Fresh, bright Cilantro Lime Rice is so easy to make in the Instant Pot! It is a perfect side dish for many meals and a delicious base for burrito-style bowls. The possibilities are indeed endless!
Thank you, Chipotle, for introducing the world to Cilantro Lime Rice.
Just when we all thought rice was gettin’ a little boring, WHAM! You brought it back to life.
Since I live nowhere near a Chipotle, though, I’ve been playing with new recipes here and there to find a copycat version that I REALLY love.
This is the one, friends.
And I’m gonna say it: It’s better than Chipotle.
Fluffy white rice with plenty of lime and cilantro make it actually stand out from other rice recipes. Plus, I add coconut milk to bring a creamy richness that will have you saying, “THIS is what has been missing from Cilantro Lime Rice all along!”
It’s the perfect Coconut Rice meets Cilantro Lime Rice situation and it’s begging to hit your table for everything from burrito bowls to grilled meat to grain bowls.
Plus, the Instant Pot makes it SOOOOO easy that you can throw the recipe at your preteen and make them feel like an independent rockstar.
WHY YOU WILL LOVE INSTANT POT CILANTRO LIME RICE
- MORE FLAVOR: This rice packs a bigger punch of flavor and richness than any I’ve ever had!
- HANDS – OFF: Dump it in the pressure cooker, hit start, and walk away.
- VERSATILE: While this recipe gets its fame as a burrito bowl, it can actually do so much more! It’s great in a salad like this Tropical Chicken Salad, as the base of a healthy grain bowl (like this Korean Beef or Yum Yum Bowl), as a side dish to chicken (like this Cheesy Chicken), in a Green Chile Beef Burrito, and so much more.
HOW TO MAKE CILANTRO LIME RICE IN THE PRESSURE COOKER
- Add rice, coconut milk, water, and salt to the pot; pressure cook
- Fluff with a fork and add lime and cilantro
SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR DETAILED COOKING INSTRUCTIONS
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
- USE LITE COCONUT MILK: In my experience, full-fat coconut milk is too thick and can sometimes trigger the burn warning on pressure cookers. Lite coconut milk works perfectly and makes the rice silky without feeling heavy.
- DON’T FEAR THE COCONUT MILK: To all the coconut haters out there, there is no need to fear. The coconut flavor is not overpowering. If you’re stressing it, you can simply add more water instead of coconut milk.
- USE WHITE RICE: Brown rice takes longer to cook, so it will still be crunchy with this cook time. My favorite white rice is Jasmine rice.
- ADD TO TASTE: Add extra lime and cilantro to taste. I like to make the recipe as written and then add an extra squeeze of lime and a garnish of cilantro over my own serving.
HOW TO STORE, REHEAT, AND FREEZE
- STORE: Cool leftover rice and store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- REHEAT: Add a splash of water, then reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
- FREEZE: Place leftover rice into a freezer-safe container or ziptop bag and freeze for up to three months. When ready to eat, let it thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat as directed above.
MAKE AHEAD TIPS
The rice can be made an hour or so before serving time and left on the “keep warm” setting. If you let it sit much longer than that, it may become mushy.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH CILANTRO LIME RICE
This rice makes a delicious addition to Thai Beef Lettuce Wraps, Caribbean Chicken Salad, Pork Tenderloin, BBQ Pulled Chicken, and so much more!
VARIATIONS
- EXTRA HERBS: If you’ve got herbs to use up, throw them in! Mint, parsley, basil, dill, etc. They all work beautifully in combination with the cilantro or as a replacement to it.
- SPICY KICK: You know I’m a spice-lovin’ girl, and I can confirm that a healthy dusting of red pepper flakes is delightful.
- CITRUS SWITCH: Lemon or orange can be used instead of the lime. It’s fun to match the flavors with whatever else you’re serving.
I’m so thrilled to finally have my “perfected” version of Cilantro Lime Rice here on the blog, and I can’t wait for you to take it for a spin!
Let me know what you think in the comments below!
Enjoy!
MORE INSTANT POT RICE RECIPES
TOOLS/INGREDIENTS USED TO MAKE INSTANT POT CILANTRO LIME RICE
PrintCilantro Lime Rice | Instant Pot Recipe
Creamy, fluffy Cilantro Lime Rice, fast and easy in the Instant Pot.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side
- Method: Pressure Cooker
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups long grain white rice or jasmine rice
- 1 cup lite coconut milk
- 1 cup water
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Zest and juice of 1 lime
- ½ cup finely chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Add rice, coconut milk, water, and salt to the pressure cooker pot; stir.
- Secure the lid and turn pressure release knob to a sealed position. Cook at high pressure for 3 minutes.
- When cooking is complete, use a natural release for 10 minutes, then release any remaining pressure.
- Fluff rice with a fork. Add zest and juice of 1 lime and the cilantro. Use fork to fluff and stir until ingredients are evenly distributed. Taste and add more lime or salt if desired.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- The coconut milk gives the rice a dreamy, creamy, richness with a mild hint of coconut flavor. If you don’t like coconut, just use water instead.
- Make sure to use LITE coconut milk. Regular is thicker and may cause the rice to burn on the bottom of the pot.
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