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With just a handful of simple ingredients, this light and zesty Cilantro Lime Rice has become one of my go-to side dishes. The fresh lime juice and bright cilantro bring so much flavor, yet it’s still mild enough to pair with just about anything. I love serving it alongside tacos, grilled chicken, or seafood, and it’s always a hit when I’m building burrito bowls at home. Easy, versatile, and budget-friendly—you really can’t go wrong with this recipe!
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Pin ItEasy Cilantro Lime Rice
Make rice the star of your meals with this delectable Cilantro Lime Rice! This rice recipe couldn’t be easier; I find it’s perfect to have in my back pocket as part of my easy weeknight meals.
For this recipe, I added half of the cilantro to the rice while it cooks to help infuse the cilantro flavor into the rice, and then the balance once it is finished cooking. When the cilantro is cooked, it tends to take on a slightly different flavor than the fresh cilantro, adding a greater depth of flavor to your rice. For an even more citrusy flavor, I sometimes add freshly grated lime zest. Combined with the cilantro, it makes for an uber flavorful side.
This cilantro lime rice is great for Asian and Mexican dishes, as well as on its own with any protein, like chicken or pork. Thanks to one of my lovely readers for sending this in!
Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp salted butter ¼ stick, unsalted also works
- 1¼ cup dry long-grain white rice*
- 2 tbsp lime juice from 1 lime, jarred also works
- ¾ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
- 2¼ cups low-sodium chicken broth** store bought is also an option
- ¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro divided
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a medium-sized skillet.2 tbsp salted butter
- Add in the dry rice, lime juice, salt, cumin, chicken broth, and half of the cilantro (2 tablespoons). Stir until combined.1¼ cup dry long-grain white rice*, 2 tbsp lime juice, ¾ tsp kosher salt, ¼ tsp ground cumin, 2¼ cups low-sodium chicken broth**, ¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
- Bring rice to a boil. Reduce heat and cover. Cook for 20 minutes or until rice has been cooked through.
- Stir in the second half (2 tablespoons) fresh cilantro.
- Garnish with additional cilantro and fresh limes, optional.
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice Step by Step
Make the rice: In a medium-sized skillet, over medium-high heat, melt 2 tbsp of butter.
Stir in 1¼ cup white rice, 2 tbsp lime juice, ¾ tsp kosher salt, ¼ tsp ground cumin, 2¼ cups low-sodium chicken broth, and ¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro. Mix well to combine all the ingredients.
Bring the pot to a boil and then reduce the heat so that it simmers. Cover and cook for 20 minutes or until rice has softened. Taste to make sure it has cooked through.
Serve: Stir in the remaining 2 tbsp of freshly chopped cilantro, garnish with a few more sprigs and fresh limes, and serve.
How to Store
Your cilantro lime rice will last for four to six days in the refrigerator. Make sure that it is sealed in an airtight container.
This is a great meal prep recipe you can mix and match with lots of other dishes. I love having a batch of this rice in the fridge, knowing it will pair well with a variety of mains.
Serving Suggestions
Cilantro lime rice is a great side dish to serve with any Mexican/Tex-Mex dish like creamy chicken enchiladas, or Southwestern cowboy chicken. I find it also goes well with chicken stir fry too.
Hi, would this recipe work if you used quinoa instead of rice?
Hi Gabriela, we have not tried that but it should work– just follow the appropriate cooking time for the quinoa!
Just made this using your recommended ingredients but the method was a little different. I added the salt and cumin to the broth and brought to a rolling boil. I used less broth (1: 1.5 ratio). Added the rice, lime juice, lime zest and cilantro and cooked on a medium flame until liquid was 95% dry. Added the butter, gently tossed and added more cilantro for the simmer. Turned out fantastic! Looking forward to try some more of your recipes. I wanted to post more than one picture but it would not let me 🥳
Thanks for sharing, Nina! Looks amazing!!
I have my own recipe which uses brown rice, and adding in a seeded finely diced jalapeno, no cumin, Juice of two limes plus the zest of same, a full bunch of cilantro, and no butter or oil. Oh and you only have to cook it long enough to make the liquid really milky. It tastes just like the rice at Cheesecake Factory, which is where I had it first. I make it in a Dutch oven so I can freeze most of it in small 1/2 cup containers