If you love Chipotle’s Cilantro Lime Rice, you will love this cheap and easy copycat recipe for Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice! Made with white or brown rice seasoned with fresh cilantro and limes, this Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice recipe comes together effortlessly!
Looking for more copycat Chipotle recipes? You will love my recipes for Sofritas, Instant Pot Barbacoa, and Chicken Al Pastor.
Cilantro Lime Rice the Easy Way
When it come to making perfectly cooked, fluffy, nutty rice, the Instant pot is the way to go! Whether making Instant Pot Brown Rice or Instant Pot Jasmine Rice the Instant pot guarantees perfect rice every single time.
So it makes sense that when you want to enjoy the flavor Chipotle's famous cilantro lime rice, you would turn to using the Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice is an effortless way to enjoy nutty, chewy rice infused with fresh cilantro and bright lime. It is the perfect compliment to any Tex-Mex dinner.
How To Make Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Rinse the Rice. Place the rice into a colander and rinse until the water runs clear. This step is CRUCIAL to fluffy Instant Pot Rice that does not stick to the inner pan.
- Layer Ingredients. Pour the broth or water into the inner pot of the Instant Pot. Stir in the salt and lime zest. Add in rinsed, damp rice, and gently push down the rice with a spoon. DO NOT STIR!
- Pressure Cook Rice. I have provided cooking times for both brown and white rice in the recipe card. Just remember, do NOT use the rice function, as this defaults to low pressure on some models.
- Let Pressure Release Naturally. Once the cooking cycle is complete, let the pressure release naturally the entire way. If you do a quick release of pressure, the rice will be gummy and starchy.
- Season and Fluff. After pressure has been released, add the lime juice, and cilantro and fluff rice with a fork, as you incorporate flavors into cooked rice. Fluffing the rice with a fork versus stirring the rice keeps the rice from breaking down and getting mushy.
Ways to Serve Cilantro Lime Rice
- Top Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice with Instant Pot Beef Barbacoa to soak up all the delicious cooking liquid.
- Serve this flavorful rice as a side dish for Tacos, Instant Pot Chicken Tacos, Instant Pot Carnitas, Chicken Enchiladas, or Chicken Pineapple Kabobs.
- Wrap ¼ cup of this Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice along with Copycat Chipotle Sofritas and mashed avocado in a store-bought or homemade tortilla for a delicious vegetarian burrito or serve without the tortilla for a vegan-friendly burrito bowl.
- As a base for Instant Pot Mongolian Beef or Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken, for a bold, fresh contrast to the Chinese-American flavor of these recipes.
Storage Instructions
- Refrigerate: Allow the rice to cool slightly and then transfer them to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Freeze: Once fully cooled, transfer the rice to freezer-safe bags or containers. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: If needed, defrost in the refrigerator overnight. Place the rice into a heat-safe dish, add a splash of water, and cover with a damp paper towel or napkin. Heat in 30-second intervals until heated through. Fluff with a fork and serve.
More Instant Pot Rice Recipes
- Instant Pot Brown Rice
- Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
- Instant Pot Rice Pilaf
- Instant Pot Jambalaya
- Instant Pot Risotto
- Instant Pot Rice and Beans
- Instant Pot Spanish Rice
If you enjoyed this copycat recipe of Cilantro Lime Rice, please take the time to leave a comment or a review.
Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups long-grain rice brown or white
- 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth or water
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- ¼ cup cilantro chopped
Instructions
- Combine 2 cups of broth or water with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 1 tablespoon fresh lime zest insider the inner pot the Instant Pot.
- Place 2 cups of rice into a fine-mesh strainer and rinse under water until the water runs clear. Drain well and then add the rice to the inner pot of the Instant Pot. Gently push the rice down into liquid so that it is fully submerged, but do NOT stir.
- Place the lid on the pressure cooker and be sure the vent knob is pointed towards sealed. To set the cooking time, hit manual or pressure cook (not the rice button) and adjust the cooking time to HIGH pressure for 3 minutes for white rice and 22 minutes for brown rice.
- Once the cooking time has elapsed, let the pressure release naturally. Then once the lid unlocks, open the inner pot. Add 2 tablespoon of lime juice, ¼ cup minced cilantro, and use a fork to fluffy the rice, while incorporating the lime juice and cilantro through the rice. Serve immediately.
Equipment Needed
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published in 2018 but has been updated with new photos. 
Sheena
Making this for the first time and just have a question. Is this better with the vegetable broth or is it just as good with water? I'm out of broth and just going to use water, but maybe can make a store run if the flavor is best with the broth. Thank you.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Sheena! You can certainly use water, but because the broth adds additional flavor, I would add in a bit more salt and 1/2 teaspoon each of garlic powder and onion powder.
