This easy cilantro lime rice recipe is fresh and bright. Serve it as a side dish with Asian or Mexican food, or use it as the base of your next burrito bowl.
vegan / gluten free — Jump to recipe
This cilantro lime rice recipe is even better than Chipotle’s.
Yup, I said it. This easy cilantro lime rice is fresh and bright, flecked with chopped cilantro, lime zest, savory scallions, and jalapeños for heat. It’s an epic base for a homemade burrito bowl—just add black beans, fajitas veggies, salsa, and guac!—but it’s also a versatile side dish. Serve it with Mexican fare like tacos or enchiladas, with an Asian-inspired meal like crispy sesame tofu, or with whatever you’re grilling. This recipe couldn’t be easier or more delicious. I think you’ll love it!
How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice
This cilantro lime rice recipe is easy to make!
First, cook the rice.I recommend using long-grain white jasmine or basmati rice for this recipe.
- Both these varieties cook quickly, in about 15 minutes.
- They’re also fragrant and aromatic, so they add depth of flavor to the final dish.
For rice cooking instructions, see my guide to how to cook rice on the stove. You can also make Instant Pot rice or prepare the rice in a rice cooker. Tip: Rinse the rice before cooking to remove excess starch from the outside of the grains. Without rinsing, the cooked rice will be sticky. You want it to be fluffy for this recipe.
When the rice is cooked, but still hot, toss it with garlic, scallions, and lime zest. Adding these ingredients while the rice is still warm helps it soak up their flavor.
Let it cool slightly, and then add olive oil, sea salt, diced jalapeño, lime juice, and cilantro. I wait to add these ingredients until the rice has had a chance to cool so that the cilantro and jalapeño don’t soften or wilt.
Season to taste and serve.That’s it!
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Variations
Not feeling white rice? Feel free to use another type of rice in this recipe.
- Brown rice makes it nuttier. Long and short-grain both work well. Note that you’ll need to increase the water measurement to 2 cups.
- Or, for a lighter twist, replace half the regular rice with cauliflower rice or broccoli rice. I love this variation in veggie burritos!
How to Serve Cilantro Lime Rice
This cilantro lime rice recipe is a fresh, flavorful side dish. I especially love it with Asian and Mexican-inspired dishes. Pair it with crispy sesame tofu or baked tempeh, or serve it alongside enchiladas or taquitos. It’s also a great addition to a taco bar!
Of course, à la Chipotle, the rice is a tasty base for burrito bowls too. Build your own with
- Black beans or pinto beans
- Tofu sofritas
- Fajita veggies
- Guacamole
- Pico de gallo, salsa verde, or corn salsa…
…or check out my burrito bowl recipe. Tip: cilantro lime rice is delicious in a sushi bowl too!
How do you like to serve cilantro lime rice? Let me know in the comments!
Storage
This recipe is best on the day it’s made, but leftovers keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Enjoy them cold or at room temperature, or pop them in the microwave to reheat!
More Favorite Rice Recipes
If you love this cilantro lime rice, try one of these easy rice recipes next:
- Spanish Rice
- Coconut Rice
- Wild Rice Pilaf
- Forbidden Black Rice
- Broccoli Rice
- Cauliflower Rice
- Or any of these 25 Healthy Rice Recipes!
Cilantro Lime Rice
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
Total Time: 25 minutes mins
Serves 4
This easy cilantro lime rice recipe is a great side dish for Asian or Mexican-inspired meals. Of course, we also love it in homemade burrito bowls!
Ingredients
- 1 cup long-grain jasmine rice, rinsed well and drained
- 1½ cups water
- 3 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
- 2 scallions, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1½ tablespoons fresh lime juice
- ½ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
- Pinch red pepper flakes, or ¼ diced jalapeño, optional
Instructions
Combine the rice, water, and 1 teaspoon of the olive oil in a medium saucepan with a lid. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes (or check the time listed on the package of your rice).
Uncover and fluff with a fork. Add the garlic, scallions, and lime zest and stir to combine. Let cool for 1 minute, then add the remaining 2 teaspoons of olive oil, ¼ teaspoon salt, lime juice, cilantro, and red pepper flakes or jalapeño, if using. Stir to combine and season to taste.
FAQs
Best Ingredients to Pair with Cilantro
- Ginger.
- Lemon.
- Lime.
- Mint.
- Dill.
- Cardamom.
- Oregano.
- Sweet fruits.
