• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
The Gracious Wife logo
  • Recipes
  • Family
    • Love & Marriage
    • Parenting
  • House & Home
    • Kitchen and Cooking Tips
    • Cleaning & Organization
    • Budget
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube

Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice

Feb 20, 2022 · 21 Comments

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Mix
Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
Collage of cilantro like rice with an overhead view of a bowl of rice topped with fresh cilantro and a lime on top and a side view of the same bowl on bottom with the words "Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice" in the center

Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice is the perfect copycat recipe for all Chipotle lovers! With fresh cilantro, bright lime juice, and zesty garlic, you'll want to eat it with everything! Plus, bonus directions for white AND brown rice, on the stove-top, Instant Pot, AND rice cooker!

White chipotle lime rice garnished with a fresh lime wedge and sprig of cilantro in a black bowl on a blue wood background

Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice

Calling all Chipotle lovers! I have the recipe you've been waiting for! The basis and foundation of all deliciousness at Chipotle. The Cilantro Lime Rice.

Now, this Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice isn't just good. It's the warm, comfort of rice mixed with fresh cilantro and bright lime juice, with just a little zing from the fresh minced garlic.

Make your own burrito bowl. Eat as a side. Put it IN a burrito. It's so amazing, you'll want to eat it with everything.

The best part? It is SO easy to make! And store. You can even make a big batch and freeze it portions for later (meal prep, ftw!).

I've included stove-top directions for the white cilantro lime rice because I think that's really "the classic." BUT I've also included directions to make the brown rice, as well as Instant Pot and ricecooker directions.

So make this rice however you want, just make it ASAP!

I think making this rice on the stove-top is the best and easiest method, but I've also included Instant Pot and rice cooker directions for the gadget-lovers out there below.

What is the Difference Between White and Brown Rice?

All rice is made up of mostly carbohydrates, little protein and usually no fat.

Brown rice is a whole grain, meaning it contains all parts of the grain including the bran, germ, etc. However, white rice had had the bran and germ removed, leaving it with fewer essential nutrients.

This is why brown rice is generally considered healthier and more nutritious than white rice.

So, What Kind of Rice Should You Use?

You can use whichever kind of rice you prefer in this Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice. I've included directions for white basmati rice (pictured), long grain white rice, long grain brown rice, and brown basmati rice.

Be aware that brown rice does take much longer to cook than white rice (all that extra fiber to soften!).

So, it all comes down to personal taste preference, time constraints, and nutrition concerns. It will turn out delicious no matter what you choose, so the choice is yours!

White chipotle lime rice garnished with a fresh lime wedge and sprig of cilantro in a black bowl on a blue wood background

How to Make Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice in the Instant Pot

Place 1 cup white basmati rice and 1 cup water, plus 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 ½ tablespoons lime juice, ½ tablespoon lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon minced garlic to the pressure cooker.

Close the lid and set to manual cook on HIGH for 8 minutes.

When the Instant Pot beeps, let it sit for 5 more minutes. After the 5 minutes, using a hot pad, quick release the pressure by turning the steam release valve to vent. Let all of the steam out and carefully remove the lid.

Fluff the rice and stir in the cilantro. Serve warm.

How to Make Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice in a Rice Cooker

Add 1 cup rice to your rice cooker. Fill the water up to the level 1 (for 1 cup of rice).

Add a teaspoon of oil, bay leaf, and a little salt. Close the lid and set to cook.

Once the rice is cooked, open the rice cooker and fluff with a fork. Then transfer to a bowl and add in the cilantro, lime juice, and lemon juice. Taste and add salt to taste. Serve warm and enjoy.

More Recipes You'll Love

  • Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken - summer family favorite!
  • Skillet Southwest Smothered Chicken - cheesy and spicy and so good served over this rice!
  • Rice and Black Bean Burritos - put the cilantro lime rice inside!
  • Easy Chicken Fajitas - can't go wrong a classic! (and one of my all-time favorites!)
White chipotle lime rice garnished with a fresh lime wedge and sprig of cilantro in a black bowl on a blue wood background

Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice

Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice is the perfect copycat recipe for all Chipotle lovers! With fresh cilantro, bright lime juice, and zesty garlic, you'll want to eat it with everything!
5 from 17 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice, Cilantro Lime Rice
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 120kcal
Author: Michelle
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 1 cup white basmati rice unrinsed
  • 1 ¼ teaspoon salt (divided)
  • 1-3 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
  • 1 ½ tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
  • ½ tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic

Instructions

  • Bring 4 cups water to boil in a large pot.
  • To boiling water, add rice, 1 teaspoon salt, and bay leaf (or leaves). Stir and return to a boil.
  • Boil uncovered for about 12 minutes, until tender. 
  • Using a fine mesh strainer, drain rice and rinse with hot water. Remove bay leaf as well. 
  • Transfer rice to a large mixing bowl. Add cilantro, lime juice, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and ¼ teaspoon salt (or salt to taste). Stir to combine.
  • Serve warm.

