This Cilantro Lime Rice recipe is the perfect easy side dish that’s ready in 20 minutes or less. Perfect for serving with your favourite Tex-Mex dishes, in burritos or fajitas, or alongside grilled chicken or fish. Made with long grain rice, fresh lime and cilantro, this Cilantro Lime Rice can be made in the rice cooker or on the stove top.
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
When it comes to side dishes, rice is a easy pick. It’s quick to make, it’s budget-friendly, it’s gluten-free, and it’s super versatile. We love making rice to bulk up our weeknight family meals, and this Cilantro Lime Rice is a recipe that we’ve been making on repeat for months. It’s the perfect side for serving with grilled salmon or chicken, and it’s the perfect addition to your favourite fajitas, as a filling for burritos or burrito bowls, and we even enjoy it in our favourite Poke Bowls.
Cilantro Lime Rice is a popular side dish at Tex-Mex food chain restaurants in the United States, but it’s also an easy-to-make side dish made from long grain rice, fresh limes and fresh cilantro. The rice is cooked in water infused with lime zest, and we like adding butter to add fat and keep the texture of the grains separate (it helps the rice not to become gummy and overly sticky). The cilantro is chopped finely and added after cooking to infuse the rice with flavour and colour.
There are SO many reasons we love this Cilantro Lime Rice. Here are just a few!
- It’s BUDGET-FRIENDLY. Rice is cheap, especially when you buy it in bulk, and limes and cilantro are easy to find and easy on the budget, too.
- It’s QUICK to make. It comes together in under 30 minutes and if you have a rice cooker, it might even cook faster than that!
- It’s EASY to make. No special steps or a ton of chopping required. Just dump most of the ingredients in a pot, cook, and finish off with a little chopped cilantro and lime juice – easy peasy.
- It only calls for a few INGREDIENTS. There’s nothing quite like a recipe that only calls for 5 or 6 ingredients, especially when a few of those are salt, water, and butter. We love making this recipe because we almost always have the ingredients on hand.
- It’s VERSATILE. Make it in the rice cooker, on the stove, or even in the Instant Pot – the choice is yours!
- It’s easy to MAKE AHEAD. We love making a big batch and keeping it in the fridge to bulk up our meals throughout the week.
Here’s what we recommend serving with this lime cilantro rice:
- It makes a great side dish served with these Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas.
- We love a scoop of Cilantro Lime Rice with a serving of pulled pork.
- It’s the perfect addition to bean burritos or beef tacos.
- Add some black beans and corn, serve it with grilled chicken and top it with some homemade salsa and guacamole for a delicious burrito bowl.
- Serve it with our favourite Air Fryer Salmon Bites and turn it into the base for a delicious Poke Bowl.
Here’s what you’ll need to make this lime cilantro rice recipe (paid links):
- a Rice Cooker or a medium saucepan or pot
- measuring cups and spoons
- Liquid Measuring Cup
- Microplane Zester
- Garlic Press
Here’s a list of the ingredients you’ll need to have on hand to make this Cilantro Lime Rice recipe (paid links):
- 2 cups basmati or jasmine rice (long grain rice)
- 2 limes (use both the lime zest and about 2-3 tablespoons fresh lime juice)
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cups water
- 2 large handfuls of fresh cilantro finely chopped
Want to take this Cilantro Lime Rice to the next level? Try one of these delicious variations!
- Chicken Broth: Substitute the water with chicken broth for a more savoury, salty flavour.
- Instant Pot: Use the rice setting on your instant pot to make this lime cilantro rice in the Instant Pot instead of in the rice cooker or on the stove top.
- Coconut: Add a tropical Thai-inspired twist by cooking the rice in coconut milk instead of water. Stir in more lime zest and a handful of chopped cilantro just before serving to maintain the fresh, vibrant flavours.
- Spicy: Introduce some heat by sautéeing diced jalapeños or chipotle peppers with onions before adding the rice to cook.
- Protein-Packed: For a heartier side dish, fold in cooked black beans after the rice is done. These proteins make the dish more substantial, turning it into a main course rather than a side.
- Veggies and Corn: Add some sautéed bell peppers, onions, and corn kernels to the rice mix for a sweet flavour and added nutrients.
- Cheese: Stir in a generous amount of grated Cotija or feta cheese just before serving for a creamy, salty finish to this side dish.
Time needed: 25 minutes
Here’s how to make this easy lime cilantro rice recipe!
- Prepare the rice.
Rinse the rice well and add it to the pot of your rice cooker or to a medium pot on the stove top.
