Spice up your dinner menu tonight with this fantastic, easy-to-make cilantro lime rice in the Instant Pot. With only a few fresh ingredients and a quick prep time, you can transform plain rice into an extraordinary dish. The classic flavor combination of lime and cilantro in this copycat version adds depth to any meal - try it for yourself and experience just how mouthwatering it is.
❤️ Why You'll Love This
- Perfectly cooked and flavorful every time.
- This is a delicious and filling side dish that can be served with just about anything.
- It's made entirely in the Instant Pot, so clean-up is a breeze.
- The vibrant flavors of lime and cilantro will liven up any meal - you won't regret giving this copycat recipe a try.
🥘 Equipment
- Instant Pot or pressure cooker
🧾 Ingredients
Get the full list of ingredients, with measurements, and step-by-step instructions at the bottom of the post in the printable recipe card.
- Long-grain brown rice
- Chicken broth or vegetable broth
- Lime
- Fresh cilantro leaves
- Garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper
🍳 How to Make
You will find the complete step by step instructions at the bottom of the post.
Rinse the rice and add it to the Instant Pot with the broth. Stir. Cover and cook for 22 minutes.
Once done, allow for a 10-minute natural release.
Remove the lid, and add in the lime juice, zest, cilantro, and garlic powder. Add salt and pepper. Allow the flavors to combine for a few minutes before serving.
Hint: leave a useful hint here, like let the grill run for 4-5 minutes to burn off any remnants, then clean it. I like to use this bristle-free barbecue brush (affiliate link) for cleaning the grill.
🥄 Variations
- You can easily customize this recipe to fit your tastes.
- Add diced tomatoes and jalapenos for a Mexican-inspired dish.
- Replace the brown rice with quinoa or red rice for an even healthier option.
- Switch up the spices, using chili powder and cumin for a southwestern flavor.
- Add diced bell peppers or onions for a heartier side dish.
🍽️ What to Serve
This is a great side dish that can be paired with so many other recipes. Using this recipe gives perfect rice every time.
- Top it off with roasted vegetables and grilled chicken for an all-in-one Mexican meal.
- Mix black beans into the dish for the perfect side dish.
- Serve this rice with almost any Mexican food from chicken burrito bowls, to shrimp fajitas, chicken fajitas or steak bites.
- Don't forget dessert. Make this incredibly easy Mango Sorbet Recipe
🍶 Storing
Refrigerator Storage: Store leftover rice in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Freezer Storage: You can also freeze it for up to 2 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight and reheat before serving.
Reheat: Reheat individual portions on the stovetop or in the microwave until heated through.
💭Top Tips
- Make sure to rinse the rice well before adding it to the Instant Pot. It may seem like extra steps but it helps to remove excess starch. This will help make sure your rice doesn't turn out mushy.
- Also, you don't want to over-cook the rice, otherwise, it can become too soft. Make sure to follow the directions step by step.
- Lastly, make sure to add the lime juice, zest, and cilantro just before serving for the best flavor.
- If you need to change the amount of rice being made, 1 cup of rice makes 3 cups of cooked rice.
❔FAQs
Yes, this rice will work with any type of rice. It is important to know the cook time on the rice you are using. because different types of rice will cook at different times. Extra long grain rice, basmati rice, or white long-grain rice will also work.
Yes, you can make this in a rice cooker. Use the rice cooker to set the time to cook the rice because rice cookers and pressure cookers cook differently.
Chipotle cilantro lime rice can be made with lime juice concentrate but the lime flavor is not as fresh. You also will not have the lime zest.
📖More Recipes
Need to change the number of servings? You can click on the number of servings and change the number. This will adjust the ingredient measurements to what you need.
If you love this recipe, come back and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Have you joined our Weight Watchers Facebook Group? Free recipes and support. Perfect for everyone!
How Many WW Points in this Recipe
Cilantro lime rice comes in at 3 points per serving. The serving size is 1/2 cup. When you pair this with a 0 point protein and veggies, the meal is hearty and filling.
This is a direct link to the recipe in the WW recipe builder app. You can see the recipe as well as add it to your daily food tracker. This only works for WW members in the US. If you are outside of the US, you will need to enter it manually.
Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1 cup long-grain brown rice rinsed until water runs clear
- 1¼ cup chicken or vegetable broth
- 3 Tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 Tbsp lime zest
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves chopped
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add rice and broth to Instant Pot® container and stir to combine. Cover and lock lid into place. Set valve to “Sealing” and select the “Manual” and “High Pressure” settings. Adjust cook time to 22 minutes.
- Once cook time is complete, allow pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then do a quick release for any remaining pressure.
- Remove lid and stir in lime juice, lime zest, cilantro, and garlic powder. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and stir to combine. If desired, allow flavors to combine for several minutes before serving. Enjoy!
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