Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice

This instant pot cilantro lime rice is one of the easiest side dishes you can make. It comes out fluffy, flavorful, and pairs perfectly with just about any Mexican-inspired meal.

If you’ve ever had the cilantro lime rice from Chipotle, this is pretty much a homemade version. Honestly, I think it tastes even better fresh out of the Instant Pot.

The lime and cilantro get folded in right at the end, so every bite has that bright, fresh flavor without anything getting lost during cooking.

It takes just 3 minutes of pressure cooking plus a short natural release. Start to finish, you’re looking at around 20 minutes with very little hands-on work.

Serve it with tacos, burritos, grilled chicken, or really anything you want. It’s one of those recipes you’ll come back to over and over again.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

Perfectly Fluffy Every Time – Toasting the rice before pressure cooking gives you separated fluffy grains instead of mushy sticky rice.

Tastes Like Chipotle’s Famous Rice – This recipe nails that bright citrusy flavor you get from restaurant cilantro lime rice at home.

Only 3 Minutes of Pressure Cooking – The Instant Pot gets this rice done way faster than stovetop methods with zero babysitting required.

Ingredients

• 2 cups Long Grain White Rice, rinsed
• 2 cups Water
• 1 tablespoon Butter
• 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 3 tablespoons Fresh Lime Juice (about 2 limes)
• 1 teaspoon Lime Zest
• 1/2 cup Fresh Cilantro, finely chopped

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the white rice in a fine mesh strainer under cold water until the water runs mostly clear. This removes excess starch and prevents sticky, clumpy rice.

Step 2

Set the Instant Pot to saute mode and heat the olive oil and butter. Add the rinsed rice and stir for 1 to 2 minutes, toasting it lightly until a few grains turn opaque.

Step 3

Pour in the water and add the salt. Stir once to distribute evenly.

Step 4

Lock the lid, set the valve to sealing, and cook on high pressure for 3 minutes. Once the cook time is done, allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.

Step 5

Open the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Drizzle the fresh lime juice over the rice and add the lime zest and chopped cilantro. Gently fold everything together until well combined.

Step 6

Taste and adjust with more lime juice, salt, or cilantro as needed. Serve immediately as a perfect side dish for tacos, burritos, chicken, or any Mexican-inspired meal.

Pro Tips

Rinse Until the Water Is Clear

This step matters more than you think. Rinsing removes the surface starch that makes rice clump together and turn gummy in the Instant Pot.

Put the rice in a fine mesh strainer and run cold water over it while gently swishing it around with your hand. It usually takes about 30-45 seconds until the water going through looks mostly clear instead of milky white.

If you skip this or rush it, you’ll likely end up with sticky, mushy rice instead of light and fluffy grains that separate easily with a fork.

Toast the Rice Before Pressure Cooking

Don’t skip the sauteing step. Toasting the rice in butter and olive oil for a minute or two gives each grain a light nutty flavor and also helps the outside of the grain firm up slightly.

That firmer outer layer is what keeps the rice from getting mushy under pressure. You’ll know it’s ready when some of the grains start to look opaque and white at the edges and the whole pot smells a little toasty.

Keep stirring the whole time so nothing sticks or burns on the bottom. Burnt bits on the bottom can trigger the Instant Pot’s burn notice during pressure cooking.

Use a 1:1 Ratio of Rice to Water

The Instant Pot traps steam instead of letting it escape like a regular pot on the stove, so you need less water than you normally would. That’s why this recipe uses 2 cups of water for 2 cups of rice.

If you add more water thinking it needs it, the rice will come out soggy and waterlogged. Stick with the 1:1 ratio and trust the process. The sealed environment does all the work.

Related Recipes

• Instant Pot Chicken & Rice
• Instant Pot Red Beans & Rice
• Instant Pot Salsa Chicken
• Instant Pot Birria Tacos
• Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use jasmine or basmati rice instead of long grain white rice?

Yes, both jasmine and basmati rice work well in this recipe. Just keep the water ratio the same at 1:1 and use the same cook time of 3 minutes on high pressure with a 10-minute natural release.

Jasmine rice will give you a slightly softer, stickier result while basmati will be a bit more fluffy and separated. Either way, the cilantro lime flavor comes through beautifully.