BEST Cilantro Lime Rice in Instant Pot! Simple, vibrant, full of flavor, this recipe is a delicious accompaniment to all your Mexican dishes.
Instant pot or pressure cooker is the latest craze and is for a good reason. It cooks in a jiffy and my favorite is the saute function <-- obsessed. Some of our popular instant pot rice recipes include Chicken Pesto Rice, Shrimp Fried Rice or Garlic Butter Rice.
If you like Chipotle’s rice, you will LOVE this easy recipe you can make at home. The Instant Pot cooks rice in a jiffy and it turns out perfect every single time. Lime juice adds tanginess and the oils in the zest adds fragrant flavor.
We love all things Mexican! We could eat it every night of the week. It is flavorful, satisfying and comforting. Few of our favorites are Chicken Tacos, Shrimp Tacos with Avocado Jalapeno Crema.
How do I know that is one of the best cilantro lime rice recipe? Because, it is adapted from Pioneer Woman's Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe. So, you know it's gonna be GOOD.
Cilantro lime rice in instant pot
- Easy clean up
- Great for meal prep
- Freezer friendly
- Base for all Mexican dishes
- Side dish with chicken, fish or shrimp for dinner
- Packed with flavor
Ingredients:
Rice - White basmati rice
Onion - Regular white/yellow/red onion
Garlic - Love garlic? You could totally add more
Lime - Both lime zest and lime juice are used
Chicken stock - Secret to a flavorful Mexican lime rice
Cilantro - Ain't cilantro lime rice without cilantro.
Method
Step-1 : Heat instant pot to saute. When hot, saute chopped onion and garlic in vegetable oil.
Step-2: Stir fry rice for few seconds and then followed by chicken stock, lime zest and salt. Cook until done.
Step-3: When done, stir in lime juice and chopped cilantro.
Expert tips
Salt depends on the kind of stock used and your taste preference. I used 33% less sodium chicken stock and used ¾ teaspoon salt.
Use vegetable stock instead.
How to store?
Store leftover rice in an airtight container in refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Freeze for up to 2 months in the freezer. Thaw in the refrigerator and use within a day.
How to serve?
- Base for Chicken Burrito bowl or Chickpea Burrito Bowl.
- As a side dish for Mexican Skillet Chicken, Spicy Chickpeas, Tilapia Fish, Mexican Baked Fish or Salsa Chickpeas.
What does it taste like?
Soft textured rice and packed with flavor, it is refreshing, tangy and delicious with anything.
What kind of rice is best?
The most commonly used rice for this dish is long grain white rice. We used Basmati rice. For a little more floral flavor you could use Jasmine rice if you like.
More popular Mexican dinner ideas:
- Potato Tacos
- Cilantro Lime Sauce
- Ground Chicken Tacos
- Chickpea Tacos
- Chicken Taco Seasoning
- Chickpea Lettuce wraps
- Tilapia Tacos
Easy Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ¼ cup chopped onion
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 cup basmati rice, washed, rinsed and drained well
- 1 cup chicken stock (I used 33% reduced sodium)
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon salt, refer notes
- zest of one lime
- juice of 1 and ½ limes
- ½ cup chopped cilantro
Equipment
Instructions
- Set Instant pot to saute setting. Once hot, add vegetable oil and then onion and garlic. Saute for about 2 minutes, until garlic begins to turn golden.
- Add rice and continue to saute for about 30 seconds. Stir in stock, salt and lime zest. Close, lock lid and make sure the valve is set to sealing. Select rice setting and let Instant pot do its thing (it took 12 minutes to cook in mine).
- When instant pot beeps, let continue to sit for 4 to 10 minutes (4 minutes for firmer rice and 10 minutes for more softer rice) . Click cancel button and then turn valve to vent and let pressure release. Open lid and stir in lime juice and cilantro.
- Serve hot or warm with your favorite Mexican meal.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Pioneer woman
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Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats
This rice looks so fluffy!! I love any kind of Mexican food 🙂 I am jealous I don’t have an Instant Pot yet. I just need to buy one!!
Maria Doss
Thanks Kelly. It took a while for me to get used to it, but so love my Insta pot now.
Kim | The Baking ChocolaTess
I just got an air fryer, but I still need that insta pot! My family would love this for sure and I'm so anxious to try it! Quick and delicious!! YUM!!
Maria Doss
I got an Insta pot only last Christmas and loving it ever since:)
heather (delicious not gorgeous)
i'm a sucker for flavored rice! i'm not the kind of person to eat a plain bowl of rice, but i'd happily make a meal out of a bowl of this (:
Lori
Highly recommend this one. I use Basmati brown rice and set rice setting for 25 minutes. I double the recipe and freeze leftovers. It’s truly amazing!
Maria Doss
So glad that you liked it hun:)
Aryana
Could you use a slow cooker or would that not work? Don’t got an insta prob yet :((.
Maria Doss
Hi Aryana, I do not have any experience with a slow cooker. But, I found these impressive methods online that should work -
1. https://www.thespruceeats.com/simple-crock-pot-rice-recipe-2098664
2. https://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/perfect-crock-pot-rice-16465
If you are adopting any of the above methods, then begin by sautéing the onion and garlic on a skillet and then transfer it along with rice and all other ingredients (increase stock as per the above suggestion).
-Hope it helps:)
Jessica
How would you adjust the cooking time if you wanted to double it ? We loved it!
Maria Doss
Thank you Jessica. As a general rule when doubling any Instant Pot recipe, you DO NOT CHANGE THE COOKING TIME. The instant pot will take additional time when coming to pressure, which will compensate for the quantity. Hope it helps:)
Kristina
I make this weekly for my family. So simple and delicious!
Mariam
This was incredible. Literally, the pot was finished in 10 minutes. Is there a way to double this recipe. It's great as a meal and my family wanted more!
Maria Doss
Hi Mariam, Glad that your family enjoyed the rice. I would suggest doubling the recipe, if using a larger Instant pot (6 or 8 quart). Please note that the cooking time doesn't need to altered, hope it helps - Maria