Best Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe

This cilantro lime rice recipe is super easy, and the perfect accompaniment to any Mexican meal. If you love the rice at Chipotle, Cafe Rio, and Costa Vida, now you can make it right at home!

I like to just toss all the ingredients in the rice cooker and walk away. You can make your rice on the stovetop instead if you prefer. I’ve also included those instructions below.

BETTER THAN CHIPOTLE RICE RECIPE

Truth be told, I’ve never been a big fan of the rice they serve at any Mexican restaurants. I think it’s a bit bland and boring.

But after several attempts, I came up with one that I can actually eat right out of the bowl!  Here’s what sets it apart:

• It has a fresh taste from lime juice and cilantro, but they aren’t overpowering. I tried several recipes with more lime, and the rice tasted too sour.
• I also added a bit of sugar to balance out the acidity of lime juice.
• Garlic salt and some dry minced onions add the perfect savory flavor. No bland rice here!
• A can of diced green chilies adds a perfect amount of heat, plus adds that Mexican flavor we all love.

It freezes well, so you can make it ahead of time and have it on hand whenever you’re ready for an easy side dish. Or you can use it as a base for burrito bowls. 

HOW TO MAKE CILANTRO LIME RICE IN RICE COOKER

1. The first thing you want to do is rinse your rice in cold water. This gets rid of the excess starch coating the rice, ensuring that you end up with fluffy rice. If you skip the rinsing, you’ll end up with clumpy rice.
2. After your rice is rinsed, dump it into your rice cooker. Add the broth, butter, cilantro, green chilies, garlic salt, minced onions, sugar, and lime juice.
   
3. Press the “white rice” button on your rice cooker. That’s it!
4. When the rice is done, the chilies and cilantro will have floated to the top, so stir the rice well before serving.

HOW TO MAKE CILANTRO RICE ON THE STOVE TOP

1. Rinse the rice and drain well. Combine all ingredients in a large soup pot. You will need to add two cups of water in addition to the chicken broth.
2. Bring to a boil over high heat. 
3. Turn heat to low, cover the pot with a lid, and simmer for 18-20 minutes. 
4. Let rice sit for 5-10 minutes, then stir together to combine.

I prefer the rice cooker method, because the rice turns out more fluffy. But if you prefer a more sticky rice, you might like the stove top method best. 

Do I use the cilantro stems?

It’s best to cut off the thicker stems at the bottom of the bunch of cilantro, but it’s fine to use the thin stems. Just make sure they are finely chopped with the leaves.

HOW TO STORE LEFTOVER RICE

Leftover rice stores well in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Just place it in an airtight container or ziplock bag. 

To reheat rice, you can heat it in the microwave, stirring it every thirty seconds or so. You can also reheat it in a pot over medium low heat. You will need to add a bit of water to prevent it from drying out. Stir frequently to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

You can also freeze rice. Chill it first, then place it in heavy duty ziplock bags or containers. It will last for up to 3 months. It’s best to thaw it before reheating, especially if using the pot method.

VARIATIONS:

• Hate cilantro? You can just leave it out and this rice is still packed with flavor!
• Adjust any of the seasonings to your taste. You can add more or less onion, green chilies, or cilantro. If you want more garlic flavor, add some minced garlic in addition to the garlic salt.
• For dairy free rice, use olive oil instead of butter.
• Add a bay leaf or two for savory flavor. Just make sure you remove them before serving.
• If you want your cilantro a more bright green color, you can add it after the rice is cooked.
• Like things spicy? Add some red pepper flakes or even jalapeno peppers.
• For even more lime flavor, stir in some lime zest with the other ingredients.
• I use long grain rice, but you can substitute basmati rice. Cooking time may vary.

What goes with cilantro rice?

• Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
• Ground Beef Enchiladas
• Salsa Chicken Recipe
• Mexican Lasagna
• Costa Vida Pork

RECIPE FOR LIME CILANTRO RICE

Add pizzazz to any Mexican meal with this lime cilantro rice. It’s even better than the rice at your favorite Mexican restaurant, and it is so easy to make!