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Cilantro Lime Rice is made in one pot on the stove top! Perfect rice every single time with fresh flavor from lime and cilantro, and toasted in butter. It’s the best side dish for any Mexican-inspired dinner.
Want more cilantro flavor with lime? Try my Sheet Pan Cilantro Lime Chicken, Honey Lime Cilantro Marinated Grilled Chicken, and Cilantro Lime Salsa Verde Dressing.
Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe (One Pot)
This easy rice recipe is the perfect side dish and a family favorite recipe that gets made anytime we have a Mexican-inspired dinner; like these amazing marinated Steak Fajitas, this fun family favorite Taco Ring, and these very popular Easy Chicken Flautas.
Some might say it’s similar to the famous Chipotle’s cilantro lime rice, but I say it’s better! It’s a drier, not sticky and wet rice (I am not a huge fan of Chipotle’s rice for that reason), more like what you can find in the authentic Mexican restaurants.
For a pressure cooker version of cilantro-lime rice check out my Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice.
Simple Ingredients Needed
- Butter : I use salted butter but unsalted butter can be used if that’s what you prefer cooking with. The butter toasts the rice until golden brown. The secret to really good rice is toasting it first before adding the liquids.
- Basmati Rice : I have made this recipe for years using all different kinds of rice, and basmati rice produces the best results. The rice is dry not mushy, and it holds up better to the zesty lime.
- Chicken Broth : I have used both full salted chicken broth and 33% reduced-sodium chicken broth, and can honestly say, that there was not a huge taste difference between the two. I say use whatever you have on hand or can find at the store. I buy the cans of reduced-sodium chicken broth from Costco, so I always have it on hand, and it’s what I use almost every time when I make this easy cilantro lime rice.
- Fresh Cilantro : Finely chop fresh cilantro.
- Kosher Salt
- Ground Cumin
- Lime Zest & Fresh Lime Juice : Zest the skin of the lime first and then juice it.
How To Make Perfect Cilantro Lime Rice on The Stove Top (Printable Recipe Card)
In a medium saucepan, over medium heat or medium-high heat, add the butter and the dry basmati rice. Toast the rice, while stirring frequently to prevent it from burning, until it’s lightly golden brown, very fragrant, and the butter has melted.
Add the chicken broth, chopped cilantro, salt, cumin, lime zest, and lime juice. Stir. Bring to a boil.
Once boiling, cover the pan with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer for 20-25 minutes.
Once the rice is soft and all the liquid is absorbed, remove the lid, and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve immediately.
How To Store Leftover Cilantro Rice
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days. When reheating rice, I recommend heating it up in the microwave with just a splash of water or you can cover the bowl with a damp paper towel to help it be moist while reheating.
Want Some Ideas For Using Leftover Cilantro Lime Rice?
- Use the leftovers inside these Chicken Skillet Burritos
- Make Turkey Taco Burrito Bowls and use the cilantro lime rice as the base
- Try these Cheesy Beef & Rice Enchiladas and use a batch of cilantro lime rice inside the enchiladas instead of the Knorr packet that the recipe calls for
- My family actually loves rice as a taco topping so make my Ground Turkey Tacos and use leftover rice as a topping
- Leftover rice makes for a really good nacho topping in my Loaded Oven Baked Nachos
What Kind Of Rice Is Best When Making Homemade Cilantro Lime Rice?
I have been making this recipe for years and experimented with all the different varieties of rice – I have found that basmati rice yields the best fluffy rice but it’s still sturdy enough to hold up to the zesty and bright lime flavors.
Long-grain rice is another alternative but I have found that it turns softer and mushier in this recipe once fluffed, and I much prefer drier rice when it comes to cilantro lime rice; similar to what they serve in the Mexican restaurants.
You would probably be fine using any type of rice, or whatever you prefer, as long as you rinse the rice first to remove the excess starch and then toast it until golden brown in the butter. Doing both those steps should help any rice cook up life and fluffy, and not mushy and clumpy.
Serving Suggestions
This easy recipe for cilantro lime rice is a great side dish for tex-mex meals or any Mexican food. Serve it as a flavorful side dish with Creamy Ground Beef Flautas, Crockpot Shredded Chicken Tacos, Honey Lime Salsa Verde Ranch Chicken Tacos, Taco Biscuit Bake, or Ground Beef Sheet Pan Quesadillas.
I also love to make cilantro lime rice or this Easy Mexican Rice as a base for quick & easy Taco Rice Bowls along with some of my Copycat Cafe Rio Dressing.
Recipe FAQ’s
Can I Make This In The Rice Cooker?
