This easy copycat Chipotle cilantro lime rice recipe brings the bold flavors of Chipotle Mexican Grill to your kitchen without ever leaving the house! Using the same recipe the restaurant uses to make one of their most delicious items, this zesty rice is just what you need to accompany your favorite Mexican dishes.
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Try my other Chipotle-inspired side dishes and add-ins, such as my copycat Chipotle corn salsa, Chipotle fajita veggies, or Chipotle mayo. Also, check out my list of 19 Chipotle copycat recipes for more delicious recipes without leaving your home!
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❤️ Why you’ll love it
If you love Chipotle’s flavorful lime rice, you will be glad to know that you can now make it in the comfort of your own home! This easy copycat recipe combines fresh ingredients and everyday kitchen staples to make the same recipe you find in the restaurant. You do not have to worry about going on a wild hunt for ingredients because you can find all of them in your local grocery store, if not already in your pantry!
This simple cilantro lime rice recipe requires just four steps, five minutes of prep time, and 15 minutes to make. It is quick and easy to whip up for a meal at home or to make a large batch to serve at your next Mexican-themed dinner party. It is also a family-friendly recipe with variations to suit everyone’s tastes and preferences.
You will love just how mouthwatering, flavorful, and aromatic this cilantro lime rice is and how versatile it is. Enjoy as an appetizer, side dish, or combined with other ingredients to make an entree. It is so good you will not be able to resist having a second (or third) serving!
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🧾 Key ingredients
White rice – I recommend long-grain rice, which will give this dish a nice, fluffy texture. I use basmati rice in this recipe. You can also use jasmine rice, short-grain rice, or brown rice, although you may need to adjust the amount of water and cooking times.
Cilantro – Fresh cilantro is one of the star ingredients in this recipe but can quickly overpower the other flavors. I recommend starting with less and increasing little by little to taste.
Lime and lemon juice – The combination of lime and lemon juice gives the rice its zesty flavor. For the best taste, use freshly squeezed juice and avoid the bottled variety. You can also add the lime zest for extra flavor!
Bay leaf – Bay leaves are another key ingredient in this recipe and help give the rice its delicious, signature aroma.
Garlic – One clove of chopped garlic helps enhance the flavor.
🛒 You can find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
👩🍳 Instructions
Making Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice
STEP 1
Before starting the recipe, finely chop the garlic and fresh cilantro leaves.
STEP 2
Heat some vegetable oil in a medium-sized pot. Next, add the chopped garlic and cook for one minute. Then add the rice and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.
STEP 3
Add the water, salt, and bay leaf, and cook over high heat. Once it starts to boil, reduce the heat to low and cover the pot with a lid. To prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot, make sure to stir it frequently. The rice should be thoroughly cooked after 10-15 minutes.
STEP 4
Remove the rice from the heat and remove the bay leaf. Add the fresh lime-lemon juice and the freshly chopped cilantro and stir well.
STEP 5
Serve hot and enjoy!
💡 Expert tip
When chopping the fresh cilantro, do not hesitate to leave some of the stems attached. Cilantro stems are packed with flavor and add to the deliciousness of the rice.
🔄 Variations
With protein – Make your rice dish more filling and protein-packed by stirring in my plant-based chorizo, TVP taco meat, sofritas, or black beans.
With veggies – Add even more nutrients to your rice with veggies such as peas, carrots, or my delicious copycat Chipotle corn salsa.
With heat – add diced jalapenos, green chili peppers, or cayenne pepper to give it a kick of heat.
With vegetable stock – For additional flavor, you can use vegetable stock instead of water. You may need to adjust the amount of salt you add if you use stock.
🥣 Serving ideas
Whether you serve it as a side dish or your main meal, you can enjoy your chipotle lime rice in multiple ways. Here are a few ideas:
As an appetizer – Serve it with a side of sliced limes for seasoning. Or, serve it alongside fresh tortilla chips and guacamole, cheese dip, or my copycat chipotle corn salsa!
With other Mexican favorites – Enjoy your rice as a side dish alongside your favorite tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, or beans. It is the perfect complement to my portobello mushroom fajitas, veggie fajitas, and black bean fajitas, as well as my butternut squash enchiladas and Chipotle-style sofritas!
As an add-in – This copycat chipotle lime rice is also an excellent way to fill your burritos and burrito bowls. Try it in my Chipotle veggie burrito, or add it to my burrito bowl or fajitas bowl (pictured below) recipes!
❄️ Storing tips
Chipotle copycat lime rice is best when served fresh and hot. However, if you have leftovers, you can store them as follows:
In the refrigerator – Move to an airtight container immediately after using it and store it in the fridge for up to four days. Rice does tend to dry out over time, so the sooner you use it, the better! Remember, rice is highly susceptible to bacteria and should never be left at room temperature longer than necessary.
In the freezer – Move the rice to a freezer-safe airtight container or a zippered freezer bag once cooled completely. If using a freezer bag, squeeze out all the air to avoid freezer burn. Freeze for up to three months.
Reheating – When reheating rice, it must be piping hot before serving to ensure you eliminate any bacteria. To reheat refrigerated leftovers, add a small amount of water to add moisture to the rice. Then, reheat over the stove, in the oven, or the microwave, fluff with a fork, and serve. If frozen, defrost in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. Only reheat cooked rice once.
🤔 FAQs
Cilantro lime rice would not be the same without cilantro. However, if you are not a fan of it, you can substitute it for chopped fresh parsley or other herbs such as basil, chives, or dill.
For light, fluffy rice, it helps to rinse it first to get rid of any excess starch. However, you can skip rinsing if you are okay with starchier rice that sticks together.
More Chipotle recipes
While you can eat vegan at Chipotle, you can easily make copycat recipes at home. Here is some of my favorite ones:
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Cilantro Lime Rice (Copycat Chipotle)
Ingredients
- 1 cup Basmati Rice
- 1 clove Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Vegetable oil
- 2 cup Water
- 1 Bay leaves
- 4 Tbsp Freshly chopped cilantro
- 1 tsp Salt
- 2 tsp Lime juice
- 1 tsp Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
Instructions
- In a medium size pot heat some vegetable oil. Add chopped garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add basmati rice and ook for 2-3 minutes while stirring frequently.
- Add water, salt and bay leaf. Start to cook on high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover with lid. Stir frequently as water disappears the rice can stick to the bottom of the pot easily. Depending on the rice it should be ready in 10-15 minutes.
- Once the rice is cooked, remove from the heat (and also remove the bay leaf). Add lime juice and freshly chopped cilantro. Stir well.
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