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Cilantro Lime Rice

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Cilantro Lime Rice is a super fast, copycat Chipotle rice recipe. Fresh cilantro, fresh lime, cooked rice, and a few pantry staples create a 10-minute flavor fiesta! It’s budget-friendly, naturally vegan, gluten-free, and YOU control the sodium!

cilantro lime rice in white bowl garnished with lime and cilantro

Cilantro Lime Rice turns plain rice into an exciting side dish!

Transform cooked rice, and watch it disappear!

Whether it’s for a party, or for Taco Tuesday, you’ll wonder where this recipe has been all your life!

This Chipotle rice copycat cilantro lime rice recipe is 4 of my favorite things:

  • easy to make (simply add cilantro and lime to cooked rice)
  • inexpensive (the entire dish is made with grocery staples)
  • delicious (who doesn’t love cilantro and lime)
  • versatile (make it for parties, weeknight dinner, or weekly meal prep)

Some would even say it’s secretly healthy!

No matter what, this recipe turns plain, cooked rice into a gorgeous Mexican side dish that’s bursting with lime flavor.

How to make your own Chipotle Rice aka Cilantro Lime Rice

Step 1. Zest and juice a lime.

Step 2. Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.

Step 3. Add cooked rice and saute until warmed through, stirring as needed.

Step 4. Stir in fresh lime juice, cilantro, salt, pepper, and lime zest.

Step 5. Serve it up and watch it disappear!

* Full recipe available in the recipe card below

chopped cilantro, lime, and lime juice on cutting board

Cilantro Recipe Tips and FAQ’s

Can I use white or brown rice for Cilantro Rice?

You can use white rice or brown rice for this recipe.

Of course, brown rice usually gets the thumbs up for having more nutrients, protein, and fiber than white rice.

I’m happy with either one!

You can also use basmati rice, long grain rice, or jasmine rice. I’ve tried them all, and to be honest, I’m hard-pressed to pick a favorite.

What’s the best way to cook rice for this recipe?

You can cook rice using your favorite method, be it Instant Pot, rice cooker, or stove method.

The real trick I’ve found is to allow the rice to cool before using it in this recipe. Better yet, chilling it overnight gives it a better texture for this recipe…it’s less sticky.

You can always add more flavor to the rice by cooking it in chicken broth instead of plain water.

But you knew that already, didn’t ya?

What’s the best way to store Cilantro Rice?

I recommend storing this rice in an airtight container, preferably with a locking lid.

Cooked rice dries out quickly in the refrigerator, and the locking lid helps delay that process. 

What’s the best way to reheat Cilantro Lime Rice?

I have two reheat recommendations:

1) Microwave: Sprinkle a few drops of water over it, cover, and reheat in one-minute increments until warmed through.

2) Stovetop: On medium heat in a nonstick skillet, heat a few drops of oil, add rice, saute until warmed through, stirring as needed.

Cilantro Lime Rice Ingredients:

  • avocado oil (or any oil)
  • cooked rice (white or brown)
  • fresh limes
  • fresh cilantro
  • Kosher salt and pepper

Tools you’ll need for this recipe:

Check out these other healthy Mexican recipes!

Black Bean Corn Salsa

Avocado Ranch Dressing

Restaurant Style Salsa

Fresh Peach Salsa

(top image) cilantro lime rice in white bowl (middle) recipe title text (bottom image) chopped cilantro, lime, and lime juice on cutting board
Make your own Cilantro Lime Rice in 10 minutes with cooked white or brown rice, fresh cilantro, and fresh lime juice #vegan #glutenfree #cilantrorice #cilantrolimerice #Chipotle #cincodemayo
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5 from 16 votes

Cilantro Lime Rice

Cilantro Lime Rice is a super fast, copycat Chipotle rice recipe. Fresh cilantro, fresh lime, cooked rice, and a few pantry staples create a 10-minute flavor fiesta! It's budget-friendly, naturally vegan, gluten-free, and YOU control the sodium!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 8 1/2-cup servings
Calories 136kcal
Author Traci Antonovich

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp Avocado Oil or any oil
  • 4 cups Cooked Rice white or brown
  • 1 Lime zested and juiced
  • 1/4 cup Cilantro chopped
  • 1/4 tsp Kosher Salt
  • 1/8 tsp Black Pepper

Instructions

  • Heat AVOCADO OIL until shimmering on medium-high heat in a non-stick skillet.
  • Add COOKED RICE; sauté and stir until warmed through (4-5 minutes).
  • Add LIME JUICE; continue heating and stir until juice is absorbed (1-2 minutes); add CILANTRO, SALT, PEPPER, and LIME ZEST; gently toss to combine; serve warm.

RECIPE NOTES

Yield: 4 cups (nutrition data is for white rice, not brown)
Serving size: 1/2 cup
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy and are estimates based on unbranded ingredients acquired from a nutrition database. For accurate calculations, please refer to brand packaging information and consult your nutritionist.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Cilantro Lime Rice
Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)
Calories 136 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 74mg3%
Potassium 36mg1%
Carbohydrates 23g8%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 35IU1%
Vitamin C 2.6mg3%
Calcium 11mg1%
Iron 0.2mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Did you make this recipe? Tag me!Mention @thekitchengirl or tag #thekitchengirl
cilantro lime rice in white bowl garnished with lime and cilantro and recipe title text on bottom
Traci Antonovich
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Traci Antonovich

Recipe author and food photographer at The Kitchen Girl
I'm on a mission to help you eat healthy AND save money through simple, everyday recipes, product reviews, and budget-friendly kitchen tips.
Traci Antonovich
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Comments

    • Traci Antonovich says

      01/18/2020 at 8:50 pm

      Hi Holly, I haven’t tried it…and probably would only do so with a vacuum sealer to help prevent the rice from drying out. It’s so good though, it probably won’t make it to the freezer 😉

  2. Stephanie says

    06/21/2019 at 2:22 am

    5 stars
    This was great. My 5 and 2 year old really love the rice at Chipotle so I really wanted to recreate it at home and they both loved it.

    Reply

  3. Tatiana says

    06/12/2019 at 10:33 am

    5 stars
    This was delicious! My hubby and 5 year old son, absolutely loved it. Made it with cooked white rice.

    Reply

  4. Claudia says

    02/17/2019 at 2:56 pm

    Hi Traci Tks. for this recipe. It will go well with my Tequila lime prawns. I always have too much cilantro and squeezed lime juice so now I know what to use it for. I’m excited to also try your way of cooking beans in the oven. Your recipes sound wonderful. Now I must get off my duff and try them.
    the again. Claudia

    Reply

  9. Pam says

    07/24/2018 at 8:09 am

    5 stars
    I’ve never had this at Chipotle, but now I think I’ll just try your version. It looks so easy and cilantro is one of my absolute favorite flavors!

    Reply

  11. Elizabeth says

    02/17/2018 at 12:36 am

    5 stars
    This sounds utterly gorgeous, and not too complicated to make too. It’s my husband that’s the rice maker in our house – I’ll have to show him this recipe!

    Reply

  20. Coco Nut says

    09/09/2017 at 2:41 pm

    I tried out this recipe and it was absolutely perfect! Tasted exactly like Chipotle’s rice! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂

    Reply

    • Traci says

      09/10/2017 at 9:25 am

      Well, you just made my day! So glad to hear you like it…thanks for stopping by and letting me know 🙂

  21. Karen Cushing says

    08/05/2017 at 10:57 am

    I’m trying this today, using olive oil rather than avocado oil, as the avocado oil was $10.99 for a small bottle at Meijer.

    Reply

    • Traci says

      08/06/2017 at 10:11 am

      Yay Karen…hope it turned out for you! Ya, I hear ya on the Avocado Oil. I buy it at Costco, so it’s a great deal, otherwise, I’d use my trusty, Extra Virgin Olive Oil for this one. 🙂

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