This easy Cilantro Lime Rice is made in a rice cooker for a foolproof recipe. Adding lime juice and fresh cilantro, gives white rice a bright and refreshing flavor. You’ll love how delicious it is!

A white bowl with cilantro lime rice garnished with slices of lime and cilantro sprigs.

Cilantro Lime Ranch

Looking for an easy salad to make for a party or meal prep for the week? You’ve come to the right place because this Cilantro Lime Rice is a delicious and easy-to-make side dish that can add a burst of flavor to any meal.

This rice recipe is made in the rice cooker for extra easiness. There is no need to stress about setting the stove to the right temperature or forgetting to turn off the pot and getting burnt rice. Using the rice cooker comes out perfectly each and every time!

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • So healthy – It’s gluten free, low fat and low calories.
  • So delicious! The combination of cilantro and lime adds a fresh, bright flavor to the rice, which enhances the taste of a variety of dishes.
  • Perfect for meal prep – It makes a large batch and keeps in the refrigerator well plus you can freeze it!
A bowl with white rice and flowers on the side.

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Ingredients

Cilantro Lime Rice recipe has few ingredients that most likely you already have at hand. Here’s what you need:

  • The rice: Jasmine rice, basmati rice or long grain rice will work. Even brown rice will work!
  • Seasoning: 1 or 2 bay leaves and kosher or sea salt
  • Lime & lemon juice: Chipotle uses a combination of fresh lime juice along with some fresh lemon juice.
  • Oil: Rice bran oil – also avocado, soybean or any other mild flavor oil will work, even a mild flavor olive oil.
  • And last but not least: fresh chopped cilantro. It’s okay to chop the stems as well.
The ingredients for this recipe on a white oval platter.
Simple ingredients for Cilantro Lime Rice.

How to Make a Cilantro Lime Rice

This is a visual overview of the steps to make this recipe. Get a detailed list of ingredients & instructions in the recipe card below.

  1. Start by rinsing your rice. Rinsing rice helps remove excess starch, which can make the rice less sticky and more fluffy. To rinse, use a fine mesh strainer, and run under cold water until the water runs clear.
A rice cooker pot with uncooked rice in water.
  1. To the rice cooker pot, add the rice, water and bay leaf.
A rice cooker pot with cooked white rice.
  1. Close the lid of the rice cooker and turn it on. The rice cooker will automatically turn off when the rice is done cooking (usually after 20-30 minutes).
Fluffing cooked white rice with a fork.
  1. Let the rice sit in the closed rice cooker for an additional 5-10 minutes to allow it to steam and absorb any remaining water.
  2. Fluff the rice with a fork before adding the rest of the ingredients.
Adding lime juice to a rice cooker pot with cooked white rice.
  1. Add the salt, oil, lime & lemon juice. Using a spatula, mix the ingredients gently.
Mixing chopped cilantro into cooked white rice.
  1. Add the fresh chopped cilantro and fold gently again.
  2. Close the rice cooker’s lid and keep warm until ready to serve.

Serving Suggestions

This is the perfect side dish for any meal when you want to give Arroz Rojo or Arroz Verde a break. Here are a few ideas on how to serve this rice:

A white bowl with cilantro lime rice garnished with slices of lime and cilantro sprigs.


How to Store & Reheat

The key is to cool and refrigerate leftover cilantro lime rice as quickly as possible. When cold, put into an airtight container and cover.

  • Fridge – Store in the refrigerator for no more than a day before reheating it – and then only reheat it once.
  • Freezer – I like to store my rice in the freezer, stacked flat. They’ll keep well this way for up to 2 months.

To reheat:

On the stove: Put the rice in a heavy bottom saucepan with a splash of water and break up any clumps. Add a few drops of oil or a little butter if needed. Cover with a lid and cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally, until steamed through and piping hot.

In the microwave: Put the rice in a microwaveable dish, sprinkle lightly with water and add a splash of oil or a little bit butter. Cover and microwave on high for 1-2 minutes. Stir with a fork, then microwave for 1-2 minutes more until heated through and steaming.

A white bowl with cilantro lime rice garnished with slices of lime and cilantro sprigs.

I hope you like this recipe! Share it, or leave a rating and comment below. For questions that need an answer right away, please contact  me and I’ll get back to you asap. Gracias!!!! xx, Ana

Print Recipe:

A white bowl with cilantro lime rice garnished with slices of lime and cilantro sprigs.

Cilantro Lime Rice (Rice Cooker)

Servings 8 servings
Ana Frias
5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
This easy Cilantro Lime Rice is made in a rice cooker for a foolproof recipe. The lime juice and fresh cilantro, gives it a refreshing flavor.
8 servings

Ingredients  

  • 2 cup jasmine or long grain rice
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 large bay leaf or 2 small ones
  • 1 lime the juice of 1 lime
  • 2 Tablespoons lemon juice,
  • 1 ½ teaspoon kosher or sea salt, or more to taste
  • 2 Tablespoons rice bran oil (avocado, soybean or any other mild flavor oil)
  • ¾ cup fresh chopped cilantro

Instructions 

  • Using a fine mesh strainer, rinse the rice with cold water until the water runs clear.
    2 cup jasmine or long grain rice
  • To the rice cooker pot, add the rice, water and bay leaf.
    1 large bay leaf or 2 small ones, 3 cups water
  • Close the lid of the rice cooker and turn it on. The rice cooker will automatically turn off when the rice is done cooking (usually after 20-30 minutes).
  • Let the rice sit in the rice cooker for an additional 5-10 minutes to allow it to steam and absorb any remaining water.
  • Fluff the rice with a fork and add the salt, oil, lime/lemon juice. Using a spatula, mix the ingredients gently. Lastly, add the chopped cilantro and fold gently.
    1 lime, 2 Tablespoons lemon juice,, 1 ½ teaspoon kosher or sea salt,, 2 Tablespoons rice bran oil (avocado, soybean or any other mild flavor oil), ¾ cup fresh chopped cilantro
  • Serve hot as a side dish.

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Nutrition

Serving: 1of 8 servings | Calories: 195kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Potassium: 115mg | Fiber: 2g

The nutritional information and US conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this data. If this is important to you, please verify with your favourite nutrition calculator and/or unit conversion tool.

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