Notes

  • My favorite (and in my opinion easiest) way to cook rice is right on the stove-top. However, I have included Instant Pot and rice cooker instructions in the post above.
  • This recipe is naturally vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and dairy free.
  • If you want to get really fancy and make the rice just like Chipotle, add the lime and lemon juice to a small spray bottle and spray it on while stirring. This keeps it from being to concentrated in any one spot.
  • Store in the refrigerator in an air-tight container.
  • To freeze, allow rice to cool. Place in a freezer bag. Rice can be frozen for up to 3 months.
  • To reheat rice after storing or freezing: sprinkle a teaspoon of water over rice to help loosen stuck or dried grains. Reheat in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until rice is hot. OR reheat in a pot over medium heat on the stovetop. Stir constantly, but be careful not to mash them.
  • If using long grain white or brown rice, rinse before cooking to remove excess starch. To rinse: place rice in a fine mesh sieve or strainer. Run under cool water until the water runs clear.
 
To substitute long grain white rice: Boil 2 cups water, and add 1 teaspoon olive oil. Simmer 1 cup white rice covered on low heat for 15 minutes, until tender. No need to drain or rinse. Then continue to step 4.
To substitute brown rice: follow the same directions as for white rice, except adjust the cook time to 40 minutes for brown basmati rice and 45 minutes for long grain brown rice. This will also yield more servings that white long grain or basmati. 1 cup brown rice will yield about eight ½-cup servings.
 
Nutrition facts are for one (1) ½-cup serving. 

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 120kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 486mg | Potassium: 35mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 15IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Did you make this recipe?I love seeing your creations. Snap a quick photo and mention @TheGraciousWife or tag #thegraciouswife on Instagram! Leave a STAR rating below!

Never Miss a Thing!

Join our newsletter to get new recipes, tips, tricks, and tutorials every week!

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Powered by ConvertKit

More Recipes

  • Shallow white bowl filled with homemade tzatziki topped with a drizzle of olive oil and fresh parsley with a pita wedge in the bowl. There are fresh cherry tomatoes, a bunch of parsley, pita chips, and a linen napkin next to the bowl.
    Tzatziki
  • Strawberry rhubarb crisp on a small white plate topped with vanilla ice cream with a spoon in it with a navy linen and fresh strawberries behind.
    Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
  • Preacher Cake topped with cream cheese frosting and chopped pecans on a small white plate.
    Preacher Cake
  • A slice of banana cream pie on a small white plate with blue stripes around the rim.
    Banana Cream Pie
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Mix

Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Mexican, Recipes, Side Dishes, Vegetarian Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice, Copycat Recipe, Rice Recipe, Side Dish Recipe

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kiki Johnson says

    May 22, 2019 at 7:54 pm

    I can make this in my Instant Pot? I think I love you!!!! This recipe sounds amazing and will certainly be a new staple!

    Reply
    • Shelleen Bowman says

      March 28, 2021 at 11:58 am

      Have you made this in the instant pot? If so what was your rice/liquid ratio and time you cooked it at?

      Thanks,
      Shelleen

      Reply
      • Michelle says

        March 28, 2021 at 12:56 pm

        For white basmati rice, you'll want 1:1 so just as much water as rice. Then cook on high pressure for 6-10. For slightly softer rice, add an extra 1/4 cup of liquid.

        Reply
  2. Jamie says

    May 22, 2019 at 10:35 pm

    What a wonderful side to any Mexican dish! I know I'll be making this next time we do Mexican!

    Reply
  3. Andrea Metlika says

    May 22, 2019 at 10:36 pm

    Chipotle and lime are such a flavorful combination. I appreciate your giving so many tips and for giving directions for different types of rice.

    Reply
  4. Natalie says

    May 22, 2019 at 11:47 pm

    Looks so delicious and would make such a great side dish for any dinner or lunch. I love cilantro and chipotle!

    Reply
  5. Shirley Andrews says

    April 16, 2020 at 8:17 am

    Love it so much! I can eat it warm or even cold

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      April 16, 2020 at 11:24 am

      Glad you love it! We do too! It goes with everything

      Reply
  6. Jess says

    April 07, 2021 at 8:34 am

    My daughter is obsessed with Chipotle rice, so glad I found your recipe!

    Reply
  7. Lauren Vavala says

    April 07, 2021 at 9:01 am

    My family is big fans of Chipotle. Love that we can now make this rice at home!

    Reply
  8. Michelle says

    April 07, 2021 at 9:01 am

    Yes! Been looking for this recipe forever! Cannot wait to try it out -- love cilantro lime rice from Chipotle!

    Reply
  9. Toni says

    April 07, 2021 at 9:03 am

    My family loved this cilantro lime rice!! Such a perfect partner for our favorite adobo!

    Reply
  10. Angela says

    April 07, 2021 at 9:37 am

    I love that you included different cooking methods. I have always used my rice cooker but I tried using my instant pot. Wow! How easy! Thanks!