Cilantro lime rice can be a healthy option when prepared with the right ingredients and in moderation. Here are some points to consider: Nutrient Content: Cilantro lime rice typically contains rice, cilantro, lime juice, and sometimes a small amount of oil or butter for flavor.
What is cilantro lime seasoning good on? ›
Perfect for seasoning rice or creating a quick and easy chimichurri sauce to use on meat, seafood, and vegetables.
What kind of rice does Chipotle use? ›
The extra-long, thin grains of basmati rice help keep things extra light and fluffy. After the rice is cooked, it's tossed in the smallest amount of olive oil to keep the grains separated (according to their website, Chipotle uses rice bran oil, although it's much more likely you have olive oil in your pantry).
What fruit flavors go well with lemon? ›
Lemon: Pairs especially well with almond, apricot, basil, berries, black pepper, cardamom, cherry, citrus, coconut, hazelnut, ginger, mint, nectarine, peach, plum, prickly pear, rosemary, thyme, tropical fruit, and vanilla. For spirits, it mixes best with rum, vodka, and nut and orange liqueurs.
Does cilantro taste lemony? ›
Fresh cilantro provides a mix of lemon, peppery and pungent taste and for some can even taste like soap due to the natural aldehyde chemicals in the leaves.
Is cilantro lime rice OK for dogs? ›
And if cilantro is just an ingredient in a larger dish you wish to feed your pet, like cilantro-infused rice, it's probably best to skip the sharing. “Cilantro infused rice may contain other ingredients like butter, salt or oils that can cause stomach upset in dogs and should be avoided,” Dr. McCullough adds.
Is Lemon Rice good for you? ›
Rich in Antioxidants
The combination of turmeric and lemon juice makes lemon rice a potent source of antioxidants. These compounds help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body, reducing oxidative stress and lowering the risk of chronic diseases.
Why does Chipotle put cilantro in rice? ›
Every morning, we make our cilantro-lime white rice from scratch in each of our restaurants. We steam it with bay leaves to impart their herbal fragrance, then season it with lime and lemon juices and toss it with cilantro for its fresh, slightly tart flavor.
What do Mexicans use cilantro for? ›
Add it to your rice, salads, stir-fries, stews, soups, and of course, your favorite Mexican dish. Cilantro can provide a zesty citrus flair that pairs well with any dish that has a kick to it.
Our Cilantro Lime Sauce is made with hatch chiles, tomatillos, and creamy avocado oil for a slightly spicy, zesty taste. Try it with tacos, fish, and anything else that could use some big, bright flavor.
What is a substitute for cilantro in cilantro lime rice? ›
Best Cilantro Substitutes
- Parsley. This bright green leaf likely already has a permanent home in your fridge – maybe even right next to the cilantro. ...
- Oregano. Oregano, especially when fresh instead of chopped and dried, is herbaceous and peppery with a pungent scent. ...
- Dried Cilantro Or Other Dried Herbs. ...
- Lemon Or Lime Juice.
Apparently Chipotle simply cooks the rice grains in water with a bay leaf and then they add the salt, oil, cilantro, lime juice, and lemon juice all after the rice is done cooking. Some sources say they use rice bran oil but it can be both hard to find and more expensive.
Does Chipotle put sugar in their rice? ›
Rice and chicken are sugar-free, and the fajita vegetables have only 2 grams of sugar. For those who need to keep a close eye on their salt intake, tacos with soft corn tortillas, chicken and romaine lettuce are one of the few low-sodium options available.
Is white or brown rice better for you from Chipotle? ›
The brown rice contains less sodium and more fiber than the white rice. If you did choose the burrito or tacos, you might want to skip the rice (210 calories) altogether since you're getting your grains in your shell. That said, white rice can also be a healthy choice if that's what you prefer.
What does cilantro pair well with? ›
Cilantro Sweet, sour avocado, bell pepper, coconut milk, corn, cucumber, rice, figs, yogurt, carrots, potatoes, soups, stews, root vegetables basil, chives, dill, garlic, ginger, lemon grass, mint, parsley Cilantro will keep for 3-5 days in the refrigerator vegetable crisper.
What does cilantro taste good with? ›
Shrimp, chicken, steak, lamb, swordfish, clams, squid, pork, turkey, beef, bacon, mussels, prawn, salmon pair well with coriander/cilantro. What to do with cilantro before it goes bad? Pesto, Indian green chutney, chimichurri sauce are great ways to use it all before cilantro goes bad.
What is cilantro often paired with? ›
Cilantro is one of the most flavorful herbs, and it complements everything from chicken to beans to berries!
