I’ve been a Chipotle burrito bowl addict since 2010, and if there’s one thing that makes the whole bowl come together, it’s the rice. That fluffy, citrusy cilantro lime rice is the base of everything. This recipe works because I obsessed over the details so you don’t have to, it’s the real deal, and it tastes just like Chipotle, light, fresh, and perfectly seasoned.
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If you love the rice at Chipotle as much as I do, you are going to love making this dish at home even more! Chipotle says they make their cilantro-lime white rice from scratch every morning. They steam it with bay leaves to impart their herbal fragrance, then season it with lime and lemon juices and toss it with cilantro for its fresh, slightly tart flavor. That cilantro lime mixture is everything!
I didn't see them mention oil, but I can tell the rice has some oil in it. If you have ever watched the workers prepping it behind the counter, it looks slick in the large steel bowls. I can also just taste in the texture!
Copycat Chipotle Rice Ingredients
- Rice
- Butter or any preferred oil
- Fresh Lime
- Fresh Lemon
- Fresh Cilantro
- Bay Leaf
- Salt
What Type of Rice Does Chipotle Use?
I love long-grain rice. My favorite is the organic jasmine rice from Trader Joe's. Here's an excerpt from Chipotle's website about the type of rice they use: With more than 120,000 different strains of grain in the world, it can be hard to keep them all straight. In general, the longer the grain, the firmer and fluffier the rice. Short and medium grains tend to be soft, moist, and sticky. Around here, all you need to know is that we use long-grain white rice.
So I recommend you grab long-grain white rice (jasmine and basmati work well). It's delicious. Long-grain rice is much different than something like Minute Rice which is already cooked and processed. You can use it if you wish but the flavor is vastly different, in my opinion.
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How to Make the Chipotle Rice Recipe
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Rinse the rice. Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. This helps keep the grains fluffy instead of sticky.
- Cook the rice. In a pot, melt butter (or heat your preferred oil) over medium heat. Add the rice and stir for a minute to lightly toast it. Pour in water, add a bay leaf, and season with salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
- Fluff and flavor. Remove the bay leaf. Fluff the rice with a fork, then stir in fresh lime juice, lemon juice, and plenty of chopped cilantro. Taste and adjust with more salt or citrus if needed.
- Serve. Serve warm as a side for tacos, burrito bowls, grilled meats, or anything you’d pair with a Chipotle-style meal.
Chipotle Rice Recipe
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt Feel free to wait until the rice has cooked and season to taste.
- 1 bay leaf
Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot Rice
- 1 ½ cups extra long-grain white rice Rinsed.
- 1 ¾ cups water
Stovetop Rice
- 1 cup extra long-grain white rice Rinsed.
- 2 cups water
Instructions
Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
- Add all of the ingredients to the Instant Pot or pressure cooker. (I add the cilantro here because I like the taste of the rice when it's cooked with the cilantro flavor). I toss the rice with additional cilantro once cooked.
- Seal and cook for 3 minutes on Manual Pressure Cooking.
- When the pot indicates it has finished, allow steam to release naturally for 10 minutes. Press the steam release and remove the lid.
- Remove the bay leaf. Add additional salt to taste if necessary. Serve. I add additional cilantro to garnish.
Stovetop
- Add the water to a pot and bring it to a boil. Add rice, bay leaf, butter, and salt. Stir and return to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 12-15 minutes or until the water has evaporated and the rice is soft and fluffy.
- Remove the bay leaf. Add the cilantro, lime juice, and lemon juice along with any additional salt to taste if necessary. Serve.
Video
Notes
- The type of rice you use matters. If you don't use long-grain rice, the texture won't be the same.
- Always read the instructions on the rice that you use and purchased. Cooking rice on the stove isn't always foolproof. Take note of how the rice you use should be prepared.
- You can use long-grain brown rice and follow the instructions from my Instant Pot Brown Rice recipe.
- The use of oil in the recipe is optional. My favorite is butter. I suspect Chipotle uses vegetable oil, maybe canola so either of those will work as well. Any oil will work, but keep in mind the oil you use will impact the taste of the rice.
- Rinsing the rice before use will rinse away dirt and excess starch. I like to use a mesh strainer and ensure the water runs clear while rinsing the rice.
