Easy Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe (Chipotle Copycat)
Bright, zesty, and better than Chipotle! This Cilantro Lime Rice is a quick and easy Mexican side dish made with just 6 simple ingredients. Fluffy long-grain rice is toasted in butter, simmered to perfection, then tossed with fresh lime juice and cilantro. Perfect for burrito bowls, tacos, or any bold-flavored main dish—ready in under 30 minutes!
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain white basmati rice
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
- juice of 1 to 2 small limes divided
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Instructions
- In a saucepan over low-medium heat melt the butter. Add the rice and sugar. Mix briefly to coat the rice with the butter and sugar. Add half the lime juice and stir for 1 minute. Add water and salt.
- Bring the rice to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and simmer until the rice is tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
- Remove from heat and sprinkle the rice with the cilantro, the rest of the lime juice, and more salt if needed. Fluff rice with a fork. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
Originally published: October 2017. This recipe is also published in the Muy Bueno cookbook.
- Juice tip: Roll limes firmly on the counter before cutting to release more juice — it really makes a difference!
- Use the stems too: Cilantro stems are tender and flavorful. Just trim any woody parts and finely chop the rest to mix in with the leaves.
- Double it: Taking this to a potluck or feeding a crowd? Go ahead and double the recipe — it disappears fast!
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Make it your way:
- Vegan – Use your favorite dairy-free butter alternative.
- Extra Fiber – Substitute long-grain brown rice and add 15–20 extra minutes of cooking time.
- Grain-Free / Low-Carb – Swap in cauliflower rice. Sauté in butter and sugar, skip the water, then finish with cilantro and lime.
- Extra Lime – Add lime zest for an extra punch of citrus flavor.
- Serving tip: After cooking, fluff the rice with a fork and let it rest, covered, for 5 minutes before serving for the best texture.
Nutrition
Calories: 198.72kcal | Carbohydrates: 38.44g | Protein: 3.38g | Fat: 3.15g | Saturated Fat: 1.88g | Cholesterol: 7.53mg | Sodium: 615.29mg | Potassium: 66.35mg | Fiber: 0.6g | Sugar: 0.75g | Vitamin A: 107.71IU | Vitamin C: 3.38mg | Calcium: 16.7mg | Iron: 0.37mg