With just 6 ingredients and 6 minutes of active cooking time, learn how to make the best instant pot cilantro lime rice you can serve with anything and everything.
This cilantro rice is fluffy, delicious, and bright in flavor. Perfect for Mexican inspired meals such as tacos, burrito bowls, or just as a side dish with grilled chicken, salmon, or seafood in general.
This instant pot cilantro lime rice recipe is an easy, quick side dish that's perfect for busy weeknights or when you need a flavorful accompaniment to your mains. This Chipotle cilantro lime copycat recipe will leave your family asking for more. It is great to feed a family or a crowd. A perfect way to add an oomph to plain white rice.
Let me show you how to make it following these basic steps. Don't have an instant pot? don't worry, I have included the stove top pot version instructions too.
Related recipes: air fryer cilantro lime chicken, cilantro parsley chimichurri, cilantro lime cucumber salad and cilantro lime chicken thighs.
Why you will love this recipe
Here are a few reasons you will love this instant pot cilantro lime rice recipe
- Efficiency and Simplicity: The Instant Pot makes cooking rice a breeze, making it quicker and easier to get your delicious and fluffy cilantro lime rice on the table. Traditional stovetop cooking methods often require constant attention and stirring to prevent sticking or burning, but with the pressure cooker, you just set it and forget it. This not only saves you time but also frees you up to focus on preparing the mains to accompany your side dish.
- Flavorful and Versatile: The addition of fresh cilantro leaves, lime zest, and lime juice makes turns your plain white rice into a flavored rice dish that is bursting with vibrant, fresh flavors. The tangy lime and fresh cilantro combine perfectly to provide a zesty kick that can complement a wide variety of cuisines. Whether it's the base for a hearty burrito bowl or a refreshing side dish to a piece of grilled chicken or fish, this rice delivers on all fronts.
- Healthy and Wholesome: Forget Chipotle, making this easy recipe at home is healthier than what you will get from a restaurant or store-bought, flavored rice packets. You can rest assured that all the ingredients used in making this dish are fresh and nutritious. This recipe requires no added sugars or artificial flavors, making it a wholesome choice for health-conscious individuals and families.
What you will need
To make this versatile rice side dish, you will need the following handful of ingredients
Rice: I used long grain white basmati rice. You can use any long grain rice of choice such as jasmine rice or normal long-grain rice. Brown rice is great too but be aware that the cooking time is longer. Check my instant pot brown rice recipe for how to make it.
Lime zest
Lime juice
Garlic
Olive oil
Unsalted butter
Salt
Fresh Cilantro leaves: I do not recommend substituting this with dried cilantro leaves, the flavors won't just be the same. Cilantro is also known as coriander in other part of the world.
Water: this can be substituted with chicken broth or vegetable broth to keep this recipe vegan or vegetarian
How to make instant pot cilantro lime rice
Zest two limes, then juice the limes in a bowl and set aside. Finely chop the cilantro and set aside. You can keep the stem if you would like a more intense cilantro flavor.
Rinse the rice: this step is important as it helps remove excess starch from the rice. Rinse the ice under cold water until the water runs clear, drain and set aside.
Turn Instant Pot to saute mode, add the olive oil, and heat the olive oil until hot and shimmering. Add in the washed rice, stirring to coat with the oil. Add lime zest and chopped garlic then continue to saute stirring occasionally until the rice releases a nutty flavor and some of it is lightly browned.
Add in water or broth and salt and stir to combine. Close the lid of instant pot, make sure to seal the valve. Press the high pressure (or manual ) button and set the timer to 6 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is completed, let the pressure cooker release naturally for 5 minutes then carefully do a quick release to release the remaining pressure.
Once the pressure pin drops (or no more pressure) carefully open the lid of the instant pot. Add lime juice, chopped cilantro, and butter (if using) and stir together with a spatula to combine and the butter totally melted into the rice.
Serve while it is still hot and enjoy.
Stovetop cilantro lime rice cooking instructions
If you don't have an instant pot, there's no need to worry! You can still enjoy this delicious perfect side dish by following these simple stovetop instructions.
Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear, this is to remove any excess starch. After rinsing, drain the rice and set it aside.
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add the rinsed rice and stir to coat it with the oil. Add the chopped garlic and lime zest, stirring occasionally. Cook until the rice is lightly browned and releases a nutty aroma.
Add water or broth along with salt, stir to combine then turn up the heat to bring it to a rolling boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover pot with lid, and allow to simmer until the rice is done. This should take about 15-20 minutes depending on how much water you added.
Fluff the cooked cilantro lime rice with a fork then add in fresh lime juice, chopped cilantro, and butter (if using). Stir to combine until the butter has completely melted into the rice. Serve and enjoy while still hot
How to store
Cooked rice can be stored in an airtight container for u to 4 days in the fridge. It is important that you store cooked rice correctly to prevent bacterial growth. You can also freeze cooked rice for up to 3 months.
Reheat in the microwave or stovetop before serving. Defrost overnight in the fridge and then reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave. Enjoy!
Recipe Variations and tips
- For an even quicker version of cilantro lime rice, you can use pre-cooked rice. Simply heat up the cooked rice then add in all the remaining ingredients and cook until heated through. Follow my chimichurri rice recipe for how to make it.
- For a vegan version of this recipe, substitute the butter or oil with non-dairy alternatives such as coconut oil or vegan butter.
- If you love onions then I don't see why you can't saute some along with the rice before you add broth or water for extra flavor.
- To lower the carbs in this recipe, replace some of the white rice with cauliflower rice.
- If you are a fan of spicy flavors, add some diced jalapeno for a tasty kick.
- For extra flavor, add cilantro tender stems or bay leaf to the rice when cooking it. Remove the stem and bay leaves before serving
- Avoid using short grain rice for the recipe as it tends to become mushy and sticky.
More rice recipes you will love
Chicken and rice with mushroom
Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups basmati rice I used golden sella white basmati rice
- Zest from 1 lime
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 2 garlic cloves chopped
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- Salt
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup fresh Cilantro leaves chopped
- 3 cups water or broth
Instructions
Instant pot cilantro lime rice recipe
- Rinse the rice: this step is important as it helps remove excess starch from the rice. Rinse the ice under cold water until the water runs clear, drain and set aside.
- Turn Instant Pot to saute mode, add the olive oil, and heat the olive oil until hot and shimmering. Add in the washed rice, stirring to coat with the oil. Add lime zest and chopped garlic then continue to saute stirring occasionally until the rice releases a nutty flavor and some of it is lightly browned.
- Add in water or broth and salt and stir to combine. Close the lid of instant pot, make sure to seal the valve. Press the high pressure (or manual ) button and set the timer to 6 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is completed, let the pressure cooker release naturally for 5 minutes then carefully do a quick release to release the remaining pressure.
- Once the oin drops (or no more pressure) carefully open the lid of the instant pot. Add lime juice, chopped cilantro and butter (if using) and stir together with a spatula to combine and the butter totally melted into the rice.
- Serve while it is still hot and enjoy.
Stovetop Cilantro Lime Rice cooking instructions
- Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear, this is to remove any excess starch. After rinsing, drain the rice and set it aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add the rinsed rice and stir to coat it with the oil. Add the chopped garlic and lime zest, stirring occasionally. Cook until the rice is lightly browned and releases a nutty aroma.
- Add water or broth along with salt, stir to combine then turn up the heat to bring it to a rolling boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover pot with lid, and allow to simmer until the rice is done. This should take about 15-20 minutes depending on how much water you added.
- Fluff the cooked cilantro lime rice with a fork then add in fresh lime juice, chopped cilantro, and butter (if using). Stir to combine until the butter has completely melted into the rice. Serve and enjoy while still hot
Nutrition
Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
And there you have it, a simple and quick fluffy rice side dish recipe you can make at home in no time. As always, if you made this recipe, I would love to hear from you! Kindly rate the recipe 5 star and leave me feedback in the comment section below. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and save it away to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox.
Leave a Reply