Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
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This fresh, bright, and filling side dish comes together fast. Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice is perfect to serve with any Mexican-inspired recipe. We’ve honed in on the perfect Instant Pot cooking time for white rice and can’t wait to share this Chipotle-inspired rice recipe with you.
About this Recipe
Once I discovered how easy it is to make brown rice in the Instant Pot, I have used no other method. After testing this multiple times, I noted that the cooking time is a bit different for white rice, which cooks a lot faster, but the methods are the same.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Cook the Rice
To cook white rice in the Instant Pot, use a 1: 1 1/4 ratio of rice to water. I also add in a little oil and salt. Cook it at high pressure for 4 minutes and then let it naturally release for 10 minutes.
Add Flavor!
Simply stir in your fresh lime juice and chopped cilantro (be sure to include the stems when chopping cilantro; they add lots of flavor).
When testing hundreds of recipes for our cookbook, From Freezer to Cooker, we honed in on the best cooking times for all types of recipes. To make it easy for you, we have created a printable download.
How to Freeze Cooked Rice
While we have an entire post dedicated to answering the question, “Can you freeze rice?” we also want to give you the short and sweet answer. Yes! You can freeze cooked rice. I do it all the time.
Freezing Instructions
Whether it be cooked white rice, brown rice, Mexican rice, or Spanish rice, all can be frozen in the same way:
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- Cool the cooked rice. The key to maintaining a good texture with frozen rice is to make sure the rice is completely cool before freezing. We recommend spreading cooked rice on a large cookie sheet to help it cool quickly and evenly.
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- Divide into portions. Once the rice is cool, scoop portions into quart or gallon-size freezer bags. Be sure to squeeze all of the air out when sealing.
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- Label and freeze. Label your freezer bag with the type of rice, amount, and date. Stack your bags of rice on a flat surface in your freezer. And that’s it!
FAQs
Simply cook the rice according to the package instructions. Then, stir in the cilantro and lime juice at the end. Taste and season with more salt, if needed.
Ways to Use Cilantro Lime Rice
There are so many great ways to use this recipe. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.
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- Build a bowl with our Crockpot Mexican Chicken or Instant Pot Mexican Chicken. Or try our friend London’s Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl recipe.
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- Add the rice into our Make Ahead Lunch Wraps.
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- Use the rice in our Chicken Burrito Bowls.
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- Serve with Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas.
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- Provide it as an option when serving a Taco Bar.
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- Serve our Chicken and Steak Fajitas over top of it.
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Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice comes together fast. It’s a fresh, bright, and filling side dish to serve with any Mexican-inspired recipe. We’ve honed in on the perfect Instant Pot cooking time for white rice and can’t wait to share this Chipotle-inspired rice recipe with you.
Ingredients
- 1 cup long-grain white rice or jasmine (don’t worry about rinsing it first)
- 1 1/4 cups water (use an additional 1/2 cup for an 8-quart Instant Pot)
- 2 teaspoons olive oil or avocado oil
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- Juice of 1/2 lime (about 1 tablespoon), or more to taste
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, leaves and stems
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Instructions
Make It Now:
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Rinse Rice: Place the rice in a fine mesh strainer and run cold water over it until the water runs clear (about 1-2 minutes). This prevents the rice from being too sticky.
- Add to Instant Pot: Add rice, water, oil, and salt to an Instant Pot and stir. Note: If using an 8-quart, add an additional 1/2 cup of water.
- Pressure Cook: Lock and seal the lid. Cook at high pressure for 4 minutes. Once cooking time is done, let the rice naturally release for 10 minutes. Then quick release the remaining pressure.
- Fluff & Serve: Use a fork to fluff the rice. Then, stir in the lime juice and cilantro. Taste and season with more salt, as needed. (Freezing instructions begin here.)
Freeze For Later: Cool the cooked rice completely. Scoop portions into quart or gallon-size freezer bags. Be sure to squeeze all of the air out when sealing. Label your freezer bag with the type of rice, amount, and date. Stack your bags of rice on a flat surface in your freezer.
Prepare From Frozen: Warm in the microwave with a little extra liquid (water or broth), if needed. Or toss frozen rice into a soup, like our Vegetarian Tortilla Soup.
Notes/Tips
- It takes about 9 minutes for the rice to come to pressure before it starts the cook cycle.
- Toasting the Rice: Before cooking the rice, you could brown the rice a bit to add more depth of flavor. Heat 2 tablespoons of avocado or olive oil in the Instant pot on the Saute function. Add the raw rice and stir to coat with the olive oil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the rice has started to brown. Then, follow the cooking instructions in the recipe.
- Stovetop Instructions: To make it on the stove, simply cook the rice according to the package instructions. Then, stir in the cilantro and lime juice at the end. Taste and season with more salt, if needed.
- How to Make This Recipe With Brown Rice: Follow our Instant Pot Brown Rice instructions here. Double the amount of cilantro and lime juice (since that recipe is double the size of this one) and then stir it in at the end. Taste and season with more salt.
Really easy way to make rice!
Do you know if I can double this recipe in the instantpot?
Hi Amber. Yes, you can double this recipe in the Instant Pot. We recommend not filling your Instant Pot more than halfway with the rice and liquid. This prevents excessive foaming that can block the mechanisms in the lid. Glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Love your cilantro rice. It is better than Chipotle’s.
Wow thanks Elena! Glad you enjoyed it.
This rice is delicious and cooks up amazing! Best recipe! Thank you for all of the serving size options. I’ve tried them all and they’re fail proof!
Hi Danene! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review and let others know your opinions. It definitely helps people to try recipes when they see others that have had success!
I just made the 1 cup of rice in a 3 quart Instant Pot. I used all of your ingredients and measurements, except I used 1 cup of water. I cooked for 4 minutes and did a 10 minute release. Oh, I did rinse my rice, too (Can’t help it; habit!). I read that you can cook up to 2 cups of rice in a 3 quart IP.
The rice is delicious!! Thank you for the recipe!
Thank you so much for the details of cooking it in a 3-quart Instant Pot. I’m sure this will help others also!
Can this be made in a 3 quart Instant Pot?
Hi Natalie. We have not done any testing in a 3-quart Instant Pot, so I can’t be sure of the answer. If you do make it, please leave a comment with what worked or what didn’t so others will know as well. Thanks!
Excellent and flavorful!
Thanks Camille. It’s been a repeat in our house even when we aren’t having Mexican. 🙂
Delicious. Made in 6qt instant pot. Much better than Chipotle!
Niiice! So simple yet those fresh ingredients make all the difference, don’t they?