Chipotle’s Cilantro Lime Rice is one of the best sides on their menu. Here is my easy recipe for making it at home.
If you’re a fan of Chipotle, then you may be familiar with their famous cilantro lime rice. This rice is a common favorite among customers in their burritos or burrito bowls. But we’re not here to talk about how good their cilantro lime rice is. Instead, I’d like to show you how you can easily make this copycat recipe at home in just 40 minutes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Cilantro lime rice is an excellent side dish for chicken, beef, or pork that will definitely become a staple in your house. If you’re used to regular white rice or brown rice, you may appreciate the flavors of the herbaceous taste of cilantro along with the citrus hint of lime that this dish offers. Being the copycat recipe that it is, you can swap your regular rice and try this alongside any of your favorite meals. This isn’t Chipotle, so you can feel free to enjoy this in whatever way you’d like.
Ingredients
- White rice – Any type of rice works well for this recipe. You can follow this recipe to cook the rice or you can use pre-cooked leftover rice if you wish.
- Vegetable oil – Any type of oil works well. Chipotle tends to use rice bran oil but olive oil also works great.
- Cilantro – For that fresh, delicious herb taste.
- Lime juice – I use fresh lime juice but you can also use the bottled kind if that’s what you have.
- Water – For cooking the rice.
- Salt – For flavor!
Step-by-Steps Instructions
On the stovetop
Cook the rice. Heat vegetable oil, salt, and water in a large pot or caldero over medium heat. Bring it to a boil. Stir in the rice and let it simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 5-10 minutes, or until it absorbs all the water. Cover the pot and bring the heat to low. Let the rice cook for about 25 minutes. Remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork.
Add the flavor. Stir in the cilantro and lime juice. Cover and let cook for an additional 5 minutes to let the flavors really kick in. For an extra zing, add some lime zest at the end.
In the rice cooker
To make this recipe in the rice cooker, cook the rice as you normally would, following the rice cooker instructions. When the rice is ready, transfer it to a large skillet and place it on the stovetop over low heat. Stir in the cilantro and lime juice. Cover it and let it all cook for about 5 minutes to let the flavors fuse.
Serving Suggestions
This cilantro lime rice recipe can be enjoyed in many different ways, whether with a side of protein of your choice, beans, and vegetables, or it can be added to hot dishes like soups or stews. You can also try to make your own burrito or burrito bowl with my Dominican black bean stew, pork carnitas, or copycat chipotle barbacoa recipe.
Recipe Variations
- If cilantro is not your favorite ingredient, you can substitute for green onions instead.
- Any type of rice will do just well for this recipe, whether you choose to go with basmati rice, jasmine rice, or any other type of rice. However, keep in mind that cooking medium grain rice can be a bit more difficult than cooking with short or long grain.
- It’s also said that Chipotle’s secret ingredient when cooking this recipe is adding a bay leaf to the water. Feel free to give it a shot!
Storage Tips
Any leftover rice can be stored in an airtight container or resealable freezer bag for up to three to four days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer. Rice left at room temperature for more than two hours will risk bacteria growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cups of rice will 1 cup of uncooked rice make?
You can cook roughly 3 cups of rice from one cup of uncooked rice.
What happens if I don’t rinse the rice?
While rice doesn’t necessarily have to be rinsed, it’s important to rid of any dirt or germs that are on it. Without rinsing, the excess starch can cause the rice to get stuck to your rice cooker. Rinsing your rise also ensures that your rice is fluffy and keeps it from becoming gummy.
Do you use cilantro stems?
I like to use a mix of the leaves and the stems because they’re loaded with great flavor. The stems also add a bit of texture to your rice since they’re pretty crunchy.
If you’re left with too much cilantro on the side, don’t throw it out! Cilantro is super versatile and can be used for other things like salsas, tacos, or if you want to make another batch of cilantro lime rice.
You can store it in the refrigerator for about seven to 10 days in either a produce bag or in a glass cup filled with an inch of water and covered with a plastic bag to maintain freshness.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Rinse and drain the rice at least three times to remove surface starch from the rice grains and keep it from becoming gummy as it cooks.
- Substitute the cilantro for green onions for a delicious variation on this popular recipe.
Other Recipes You’ll Love
- Chipotle Chicken Tostadas
- Chipotle Chicken Wraps
- Tuna Black Bean Chipotle Salad with Cilantro Avocado Dressing
- Grilled Honey Chipotle BBQ Chicken Skewers
Cilantro Lime Rice (Copycat Recipe)
Author:Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 ½ cups water
- 3 cups white rice
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (about 1 lime)
Instructions
- Stir in the rice and let it simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 5-10 minutes, or until it absorbs all the water. Cover the pot and bring the heat to low. Let the rice cook for about 25 minutes.
- Stir in the cilantro and lime juice. Cover and let cook for an additional 5 minutes.
- Serve warm with your protein of choice.
Notes
- Rinse and drain the rice at least three times to remove surface starch from the rice grains and keep it from becoming gummy as it cooks.
- Substitute the cilantro for green onions for a delicious variation on this popular recipe.
Nutrition
The nutritional information of this recipe and all recipes on mydominicankitchen.com is only an estimate. The accuracy of any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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