Melanie O
Best instant pot version of the chipotle rice I’ve found! I stirred in a little bit of olive oil with the lime juice and cilantro, bit otherwise no changes.
Kristen Chidsey
Thank you for sharing!
Jean
Can this recipe be doubled or even tripled?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Jean! This recipe can be doubled in a 6-quart and tripled if using an 8-quart Instant Pot. Remember the cooking time remains the same.
Genny Teixeira
Oh. My. Goodness!!! YUUMMMMM!!! I just made this for dinner tonight and it is DEEEELISHHH!!! It is so flavorful! I did add a bit more lime juice and salt . Not too much, just for mine and my husband’s tastes. For the past 5 years I have been cooking brown rice in the instant pot according to another bloggers instructions and now I realize after following your recipe that I have been doing it all wrong. Following your instructions, my brown rice is soft and fluffy, not mushy or dry. Thank you so much for this recipe. This will be my go-to from now on!
Kristen Chidsey
YAY! I am so happy you had such great results Genny! Thanks so much for sharing.
Tricia
Making this tonight for a party tomorrow. I’m cooking the rice now. Should I hold off on adding lime juice and cilantro until tomorrow? Or add it then refrigerate? Tips on reheating? (I’m using brown rice) thank you. This looks so good!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Tricia! I realize I am responding in the morning, but adding the lime/cilantro right after cooking or right before serving both work--but I would lean slightly to adding before serving. As for reheating, I would place the rice into a heat-safe container and add a splash of vegetable stock and cover it with plastic wrap. Heat in the microwave for 1-minute intervals, stirring in between intervals to fluff it up. Enjoy!
Lisa
I love this recipe! It is my all-time go to. I usually eat it as soon as it's done cooking.But this time I need to keep it warm for a while. I am wondering how long I can keep the sealed pot on the warming cycle without ruining the rice?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Lisa! I love hearing you enjoy this so much! I have kept on warm (sealed for up to 3 hours) with no issues at all 🙂
MarBear
As an InstaPot rookie, I’m very thankful for Kristen’s recipes. This Cilantro Rice not only tastes great, but it’s also quick and easy. Great job and thank you so much, Kristen!
Kristen Chidsey
Thank you so very much! I am so glad you find my recipes tasty and easy to follow.
Toni
Such a delicious side dish! This is now a favorite dish at my house!
Kristen Chidsey
I love hearing that Toni! Thanks for sharing.
Katie
This is our favorite thing to have with tacos or enchiladas. So bright and flavorful. We love it!
Kristen Chidsey
It is a perfect side dish for Mexican nights. So happy to hear you enjoy this recipe.
Anna
This is officially my favorite way to make cilantro lime rice! Super easy and comes out perfect every time!
Kristen Chidsey
YAY! I love hearing that Anna.
carol emig
Hi. I would like to make your recipe but was wondering how much is a serving? 1/2 c cooked rice, 2/3 c or 3/4? 8 Servings is great but trying to plan for a wedding and need to know how big the servings are to allow for 8. Thanks for your time
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Carol! Each cup of dried rice makes about 3 cups of cooked rice. So this recipe makes about 6 cups of rice. So each serving is 3/4 cup. I hope that helps!
Lauren
24 minutes for brown rice and only 3 minutes for white? Is that correct? Why the huge difference?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Lauren! Yes, that is correct. It simply takes longer to cook whole grain rice than white rice. You can see that is the case when prepared on the stove as well. The reason is that the white rice has had the bran and germ removed, making it easier to break down while it cooks, but also losing key nutrients and fiber.
Natalie
Can I double and triple at one time in the instapot without compromising the outcome? I need to make 50 servings?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Natalie! I have doubled this recipe with success, but I am not sure tripling will work. You need to be sure you don't exceed 2/3rds of the way full, so it will depend on your size of the instant pot. When doubling recipes the timing should remain the same 🙂
Sue
Made this tonight and it was so easy and wonderful. Got the “do again” from my guy. Now my rice cooker will go into storage. Thanks for the great recipe.
Kristen Chidsey
Yay!!! I love hearing your success and it is ALWAYS a great thing when your family and friends ask for a repeat.
Jillian
Cilantro lime rice is a must for taco nights at my house. So glad I came across this recipe; it makes taco night so much easier and it's so yummy!
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you enjoyed Jillian! This recipe is SUPER easy!
Carrie
This was great for putting it in burritos.