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    Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice (The Best Easy Copycat Recipe)

    by Brendan Cunningham 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    This Chipotle cilantro lime rice is as close to the real thing as you can get. The fluffy rice has the perfect cilantro lime flavor from the fresh cilantro and fresh lime juice, and it's just so good! But the best part about this Chipotle rice recipe is that it only takes 5 minutes to prepare!

    A bowl that is filled with cilantro lime rice.

    The Best Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice

    If you like chipotle's rice, you're going to love this cilantro lime rice recipe. I mean, it seriously tastes just like the flavorful white rice you'd get from Chipotle Mexican Grill.  So this recipe really comes in clutch when you don't feel like leaving your house or waiting to have some of this delicious rice delivered. 

    This copycat Chipolte cilantro lime rice copycat recipe has perfectly cooked, fluffy rice with freshly squeezed lime juice and lemon juice, along with chopped cilantro for the iconic balance of flavors.

    Now, along with being delicious, this cilantro lime rice is super easy to make! All you really have to do is boil some water, add the ingredients to the pot, and just let everything cook. That's seriously all there is to it!

    Oh, and since most of the time spent making this rice is passive cooking, you'll have plenty of time to make this Chipotle steak, these Chipotle black beans, and Chipotle honey vinaigrette to create the ultimate homemade burrito bowl! 

    Two limes and chopped cilantro on top of white rice that is in a bowl.

    Ingredients

    Another reason I love this recipe is the ingredients needed to make it are super simple. In fact, you might even have everything you need on hand already!

    Anyway, here are all of the Chipotle cilantro lime rice ingredients:

    • 4 cups of water
    • 1 cup basmati rice or desired long-grain rice
    • 1 small bay leaf
    • Salt, to taste
    • 1 ½ tbsp chopped cilantro
    • 1 tbsp olive oil
    • 1 ½ tbsp lime juice
    • 1 tbsp lemon juice

    See what I mean by simple?

    By the way, if you have extra white basmati rice, you can use it to make this halal cart chicken over rice next. It's another one of my favorite copycat recipes.

    White basmati rice in a bowl, salt and pepper shakers, two limes, and a bowl of olive oil.

    Ingredient Substitution and Suggestions

    Now, I think this cilantro lime rice is perfect just the way it's written, and it tastes the most like the Chipotle rice made this way. But with that said, there are some changes you can make to the recipe, and it'll turn out just as delicious! 

    So when I make this recipe, I like to use long-grain white rice or white basmati rice. But feel free to change up the rice you use to slightly alter this cilantro lime rice to your personal taste preference. Some other kinds of rice you can use are long grain brown basmati rice, regular brown rice, regular white rice, or even jasmine rice.

    Then you can just enjoy this rice on its own or pair it with some black beans and any meat you want to make some burrito bowls. 

    A pot of water with basmati rice in it.

    How to Make Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice

    I know I already said this, but it's worth saying again - this Chipotle cilantro rice could not be any easier to make!  Even if you've never made rice from scratch before, you'll find this recipe to be a breeze, and it'll turn out just like the restaurant's every time.

    So with that said, let's not waste any more time and get cooking!

    A pot of cooked white rice.

    Step 1: Cook The Rice

    First, you're going to start by cooking the rice. So to do that, you'll want to add 4 cups of water to a large pot and bring it to a boil. Then once it's boiling, you can add a bit of salt, the rice of your choice, and a bay leaf to the pot.

    Now let the rice boil for 11 minutes, uncovered. When the time is up, check the rice, and if it's not at your desired chewiness, boil it for another minute or two.

    By the way, you can also use a rice cooker or an Instant Pot to make the rice if you'd prefer.

    Chopped cilantro on top of cooked with rice in a pot.

    Step 2: Season The Rice

    So, now that the rice is cooked, you can remove the bay leaf from the pot, and you'll want to strain the rice through a fine mesh strainer or sieve.

    Then you can transfer the fluffy rice into a bowl and add the chopped cilantro, olive oil, lime juice, and lemon juice. Now give everything a little mix, taste the rice, and add additional salt or seasonings if you think it needs it.

    Finally, you can serve cilantro lime rice with added lime zest and cilantro to garnish.

    Enjoy!

