Author: The Food Charlatan

Recently Eric and I escaped life for a few days and flew to a cute little spot in Cancun. I never thought I would be one for all-inclusive-resorts (My family traveled a lot. I hit 35 states by the time I was 17. I was taught that vacations are about cramming in as much sight seeing as possible…paltry concerns such as sleep or meals be damned.)

But for this stage of young motherhood and all the wildness it brings, I love a good beach trip where the only thing on my agenda is drinking a second virgin Pina Colada and lounging with a book. Turns out, Eric and I are really excellent at this whole “doing nothing” thing.

And eating. We are really good at eating. You can see above my selections from the buffet. Who needs lunch when you could have an entire plate of petit fours?

The thing about an all inclusive resort is, you really can order as much food as you want. (And I don’t even feel guilty; we are their cheapest customers because we don’t drink alcohol 😂)

So we’re at a restaurant one night, and Eric orders dessert. The waiter pauses from taking his notes, looks up and asks, “Are you telling me what you want, or are you just reading the menu out loud?” Because Eric had ordered ALL the desserts on the menu. All of them. Send help guys 😅 You better believe we demolished every last bite.

The best cilantro lime rice recipe

Do you have a Chipotle where you live? It’s a great fast-casual Mexican joint. My friend Katie’s son loves the Cilantro Lime Rice they serve so much that he orders not one, but TWO side dishes of rice with his meal every time they go. This cracks me up for some reason!

I’ve tried lots of different recipes for Cilantro Lime Rice and guys, none of them blew me away. Rice is good all by itself (with a lil help from our bubba butter of course) and when you add some cilantro and lime at the end, it’s good. But I was looking for that GREEN and SUPER FLAVORFUL rice I’ve had in certain “fancier” Mexican restaurants, where the cilantro lime flavor is absorbed in the rice itself, amping up the flavor significantly. Chipotle’s rice is good, but honestly it’s got nothing on the green stuff.

Then, last summer, I was visiting my friend Kim, and she made Carnitas for the whole family, because she really loves us (this is the best way to show love for me ;) She had this bright GREEN rice simmering on the stove and I was so excited! I asked to see the recipe right away, hadn’t even tasted it yet.

Then I DID eat it with my carnitas and could. not. stop. It’s so good, just all by itself, but especially with all the fixins like Pico de Gallo and a pot of Tejano Pinto Beans. So what makes it so good?

The method is a huge part of it. Instead of adding cilantro to already-cooked rice, we are pureeing it with milk and chicken broth (so much more flavorful and creamy than water!), so the cilantro flavor can literally seep into the rice as it cooks and absorbs liquid.

And p.s., we’re not just using cilantro! The secret ingredient that makes the rice such a vibrant green is the spinach we’re adding to the blender. Say what now? Yes, really, spinach. You can’t taste it, but who could say no to adding all that good healthy stuff to a pot of rice? It’s a no brainer! I LOVE it, both for color and the nutrition bump.

Then, we toast the rice until it’s golden brown in some butter and olive oil. This browning adds in lovely flavor that you can’t get any other way. Then some easy aromatics, onion and garlic, add in even more umph.

And finally, once the rice is mostly cooked, we add in not just lime juice, but also plenty of lime zest too, to bring that punch of citrus flavor that I love.

Easy cilantro lime rice ingredients

The ingredient list is pretty short, this is all you need! The full recipe measurements and instructions are in the recipe card below.

What goes with cilantro lime rice?

I mean, what doesn’t go with cilantro lime rice? In the dinner world, I can envision this rice pairing well with any kind of Mexican dish, Asian flavored dish, or sittin pretty with some grilled meats and veggies. Really, almost any time you use white rice this could be a much more flavorful replacement. Here are some dishes that I think go spectacularly with cilantro lime rice.

• Cafe Rio Sweet Shredded Pork for Burritos (Slow Cooker/Instant Pot) >> because it’s so flavorful, cilantro lime rice is PERFECT in a smothered burrito!
• Traditional Tejano Pinto Beans (Slow Cooker Mexican Beans) >> a bowl of these beans with this rice, or both in a burrito with some cheese, would be HEAVEN
• Traditional Carne Guisada Tacos >> this is some of the best tender beef perfect for tacos, burritos, in a bowl, you name it
• Best Chicken Tacos Recipe (Stovetop or Crockpot) >> flavorful and moist, like from a taqueria!
• The freakin best Carne Asada I’ve ever put it my mouth
• ANYTHING from my Mexican/Tex Mex Recipes page – click through to find TONS of ideas on what to make
• 30 Minute Korean Beef Recipe >> unbelievably good for how little effort it takes
• Asian Seared Chicken with Stir Fried Green Beans >> I think this rice would pair really well with lots of Asian flavors as well. This is the crispiest seared chicken!
• Asian Pork Tenderloin Recipe (Slow Cooker) >> easy, plus a caramelized glaze – yum
• Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Peanut-Lime Sauce >> an easy dinner perfect for busy weeknights
• Authentic Caribbean Jerk Chicken from Grillseeker
• Cajun Shrimp with Garlic Butter Sauce from Inspired Taste

How to store leftovers for cilantro lime rice

Rice is so easy to store and lasts a good 4-5 days in the refrigerator. It’s a great side for any meal prep you are making for the week. You could even double it and use it for two different meals throughout the week. Place the cooled rice into a container with an air-tight lid and put it in the refrigerator.

To eat leftover rice, make sure it’s in a microwave safe dish, spritz with a bit of water, then cover with a splatter shield and microwave on high. The water spritzing is important, rice loses a lot of moisture as it sits in the fridge and you need to restore some of that if you want rice that isn’t dry as a bone.

If it’s a single portion, try one minute, stir, and if it’s not all the way warmed through add another 30-60 seconds. If it’s a family sized serving, sprinkle with water, cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring once or twice, until hot and steaming.

Can you freeze cilantro lime rice?

Yes totally! Cilantro lime rice (and really any cooked rice, for that matter) is super easy to freeze and a really great way to get dinner on the table really quickly for a future meal. Let the rice cool, then carefully transfer it to a ziplock freezer bag. Squeeze out all the air, seal, and put it in the freezer. It will be good for about 3 months in the freezer, after that it starts to dry out and the quality deteriorates.

To use, you can thaw the rice in the fridge overnight or on the counter for a few hours, then warm in the microwave for 1-5 minutes depending on portion size. Sometimes to speed up the process, I’ll take a bag straight from the freezer, open the seal but leave it in the bag and microwave for one minute. After that, it’s thawed enough to break into chunks into a serving bowl and then microwave until hot as instructed above. Don’t forget to add a little water.

Cilantro lime rice frequently asked questions

More sides to go with all your mains

A really great side dish can make or break your dinner. You want it to be just as flavorful as the entree! These are some side dishes I turn to time and time again, and that are versatile enough to pair with SO many main dishes.

• How to cook Brown Rice in Instant Pot >> flavorful, fluffy brown rice, and healthy to boot
• How to make Riced Cauliflower >> doesn’t taste just like rice, but is delicious and a great low-carb alternative
• Roasted Red Potatoes in Oven >> easiest recipe ever, and perfect alongside so many dinners
• The Best Garlic Butter Bread >> I say yes to garlic bread at any opportunity I can. This recipe is the best!
• Aunt Shirley’s Mashed Potatoes Recipe with Cream Cheese >> it’s hard to go wrong with the creamiest mashed potatoes of your life
• Sweet and Moist Cornbread Recipe >> NO dry cornbread here, your new favorite recipe!
• Orzo Pilaf from Dad Cooks Dinner
• Hasselback Potatoes from Love and Lemons