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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes » Cilantro Lime Rice

    Cilantro Lime Rice

    Published : August 5, 2018 Updated : October 2, 2022 by Together As Family 22 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe Print Recipe

    Cilantro Lime Rice is the perfect side dish, for burritos, nachos, or a taco salad. So many options! Delicious toasted rice, chicken broth, fresh lime, cilantro, and seasonings.

    Cilantro lime rice is the perfect side dish, for burritos, nachos, or even a taco salad. So many options! Delicious toasted rice is cooked to perfection in a flavorful chicken broth full of spices, cilantro and lime. This is the best cilantro lime rice and turns out perfect every single time.

    It's no secret by now that we are huge fans of Mexican food at our house. These honey lime chicken taquitos are one of my family's favorite dinner. If I am serving those taquitos then this cilantro lime rice will be right next to it.

    Whenever I need some type of rice either for a taco salad, rice bowl, inside a burrito, etc. I always make this cilantro lime rice. It cooks perfectly each and every time. Recipes like that are my favorite!

    Cilantro lime rice is the perfect side dish, for burritos, nachos, or even a taco salad. So many options! Delicious toasted rice is cooked to perfection in a flavorful chicken broth full of spices, cilantro and lime. This is the best cilantro lime rice and turns out perfect every single time.

     I have made this rice more times than I can count. Through the years of making it I have found that the best rice to use is basmati.

    Basmati rice is more expensive than long-grain rice but it is the only rice that has worked for me every single time. If you don't want to buy the basmati then the next best alternative to use is long-grain rice or jasmine rice works well too. 

    Cilantro lime rice is the perfect side dish, for burritos, nachos, or even a taco salad. So many options! Delicious toasted rice is cooked to perfection in a flavorful chicken broth full of spices, cilantro and lime. This is the best cilantro lime rice and turns out perfect every single time.

    What makes this rice stand out is the toasting of the rice in butter. It brings out such a great flavor and helps the rice cook better.

    I also love the fresh lime zest too. You will need a citrus zester so be sure you have one handy. I ordered mine on Amazon or any store would have one too.

    This cilantro lime rice goes perfect with these dinners

    • honey lime grilled chicken rice bowls
    • honey lime chicken taquitos
    • turkey taco burrito bowls
    • slow cooker chicken enchilada tacos
    • crock pot Fritos taco bowls

     

    Cilantro lime rice is the perfect side dish, for burritos, nachos, or even a taco salad. So many options! Delicious toasted rice is cooked to perfection in a flavorful chicken broth full of spices, cilantro and lime. This is the best cilantro lime rice and turns out perfect every single time.

    Cilantro Lime Rice

    Jessica - Together as Family
    Cilantro lime rice is the perfect side dish, for burritos, nachos, or even a taco salad. So many options! Delicious toasted rice is cooked to perfection in a flavorful chicken broth full of spices, cilantro and lime. This is the best cilantro lime rice and turns out perfect every single time.
    4.03 from 36 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Mexican
    Calories 81 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 1¼ cups basmati rice
    • 2 ¼ cups chicken broth
    • ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon cumin
    • zest and juice of 1 lime

    Instructions
     

    • In a saucepan, over medium-high heat, add the butter and dry, uncooked rice. Toast the rice, while stirring frequently, until it's lightly golden brown, smells fragrant, and the butter has melted. 
      * This takes about 3-4 minutes
    • Add the chicken broth, chopped cilantro, salt, cumin, lime zest, and lime juice. Stir.
    • Bring to a boil and then cover with lid and turn heat down to low. Let simmer for 15-20 minutes. All of the liquid should be absorbed. 
    • Fluff with fork and serve. 

    Notes

    I have found that basmati rice is the best rice to use for this. The next best alternative is long-grain rice or even jasmine rice. I only use the basmati rice because whenever I use long-grain rice on the stove top, it tends to come out wetter and mushier than what I like. 
     
