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A bowl of chipotle rice garnished with cilantro and lime slices, placed on a cloth.

Cilantro Lime Rice (Copycat Chipotle Rice Recipe)

Author: Jessica Haggard
The secret to the best Chipotle rice is making it in the comfort of your own kitchen. Made with simple ingredients like long-grain white rice, fresh cilantro, and tangy lime juice, this flavorful side dish is the perfect complement to tacos, burrito bowls, grilled meats, and more. In just 25 minutes, you can enjoy fluffy, tangy rice that's better than the original.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 203 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 cup white rice long-grain
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice approximately 1 lime
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup cilantro finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Rinse the rice in a fine mesh strainer under cold water until it runs clear. Shake it off and set aside.
  • Fill a small sauce pot with water, rice, oil and salt. Mix well and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Continue cooking uncovered until most of the water is absorbed into the rice and it is cooked through. Remove the pot from heat, cover, and let it rest for 10 minutes.
  • Mix in the lime juice and cilantro just before serving. Garnish with additional cilantro and lime wedges as desired.

Notes

  • For a hands-off approach, cook the rice in a rice cooker or Instant Pot. Just adjust the water-to-rice ratio accordingly.
  • If you're using broth instead of water, be mindful of the salt - some broths are already salty, so you may need to use less or skip adding salt separately.
  • After cooking, let the rice sit covered for 10 minutes before fluffing so it absorbs any remaining moisture for the perfect texture.
  • Always fluff the rice with a fork after cooking instead of stirring with a spoon to avoid breaking the grains.
  • Mix it up by adding chopped green onions, diced tomatoes, jalapeños, or a dash of red pepper flakes.
  • Keep the rice warm for longer without overcooking by covering the pot with a clean kitchen towel once it’s cooked. 
Serve: Serve as a side to your favorite chicken, beef, pork, or seafood main dishes. Enjoy it in burrito bowls with avocados, black beans, salsa, and sour cream, as a base for tacos, or an addition to quesadillas.
Store: Transfer leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. To reheat, gently warm in a pan over low heat with water or broth, stirring frequently. Thaw frozen rice in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Nutrition

Calories: 203kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 3gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 587mgPotassium: 125mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.2gVitamin A: 71IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 0.4mg
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