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.

 

How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice in the Instant Pot

Once I discovered how easy it is to make brown rice in the Instant Pot, I have used no other method. The cooking time is a bit different for white rice, which cooks a lot faster, but the methods are the same.

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 8 minutes and then let it naturally release for 10 minutes.

Now things get really complicated.

I kid. I joke.

Simply stir in your fresh lime juice and chopped cilantro (be sure to include the stems when chopping cilantro; they add lots of flavor).

That’s it!

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 Make Cilantro Lime Rice on the Stove

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 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:

• 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. 
• 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. 
• 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!

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.

• Add the rice into our Make Ahead Lunch Wraps.
• Use the rice in our Chicken Burrito Bowls.
• Serve with Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas.
• Provide it in an option when serving a Taco Bar.