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Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe

Easy and all natural Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice. This rice side is a favorite when surf, turf, and black beans are on our menu. We love the flavor of lime and cilantro together in this recipe because it’s a nice switch up from other rice recipes. Perfect for seasonal food rotation and ready in 20-minutes. Plus, it’s literally no sweat.

Cilantro Lime Rice plated with salsa macha, avocado, and a cilantro garnish above it.

MODIFIED: MAY 31, 2024 BY ERIKA GARIBAY


Enjoy this lime cilantro rice recipe with your soups, mains, and in BRC’s.

My peoples that don’t like rice in burritos, don’t be mad at me for my burrito stuffing suggestion! LOL

Sometimes rice in a burrito be like that! It’s pretty great in fish and shrimp burritos con todo, too! 🙂

Why You should make Cilantro Lime Rice

I surprised myself by this too. There are quite a bit of combos for this rice, but my favorite is with hot and spicy dish seafoods, and dumplings.

The rice soaks up all the good stuff and all the flavors just work with the tangy lime.

To provide an example, favorited copycat recipes for lime cilantro rice from Chipotle call for bay leaf but I haven’t ever really been a fan of bay leaf in my cooked rice [like ever], unless it’s for a specific soup.

Herb Tip: A heads up, if you like bay leaf flavor, just add 1 leaf (fresh or dried) to this recipe, and that will be enough.

I’ve modified the rice for additional flavor and nutritional value by using the aromatics of garlic and onion (small chopped or onion pieces; however you prefer your onion flavor cooked in rice). I use a small chopped onion and I go over the deets in the ingredient notes section.

Ingredients

Ingredient Quick List: rice, oil, water, broth of flavor choice, onion, garlic, cilantro, lime, salt.

ingredients for recipe on a counter: water, chicken broth, oil, onion halve, garlic cloves, and long grain rice.
  • Rice, 1 cup
  • 2 cups liquid (broth, water, or combination of both at equal parts)
  • 1/4 whole onion
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • Sea salt
  • Fresh lime juice
  • Finely chopped cilantro

Ingredient Notes

  • White onion is used but if you don’t have it, you can use brown onion as well but it may present a slight yellowish hue if you used chopped brown onion. The rice will be totally fine if you use it as whole piece and allow it to cook out.
    • If you don’t like chopped onion in rice, omit the chopped, and add a few whole pieces for flavor instead. It will release the flavor as it cooks, then just remove cooked onion before serving. You’ll get it’s nutrients, flavor, and still have it your way at home!
  • Rice varieties used for this rice are often long grain and basmati.
    • Jasmine is a common favorite but long grain and basmati are also IT, and easy to access!
  • Garlic – Fresh garlic cooks really well in the instant pot because of the high pressure it is under.
    • If there are eaters that don’t like garlic, it’s ok to use granulated garlic as substitute. (I do this often when I am all out of the fresh garlic cause I’ve used it all up in salsas most of the time.)
  • Lime – use real lime, and for even more tangy flavor add some lime zest. Careful not to grate in the white, because that part is bitter.
  • Cilantro – if the cilantro being used is a bit wilted, wash the sprigs and let them sit in a small bowl for water to hydrate before drying and chopping it up.
    • use only leaves and remove hard stems if softer textures are preferred.

Step-By-Step Instructions

To make Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice

Please refer to your instant pot guide for safety instructions.

instant pot lime rice step by step in adding the ingredients before cook time.

A printer-friendly recipe card with instructions is available at the bottom of this post.

Mixing the cilantro and lime for rice.

Cover with kitchen towel to retain moisture and keep warm.

Spoonful of cooked cilantro lime rice with place of rice behind it.

The fresh cooked instant pot Arroz con Cilantro is Ready! 🙂

Foods to eat This with

Wondering what to serve with this tasty lime rice? Here’s are a few ideas of what we like to serve it with.

Any leftovers with a fresh pot of rice are always a great option for easy meal ideas.

Note from Erika: Be sure to comment suggestion combinations below. This helps our LQC Community with ideas. Join in on the good flavor. Thank you 🙂

Ways to Flip [Cilantro Lime Rice]

  • Chicken and Rice Bowls
  • Alongside Curry
  • Veggie dinner with calabacitas, and our frijolitos peruanos.
  • Burritos (for those who like rice in their burritos!)

Pro tips / Receta Notes

Recipe yield: about 2 1/4 cups, 5 servings.

Storage: Rice always taste best freshly made! But leftovers definitely happen. To prevent food waste store in proper food storage with airtight lid. This helps keeps this rice from drying out when in refrigeration.

