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Cafe Rio is one of our FAVORITE restaurants so of course we have copycat recipes – like our Cafe Rio Shredded Chicken and this cilantro lime rice (also similar to Chipotle).
Not only is it crazy tasty, but it’s pretty quick (30 minutes tops) and it’s low maintenance. You don’t have to sit and stir it, just pop a lid on and let it simmer! This recipe has just 3 EASY steps.
We like to make this Cafe Rio rice 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 Chicken Fajitas and quesadillas. It really is a great side dish, perfect for all your Mexican meals.
For another favorite, try our red Homemade Spanish Rice Recipe.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- 3 simple steps. No need to babysit this dish by constantly stirring it – just mix it up and let it simmer.
- For all the things. Cilantro lime rice is great to make and serve in Burritos or to use as an easy side for any Mexican meal, like Chimichangas, Enchiladas, or Carne Asada.
- A copycat must! We love our Cafe Rio recipes and this rice is the perfect addition to our Cafe Rio chicken or sweet pork and the best dressing!
Cilantro Lime Rice Ingredients and Substitutions
- 2 cups long-grain white rice – Basmati rice or Jasmine rice. You can use brown rice but may need to add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
- 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
- 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- garlic salt and black pepper, to taste
- 4 cups chicken broth – or vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon lime juice – fresh squeezed or bottled juice
How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice
- COMBINE. Combine rice, green chiles, cilantro, salted butter, garlic salt, and black pepper to taste, chicken broth, and lime juice in a large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- COOK. Cover, lower the heat, and simmer for 20–25 minutes, until rice is cooked.
- SERVE. Fluff and serve warm.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- You only need one lime to squeeze out 1 tablespoon of lime juice. For even more lime flavor add some lime zest.
- To avoid gummy rice be sure you don’t add too much liquid.
- For fluffy rice rinse it before adding to the pot. For stickier rice don’t rinse it.
- Reduce the heat as soon as the water boils to ensure an even cook.
Cilantro Lime Rice
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 black 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
- You only need one lime to squeeze out 1 tablespoon of lime juice. For even more lime flavor add some lime zest.
- To avoid gummy rice be sure you don’t add too much liquid.
- For fluffy rice rinse it before adding to the pot. For stickier rice don’t rinse it.
- Reduce the heat as soon as the water boils to ensure an even cook.
- Use Basmati rice or Jasmine rice. You can use brown rice but may need to add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Store leftover rice in the refrigerator for 3-4 days in an airtight container.
To freeze, let it cool to room temperature. Divide the rice into how many servings you want and put them into freezer-safe bags with a seal. Freeze for up to 3 months.
To reheat. Thaw first if applicable. Transfer to a microwave-safe container and warm it up for 4-6 minutes in the microwave.
Complete The Meal
Main Dish
Chicken Burrito Bowl
20 mins
Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe
6 hrs 5 mins
Cafe Rio Shredded Chicken
3 hrs 5 mins
Chicken Tacos
25 mins
Dessert
More Rice
Homemade Spanish Rice Recipe
45 mins
Cauliflower Rice
10 mins
Lemon Rice
35 mins
How to Cook Rice in a Crock Pot
2 hrs 5 mins
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Adapted from Sweet Basil.
This recipe was originally published June 2018.
Can this be made in a instapot?
Can I make this and freeze it for later?
Yes!! There are freezing instructions in the recipe post, too.
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.
Can this be made in a rice cooker?
Yes, you can make it in a rice cooker!
Perfect flavor! Easy recipe!! Thank you.
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed the rice!
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.
So easy and delicious!!! My husband said this was his new favorite 😍
Yay!! So happy to hear that!
Love this recipe. So easy! And a nice change up from basic plain rice.
We made some this week! My family loves this rice & it goes great with so many dishes!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
Made it in the IP, but I think next time I’d add another 1/2 – 1 C of rice. As written, the recipe made the rice a little mushy. Still very yummy!!
Best rice ever!! Absolutely love the green chiles in it. Thank you for the great recipe!
Love this rice! So easy and delicious!
We love this rice and think it’s a great copycat for Cafe Rio rice. So good!
I served this at a family reunion. It was a total hit and everyone loved it!
This rice is the best!
Just like cafe rio, thank you!
This rice is my go to on enchilada night or when we have quesadillas. We love it! I throw all the ingredients in my rice cooker and let it go. It’s delicious!
Made this for the first time last night and it was a huge hit! One of my boys said We should have our rice this way from now on. I didnt have any brOth so i Had To use water instead and it still turned out great! Can’t wait to make it again with the broth.
Happy your son said that! Thank you so much for letting me know 🙂
Wow this cilantro lime rice is amazing! My son loved it and I love how you don’t have to brown the rice before adding all the other ingredients. Thank you for sharing such an easy recipe.
You are so welcome! Glad you like it! Thank you!
I love rice. This cilantro lime rice looks easy and amazing. I will have to try it out some time! 🙂
Love this rice in salads & bowls! The hint of lime is so refreshing & I love cilantro!
Please give serving size
We love this. I have a question. What is considered one serving? It has the nutition requirements which is great because I am following the ww program but I’m wondering what is considered a serving?
It is about a cup 🙂
So easy and oh so delicious! I’m not a huge cilantro fan so I cut it down to a little bit. I’ll never go back to making plain rice again!!
I can’t go back either! I am glad you liked it! Thank you!
A quick and easy addition to burritos, taco salad or any mexican dish. Takes no time and just as good as tradional mexican rice.
I love how this rice is full of flavor! It goes along with almost any meal!
Made this and it was wonderful, full of flavor. Will make again 🙂
Woohoo!! Glad you think so 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
It’s called Cilantro Lime Rice but there’s no lime juice listed in the recipe! How much lime juice?
The recipe calls for 1 TBSP of Lime Juice.
What kind of rice did you use for this? I always use Jasmine rice, but I know there’s other types of rice out there.
Being vegetarian, I frequently make lemon rice. I guess we can remove the chicken broth ingredient and have this as a vegan recipe.
Sure can! I would find something you can replace that with 🙂 Hope you like it!! Thank you!
I made your Mexican rice last night to go with shrimp tacos. It was delicious and so easy to prepare.
Oh, thank you!! It is pretty easy 🙂 It’s a side for many of our dishes!!
OMGosh, you live just down the street (somewhat) from me. How thrilling! I think that I am going to love your recipes…..and I don’t like to cook, actually!
How fun!!! Haha…maybe you’ll start to love cooking 🙂 Let me know what recipes you try and what you think! Thank you!