    Chipotle cilantro lime rice in a bowl on a counter.

    How To Store Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice

    This recipe for Chipotle cilantro lime rice makes 4 servings, and it's so good that I doubt you'll have leftovers! But if you want to have some leftover rice for meal prep for the week, you can make a double or triple batch of this recipe with little added time.

    Speaking of leftovers, if you do end up with some, you can store the cooked rice in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. And if you want to keep the rice for longer, you can store it in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag in the freezer for up to 2 months.

    A lime and chopped cilantro on top white rice in a bowl.

    How To Reheat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice

    Once you're ready to enjoy this delicious rice again, you'll definitely want to reheat it.

    So to do that, you can transfer the leftover cooked rice into a microwave-safe bowl, add a bit of water or 1 ice cube to the bowl, and microwave it in 30-second increments. Make sure to stir between each one until it's completely heated through.

    Two limes that are set on top of white rice in a bowl.

    Wrapping It Up

    Well, that's how to make Chipotle cilantro lime rice.

    Cooking rice has never been easier! And I know I'm biased, but I don't think you'll find a better copycat Chipotle cilantro lime rice recipe than this one. This recipe has the perfect ratio of flavors, and the rice just cooks so well every time. 

    Anyway, I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do. As always, if you give it a try, let me know what you think in the comments below!

    Two limes and chopped cilantro on top of white rice that is in a bowl.

    More Chipotle Copycat Recipes

    If you enjoyed making and eating this Chipotle-inspired cilantro lime rice, we have a bunch of other Chipotle copycat recipes on the blog you can try next! 

    Here are some of our favorites:

    • Chipotle chicken
    • Chipotle barbacoa
    • Chipotle carnitas
    • Chipotle corn salsa
    • Chipotle pinto beans

    Oh, and make sure to check us out on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for even more delicious recipes! We post new recipes on them every day.

    Print

    Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice (The Best Easy Copycat Recipe)

    Two limes on top of cilantro lime rice in a bowl.
    Print Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 4 reviews

    This Chipotle cilantro lime rice is as close to the real thing as you can get. The fluffy rice has the perfect cilantro lime flavor from the fresh cilantro and fresh lime juice, and it's just so good! But the best part about this Chipotle rice recipe is that it only takes 5 minutes to prepare!

    • Author: Brendan Cunningham
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 11 minutes
    • Total Time: 16 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings 1x
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: Chipotle

    Ingredients

    Scale

    4 cups of water

    1 cup basmati rice or desired long-grain rice

    1 small bay leaf

    Salt, to taste

    1 ½ tbsp chopped cilantro

    1 tbsp olive oil

    1 ½ tbsp lime juice

    1 tbsp lemon juice

    Instructions

    1. Bring water to a boil in a large saucepot.
    2. Add salt, rice, and bay leaf.
    3. Boil the rice for 11 minutes, uncovered. If needed to, boil for one minute more until the rice reaches desired chewiness.
    4. Remove the bay leaf and strain the rice through a fine mesh strainer.
    5. Place the rice into a bowl, and add parsley, olive oil, lime, and lemon juice. Additionally, season with more salt.
    6. Give it a good stir and serve.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving
    • Calories: 190
    • Fat: 4
    • Carbohydrates: 35
    • Protein: 3

    Keywords: chipotle cilantro lime rice, chipotle cilantro lime rice recipe, how to make chipotle cilantro lime rice, chipotle's official cilantro lime rice recipe, cilantro lime rice recipe, chipotle rice, chipotle's rice recipe, best chipotle cilantro lime rice recipe, easy chipotle cilantro lime rice recipe, copycat chipotle cilantro lime rice recipe, chipotle cilantro lime rice recipe copycat,

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kevin

      February 18, 2023 at 9:36 pm

      Really did taste like Chipotles.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Kira N.

      February 19, 2023 at 8:08 pm

      I tried making chipotle rice before and it was no good. This recipe on the other hand was fantastic! I am making it again as soon as it runs out.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Grace

      February 20, 2023 at 2:05 pm

      I used brown rice to make it cause that is the only type I had and it was super!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Kelsey

      February 23, 2023 at 4:46 pm

      I can't get over how legit this was. I am going to make it soooo much I'm a little obsessed with burrito bowls lol

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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