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Cilantro lime rice is the bright, fluffy, restaurant-style side that turns any weeknight dinner into a fiesta, with fresh lime, butter, and a handful of cilantro stirred through every grain. Lizzie calls it the Chipotle copycat and asks for it every taco Tuesday, and it comes together in just 25 minutes. It is the perfect base for our cilantro lime chicken.
The trick to perfect cilantro lime rice is stirring in the butter, lime, and cilantro right at the end so the flavors stay fresh and vibrant.
Cilantro Lime Rice Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 20 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 25 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 4 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 220kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Fresh, buttery, and zesty with bright lime and herby cilantro
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, on par with our easy coconut rice
Quick Answer
To make cilantro lime rice, bring two cups of water to a boil, stir in one cup of long-grain white rice, cover, and cook on low for 20 minutes. Let it rest off the heat for five minutes, then stir in butter, fresh chopped cilantro, lime juice, lime zest, salt, and pepper until every grain is coated. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then serve warm.
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Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Cook the rice perfectly first. Starting with fluffy, fully cooked rice means the grains stay separate and never turn mushy once you add the flavor.
- Add the flavor at the end. Stirring in the lime, butter, and cilantro after cooking keeps everything bright, fresh, and never bitter.
- Fresh lime juice and zest. Using both the juice and the zest builds a layered citrus flavor that bottled lime juice simply cannot match.
- Butter for richness. A couple tablespoons of butter coats every grain and carries the lime and herb flavor through the whole pot.
- Rest before fluffing. Letting the rice sit covered for five minutes lets it finish steaming so it fluffs up light and tender.
- Just six pantry ingredients. Everything you need is simple and easy to keep on hand, which makes this an effortless go-to side.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It is a fresh, restaurant-style side that comes together in just 25 minutes.
- It pairs with almost any Mexican or Tex-Mex main you can think of.
- It uses just six simple ingredients you likely already have, like our easy coconut rice.
Key Ingredients
Here is what makes this cilantro lime rice so fresh and flavorful. See the recipe card for exact amounts.
- Long-grain white rice: The classic choice for fluffy, separate grains that soak up all the lime and butter.
- Fresh lime: You use both the juice and the zest for the brightest, most vibrant citrus flavor.
- Fresh cilantro: Chopped and stirred in at the end for that signature herby, restaurant-style finish.
- Butter: Coats every grain with richness and helps carry the lime and herb flavor through the rice.
- Salt and pepper: Simple seasoning that brings all the flavors together and rounds everything out.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
Here are a few easy ways to make this cilantro lime rice your own.
- Brown rice: Swap in long-grain brown rice and adjust the cooking time per the package.
- Make it tangier: Add an extra squeeze of lime or a pinch of zest right before serving.
- Add heat: Stir in a little minced jalapeno or a pinch of cayenne for a spicy kick.
- Garlic version: Saute a clove of garlic in the butter first for a savory twist, great next to our cilantro lime chicken.
- Turn it into a bowl base with our Mexican shredded chicken and your favorite toppings.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice
- Bring the water to a boil, stir in the rice, cover, and cook on low for 20 minutes, then let it rest off the heat for five minutes.
- Add the butter, chopped cilantro, fresh lime juice, lime zest, salt, and pepper, then fluff and stir until every grain is coated and fragrant.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Use long-grain rice for the fluffiest texture and the most separate grains.
- Do not lift the lid while the rice cooks, so the steam stays trapped and the rice cooks evenly.
- Let it rest for five minutes before fluffing so it finishes steaming and stays light.
- Zest the lime before juicing it, it is much easier to zest a whole lime than a squeezed one.
- Add the lime and cilantro at the end so they stay bright and fresh instead of dull.
- Fluff with a fork, not a spoon, to keep the grains separate and avoid a sticky, gummy texture.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days and reheat with a splash of water.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
Cilantro lime rice is the perfect side for taco night, burrito bowls, fajitas, and any Tex-Mex feast. It soaks up sauces and balances rich, spicy mains beautifully.
Build a copycat burrito bowl by layering it with Mexican shredded chicken, black beans, salsa, and a scoop of guacamole. It is also wonderful next to grilled cilantro lime chicken.
For a lighter meal, serve it alongside our Mexican veggie lettuce wraps or use it as the base for an easy fried rice the next day.
Cilantro Lime Rice FAQs
Long-grain white rice is the classic choice because it cooks up fluffy with separate grains. Basmati or jasmine rice also work well and add a subtle aroma. Avoid short-grain or sticky rice, which turns out too gummy for this dish.
Yes. Cook the rice and stir in the flavorings, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Reheat it with a splash of water and a fresh squeeze of lime to bring the flavors back to life.
Very much so. This recipe is an easy copycat of the cilantro lime rice you get at Chipotle and other Tex-Mex spots, with the same fresh lime and cilantro flavor. Making it at home lets you control the salt and butter to taste.
Absolutely. Let the rice cool completely, then freeze it in a sealed container or bag for up to three months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge and reheat with a little water, then stir in extra lime and cilantro if it needs freshening up.
Cilantro lime rice pairs with tacos, burritos, fajitas, grilled chicken, shrimp, and burrito bowls. It also makes a great base layer for a Tex-Mex bowl piled with beans, salsa, cheese, and your favorite protein.
Fresh cilantro really makes this dish, so it is worth using if you can. If you only have dried, use about one teaspoon, but know the flavor will be milder and less vibrant than the fresh herb.
Need another easy side? Try our fragrant coconut rice next.
Spoon bourbon chicken over a bowl of this cilantro lime rice for a quick dinner.
This cilantro lime rice is a fresh base for saucy black pepper chicken.
Serve this rice alongside our hearty Mexican stuffed peppers.
Serve this rice alongside our spicy shrimp tacos.
grilled skirt steak tacos
grilled skirt steak tacos
Serve this rice alongside a bowl of fresh pico de gallo for an easy taco night spread.
Looking for the perfect taco-night side? These smoky crockpot chicken tacos pile right on top.
Round out taco night with a big pan of our loaded nachos.
Easy Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro
- 1 teaspoon lime juice fresh squeezed
- Zest of 1 lime
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Place water in a small saucepot.2 cups water
- Bring the water to a boil and place rice into the water. Stir the rice a few times to distribute through the water, cover, and place the heat on low.1 cup long-grain white rice
- Cook for 20 minutes and remove from heat.
- Leave the top on and let stand for 5 minutes on the countertop.
- Add the butter, chopped cilantro, lime juice, lime zest, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro, 1 teaspoon lime juice, Zest of 1 lime, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
Notes
- Use long-grain white rice for this, do not use instant rice.
- We like using fresh lime juice, but bottled will work in a pinch.
- This can be frozen, see my tips above.
- Cilantro Lime Rice is very versatile and can be used in various dishes such as tacos, burritos, or just as a side dish.
- You can easily double this recipe depending on how many people you are serving.
- Adjust the lime flavor to your liking, add more lime juice, and zest if you love lime or less if you like a little less potency.
Nutrition
Love This Recipe?
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Ooohh that sounds fun and zesty. What a great way to liven up a meal! Thanks for linking up to Snickerdoodle Sunday.
This sounds tasty! I always love getting this when out at restaurants, but I’ve never made it myself. I’m def pinning for later! Visiting from WUW! Hope you have a great night!
I am so in love with cilantro lately that this recipe came along in perfect time! I have a huge bunch in my fridge right now and this is so simple to make. Sounds delicious!