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Cilantro lime rice is the perfect compliment to any tex-mex dinner and is easy to make. Flavorful with a punch of lime makes it delicious!

This cilantro lime rice recipe is one of my favorite side dishes to make for any tex-mex meal we are having! It’s not too spicy and the flavors are perfect with just about anything. It’s a nice subtle backdrop to tacos or enchiladas. 

If you are comfortable making traditional white rice, you’ll have no problems making cilantro lime rice. It just takes a few extra minutes of work – totally worth it!

How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice

The only difference between making cilantro lime rice and traditional white rice are the few steps at the beginning. 

• Saute onions and spices in butter. 
• Add rice and chicken broth. 
• Cover and cook. 
• Add chopped cilantro and lime juice. 

Often skillets don’t come with lids. Don’t stress! Just use one that is close enough. I usually use a larger one, it’s ok if a little bit of steam is escaping and it’s not totally tight. If you do have a skillet with a fitted lid, use that for sure. 

Cilantro Lime Rice in the Rice Cooker

I frequently make cilantro lime rice in my slow cooker! Follow steps 1-3 and then transfer the onions and spices to the rice cooker along with the rice and chicken broth. Once the rice is cooked, just add the chopped cilantro and lime juice. 

Cilantro Lime Rice in the Instant Pot

This cilantro lime rice recipe is also super easy to make in the instant pot! Just do steps 1-3 on saute mode, add the rice and 2 1/2 cups of chicken broth {instead of 3} and cook on rice cook mode. Once it’s done, stir in the cilantro and lime juice. Easy

Looking for more Tex-Mex recipes? 

• Ground Beef Tacos
• Honey Lime Enchiladas
• The Best Steak Fajita Recipe
• Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken

5 from 1 vote

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Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe

Cilantro lime rice is the perfect compliment to any tex-mex dinner and is easy to make. Flavorful with a punch of lime makes it delicious! 

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Mexican

Keyword cilantro lime rice, cilantro lime rice recipe, how to make cilantro lime rice

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 18 minutes

Total Time 23 minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories 404 kcal

Author Alli

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup onion chopped
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• zest from 1 lime
• 2 cups white rice NOT instant rice
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 3 tablespoons cilantro chopped
• 3 teaspoons lime juice

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. In a medium skillet, melt butter over medium heat. 

2. Add onions and cook until soft and translucent. 

3. Add garlic, salt, and cumin. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. 

4. Add lime zest and rice and stir to coat evenly in butter and spices. 

5. Add chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat to simmer and cover.

6. Simmer covered for 15-20 minutes, or until the majority of the liquid is absorbed by the rice. 
   

7. Add chopped cilantro and lime juice, gently fold into the rice to combine. 

Nutrition Facts

Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 404 Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 6g 9%

Saturated Fat 3g 15%

Cholesterol 15mg 5%

Sodium 991mg 41%

Potassium 270mg 8%

Total Carbohydrates 76g 25%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Protein 7g 14%

Vitamin A 3.9%

Vitamin C 16.4%

Calcium 4.4%

Iron 7.9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.