To reheat the rice. Add 1 tsp of water to refrigerated rice per serving to prevent drying out cooked rice.

Reminder to remove the cooked garlic cloves once done cooking instant pot. Since their flavor has released into this fluffy and delicious rice you’ll want to take them out to avoid them mushing up your rice.

Want to spice it up? Add a whole serrano pepper (or jalapeno) after you lightly fry the rice in oil. Just wash and dry it well before adding.

Tell a friend!

Cilantro lime rice plated with blue cloth napkin beside it.

Please star rate this LatinasQuecOMEN Instant pot cilantro Lime rice. Your stars help us reach comida-makers. Thank you!

Cilantro lime rice plated.

Cilantro Lime Rice (Instant Pot Recipe)

5 from 3 votes

DESCRIPTION

An easy and all natural Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe. It's popular in the summer months because it's cooked in the Instant Pot which means you don't need to turn on the stove on warm days. You will love the flavor of lime rice because it's a nice switch up from the traditional rice on weekly rotation. It's perfect with seafood (especially spicy ones), tacos, dumplings, and more!
prep: 5 minutes
cook: 15 minutes
Natural Release: 5 minutes
total: 25 minutes
servings: 5 people
calories: 138
category: Side Dish
cuisine: Fusion, Mexican-American
keyword: chipotle cilantro lime rice copycat, cilantro lime rice, cilantro lime rice recipe, lime cilantro rice, lime rice, rice recipe

Equipment

  • Instant pot
  • Pan or pot
  • Knife
  • Stirring spoon

Ingredients

  • 1 cup rice
  • 1 cups water
  • 1 cup broth regular or low sodium
  • 1/4 medium onion whole piece or small diced
  • 2 whole garlic cloves
  • 1 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
  • 1 tsp kosher salt or 3/4 sea salt
  • 1/4 cup cilantro chopped finely diced
  • 2 whole limes 1 for juicing, 1 halved

Instructions 

To make the Instant Pot Cilantro and Lime Rice

  • Gather ingredients and cut the fresh ingredients (onion, cilantro + lime) into desired size.
  • Turn Instant Pot on to saute on medium setting and add oil.
  • Add dry long grain rice and mix with a dry instant pot safe spoon so all rice is coated with oil.
  • Turn saute setting to off.
  • Add onion and garlic to rice, followed by broth, water, and salt and additional dry seasonings. Mix well and turn manual setting to ON for 6 minutes (disable the “Keep Warm” button). Cover and lock instant pot lid and seal venting.
  • Once timer sounds off allow natural release for 3-5 minutes then safely manually release.
  • Once pressure valve drops. Remove lid and cover top with kitchen towel. Let cool for a minumum of 15 minutes (cooling allows it to turn out better).

To fluff the rice

  • Remove cooked garlic cloves at the top, whole piece of onion (if any) and squeeze juice of 1 lime to top of rice + add minced cilantro, fluff the rice by gently folding over. Use additional lime to add more citrus to every scoop!

Notes

Recipe yield – about 2 1/4 cups, 4 – 1/2 cup servings with a little extra to sample.
To spice it up – Add a whole serrano pepper (or jalapeno) after you lightly fry the rice in oil. Just wash and dry it well before adding.
White onion is used but if you don’t have it, you can use brown onion as well but it may present a slight yellowish hue if you used chopped brown onion. The rice will be totally fine if you use it as whole piece and allow it to cook out.
Don’t like chopped onion in your rice? Feel free to omit the onion or place it in your instant pot whole, so it can release the flavor as it cooks, then just remove it before serving. This way you’ll get it’s nutrients, flavor, and still have it your way!
Need the recipe to make Cilantro Lime Rice on the Stove? It’s available for you on the website. Just search for Cilantro Lime Rice Stove Recipe.
Visit the the full post for all the tips at the LatinasQueComen website. Search Cilantro lime rice, traditional rice, yellow rice, and more delicious recipes!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Cilantro Lime Rice (Instant Pot Recipe)
Serving Size
 
0.5 cup
Amount per Serving
Calories
138
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
3
g
5
%
Saturated Fat
 
0.4
g
3
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
0.3
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Sodium
 
548
mg
24
%
Potassium
 
47
mg
1
%
Carbohydrates
 
26
g
9
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
2
g
4
%
Vitamin A
 
129
IU
3
%
Vitamin C
 
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
12
mg
1
%
Iron
 
0.3
mg
2
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition Facts
Tried this recipe? Pin it for the Party!Mention @latinasquecomen or tag #latinasquecomen!

Equipment

  • Instant pot
  • Pan or pot
  • Knife
  • Stirring spoon

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1 thought on “Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe”

5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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