- Add the flavour.
Zest the limes and add the zest to the pot of the rice. Save the limes to juice later. Add the minced garlic, salt, and butter to the pot. Pour the water into the pot and stir. Cover the pot.
- Cook the rice.
Set the rice cooker to cook mode and let the rice cook. This should take about 15 minutes, but the time will depend on your rice cooker. If you’re using a pot on the stove, turn the element to medium high heat and let the water come to a boil. Once the water boils rapidly, turn the heat to medium and let the rice simmer for about 10-15 minutes. The time will depend on the heat of your stove and the depth and width of your pot. The rice is done when the rice appears a bit dry on top and no visible water remains.
- Let the rice sit.
Once the rice is done, remove it from the heat and let it sit covered for about 5 minutes.
- Add the cilantro and serve.
Add the chopped cilantro leaves (chop the cilantro leaves finely and discard the cilantro stems) and the juice from the 2 limes into the pot and then fluff the rice with a fork, mixing the cilantro and lime juice throughout. Serve as a side dish or as a filling for your favourite burritos, fajitas, or wraps.
Should you wash your rice before cooking it?
Rinsing the rice before cooking washes away excess starch, which helps the grains of rice stay separate when cooking and makes the cooked rice less gummy and sticky.
Can I make this recipe with brown rice?
It’s possible to make this recipe with brown rice instead of white rice, but the cooking time will need to be increased as brown rice takes longer to cook than white rice.
What can I add to rice for more flavour?
The water in this recipe can be substituted for chicken broth for added flavour and saltiness.
Can I substitute parsley for cilantro in this recipe?
If you don’t like cilantro, chopped parsley can be substituted for the cilantro.
Can I make Cilantro Lime Rice ahead of time?
Yes. This rice is best enjoyed right after it’s made, but it can be made, cooled, and stored in the fridge in an airtight container until ready to reheat and serve.
Can I freeze cilantro lime rice?
Yes! Freeze this rice in an airtight container for up to 3 months. To thaw, let it sit in the refrigerator for 24 hours, then reheat and serve.
Can I make cilantro lime rice in the rice cooker?
Yes. Simply follow the instructions in the recipe and the instructions for your specific rice cooker to make this recipe in your rice cooker.
We hope you love this Cilantro Lime Rice recipe as much as we do! Let us know in the comments below, what’s your favourite easy side dish? We’d love to know!
More Delicious Side Dishes
- Best Mashed Potatoes
- Fried Rice
- Easy Coconut Lime Rice
- Asian Cucumber Salad with Carrots
- Tabbouleh Salad (Tabouli)
- Kale Salad with Butternut Squash
- Pico de Gallo
- Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Roasted Vegetables
- Easy Risotto
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Cilantro Lime Rice
Recipe: Equipment
Recipe: Ingredients
- 2 cups long grain rice we like using Basmati or Jasmine rice for this recipe
- 2 limes zest and juice
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cups water
- 2 large handfuls of fresh cilantro finely chopped
Recipe: Instructions
- Rinse the rice well and add it to the pot of your rice cooker or to a medium pot on the stove top.
- Zest the limes and add the zest to the pot of the rice. Save the limes to juice later.
- Add the minced garlic, salt, and butter to the pot. Pour the water into the pot and stir. Cover the pot.
- Set the rice cooker to cook mode and let the rice cook. This should take about 15 minutes, but the time will depend on your rice cooker.
- If you're using a pot on the stove, turn the heat to medium high and let the water come to a boil. Once the water boils rapidly, turn the heat to medium and let the rice cook for about 10-15 minutes. The time will depend on the heat of your stove and the depth and width of your pot. The rice is done when the rice appears a bit dry on top and no visible water remains.
- Once the rice is done, remove it from the heat and let it sit covered for about 5 minutes.
- Add the chopped cilantro and the juice from the 2 limes into the pot and then fluff the rice with a fork, mixing the cilantro and lime juice throughout.
- Serve as a side dish, or as a filling for your favourite burritos, fajitas or wraps.
Recipe: Notes
Storage Instructions
Store any leftover rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat it in the microwave when you’re ready to serve.Make-Ahead Instructions
This rice is best enjoyed right after it’s made, but it can be made, cooled, and stored in the fridge in an airtight container until ready to reheat and serve.Freezer Instructions
Freeze this rice in an airtight container for up to 3 months. To thaw, let it sit in the refrigerator for 24 hours, then reheat and serve.Recipe: Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
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Love, love, LOVE this rice! So light and fresh.