Yep, this cilantro lime brown rice tastes just like Chipotle’s! Chipotle’s burrito bowls are my go-to “fast food” meal when we’re in a hurry. Likewise, this homemade brown rice has become a kitchen staple. It’s so versatile. If you have this cilantro lime brown rice in the fridge, you can throw together a meal in a hurry. Add beans or cooked eggs, top with some salsa or guacamole, and you’ll have a burrito bowl in ten minutes. If you have leftover greens or vegetables, this is the perfect way to use them up.
This cilantro lime brown rice is also a great side dish that will round out your Mexican-themed meals or anything that comes off your grill this summer. It starts with a base of perfectly cooked brown rice, a healthy whole grain. I often stir in a can of well-rinsed black beans for some extra protein. I originally created this recipe for my cookbook, Love Real Food. If you haven’t tried those burrito bowls yet (page 142), you have been missing out on a delicious and quick weeknight meal. I’m sharing the recipe for the rice here, just in case!
Cilantro Lime Brown Rice Ingredients
I modeled this recipe off Chipotle’s ingredients for their cilantro lime rice. Chipotle says, “We simmer the whole-grain rice with bay leaves to add savory flavors, then season it with lemon and lime juices and toss it with cilantro for a slightly tart, fresh taste.” Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe:
Long-Grain Brown Rice
Long-grain brown rice is key. I love its slightly nutty flavor and the natural separation of the grains. I typically buy the Lundberg Farms brand (red bag).
Bay Leaf
We’ll cook the rice with a bay leaf, which infuses the rice with a subtle layer of savory flavor.
Fresh Cilantro
Chopped cilantro adds a burst of fresh flavor to this rice recipe. It’s not complete without it.
Lime Juice
You can’t make cilantro lime rice without lime! You’ll need the juice from about 1 medium lime for this recipe.
Lemon Juice
That’s right, there’s lemon juice in your cilantro-lime rice! Lemon brightens up the flavor and rounds out the lime. Chipotle uses a lime-and-lemon citrus juice blend for their recipes, but we’ll use a squeeze of fresh lemon juice instead.
Olive Oil
You’ve probably noticed a light sheen on Chipotle’s rice, and it’s because they’ve added oil. Stirring in a little oil adds richness and prevents the rice from clumping together. Chipotle uses canola, sunflower or rice bran oil, but I like to use minimally processed extra-virgin olive oil instead.
Watch How to Make Cilantro Brown Rice
Uses for Cilantro Lime Brown Rice
Cilantro lime rice goes great with your Mexican and Tex-Mex meals. Here are some serving ideas.
Make Burritos or Burrito Bowls
Serve this rice with any combination of the following:
Beans: Refried Beans or cooked beans Salsa: Pico de Gallo, Red Salsa or Salsa Verde Avocado: Guacamole or Avocado Sauce or fresh avocado slices Don’t miss the burrito bowls in my cookbook, Love Real Food (shown below).
Serve as a Side Dish
Cilantro lime rice is the perfect side dish. Here are some entrées that would go well:
Tacos: Epic Vegetarian Tacos or any of these fun options Enchiladas: Veggie Black Bean Enchiladas or Black Bean Sweet Potato Enchiladas or Roasted Veggie Enchilada Casserole More Mexican Classics: Quesadillas, Huevos Rancheros and more
Please let me know how your rice turns out in the comments. I’m always so eager to hear from you.
Change it up: For some extra protein, stir one can of well-rinsed black beans (or 1 ½ cups cooked black beans) into the rice after cooking.
