side brings restaurant-style flavor to your kitchen with almost no fuss.
Sabrina’s Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
Up front, this is not a Chipotle or Cafe Rio Copycat recipe. However, guaranteed you’ll love this Cilantro Lime Rice as much or even more. Whether you serve it with enchiladas or pile it in a burrito, this easy rice recipe is sure to be your new go-to for Mexican food cravings! You don’t have to use it for just Mexican food. The flavor goes really well with practically any main dish, especially grilled meat in the summer.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 cup long grain white rice
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro , chopped
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil, then stir in the butter and rice.
- Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until the rice is tender, about 20 minutes.
- Fluff rice with a fork.
- Stir in lime zest, lime juice, and cilantro to the cooked rice just before serving.
Nutrition
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Chef’s Note
Avoid using bottled lime juice if you can. It’s too sour, and most have additives. Plus, a bottle of lime juice won’t give you all that extra lime flavor you get from lime zest. Additionally, if you are using older rice that’s been sitting in the pantry opened, soak it for 30 minutes to make it less brittle.
Table of contents
About this Recipe
Cilantro Lime Rice is the easiest upgrade to simple white rice. It’s full of fresh and zesty goodness. Fresh is the key to this flavorful recipe. Use freshly chopped cilantro leaves and fresh-squeezed citrus juice for the best taste. It only takes a few more ingredients than standard rice and hardly any more work. For those of us that struggle with cooking rice (we’ve all been there!) there are some helpful tips below to make sure you get the best rice every time. Once you master these tips and this easy rice recipe, you’ll be serving this delicious side dish all the time.
Can this be made ahead of time?
Yes! This rice can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve. Reheat gently and add a fresh squeeze of lime and a little cilantro before serving to brighten it back up.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Rinse the rice through a sieve before cooking. Run under water until the runoff is no longer cloudy. This removes the starch so it’s not sticky.
- Another trick to keep your rice from being sticky: don’t over-stir. Once you add the rice to the pan, stir only once or twice.
- Don’t remove the lid! Give it 20 minutes of cook time before checking to see if your rice is cooked.
- A heavy-bottomed pan will keep it from reaching a high heat which will burn or scorch your rice.
Serving Ideas
Make this zesty rice as a side dish to all your favorite Mexican Recipes like Beef Burritos, Beef Barbacoa, or inside these tasty Tex-Mex Stuffed Peppers. Use this rice recipe as the base of a burrito bowl loaded up with Black Beans and Chicken Fajitas. Top your burrito bowl with sour cream, avocado, and Salsa.
How to Store
- Serve: The rice can be at room temperature for up to 2 hours. Cool completely before storing.
- Store: This cilantro rice will stay good in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
- Freeze: Cool rice completely so no moisture collects and freeze in a sealed container for up to 6 months.
Alternative Cooking Techniques
Slow Cooker Method
- To make this rice in the slow cooker, start by rinsing rice and adding it to the slow cooker.
- Pour 2 cups of water over the rice and add the butter.
- Cover and cook on high for 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours, gently stirring occasionally.
- Fluff rice with a fork and stir in cilantro lime mixture.
Instant Pot Method
- For Instant Pot, place rice into the Instant Pot insert and cover with 1 cup water, butter, and 1 tablespoon lime juice.
- Seal lid and set to manual high pressure for 3 minutes.
- When it’s done, allow a natural release for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, release pressure and fluff, stir in the lime-cilantro mix, and serve.
Variations
- Seasonings: Sauté diced jalapeños, minced garlic, or chipotle in adobo sauce and stir in after the rice has cooked. Make a Mexican Cilantro Rice blend and add in Taco Seasoning!
- Rice: You can use pretty much any type of rice in this recipe like brown rice, basmati rice, jasmine rice, or long grain wild rice.
- Veggies: Stir in sautéed diced bell peppers, zucchini, garlic, cauliflower, or corn kernels into your rice for a healthy boost in flavor.
- Chicken Broth: Give this rice more flavor by using 2 cups of chicken broth or beef stock instead of water.
- Vegan: Easily make Vegan rice by substituting olive oil for the butter. Make a Vegan Burrito Bowl by topping with fajita veggies and baked tofu.
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Rice for Every Cuisine
This Cilantro Lime Rice is a flawless copycat recipe. It turns out perfectly fluffy every single time, and the bright pop of fresh lime juice and cilantro completely elevates plain white rice.
So glad you enjoyed it, Lucas. Thank you for the 5 stars.