Love Chipotle's rice? This easy copycat Cilantro Lime Rice tastes just like the restaurant version and comes together in under 30 minutes.
What kind of rice does Chipotle use?
- Chipotle uses long-grain white rice seasoned with lime juice, lemon juice (really!), cilantro, oil, and salt.
It's fluffy, flavorful, zesty, and the perfect Mexican-inspired side dish for tacos, burritos, and fajitas. Use it as a base for burrito bowls and fajita bowls for a one-bowl meal. If you dream of making an easy Chipotle bowl at home, you will love this recipe!
This ultimate guide to Chipotle's Cilantro Lime Rice also includes exactly how it is made at Chipotle (we have a long-time Chipotle Restaurant Chef in the family), how I changed the recipe to make it even tastier at home, and why you may have noticed Chipotle's flavor change around December 2024. So let's dive in!
My family makes this Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice recipe all year round. Not only is it the perfect side dish for my Gluten-Free Chili, Blackened Shrimp Tacos, and Southwest Breakfast Skillet, you can layer it under my Baked Chicken Fajitas for the perfect fajita bowl.
This is also an excellent side dish for toddlers since, for whatever reason, they seem to love citrus so much that they'll suck on a lime wedge. When she'll eat nothing else, this is my go-to dinner or snack recipe for my two year old.
For more amazing easy rice recipes, check out my Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup, Shrimp Paella, Salmon Sushi Bowl, and Breakfast Rice Porridge. For more delicious recipes that are meant to be served with a generous helping of gluten-free white rice, check out my Five Spice Chicken, Pork Green Curry, Spam Musubi Bowl, Kale Lentil Curry, and Pumpkin Chicken Curry.
How to make it (with photos)
This flavorful Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice recipe comes together in just 30 minutes with common ingredients.
Ingredient Notes + Substitutions
This copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice uses 7 common ingredients.
Long Grain White Rice
The Chipotle restaurant uses long grain white rice for their cilantro lime rice. I used Mahatma Extra Long Enriched Rice. You can also use a shorter grain white rice, basmati rice, or brown rice to make this recipe.
While still delicious, there can be a subtle difference in taste and texture when using other white rice varieties, and an even greater difference when using brown rice.
Use the instructions and water to rice ratios on the rice package to adjust this recipe for other rice varieties.
Lime
Lime juice is a big part of what makes this recipe delicious! One medium lime makes 1-2 tablespoons of juice, which is what you need for this recipe. For an extra lime-y flavor, you can also add a bit of grated lime zest.
Cilantro
Since cilantro leaves and stems are full of that classic flavor, feel free to use both! I gave a recommended amount in the recipe card, but feel free to add more if you are a cilantro lover.
Not a fan of cilantro? Feel free to leave it out entirely.
More Ingredient Notes
- oil - Chipotle recently switched from using rice bran oil in their rice to sunflower oil. For the homemade version, I recommend vegetable oil or avocado oil.
- bay leaves - Bay leaves are used by Chipotle and add a nice depth to the rice. They can be left out if you don't have them, but I recommend it if you do.
- lemon juice - Lemon juice is optional, but Chipotle uses it in their cilantro lime rice and it adds a nice freshness.
You also need salt and water to make this recipe.
See the recipe card for a full list of ingredients with quantities.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Learn how to make Chipotle's Cilantro Lime Rice in three easy steps.
- Boil: In a medium or large pot with lid, bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, add the salt, rice, oil, and bay leaves. Give it a stir to mix the ingredients together, then cover and reduce heat to a gentle simmer.
- Simmer: Continue to simmer gently for 18 minutes without stirring (stirring can give the rice a gluey texture). Then remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, chop the cilantro and juice the lime and lemon.
- Mix: When the 5 minutes are up, remove the lid and take out the bay leaves. Pour the lime juice and lemon juice over the rice. Then add the chopped cilantro. Toss the mixture with two rice paddles or spatulas to mix (similarly to how you would toss a salad) to keep the rice fluffy.
Hint: To easily chop cilantro and other herbs, place them in a jar and use scissors to cut downwards (as seen in the photo of step two above).
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📖 Recipe
Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice
Ingredients
- 4 cups water*
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 cups long grain white rice
- â…“ cup vegetable oil or avocado oil
- 3 medium bay leaves
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro leaves (about ½ cup unchopped leaves, lightly packed)
- 1 medium lime , juiced (1-2 tablespoons)
- ½ medium lemon (optional) , juiced (1 tablespoon)
Instructions
- Boil: In a medium or large pot with lid, bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, add the salt, rice, oil, and bay leaves. Give it a stir to mix the ingredients together, then cover and reduce heat to a gentle simmer.4 cups water*, â…“ cup vegetable oil, 2 teaspoons salt, 2 cups long grain white rice, 3 medium bay leaves
- Simmer: Continue to simmer gently for 18 minutes without stirring (stirring can give the rice a gluey texture). Then remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, chop the cilantro and juice the lime and lemon.1 medium lime, ½ medium lemon (optional), 3 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro leaves
- Mix: When the 5 minutes are up, remove the lid and take out the bay leaves. Pour the lime juice and lemon juice over the rice. Then add the chopped cilantro. Toss the mixture with two rice paddles or spatulas to mix (similarly to how you would toss a salad) to keep the rice fluffy.
Notes
Nutrition
Expert Tips
Make the best Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice on the stovetop or in a rice cooker with these expert tips.
Rinse the rice.
While many Italian and Spanish dishes avoid rinsing rice so the extra starch makes it creamier, Chipotle rice has separate granules. To achieve this, you want to rinse the rice in cold water beforehand.
However, if you're looking to save a step, you can avoid rinsing and still have a great side dish (as long as you avoid stirring the rice -- see next tip).
Don't stir the rice while cooking.
While cooking, removing the lid to stir releases steam, therefore reducing moisture and making the rice dry.
If unrinsed, stirring the rice can activate the starch, giving the rice a thick and creamy or gluey texture rather than a fluffy texture.
Avoid a vigorous boil.
The secret to fluffy rice that doesn't burn on the bottom is to use the lowest heat possible to cook each grain all the way through. This is achieved by reducing the heat to a gentle simmer once the rice is added. Keep an eye on the pot to make sure it doesn't begin to boil while cooking.
Keep the balance if making bolder or milder.
This recipe makes a well balanced and full flavored stand alone side dish that also compliments tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, and other Mexican-inspired flavors.
If you increase or decrease either the oil, salt, or lime, I recommend also adjusting the others (oil, salt, and lime) by the same fraction to keep the flavor balance consistent.
Recipe FAQs
Here I answered some frequently asked questions about this Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice. Don't see your question? Leave it in the comments at the end of this post and I'll answer within two business days.
Store leftover Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Chipotle seasons their Cilantro Lime Rice with salt, bay leaves, and a mixture of lime and lemon juices. The restaurant chain also used rice bran oil, which gave the rice a subtle earthiness. However, they switched to sunflower oil at the end of 2024.
You can also use a shorter grain white rice, basmati rice, or brown rice to make this recipe. With other white rice varieties, there is a subtle difference in taste and texture, and an even greater difference when using brown rice.
Use the instructions and water to rice ratios on the rice package to adjust this recipe for other rice varieties.
Related easy rice recipes and pairings to consider...
Looking for more easy rice recipes like this Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice and recipes to serve it with? Check these out:
Emily P. says
This is a really flavorful cilantro lime rice recipe! My family ate the rice as part of a homemade fajita burrito bowl and my teenager enjoyed it all by itself as a snack the next day. We'll be making it again!