    The lime zest adds so much to this rice. They are inexpensive and can be found most places. I bought mine on amazon. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 81kcal
    Keyword cilantro lime rice, mexican, rice, side dish
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @togetherasfamilyblog on Instagram

    Save this recipe for later and PIN IT to PINTEREST

    Cilantro Lime Rice | Side Dish Recipe | Rice | Cilantro lime rice is the perfect side dish, for burritos, nachos, or even a taco salad. So many options! Delicious toasted rice is cooked to perfection in a flavorful chicken broth full of spices, cilantro and lime. This is the best cilantro lime rice and turns out perfect every single time. #sidedish #sidedishrecipe #mexicanfood #cilantrolimerice

    Cilantro lime rice is the perfect side dish, for burritos, nachos, or even a taco salad. So many options! Delicious toasted rice is cooked to perfection in a flavorful chicken broth full of spices, cilantro and lime. This is the best cilantro lime rice and turns out perfect every single time.

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    Comments

    1. Mary Denman

      April 30, 2015 at 10:26 pm

      I love cilantro and lime....what's not to love about this! Trying it soon!

      Popping by from My Turn From Us.

      Reply
      • Together As Family

        April 30, 2015 at 11:01 pm

        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!

        Reply
    2. Mars Meadows

      July 26, 2018 at 11:47 am

      This is by far the best rice I have made... I used two whole limes to add that zest... 5 stars

      Reply
    3. Heather

      October 27, 2018 at 1:33 pm

      Do you think this could be made with quinoa?

      Reply
      • Together As Family

        October 28, 2018 at 8:46 pm

        I think it could. I’ve never done it but I believe the water to rice ratio is the same for quinoa.

        Reply
    4. Mary Dodds

      October 29, 2018 at 9:39 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Together As Family

        November 06, 2018 at 6:53 pm

        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.

        Reply
    5. Tisha

      January 20, 2019 at 10:14 am

      Should I wash the rice first?

      Reply
      • Together As Family

        February 04, 2019 at 3:36 pm

        I never wash the rice when I make this.

        Reply
    6. Tracy

      May 19, 2019 at 10:54 am

      Can you recommend how to cook this in a rice cooker? Can’t wait to make it. Thanks so much.

      Reply
      • Together As Family

        May 20, 2019 at 2:23 pm

        Try this instant pot version instead https://togetherasfamily.com/instant-pot-cilantro-lime-rice/

        Reply
    7. ali

      May 22, 2019 at 2:51 pm

      I didn't see the number of servings on your recipe. I'd like to make this for 10 people.

      Reply
      • Together As Family

        May 31, 2019 at 10:32 pm

        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.

        Reply
    8. Heather

      June 16, 2019 at 1:53 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
    9. Victoria

      January 21, 2020 at 10:03 pm

      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!

      Reply
    10. Miranda

      June 30, 2020 at 9:53 pm

      Can you make this a head say like 24 hours before an event

      Reply
      • Together As Family

        August 20, 2020 at 1:59 pm

        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.

        Reply
    11. Staci

      June 20, 2022 at 3:42 pm

      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!!!!

      Reply
      • Lucy Pulsipher

        October 14, 2022 at 10:37 pm

        Thank you for your comment! Glad I could help you and your family!

        Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Turkey Taco Bowls – Lesley Leanne says:
      January 9, 2019 at 10:40 pm

      […] I promise to always share a good find & these don’t disappoint. Also if you love cilantro rice like I do, (Chipotle anyone?) check out her recipe for that as well to go with these if you […]

      Reply
    2. Thai Coconut Grilled Chicken - Together as Family says:
      May 2, 2022 at 3:27 pm

      […] love to make some coconut rice or my cilantro lime rice to serve alongside with this grilled […]

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    3. Rice Pilaf - Together as Family says:
      September 11, 2022 at 2:35 pm

      […] Cilantro Lime Rice […]

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