Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice

copy cate chipotle cilantro lime rice in two small bowls

What is it about Chipotle, anyway?

Well, it’s a lot of things, of course. The peppy, fast-paced atmosphere. The way you can customize your burrito to get it exactly the way you like it. And, of course, the way they make a point of using fresh, whole ingredients from sustainable farms. That’s all great stuff.

But when I think about what makes a trip to Chipotle feel like a treat, I think maybe it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. Like the rice.!

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When you order up a burrito bowl at Chipotle, it doesn’t just come with rice; it comes with cilantro-lime rice. It just adds that extra little kick that takes the whole meal to the next level.

Fortunately, it’s really easy to do the same thing at home. All you need to make my Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice is a little lemon and lime juice, cilantro, butter, salt…and the secret ingredient, a bay leaf. Oh, they don’t mention that in the menu, do they? But it makes a difference, trust me. If you sauté your rice in butter with that bay leaf for just a couple of minutes before you cook it, and then add the juice and cilantro at the end, it will take your homemade Cilantro Lime Rice to the next, NEXT level.

Put a scoop of this on the side of any Mexican dish (or inside a burrito, like they do at Chipotle), and watch your meal go from dinner to yeah, dinner!

How to make Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice

Ingredients you will need:

  • basmati rice (extra long grain rice)
  • butter, divided
  • bay leaf
  • water
  • salt
  • chopped cilantro
  • fresh lime juice (about 1/2 a large lime)
  1. Set a medium heavy pot over medium heat, add 1 Tablespoon butter, bay leaf and rice. Saute rice for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Next pour in water and salt. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover pot and reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer covered for about 15-17 minutes, until water is absorbed and rice is fluffy. Removed from heat.rice in a pot with butter and bay leaf
  2. Stir in last Tablespoon of butter, cilantro, lime and lemon juice. Stir until well combined. NOTE: Make sure to remove the bay leaf before serving!squeezing a lime into rice potwooden spoon stirring Cilantro lime riceWooden spoon scooping up Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice

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Collage image of 6 different Easy Mexican Recipes for Cinco De Mayo
Two children sitting with bowls of Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice

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4.93 from 28 votes

Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice

Author Corey Valley
Don't you just LOVE Chipotle? It’s really easy to mimic their magical rice! My Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice recipe is spot on and is so easy to make!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup basmati rice extra long grain rice
  • 2 Tablespoon butter divided
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tbsp fresh chopped cilantro
  • 1.5 Tablespoons of fresh lime juice about 1/2 a large lime
  • 1 Tablespoon of fresh lemon juice

Instructions

  • Set a medium heavy pot over medium heat, add 1 Tablespoon butter, bay leaf and rice. Saute rice for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Next pour in water and salt. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover pot and reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer covered for about 15-17 minutes, until water is absorbed and rice is fluffy. Removed from heat.
  • Stir in last Tables spoon of butter, cilantro, lime and lemon juice. Stir until well combined. NOTE: Make sure to remove the bay leaf before serving!

Nutrition

Calories: 219kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 640mg | Potassium: 53mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 175IU | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated. Copying of full recipe to any social media is prohibited.

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27 Comments

  1. Do you rince rhe rice first?

    1. If the bag or box of rice directs you to, I would.

    2. Nope! Turned out beautifully.

  2. Sounds yummy! Have you every tried this with brown rice?

  3. Elizabeth says:

    5 stars
    Just tried it and it came out amazing! None of the other recipes I read call for a bay leaf. Thanks for sharing!

  4. My family LOVES this rice, thanks for the recipe!!!!

  5. 4 stars
    This recipe is wonderful! Ended up throwing the sautéd rice into my rice cooker for an effortless middle step! I would recommend cutting down the salt to 3/4 or even 1/2 tsp, as my kids and I thought it was a tad too salty. Overall very tasty recipe!

  6. 5 stars
    Oh my goodness! This tastes so close to Chipotle’s!!! Soooo good!

  7. Does this recipe work well if you have to make in advance and reheat?

    1. Yes, I often make a double Batch just so I have left overs to eat later. I do put a damp paper towel over the bowl in the microwave to keep it from drying out. Don’t know if it would but this is just something I have always done when reheating rice.

  8. 5 stars
    Made this tonight with Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas – it was perfect! Great flavor – I think the Bay Leaf is the key! Thanks for sharing!

  9. Brianna Moloney says:

    5 stars
    This recipe is AMAZING!!! I’m a huge Chipotle fan, but due to where I’m currently living, I sadly cannot get it. (Gosh do I miss the rice, it’s my favorite part). I tried this recipe last week, and oh my goodness, dare I say it, it’s BETTER than Chipotle’ s rice. It tastes exactly the same, but is BETTER because it’s so fresh. I am so so happy that I found this recipe. I don’t have to crave Chipotle anymore when I can make it right at home! Thank you for sharing this recipe!!!