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This rice cooker cilantro lime rice is an easy Chipotle copycat recipe with fluffy, buttery rice, fresh lime juice, and chopped cilantro. Chicken bouillon powder adds a savory depth, making this a delicious homemade version of the restaurant favorite!
Recipe Summary
- 🔪 Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 👨🍳 Cook Time: 30 minutes
- ⏱️ Total Time: 35 minutes
- 🍽️ Servings: 3 people
- 🏷️ Calories: ~312 calories
- 🍳 Cook Method: Rice Cooker
- ✨ Flavor Profile: Fluffy, buttery rice with savory chicken bouillon, fresh lime juice, and fragrant cilantro
- 🧩 Difficulty: Easy (Perfect for homemade Chipotle-style bowls)
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Cilantro Lime Rice In A Rice Cooker
I love a good rice side dish, especially one that takes very little work but brings plenty of flavor to the table. This cilantro lime rice in a rice cooker is one of those recipes. I make mine with chicken bouillon powder, melted butter, fresh lime juice, and chopped cilantro. The butter makes the rice rich and savory, while the lime and cilantro add a fresh, citrusy flavor that keeps it from tasting too heavy.
Cilantro lime rice is a popular side dish at Mexican restaurants and is especially well known as the rice served in Chipotle’s burrito bowls. I already have a Cilantro Lime Rice recipe made on the stovetop, but I wanted to share a rice cooker version for anyone who prefers a more hands-off way to make it. It’s especially good with my Chipotle Chicken and fresh Tomato Salsa for a homemade burrito bowl.
Which Type Of Rice To Use
I use basmati rice for this recipe, the same type of rice used in Chipotle’s. It cooks up light and fluffy, with long, separate grains that work beautifully with the butter, lime juice, and cilantro. Its mild, slightly nutty aroma also pairs well with the fresh citrus flavor without overpowering it.
You can use other types of rice, but keep in mind that the texture and aroma will vary depending on the variety:
- Basmati Rice: My first choice for this recipe. It has long, slender grains and cooks up light and fluffy without becoming sticky.
- Jasmine Rice: A good alternative if you enjoy fragrant rice. It has a naturally floral aroma and cooks up softer and slightly stickier than basmati.
- American Long-Grain White Rice: This is another good option. It has a mild flavor and cooks up fluffy with separate grains, making it suitable for this recipe.
- Brown Rice: You can use brown basmati or brown long-grain rice if you prefer it for dietary reasons. The texture won’t be ideal for this recipe, as brown rice is chewier and less fluffy than white rice. It also takes longer to cook and needs more water, so follow your rice cooker’s brown rice setting and the package instructions.
I don’t recommend short-grain or sushi rice because they are naturally stickier and tend to clump together after cooking. Arborio rice is also not a good choice because its high starch content gives it a creamy, risotto-like texture rather than the light, separate grains you want here.
Pro Tip: Stick with white basmati rice for the best result. If you substitute another variety, adjust the water and cooking time according to the package instructions and your rice cooker’s settings. Different rice varieties absorb water differently, so the same rice-to-water ratio may not work for all of them.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Long grain rice
- Chicken bouillon powder
- Melted butter
- Lime juice
- Cilantro
Please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full details on each ingredient.
Pro Tip #1: Chicken Bouillon Powder Adds More Flavor
For my stovetop Cilantro Lime Rice, I use chicken broth to cook the rice. For this rice cooker version, I use chicken bouillon powder because I want a more savory, flavorful rice. If you prefer, you can use the same amount of canned chicken broth instead of the water and bouillon powder.
Pro Tip #2: Butter Makes The Rice Richer
I use 2 to 2½ tablespoons of melted butter, depending on how rich I want the rice to taste. I use unsalted butter, but salted butter works just as well. Butter gives the grains a lovely savory flavor and balances the tartness of the lime juice. You can start with 2 tablespoons and add a little more if you prefer.
Pro Tip #3: Use Fresh Lime Juice
I prefer fresh lime juice over bottled because it has a brighter, more natural citrus flavor. Bottled lime juice often tastes flat or slightly artificial, which can affect the fresh, tangy flavor of the rice.
Shopping Guide: Look for Knorr Chicken Bouillon Powder, which comes in a plastic jar with a yellow lid and a label with the Knorr logo. You’ll usually find it in the soup and seasoning aisle. Choose the granulated powder rather than the bouillon cubes for easy measuring.
How To Make Rice Cooker Cilantro Lime Rice
Give the rice a good rinse, changing the water 3 to 4 times until it runs mostly clear. Drain well before moving on to the next step.
Pro Tip: This removes excess surface starch and helps the cooked rice turn out light and fluffy.
Add the water, chicken bouillon powder, and salt to the rinsed rice. Give everything a good stir to dissolve the bouillon powder and distribute the seasoning, then transfer to your rice cooker. Cook using the regular rice setting.
Pro Tip: I don’t add the butter, lime juice, or cilantro before cooking. Adding them afterward keeps the fresh lime and cilantro flavors from getting lost during the cooking cycle, and lets the butter coat the cooked grains.
When the rice is done, fluff it with a rice paddle to loosen the grains. Mix in the melted butter and lime juice until the rice is evenly coated, then gently fold in the chopped cilantro. Serve warm with my Tomato Salsa and Chipotle Chicken.
Pro Tip: Fold in the cilantro gently at the end to keep the leaves intact and avoid crushing the cooked rice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You can replace the water with chicken broth and leave out the bouillon powder. Taste before adding extra salt, as chicken broth can already be salty.
Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 to 4 days. Refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking and reheat until steaming hot before serving.
Add the rice to a microwave-safe bowl with a splash of water. Cover loosely and microwave until heated through, stirring halfway. You can also reheat it in a covered pan over low heat with a little water.
Yes. Let the rice cool quickly, portion it into airtight freezer-safe containers, and freeze for up to 1 month for the best quality. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or reheat directly from frozen with a splash of water.
This recipe is 312 calories per serving.
What To Serve With This Recipe
For an easy and wholesome weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes:
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Rice Cooker Cilantro Lime Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup long grain rice
- 1¾ cups water
- ½ teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
- 1 pinch salt
- 2-2½ tablespoons melted butter
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Rinse the rice 3–4 times, changing the water each time, until it runs mostly clear and drain well.
- Add the water, chicken bouillon powder, and salt. Stir to combine, transfer everything to the rice cooker, and cook using the regular rice setting.
- Once the rice is cooked, add the melted butter and lime juice. Fluff and mix well, then stir in the chopped cilantro. Serve warm with my fresh Tomato Salsa and Chipotle Chicken.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
