Copycat Cilantro Lime Rice: Better Than Chipotle
Make bright, zesty cilantro lime rice that stays fluffy and separate. This easy recipe rivals popular restaurant versions and is ready fast for your weeknight meals.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 cup long-grain white rice or jasmine rice
- 2 cups chicken broth or water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
Instructions
- Heat the vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the rice to the saucepan and toast for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly until the grains look slightly opaque.
- Pour in the chicken broth and add the salt. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Once boiling, immediately reduce the heat to the lowest setting, cover the saucepan tightly with a lid, and simmer for 15 minutes without lifting the lid.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and let it stand, covered, for an additional 10 minutes. Do not lift the lid during this resting time.
- Remove the lid. Fluff the rice gently with a fork.
- Stir in the fresh lime juice and the chopped cilantro until evenly combined. Serve immediately for your burrito bowls or tacos.
Notes
- For the fluffiest cilantro lime rice, use jasmine rice and do not skip the 10-minute resting period after cooking.
- You can substitute water for chicken broth, but using broth adds depth of flavor, making it closer to the best homemade lime rice.
- To make this a quick cilantro lime rice, measure all ingredients before you start cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3/4 cup cooked
- Calories: 185
- Sugar: 0.2g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 2.5g
- Saturated Fat: 0.4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 0.8g
- Protein: 3.5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg