Cilantro Lime Rice (Chipotle’s Copycat)

My family and I have always loved Chipotle — both for the tasty food and the experience. It was nice to be able to order a meal made exactly to your liking, one topping at a time. And just like every food I love, I had to make a chipotle rice copycat so I could make the experience happen at home, too.

The base of any burrito or burrito bowl is rice, or in this case, Chipotle cilantro lime rice. It’s easy, filling, and delicious. The combination of aromatic basmati rice, lime juice, lime zest, and fresh cilantro is simply genius! Plus, it works for more than just burritos – it’s great alongside many meat sides. Even if you’ve never tried Chipotle’s beloved version, you’re going to fall in love with this copycat chipotle rice.

How to Make Chipotle Rice

To make Chipotle’s cilantro lime rice, you’ll need a deep skillet and a handful of ingredients. It takes only five minutes of prep work and about 30 minutes to finish up.

• Toast the rice: On the stove top, reheat a deep cast iron pan or skillet over medium-high heat with butter. Toast the basmati rice until it turns golden brown.
• Add the water, lime zest, and salt: Add the three cups of water, lime zest, and salt to the pan and stir to combine.
• Bring the rice to a boil: Bring the lime rice to a boil and then turn the heat down to low. Cover and cook for 15 minutes.
• Remove the rice from the heat: Remove the rice from heat. Let it sit for about 10 minutes.
• Fluff and serve: Fluff the rice with a fork. Squeeze fresh lime juice on top and gently mix in the fresh cilantro. Serve and enjoy!

Tips for the Best Cilantro Lime Rice

Sorry, Chipotle… this cilantro lime rice copycat recipe is going to send you running with these tips!

• Use a long-grain type of rice: For best texture, use a long-grain rice like basmati rice or jasmine rice.
• Add lime juice and cilantro right before serving: For the freshest flavor, add lime juice and cilantro only right before you plan to serve the rice. This also prevents the cilantro from wilting.
• Always thoroughly rinse your rice: Packaged rice tends to come with a good amount of excess starch. It’s important you rinse it thoroughly to prevent it from turning gummy during the cooking process. A nice rinse also allows the individual grains to cook better, resulting in less sticking. Place it in a colander or fine-mesh sieve and run cool water over it until the water runs clear.
• Use fresh cilantro, not dried: Nothing compares to fresh cilantro in this dish, so avoid using dried cilantro. Dried just doesn’t cut it.
• Make sure to toast the rice: Don’t skip the toasting step! Toasting the basmati releases the aromatics of the rice and also helps the individual grains cook better. You won’t regret the smell that is about to fill your kitchen, either.

Rice Cooker or Instant Pot Hack

If you want to make your cilantro lime rice with a rice cooker or Instant Pot, no problem! Cooking rice in these is so hands-off , I love it! Here’s how to do it whichever way is best for you.

• Rice Cooker: Toast the basmati rice in a skillet. Then, add the rice, lime zest, water, and salt to the rice cooker and turn it on. Once finished, allow the rice to sit for 10 minutes with the lid off. Fluff it with a fork and add the fresh lime juice and cilantro.
• Instant Pot: Set the Instant Pot to the sauté setting. Toast the rice. Once golden brown, add the water, lime zest, and salt. Seal the Instant Pot and turn on the rice setting. Once finished, quick release the steam and allow the rice to rest uncovered for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and squeeze on the fresh lime juice and gently fold in the cilantro to get the fluffy rice.

Storing & Reheating this Chipotle Rice Copycat

This recipe makes about eight servings of rice, which means there will likely be leftovers. Here’s how I store and reheat my leftovers in the following days.

• Refrigerator: Store leftover cilantro rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
• Freezer: Freeze leftover cilantro rice by spreading it in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Pop the baking sheet into the freezer. Once the rice is frozen, transfer it to a freezer-safe plastic bag for up to three months.
• Reheating: Reheat the rice in a skillet (preferred) or in the microwave. If you’re using a skillet, add a bit of butter and water to rehydrate the grains. Sauté the rice until it is warmed through. If you’re using the microwave, place the rice in a bowl with a couple of tablespoons of water. Cover it with a wet paper towel and microwave in 30-second intervals until warmed through, stirring between each round.

More Mexican Inspired Recipes

• Easy Chicken Fajitas – Tender chicken and loads of veggies
• Easy Chicken Quesadillas – Melted cheesy “sandwiches”
• Black Bean and Corn Salsa – The most colorful dip
• Easy Breakfast Burrito – Perfect for Sunday brunch

Recipe

Cilantro Lime Rice (Chipotle’s Copycat)

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Servings

8 servings

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

This chipotle copycat rice recipe is the foundation of a perfectly layered meal. Its cilantro-lime flavors make your bowl feel simultaneously refreshing and filling.

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 cups basmati rice rinsed
• 3 cups water
• 1 tbsp lime zest
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup fresh cilantro chopped
• 3 tbsp lime juice

US Units – Metric

Instructions

• Preheat a deep cast iron pan or skillet with butter. Add rice and sauté on medium-high until the rice turns golden brown.
  
• Add in the water, lime zest, and salt. Stir to combine.
  
• Bring it to a boil, then turn the heat down to low. Cover the rice with a lid and let it cook for 15 minutes.
  
• Remove the rice from heat and let it sit for another 10 minutes. Using a fork, fluff the rice to loosen the grains from one another.
  
• Add the fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice right before serving. Enjoy!
  

Nutrition Facts

Cilantro Lime Rice (Chipotle's Copycat)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 209 Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Fat 5g8%

Saturated Fat 3g15%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 1g

Cholesterol 11mg4%

Sodium 299mg12%

Potassium 72mg2%

Carbohydrates 38g13%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 269IU5%

Vitamin C 2mg2%

Calcium 19mg2%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.