This recipe tastes just like Cafe Rio and Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice! It’s a simple and delicious rice prefect for a salad, burrito, or taco. Now you can make this delicious lime rice from home!
This copycat recipe is simple and takes just a few minutes to prep. It’s great to make and serve in burritos or to use as a side dish for any Mexican meal, like chimichangas or enchiladas.
just like chipotle and cafe rio!
In the past, I’ve shared a recipe for Cafe Rio Shredded Chicken. It obviously comes from one of our favorite restaurants, Cafe Rio, and is such a delicious chicken recipe perfect for burritos, chimichangas and tacos.
Today, I’m sharing another recipe from two favorite restaurants (Cafe Rio and Chipotle) for their Cilantro Lime Rice. I had never had this kind of rice before going to either of these food chains, but it’s definitely a favorite.
We’ve always had our standard red Mexican Rice, but this Cilantro Lime Rice has a really unique flavor that we love, and is so easy to make too.
We like to make it when we have a burrito bar for dinner to add to our rolled creations, but the kids like to eat it as is with their tacos and quesadillas. It really is a great side dish and is perfect for all your Mexican meals.
If you’re like us and want to use it for a burrito bar, just cook up:
- Flour tortillas (we actually like to buy the uncooked pre-made ones that just need cooking up)
- Meats – (the chicken recipe is HERE and the sweet pork recipe is HERE)
- Fixings – like sour cream, cilantro, cheese, and Cafe Rio’s Cilantro Ranch Dressing.
It will seriously become a new family favorite meal!
How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice
The thing I love about making this cilantro rice, is that it’s pretty quick (30 minutes tops), and it’s low maintenance. You don’t have to sit and stir it, you just have to pop a lid on it and let it simmer! This recipe just has 3 easy steps.
BOIL. Begin, by pouring rice, chicken broth, salted butter, fresh cilantro leaves (remove the stems), diced green chiles, lime juice, and salt and pepper into a large saucepan and bring to a boil on the stove top.
SIMMER. Add the lid, reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 20-25 minutes or until the rice is cooked and tender. You may need to stir it once or twice towards the end and to make sure everything is cooking evenly.
FLUFF. When it’d done, fluff with a fork and serve warm.
What kind of rice is best for cilantro lime rice? You can use your favorite kind of rice for this cilantro lime rice recipe! But here are some suggestions:
- Basmati rice
- Extra long grain rice (white)
- Jasmine rice
- Brown basmati rice
- Long grain brown rice
Can you use brown rice? Yes, you can. Brown rice isn’t as absorbent as white rice and will work in this recipe. Just note that you may need to cook it for an additional 5-10 minutes.
Storage Tips
Leftover cooked rice can last 3-4 days STORED in the fridge in an airtight container.
If you have leftover cilantro lime rice or you want to make this recipe ahead of time, you can definitely FREEZE it. Once the rice has been cooked completely, let it cool to room temperature. Divide the rice into how many servings you want and put them into freeze safe bags with a seal. Freeze for up to 3 months.
If you are wanting to reheat cilantro lime rice that has been frozen, let it thaw in the fridge. Then transfer to a microwave safe container and warm it up for 4-6 minutes in the microwave. Do the same with leftover cilantro lime rice kept in the fridge.
What to serve with cilantro lime rice?
Like we mentioned, we love serving this recipe whenever we are making burrito bowls or salads. Here are some of our favorite dishes to serve it with:
- Green Chili Enchiladas
- Tacos
- Green Chili Burros
- Chicken Burrito Bowl
- Sweet Pork Barbacoa
- Cafe Rio’s Cilantro Ranch Dressing
- Flautas
I think I’m craving a taco night! I’ll take any excuse I can get to make this yummy cilantro lime rice. 😉
For more rice recipes, check out:
Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups long-grain white rice
- 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
- 1 bunch cilantro chopped
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- garlic salt and pepper to taste
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Cover, lower the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20–25 minutes, until rice is cooked.
- Fluff and serve warm.
Video
Notes
Adapted from Sweet Basil.
Love this rice! So easy and delicious!
I am making this for a party, how would you cook this recipe in an instant pot? Thank You.
I haven’t tried it in the instant pot yet, but you could try doing this: Add all ingredients to IP. Lock the lid in place and push the “Rice” button on the Instant Pot. 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 and serve warm. You’ll have to let us know how it turns out in the Instant Pot!
Best rice ever!! Absolutely love the green chiles in it. Thank you for the great recipe!
Just made this for a Tex Mex night with the roommates. They smashed it! Solid recipe. I used Basmati rice–holds the flavor, not starchy or gummy at all. Will make again! Thanks.
You’re welcome! I’m glad the rice was a hit!
Oh yes this tastes exactly like the restaurant version! So yummy and love that I can control the sodium. Thanks for the perfect cilantro lime rice!
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed the rice. Thanks for sharing!
I make this rice all the time. It pairs so well with so many meals. We usually make it in the Instant Pot! Turns out perfect every single time!
Thanks a lot for this super tasty cilantro lime rice! Very easy to make and fam really loves it. I am so in love with it’s smell and taste!
We made some this week! My family loves this rice & it goes great with so many dishes!
Love this recipe. So easy! And a nice change up from basic plain rice.
So easy and delicious!!! My husband said this was his new favorite 😍
Yay!! So happy to hear that!
I love how easy this recipe is! I think this rice would be perfect for a chipotle copycat bowl or burrito. I think it would be amazing inside of the homemade burrito in general. I didn’t have diced green chilies so I used a half can of Rotel, and only about a half of the Cilantro it called for but it was still really good. I am looking to try this recipe again, and I bet it’s even better with all the ingredients.
This is one of our favorite rice recipes, for sure! So glad you enjoyed it and it tasted good with the substitutions you made. You’ll definitely have to try it again with all the ingredients and let us know what you think.
Perfect flavor! Easy recipe!! Thank you.
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed the rice!
Can this be made in a rice cooker?
Yes, you can make it in a rice cooker!
Do you rinse the rice first? I always have, but it wasn’t in the instructions to do so
Nope, you don’t have to with this recipe.