You won't believe how easy this Cilantro Lime Rice is to make! You only need 4 simple ingredients and the result tastes just like your favorite rice at Chipotle. Serve it as a side or as a component in your homemade burrito bowl!
Would you like to save this recipe?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Why This Recipe Works
If you're like me, you're obsessed with the burrito bowls at Chipotle. Whether it's the white or the brown rice, it's such a delicious simple base to any burrito, bowl, or salad.
Adding various spices, herbs, and fresh citrus to rice makes it so much more flavorful than it would be if you served it plain. I don't ever want to go back to plain rice! Even if you're not a fan of cilantro, this is a great base recipe to follow. You can add any of your favorite herbs or seasonings! Rice is a great side to cook as part of your meal prep for the week.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Rice - I used brown rice for this recipe but it's equally delicious with white rice. White rice actually takes less time to cook so if you're in a time crunch, it's a great option.
Bay Leaf - This is optional. I've made it with and without bay leaf and it's delicious either way. Chipotle adds it to their steamed cilantro lime rice so I'm adding it to the ingredient list. It adds a great layer of flavor if you can use it.
Cilantro - If you're here, I'll assume you like cilantro but just in case you don't, parsley or chives would be great substitutes!
Lime - The recipe uses both the juice and the zest. The zest gives the rice so much more flavor and I highly recommend adding it. Use organic lime whenever possible if you're using the zest.
Brown rice is a whole grain. It has all three parts still intact - the bran, endosperm, and germ. White rice only has the endosperm. Because of this, brown rice is more nutritious. It has more minerals, more fiber, and slightly more protein. It will taste more earthy and some people might not like the taste. White rice is still a good grain, use whichever you like more!
How to Make It
- Prep all your ingredients before you start cooking - chop the cilantro, grate the zest of the lime, and juice it. Rinse your rice extra well. This step gets rid of the starch and prevents it from sticking too much after cooking.
- Add your rice to a pot with water and salt, bring to a boil, cover, and cook for 30-40 minutes. Add more water as necessary but try not to remove the lid too often. This is cooking time for brown rice, if you're using white rice, it will take less time. Refer to the package instructions. Only it's done, take it off the heat and let it steam for 5-10 more minutes.
- Uncover the rice and fluff with a fork. Add the lime zest and juice, and the chopped cilantro. Gently toss everything together and add more lime juice, cilantro, or salt to taste.
Serving
There are a lot of ways you can serve this rice but here are a few of my favorites:
- Use it in burritos or burrito bowls - Think of your favorite Chipotle burrito bowl ingredients and top it with those - beans, protein, veggies, tomato salsa, corn salsa, sour cream, guacamole, and lettuce.
- Add it to salads - I really like it in this Charred Corn Zucchini Salad or this Black Rice Salad Bowl with Tahini Dressing (instead of black rice). It'd also be great in place of the quinoa in this Quinoa Salad with Pomegranate and Lemon Dressing.
- Serve with protein - Add this rice to your favorite meal in place of regular rice, quinoa, or any other grain. It's great with roasted tofu, veggies, salmon, or any other fish. I like to serve it with chili roasted bell peppers, guacamole, and sauteed vegan sausages.
Storing
Serve the rice right away while it's still hot or let it cool down and store in the fridge for up to 3 days to use it cold in salads. You can reheat it by adding it to a pot with a splash of water so it doesn't stick.
It's best to transfer any leftover rice to the fridge within 2-3 hours after cooking it. It doesn't do well at room temperature and it could easily go bad. Honestly, I never knew this until recently and nothing bad has ever happened to me when I left it out longer but hey, better safe than sorry, right?
FAQs
Their rice is cooked with bay leaf and seasoned with lime juice, fresh cilantro, and butter.
It depends on your preference. Brown rice is a whole grain while white rice is missing the bran and germ part of the grain. Because of this brown rice is more nutritious which technically makes it healthier.
Brown rice takes 30-40 minutes to cook. This also depends on how chewy or soft you want your rice to be.
It can take anywhere between 15-25 depending on the shape of the rice and what your preference is.
You can substitute it with parsley, fresh or dried. Chives are also great! You can use dried cilantro if needed.
📖 Recipe
Cilantro Lime Brown Rice
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 1x
- Category: Side
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Chipotle Copycat Cilantro Lime Brown Rice is the easiest side you can make! You only need 4 simple ingredients and it tastes just like your favorite rice from Chipotle.
Ingredients
- 2 cups dry long-grain brown rice (or long-grain white rice)
- 1 tsp butter (salted, unsalted, or vegan are all great)
- 3 ½ cups water (plus more if needed*)
- ½ tsp sea salt or Himalayan pink salt
- 1 bay leaf (optional)
- ½ cup packed finely chopped fresh cilantro
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice (approx. 2 limes)**
- 1 tbsp lime zest (1 lime)
Instructions
- Start by rinsing the rice. Cover it with cold water and drain a few times until the water runs clear.
- In a medium pot over medium-high heat, melt the butter and add the rinsed rice.
- Toast for 1-2 minutes stirring frequently until fragrant.
- Cover with the water, add salt, a bay leaf if using, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium-low, and cover. Cook for 30 minutes.
- Take the rice off the heat and let it steam for 5-10 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
- Add the chopped cilantro, lime juice, lime juice, and stir to incorporate. Taste and add more salt, lime, or cilantro to taste.
- Serve immediately or transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge as soon as it cools down (cover when cool).
- Store in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Notes
* Most brown rice packages call for 1 ¾ cup water for every 1 cup of dry rice. If you like your rice with a slight bite and not too mushy, this is perfect but cook the rice for 30 minutes, not the 40 minutes these recipes call for. If you want your rice softer, add 2 tablespoon of water per cup and cook for 30-35 minutes.
**It's best to only use freshly squeezed lime juice and not the packaged store-bought stuff. It makes a huge difference in flavor.
If using white rice, you will only need 15-25 minutes to cook it as it doesn't take as long.
Would you like to save this recipe?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Lucy Ivan says
Oh, I've decided to prepare a rice dish for dinner and it's great that I found your recipe. It's something new that I would like to try! Looks really delicious. Thanks for sharing!
Ben says
That looks so good! You throw some chicken and broccoli in there, and you've got a whole meal. Om nom nom.
Heather says
Cilantro lime rice might be my favorite type of rice! We make it at least twice a month.
Ivan M. Jose says
I love the flavors of lime and cilantro. They just go so well together. Of course, rice is a staple in my country so the ingredients are just at hand.
Ntensibe Edgar says
Hhhhmmmm....thank you for sharing. As I write this, I'm enjoying a plate of white rice and fresh beans! Perhaps, I will take your advice to throw in some citrus!
Elise Ho says
I love how easy it is to elevate the rice to a whole new flavor sensation. Adding roasted garlic also is delicious.
Marysa says
We buy this all the time, but we have never made it on our own. It would definitely be something we eat a lot!
Fransic verso says
Looking at the pictures looks so yummy, and want to give it a try. It's cool to make it at home!
Fransic
EJ Requina says
I bet this dish would be so refreshing. And a perfect pairing for fried spicy food. Thanks for putting some twist to rice meals!
emman damian says
Cilantro Lime Rice is so refreshing! It looks so yummy! Can't wait to try it soon! Yummmm!
Nyxie says
I love rice that's been infused with flavours, specifically lime. I always go for lime rice when out eating. Great recipe.