Perfect Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe

Jasmine rice seasoned with fresh cilantro and lime. This copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice recipe is great for homemade burrito bowls!

This easy copycat Chipotle cilantro lime rice recipe brings the comfort of farmhouse cooking with the flavor of your favorite restaurant rice bowls. It’s fluffy, bright, and full of fresh flavor. Best of all, it only takes a few simple steps.

Whether you’re building a burrito bowl, serving a side dish for your favorite Mexican food, or just wanting something light and fresh, this recipe delivers. Made with jasmine rice, fresh cilantro, and lime juice, it’s a great recipe to keep in your weekly rotation.

We make this rice often—especially when we’re feeding a crowd with our homemade Chipotle bar. Burrito bowls, taco nights, and Mexican-inspired meals all start with this fluffy rice base. It’s one of our favorite recipes for good reason.

Ingredients

• 2 cups jasmine rice
• 3 cups water
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• Juice from half a lime

How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice

1. Rinse the rice in a mesh strainer.
2. In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil.
3. Stir in the rice, salt, and bay leaf and cover.

4. Reduce heat to low to medium-low and simmer about 15 minutes, or until the water in absorbed.
5. Remove from the heat and add the chopped cilantro and lime juice. Stir well and serve.

This homemade cilantro lime rice is the perfect side dish. You can serve it warm with any Tex-Mex meal. Use it as the base for rice bowls or alongside black beans and grilled meat. We especially love it with barbacoa, carnitas, or chicken.

It also holds up great as leftover rice. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge. You can easily reheat it the next day with a splash of water.

Why Jasmine Rice Works So Well

We’ve tried several kinds of rice for this recipe. Jasmine rice is our favorite. It cooks evenly, holds its shape, and gives off a light, nutty flavor. Unlike plain white rice or sticky short grain, jasmine gives fluffy white rice without much effort. It doesn’t clump, and it pairs beautifully with lime zest and cilantro stems.

Basmati is also a great option but tends to be a little fussier. Brown rice works if you’re after whole grain benefits, but it takes longer to cook and may need extra water. Jasmine rice hits the sweet spot—easy steps, flavorful rice, and the ideal base for burrito bowls.

This easy copycat recipe has quickly become one of our go-to dishes. It’s fast, simple, and satisfying. It brings homemade comfort to burrito bowls, Mexican rice plates, and so many other meals.

Whether you’re hosting a burrito bar or prepping tex-mex meals for the week, this cilantro-lime rice is a delicious side dish. Make it once, and you’ll want it on your table every week.

Homemade Chipotle Burrito Bar

When we’re expecting a crowd of guests, homemade burrito bowls are always a hit. People can make their own burritos, bowls, tacos, salads, and even quesadillas, taking what they want and leaving what they don’t.

We typically have the following items on our burrito bowl bar:

• Copycat Chipotle Pinto Beans
• Copycat Chipotle Chicken
• Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa
• Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice (of course)
• Copycat Chipotle Fresh Tomato Salsa
• Copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa
• Copycat Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette
• Guacamole
• Sour cream (organic sour cream is extra rich and creamy)
• Shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• Shredded Lettuce
• Salsas
• Fresh cilantro, chopped
• Tortillas

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can you make Chipotle rice without cilantro? Yes, you can omit the cilantro if you’re not a fan. However, cilantro is perhaps one of the key tastes in this recipe, so leaving it out means it won’t be nearly as close in taste to Chipotle’s rice.
• Why use jasmine vs basmati rice in this recipe? You can use either kind. In fact, you can use about any type of rice, including plain rice. Of course, others will require different amounts of water, will have varied cooking times, some will be stickier, some need rinsing and some don’t… the list goes on. In my opinion, jasmine is easier to cook than basmati, yet brings a better flavor and texture than plain white rice or brown rice. Jasmine rice seems to come out well every time, whereas (again, my own experience here) basmati can seem a little finicky. It is said that jasmine is known to have a sweeter, nuttier taste. I can’t tell much difference in taste; for me, I favor jasmine for its ease and consistency in cooking.
• Is Chipotle rice gluten-free? Jasmine rice is naturally gluten-free, so this copycat recipe is gluten-free.
• Do I need to use lime zest? This recipe uses lime juice only, but lime zest adds a punch of citrus. Add it if you want stronger flavor.
• Do I need to use a rice cooker? No. A medium saucepan works great. But you can use a rice cooker or instant pot cilantro lime rice method too.
• What goes with cilantro lime rice? This recipe is a perfect addition to a homemade Chipotle burrito bowl bar, alongside items such as barbacoa, carnitas, grilled chicken, pinto beans, corn salsa, fresh tomato salsa, sour cream, guacamole, lettuce, fajita vegetables, and cheese. However, this rice can be used virtually all ways any other rice is used. The cilantro and lime combination make it a perfect sidekick to any Mexican dish.

Pin It For Later