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Love Chipotle's Cilantro Lime Rice but hate the price tag? You will love this easy recipe for Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice. Made effortlessly with white or brown rice seasoned perfectly with fresh cilantro and bright lime, this easy recipe delivers a copycat version for pennies per serving.
Serve this Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice with Copycat Chipotle Sofritas, Instant Pot Barbacoa, or Chicken Al Pastor, and enjoy the flavor of Chipotle at home.
Kristen's Tips for Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
When it comes to making perfectly cooked, fluffy, rice, the Instant pot is the way to go! There is no baby-sitting, no starchy overflow, and the rice cooks evenly every time.
But to ensure success and to replicate the flavor in Chipotle's famous rice, you will want to keep the following tips in mind. Some of them seem counterintuitive, but as my recipes for Instant Pot Brown Rice and Instant Pot White Rice prove, these tips are crucial for success.
- Yes, you DO need to rinse your rice. Trust me on this one! Rinsing the rice will remove the surface starch and prevents your rice from being gummy.
- For every 1 cup or rice, use 1 cup or liquid. Ignore the directions on the bag or box of rice. Unlike a saucepan on the stove, the Instant Pot locks in the moisture which means you need less liquid than when cooking rice on the stove.
- Do NOT use the rice function. The rice function varies between models, which means inconsistent results. Using the manual or pressure cook button puts you in charge.
- Let pressure release naturally for at least 10 minutes. A little bit of patience goes A LONG way when it comes to making rice. This allows the liquid to be fully absorbed, ensuring a fluffy texture
- A fresh lime is key. You need both the zest and juice of lime to give this rice its signature tang and brightness. Bottled lime juice is a bit artificial testing.
5-Star Reader Review
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, but otherwise no changes. -Melanie O.
How To Make Cilantro Lime Rice in the Instant Pot
Whether you are just learning to use an Instant Pot or a pro, this section will walk you through how to make Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice that will rival Chipotle with the least amount of effort on your part!
Step One: Rinse Rice
Place the rice into a colander and rinse until the water runs clear. It will take 2-3 minutes, but is CRUCIAL to a fluffy texture.
Step Two: 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!
Step Three: Pressure Cook + Natural Pressure Release
Using the manual or pressure cook button (NOT the rice button), set to cook on high pressure for 3 minutes for white rice or 22 minutes for brown rice.
Once the cooking cycle is complete, let the pressure release naturally for at least 10 minutes, but honestly a full natural pressure release is best here. If you do a quick release of pressure, the rice will be gummy, starchy, and even a bit crunchy. AKA a mess!
Step Four: Fuff & Finish
After pressure has been released, remove the lid from the pressure cooker. Add in the fresh lime juice and minced 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
- Burrito Bowl: Save serious money by skipping Chipotle and making a homemade burrito bowl by topping a generous serving of this rice with Instant Pot Beef Barbacoa, taco meat, shredded chicken taco meat, Instant Pot carnitas (or crockpot carnitas), Chicken Al Pastor, or Sofritas. Add shredded cheese, corn salsa, tomato salsa, lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, etc, as desired.
- Burritos: Instead of a burrito bowl, roll your favorite toppings along with the rice into a store-bought or homemade tortilla.
- As a Side Dish: Perfect for any Tex-Mex meal like chicken enchiladas or fish tacos. I also love to serve Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice alongside baked salmon or chicken pineapple kabobs.
More Instant Pot Rice Variations
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
Video
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, about 2 medium limes
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, about 2 medium limes
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Combine 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1 tablespoon lime zest inside the inner pot the Instant Pot.
- Place 2 cups long-grain 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 OR 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 tablespoons fresh lime juice and ¼ cup cilantro (minced), and use a fork to fluffy the rice, while incorporating the lime juice and cilantro through the rice. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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.
Thank you for sharing!
Can this recipe be doubled or even tripled?
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.
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!
YAY! I am so happy you had such great results Genny! Thanks so much for sharing.
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!
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!
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?
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 🙂
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!
Thank you so very much! I am so glad you find my recipes tasty and easy to follow.
Such a delicious side dish! This is now a favorite dish at my house!
I love hearing that Toni! Thanks for sharing.
This is our favorite thing to have with tacos or enchiladas. So bright and flavorful. We love it!
It is a perfect side dish for Mexican nights. So happy to hear you enjoy this recipe.