I have never made this recipe in the rice cooker. It seems like it would work, but I can’t say for sure. Normally rice cookers can easily adapt and cook for the time needed so it might work just fine. You need to toast the rice anyways so I recommend sticking with the saucepan that way it’s a one pot recipe – rather than toasting it in a pot and then using the rice cooker pot to cook it. Less dirty dishes doing it on the stove.
I Want To Use Brown Rice, Would It Work?
This recipe has been specifically developed for white rice only. Brown rice requires much more liquid and more cooking time. I do not recommend using brown rice unless you are adapting the liquids in the recipe to account for the brown rice.
Do I Need To Rinse The Rice First?
Yes, generally it is recommended to rinse the dry rice inside a colander, with cool water running over it, until the water is draining out clear. Rinsing the rice first removes excess starch, by removing that, the rice turns out much fluffier and cooks separated instead of clumping together and getting mushy/gummy. Rinsing rice also removes any dirt, debris, or impurities from the rice. Make sure to drain the rinsed rice really well, possibly even blotting it dry with a paper towel, before adding it into the saucepan.
Why Do I Need To Toast The Rice First?
Toasting the rice enhances the flavor and helps prevent the rice from clumping together while cooking. It’s how you get that ‘drier’ rice that all the Mexican restaurants serve.
Cilantro Lime Rice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 ¼ cups basmati rice
- 2 ¼ cups chicken broth
- 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- zest and juice of 1 lime
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, over medium-high heat, add the butter and the dry basmati rice. Toast the rice, while stirring frequently to prevent it from burning, until it's lightly golden brown, very fragrant, and the butter has melted.2 tablespoons butter, 1 ¼ cups basmati rice
- Add the chicken broth, chopped cilantro, salt, cumin, lime zest, and lime juice. Stir. Bring to a boil.2 ¼ cups chicken broth, 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon cumin, zest and juice of 1 lime
- Once boiling, cover the pan with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer for 20-25 minutes.
- Once the rice is soft and all the liquid is absorbed, remove the lid, and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
I’d love to see it! You can share it with me on @togetherasfamilyblog and follow on Pinterest @together-as-family-blog-recipes or Facebook @togetherasfamilyblog for more!
I love cilantro and lime….what’s not to love about this! Trying it soon!
Popping by from My Turn From Us.
Thanks for stopping by 🙂 I love the ‘freedom fridays’ link party you host. Thanks so much for the comment, and yes this rice is delicious. In fact, I just made it last night for dinner. Have a great weekend!
This is by far the best rice I have made… I used two whole limes to add that zest… 5 stars
Do you think this could be made with quinoa?
I think it could. I’ve never done it but I believe the water to rice ratio is the same for quinoa.
Made this recipe exactly as written and it turned out great! Used all vegan ingredients – earth balance for butter and vegetable broth. Don’t be shy about adding full amounts (or more) of lime and cilantro. Flavor is fantastic. I felt it was a teensy bit dry so next time will use 2.5 cups broth.
Oh yes, for sure adding more broth will help. I prefer rice on the drier side but not too dry. So glad you could use vegan ingredients for this. Thanks for commenting.
Should I wash the rice first?
I never wash the rice when I make this.
Can you recommend how to cook this in a rice cooker? Can’t wait to make it. Thanks so much.
Try this instant pot version instead https://togetherasfamily.com/instant-pot-cilantro-lime-rice/
I didn’t see the number of servings on your recipe. I’d like to make this for 10 people.
I apologize. I will have to go fix that. This makes enough for 6 side dish servings. So I would say you would need to double it if serving 10 people.
Quite possibly the most delicious rice I’ve ever tasted in my life. Made this to serve work Mexican themed dinner I made for a family dinner and while everything was yummy, this rice got rave reviews from everyone. A keeper. Thank you!
Amazing! First time I made and it came out perfectly. I only had Jasmine Rice at home but I used 1 1/4 cup of Jasmine Rice & 2 cups of chicken broth, it came out perfect, not mushy or hard!
Thank you!
Can you make this a head say like 24 hours before an event
I think it’s better fresh but I will say that we love the leftovers. We just warm them up. So yea, it may work making it ahead of time.
All of your recipes are delicious and easy to make!! I am so happy that I found all of these, makes my life so much easier as a busy mom of teenage kids!!! Thank you so so much!!!!
Thank you for your comment! Glad I could help you and your family!
This recipe does not disappoint. It is definitely a keeper.
So glad you like it!
I love this recipe. A frequent flyer in our home. A perfect side for a variety of meals, including grilled chicken, fajitas, taco bowls, etc.
I am so happy to hear this! So glad your family enjoys it.
This is a family favorite! Have made it over and over again.