Chipotle Rice Recipe + Video

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Chipotle Rice recipe with cilantro and lime is a favorite of ours from Chipotle Mexican Grill and you are going to love our copycat version!

Titled Text: Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice

Recipes like Chipotle Rice

We really don’t eat out much, but when we do, and we have something that we truly enjoy, I love to create my own version at home.

Have you had a chance to try my other Chipotle copycat recipes yet?  My Guacamole copycat recipe has bits of jalapeno, red onion, and fresh herbs.

And, my Barbacoa recipe is the Mexican barbecue of my dreams.

Or, these Copycat Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas are a luscious slow-cooked pork that is so soft and juicy, they melt in your mouth.

Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice in a pot with a bay leaf on top

How to make our Chipotle Rice recipe

  1. In a medium saucepan over high heat bring water to a boil. 
  2. Add rice, bay leaf, and salt.  Stir to coat. 
  3. Return to a boil. 
  4. Once it is a full rolling boil, reduce to simmer and cover for 15 minutes.  Remove from heat, leave covered for 5 minutes.
  5. Remove bay leaf. Fluff rice with a fork, add the oil, cilantro, and juices. Stir to combine.
  6. Serve and enjoy!
Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice cooked in a pot

Cooking Tips for Fluffy Rice

The key to making this Chipotle rice recipe is making sure that it is light and fluffy with no lumps. Here are a few simple tips you can follow when making this recipe to make sure that happens.

  • Put your uncooked rice in a large bowl filled with cold water. Using your hands, stir it around. Then, strain the rice through a colander to remove the cloudy water which contains excess starch.
  • When making this recipe, do NOT try to cook it on high. You will just allow the water to cook off and the rice will not be cooked through before the water has evaporated. 
  • When it is done, allow it to sit for at least 5 minutes with the lid on before you serve it. This step allows the rice to steam. Make sure you do not skip this step.
Chipotle Rice Recipe Cooked in a pot and fluffed with a fork

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Does Chipotle put oil in their rice?

Yes, Chipotle uses rice bran oil in their recipe. If you cannot find this, you can use any flavorless oil in our Chipotle Rice recipe.

I usually use canola oil when I make it. Or, for a heart-healthy choice, you can also use olive oil when you make this.

How to prevent rice from clumping

If your rice is clumping together rather than being light and fluffy, you may be stirring it wrong. Never stir cooked rice with a spoon.

Always fluff it with a fork instead. This is one of the most important steps in this Chipotle rice recipe. Stirring it activates the starch and will make your rice gummy.

Chipotle Rice Recipe stirring in cilantro

Can you freeze cooked rice?

If you have leftovers after making this Chipotle rice recipe, you can freeze them. Package it in a freezer container or a resealable freezer bag.

This way, you can store your cooked rice for up to six months.

If you would prefer to store leftover rice in the refrigerator, just place it in an airtight container and use it within 3 to 5 days.

When you want to reheat it, just put 2 tablespoons of water for every cup of rice you want to reheat. Just heat until it’s warmed through.

Or, you can heat it in a microwave instead of in a pot on the stove following the same method.

More Mexican recipes

If you’ve enjoyed this Chipotle rice recipe, here are a few more Mexican recipes that you might want to try soon.

Chipotle Rice recipe copycat cilantro lime rice in a clear bowl

Enjoy!

With love from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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Chipotle Rice Recipe in a glass bowl

chipotle rice recipe in a bowl

Chipotle Rice Recipe + Video

Donna Elick
Our Chipotle Rice Recipe with cilantro and lime tastes just like the restaurant version! Learn how to make Chipotle rice in just 30 minutes!
5 stars from 1 review
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main
Cuisine Mexican
Method Stovetop
Servings 4

Ingredients
 

  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup long-grain jasmine rice
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil, or any flavorless oil
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon orange juice

Instructions
 

  • In a medium saucepan over high heat bring water to a boil. Add rice, bay leaf and salt. Stir to coat rice. Return to a boil. Once it is a full rolling boil, reduce to simmer and cover for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, leave covered for 5 minutes.
  • Remove bay leaf. Fluff rice with a fork, add the oil, cilantro, and juices. Stir to combine.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 202cal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 590mg | Sugar: 1g | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Chipotle Rice Recipe in a bowl on a wood board

Originally published September 2012, updated and republished July 2020.

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22 Comments

  1. Lately, I've been using a lot of lime juice and I've slowly come to like cilantro (is it an acquired taste?) I just know this rice would be terrific with your margarita chicken. Slated for my last of summer meal — or maybe all winter.

    1. Cilantro always smelled like a garden weed to me. But once you start using it, it goes well with so much. Bahn mi sandwiches, Thai soup, Mexican dishes, etc. It bolts so rapidly in the garden that we don't grow it and have to settle for the grocery store variety.

    1. I am also allergic to oranges. I would just leave it out. Maybe add a touch of sugar or sweetener or some sort. The orange would have sweetened the rice a little.

    2. When I was in a Chipotle near me years ago, I was watching the person in back make the rice. I asked him what he just poured in and he said "pineapple juice". That is how I make mine.

  2. This was a great recipe. We served it with the barbacoa recipe that you posted in February, as well as pico de gallo and a copycat of the corn salsa. Thanks for posting!

  3. How .any servings will this make? I am very excited to try it and I want to make sure that I make enough…. enough to share. Tehehe… 😉

  4. I made this rice last night to accompany Tangy Asian Meatballs – it was a great hit. I shared the recipe (with credits) to my face book group, Slow Cooker & Other Recipes Friends, we LOVE your recipes.

    Thanks for Sharing.

  5. I made this rice last night and the flavor was delicious, thank you for sharing. The only thing was my rice came out sticky, any ideas?

  6. As a chipotle worker, switch the jasmine rice for plain white rice, take out the orange juice, and add a little more salt

  7. This recipe sounds amazing! I’m a big rice fan & would love if u could find a copycat recipe for TGIFRIDAYS rice. I could eat it by the gallons. Lol. Can’t wait to try this recipe as well. Thanks for posting ��

  8. I am one of a few people who can't eat Cilantro because to us it takes kinda soapy. Is there a substitute for it.

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