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This Cilantro Lime Brown Rice recipe puts a hearty twist on the classic side dish from Chipotle. Ready in just 30 minutes and full of fresh and zesty flavors, it’s a must-have with burritos and other Mexican-inspired meals! Stovetop and Instant Pot instructions included.
What do you get when you mix fluffy brown rice with lime and cilantro? This hearty and zesty Cilantro Lime Brown Rice! It’s the ultimate side for tacos, burritos, salads, and so much more.
This 30-minute side dish is a lot like the cilantro lime rice from Chipotle, but I made it with brown rice instead of white rice. Because brown rice is a whole grain that’s less processed than white rice, this packs every serving with extra fiber, magnesium, and more vitamins and minerals. Even better, it’s just plain delicious!
The tangy and zippy flavors from the fresh lime juice, cilantro, and salt are so refreshing in burrito bowls and taco salads, and always pair well with the beef tacos or salmon fajitas for dinner. One taste and I know you’ll be hooked on this copycat version of the Chipotle classic.
Recipe features
- If there’s one Chipotle copycat recipe you learn to master, make it this one. The rice is delicious, easy to make in 30 minutes, and incredibly versatile!
- Using brown rice instead of white rice gives this classic side dish a boost of fiber.
- There are seriously so many ways to use it! Enjoy it as a base for burrito bowls, serve it as a side dish on Taco Tuesday, add it to taco salads, and so on.
Ingredients
Brown rice – Most of the time, cilantro lime rice recipes are made with white rice. I opted for brown rice for a slightly heartier and more nutritionally dense option. Long-grain brown rice is light and fluffy once it’s done cooking, but you can use short-grain rice if that’s what you already have on hand (it’ll be starchier but still tasty).
Water – For cooking the rice. You can easily swap this with an equal amount of broth to infuse the rice with extra flavor.
Lime juice – Use freshly squeezed lime juice if you can. I like to squeeze my limes with a citrus reamer or juicer to skip the mess.
Fresh cilantro – The flecks of green and burst of freshness from the fresh cilantro in this rice side dish make it irresistible! I suppose you could use fresh parsley as a substitute if you aren’t a fan of cilantro, but the flavor will be different.
Olive oil – Just a drizzle prevents the rice from sticking together and adds more flavor. Avocado oil and canola oil both work well as substitutes.
Instructions
Step 1: Rinse the rice. Add the rice to a mesh sieve and rinse it under cold running water until the water runs clear.
Step 2: Cook the rice. Transfer the rice to a saucepan, add the water, and heat to a boil. Cover the pot with a lid, reduce the heat, and simmer until the rice is cooked through.
Step 3: Season and serve. Remove the lid and stir in the lime juice, cilantro, olive oil, and salt. Taste and adjust the seasonings, then serve and enjoy.
Tips and FAQs
- If you’d like to infuse the rice with more flavor, add 2 bay leaves to the boiling water and/or swap the water for chicken, vegetable, or bone broth. Both flavor boosters will give the rice a satisfying savory depth.
- Stir a can of rinsed and drained black beans or pinto beans into the flavored rice to make a quick batch of protein-packed rice and beans.
- Want to get a head start on this recipe? Cook the brown rice up to 3 days in advance and keep it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to eat. This way, all that’s left to do is reheat the rice and stir in the flavor!
Tip
I know it can feel tedious, but don’t skip rinsing the rice! Rinsing the excess starch off the outside of the grains will give you lighter and fluffier rice every time.
Serving suggestions
Cilantro lime rice is a burrito staple. You can stuff it into a veggie, chicken, beef, carnitas, or bean burrito, or use it as a flavor-packed base for your favorite burrito bowls along with guacamole, cheese, salsa, and your other favorite toppings.
It’s also a perfect side dish for any Tex-Mex, Southwest, or Mexican-inspired dinner. Serve it next to these charred salmon tacos and mahi mahi tacos on Taco Tuesday, with these sheet pan fajitas for regular weeknight dinners, or add it to a taco salad or Southwest chicken bowls for extra bulk.
Need more Mexican-inspired side dishes for the feast? You’ll love this easy black bean soup, loaded nachos, vegan tortilla soup, and pineapple salsa with tortilla chips as well.
Can I make cilantro lime rice with white rice instead?
Yes, you can use long-grain white rice if you don’t want to use brown rice. Reduce the water to 2 cups and don’t walk too far away from the stove since white rice cooks slightly faster than brown rice.
Can I cook brown rice in the Instant Pot instead?
Sure! Add the rice and water to the Instant Pot, making sure it’s fully submerged. Seal the lid and pressure cook for 22 minutes on high pressure. Allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then vent the remaining pressure. Remove the lid and stir in the lime juice, cilantro, olive oil, and salt before serving.
Storage
Refrigerator: Refrigerate the leftover rice in an airtight container for 4 or 5 days.
Reheating: Either microwave the rice or reheat it in a skillet on the stove over low to medium heat until warmed through.
More easy rice recipes
If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!
Cilantro Lime Brown Rice
This Cilantro Lime Brown Rice recipe puts a hearty twist on the classic side dish from Chipotle. Ready in just 30 minutes and full of fresh and zesty flavors, it’s a must-have with burritos and other Mexican-inspired meals! Stovetop and Instant Pot instructions included.
Servings:
Instructions
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Add the rice to a mesh sieve and run water over it for a minute or two, then transfer it to a large saucepan. Add the water, then bring the rice to a boil. Cover with a lid, reduce heat to a simmer and simmer until the rice is cooked, about 20 minutes.
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Remove the lid, then add the lime juice, cilantro, olive oil, and salt and stir to combine. Do a quick taste test, then add more lime juice and/or salt to taste. Enjoy!
Notes
*Calories are per serving and are an estimation.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 304mg | Potassium: 126mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 75IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
UPDATE NOTE: This post was originally published in August 2019. It was updated with new text and photos in April 2025.