- You can use fully cooked frozen rice if you wish.
Nutrition
Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Frequently Asked Questions and Recipe Pro Tips
Long-grain rice (like basmati or jasmine) is slim and fluffy, with grains that stay separate—perfect for pilafs, side dishes, and salads.
Medium-grain rice (think arborio or Valencia) is a little shorter and sticks together more, giving you that tender, chewy texture you need for risotto or paella.
Short-grain rice is almost round and cooks up soft and sticky, making it the go-to for sushi or rice pudding.
You can read more about The Difference Between Short, Medium, and Long Grain Rice here.
You should always rinse the rice first before using it. This will rinse away dirt and excess starch. I like to use a mesh strainer and ensure the water runs clear while rinsing the rice.
The use of a device made to cook rice perfectly is my favorite method to use for this recipe. I never make rice on the stove anymore because using a pressure cooker makes the process foolproof! A pressure cooker requires 3 minutes of cook time with 10 minutes of natural steam release.
Yes, follow the instructions on the package of the rice you purchase. You can also use long-grain brown rice and follow the instructions from my Instant Pot Brown Rice recipe.
White rice is softer and tends to cook faster. You can read more about The Difference Between Brown Rice and White Rice here.
My favorite is butter. I suspect Chipotle uses vegetable oil, maybe canola so either of those will work as well. Any oil will work, but keep in mind the oil you use will impact the taste of the rice. You can also simply omit the oil. Oil or butter isn't needed to make rice. It will only enhance the flavor, and I love the flavor of butter the most when used in this recipe.
Leftover rice can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days tightly covered and sealed.
I find the microwave works just fine.
The earlier you can freeze cooked rice, the better. If you know you plan on freezing leftovers, once cooled freeze them immediately. You can freeze the rice after it has been in the fridge for a couple of days.
Pair With These Recipes
Pollo Asado Recipe
Grilled Shrimp Skewers
Pan Seared Salmon
Smoked Salsa
Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
Homemade Queso Cheese
Oven Baked Roasted Corn on the Cob
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Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich
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Instant Pot Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup
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MaryAnne says
Made this as part of my meal prep for the week and it’s so easy and flavorful. First time trying rice in the Instant pot and it’s a game changer- so simple! I have my pollo asada marinating too, so can’t wait to get that on the grill and try as a meal.
Alisan says
This turned out great! Very easy to make with the Instant pot and full of flavor. Changed the game on our taco bowls! We'll be making this more often.
DeErica says
This is definitely better than the actual Chipotle version lol
staysnatched says
haha! Love to hear it.
Christiane DeSalvo says
Made this as our base for last night's dinner & it was so flavorful. I used our grains cooker instead of the Instantpot or stove & it came out famously. Easy to put together, great option for meal prep for the week and/or a for dinner! Great option for taco bowls or burritos. Paired great with the Pollo Asada as well!
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Sabrina B. says
This is AMAZING! So much flavor and extremely easy.
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Ashley says
Perfectly delicious meal prep rice and it doesn’t get better than using the instant pot!
staysnatched says
My favorite way to make it!
Jill says
Perfect addition to taco bowls. It gives it a little more flavor than plain rice.
staysnatched says
I think so too!
Brittany says
Brandi does it again with an incredible recipe! This recipe was super easy, incredibly flavorful, and is now in my regular rotation. If I could give more than 5 stars I would!
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
Felicia says
Hands down the easiest cilantro rice I’ve ever made. I used the instant pot method. Added a little extra lime juice once it was cooked. Don’t skip the lemon juice.
I used the leftover slow cooker chicken fajitas, queso dip and black beans with the rice to make myself a burrito bowl.
Also this rice cooked up so fast!!
staysnatched says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
LaKenya says
So I wanted to make a chipotle chicken bowl for my meal prep this week and of course I remember Brandi posting about a cilantro lime rice recipe. Well let’s just say, my girl never disappoints!! Anytime I need a recipe, I come straight to this website. Brandi never misses! Thank you girl for creating great, easy and tasty recipes!
staysnatched says
You’re welcome!
Naima says
Love love love this rice recipe. Went perfectly with the chicken and beans. My daughter loved it too and she is super picky.
staysnatched says
Haha so glad to hear it!