    Reply
  11. Cathleen says

    April 07, 2021 at 9:48 am

    I love this rice so much! It is definitely going to be a staple in my house now!! Thank you so much for the recipe 🙂

    Reply
  12. Erika says

    April 07, 2021 at 10:42 am

    This is the BEST rice! The lime and cilantro give this rice the perfect flavoring.

    Reply
  13. Erica says

    April 23, 2021 at 8:51 am

    umm yes please! I'm always looking for fun ways to spice up my rice. Looking forward to trying this!

    Reply
  14. Beth says

    April 23, 2021 at 8:59 am

    Such a delicious and fun twist on rice! Definitely one of our favorite recipes! I'll be making this rice again soon! Definitely a crowd pleaser!

    Reply
  15. Shashi says

    April 23, 2021 at 9:32 am

    YUM! One of the things I miss most about chipotle!

    Reply
  16. Shinta Simon says

    April 23, 2021 at 9:55 am

    Loving all the flavors that are in this recipe! Definitely making it later this week, for a family dinner

    Reply
  17. Soniya says

    April 23, 2021 at 5:12 pm

    This looks and sounds so delicious! I have all the ingredients.. Can't wait to make it

    Reply
  18. Melissa says

    January 02, 2022 at 6:06 am

    Excellent! Will make this again!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Picture of Michelle Medlin, The Gracious Wife

Hello! I'm Michelle!
I'm a comfort food lover and self-taught cook with five amazing kids and a firefighter husband, surviving mostly on coffee. I love to create easy and delicious family recipes, and share creative family tips I've learned along the way.
Welcome to The Gracious Wife!
MORE ABOUT ME>>

Celebrate Memorial Day

Strawberry rhubarb crisp on a small white plate topped with vanilla ice cream with a spoon in it with a navy linen and fresh strawberries behind.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Preacher Cake topped with cream cheese frosting and chopped pecans on a small white plate.

Preacher Cake

Romesco pasta salad in a wooden bowl topped with freshly chopped parsley and a linen napkin behind.

Romesco Pasta Salad

Tabouli Salad in a wooden bowl topped with fresh tomatoes, two lemon slices, wedges of pita, with a spoon scooping out a bite.

Tabouli Salad

Overhead view of a cold veggie pizza topped with veggies like cucumber slices, shredded carrots, cherry tomatoes, fresh dill, and more, sitting on a parchment paper with a slice pulled out away from the rest.

Cold Veggie Pizza

Creamy Cucumber salad topped with fresh chives in a white ceramic bowl sitting on a rustic wood background.

Creamy Cucumber Salad

More Summer Recipes & Ideas

Summer Salads

Chicken tender being dipped into a small bowl of homemade honey mustard dip

Homemade Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

Overhead view of honey mustard chicken salad with fresh greens, avocado slices, beans, red onions, chicken, and homemade honey mustard drizzled on top.

Honey Mustard Chicken Salad

Summer slaw with a creamy tangy dressing in a glass bowl with a silicone spoon taking a scoop out.

Summer Slaw

Large glass bowl of fruit salad with grapes, strawberries, and blueberries topped with lemon and lime wedges with a wooden spoon in the middle.

Easy Homemade Fruit Salad

Overhead view of Mexican street corn salad in a large wooden bowl topped with cotija cheese, chile lime seasoning, and lime slices next to a bunch of fresh cilantro and a striped linen napkin on a rustic background.

Mexican Street Corn Salad

A big bowl of Ambrosia salad with a cherry on top with mini marshmallows scattered around it.

Ambrosia Salad

Spicy mayo sauce being drizzled over a spicy tuna roll bowl next to wooden chopsticks and a white linen

Spicy Tuna Roll Bowl

Berry cheesecake salad topped with a sliced strawberry next to a lemon wedge and fresh raspberries

Berry Cheesecake Salad

Close up side view of Doritos Taco Salad in a large glass bowl with a bag of nacho cheese Doritos behind it.

Doritos Taco Salad

More Salad Recipes

Reader Favorites on The Gracious Wife

Close up picture of a Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes with a bite taken out on a marble background.

Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes

A glass mug of green mint white hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and crushed green mint candy pieces on a white marble surface surrounded by more star mint candies.

Mint White Hot Chocolate

A slice of no bake s'mores cheesecake topped with mini marshmallows and graham cracker crumbs on a small plate.

No Bake S'mores Cheesecake

Slice of crockpot breakfast casserole on a white plate with stainless steel crock pot in the background.

Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

A corner slice of chicken pot pie with golden crust on a small plate with a fork with a bite on it, on a rustic wood background with a striped linen

The BEST Chicken Pot Pie

Footer

  • About The Gracious Wife
  • Contact Us
  • Copyright Notice
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure

You can find me here too!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Disclosure

The Gracious Wife is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. All our thoughts and opinions are our own and we are not paid for or mandated to provide a positive review.

2024© The Medlin Group
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 The Gracious Wife ·

7.6K shares
7.6K shares