Easy Cilantro Lime Rice {Instant Pot Recipe}

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This easy cilantro lime rice recipe is made in the Instant Pot! Not only is this a foolproof method for cooking rice every single time, but it’s mostly hands off too! A perfect summer or Cinco de Mayo side dish with bright and cheery colors and flavor. You’re going to want to add this to your next Taco Tuesday menu!

Updated April 10, 2021

A dish full of cilantro lime rice on a brown paper covered table. Garnished with a lime wedge.

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Everyone loves cilantro lime rice! Well, almost everyone. I’m sure you’ve heard about the very unfortunate portion of the population who seem to think it tastes like soap! For the rest of us, cilantro is an awesome and vibrant addition to so many dishes. From tacos, to soups (Like my Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili), and even to rice dishes such as this one. Cilantro is a way to add some fun flavor to just about anything!

Keeping Cilantro Fresh

In the spring/summer, I grow cilantro in my garden. I’ve learned to plant it in a mostly shaded area, which prevents it from going to seed too quickly! I love brushing by my cilantro plants and rubbing them to release their delicious scent. I can just smell it now! It’s so wonderful being able to grab a bunch of cilantro to add to a dish when needed, but I mostly buy mine at the store since I live in a temperate climate with LOTS of snow every year!

If you, like me, buy most of your cilantro at the store, I have this awesome tip for keeping it fresh for 3 weeks and beyond! I love having cilantro on hand because it adds such a bright, awesome flavor to so many dishes!

A bunch of cilantro on a white table. The text reads: How to Keep Cilantro Fresh

What’s an Easy Way to Make Cilantro Lime Rice?

The Instant Pot of course! The absolute easiest way to make rice of any sort is by using an Instant pot. This is because it is a hands off method that delivers consistent results every time.

To make Easy Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice:

Add the rice, water, butter, and salt to the inner pot of a 6qt Instant Pot (this one is my preferred model)
Place the lid on the pot and set the valve to “sealing”.
Cook on manual pressure for 4 minutes.
Once the pot beeps that it’s done, let the Instant Pot do a natural pressure release for 12 minutes.
When the 12 minutes are up, flip the valve to “venting” for a manual pressure release. Once the pin drops, open the pot.
Fluff the rice with a fork and add in the lime zest and lime juice. Toss well to combine. Add the cilantro and fold in gently.

Yup! That’s it! Easy Cilantro Lime Rice…made in the Instant Pot!

An overhead view of cilantro lime rice in a dish on top of a paper covered table. A small bowl of limes to the right.

What Do I Need to Make Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice?

Equipment Needed:

An Instant Pot: I have both the 6qt and the 8qt Instant Pot. I prefer my 8qt (this is the model I love) because it has a yogurt button and lots of room for soups and bone broth. This particular recipe works great with the 6qt models as well.

Ingredients Needed for Cilantro Lime Rice

Long Grain White Rice: I find this cooks really consistently in the instant pot, and is widely available. White rice is great for the classic Cilantro Lime Rice taste, but I plan on experimenting with brown rice in the future too!
Butter: I only cook my rice with butter! It’s not called for in most rice recipes, but I add it to all of mine. I mean, everything is better with butter, right?
Salt: Since this is a simple dish with no canned or processed ingredients added, you definitely need that salt!
Fresh Lime: I’m all about getting away with bottled lime juice if you can, but this recipe calls for both the lime zest and the lime juice, so fresh is what is recommended here!
Fresh Cilantro: Just a little bit of chopped fresh cilantro goes a long way in this recipe. There is just nothing like fresh cilantro.

What Goes with Cilantro Lime Rice?

Tacos
Fajitas (Try my Skillet Chicken Fajitas!)
Burritos
Burrito Casserole (We LOVE this recipe from Written Reality)
Tostadas
Enchiladas
Nachos
White Chicken Chili (check out my Crock Pot version)

Two frames. The top frame is a shot of cilantro lime rice with a lime wedge on top. The bottom is an overhead shot of the same thing. The text reads: Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories are in Cilantro Lime Rice?

According to my calculations, it would be about 77 calories per serving. This is based off the nutritional information for one fourth of the total yield, which would be about a 1/2 cup serving size. Keep in mind that this is an estimate only.

Can you freeze cilantro lime rice?

Yes! To freeze the prepared rice, first ensure that your rice is completely cooled. Once cooled, you can add the rice to quart or gallon sized freezer bag. Remove any excess air and seal the bag. Lay the bag flat in your freezer and allow it to freeze completely.

How do you reheat frozen rice?

You can reheat frozen rice by thawing the rice in the refrigerator and microwaving for about 5 minutes on high. You can reheat frozen rice on a stove top by adding the thawed rice to a heavy bottomed saucepan and adding a few tablespoons of water. Place the lid on the saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring often until the rice is warmed through.

Can I substitute dried cilantro for fresh cilantro?

Some dishes, like soups, work well with dried cilantro, but many do not. Dried cilantro does not maintain the same level of flavor as fresh does, making it important to use fresh cilantro in the majority of dishes that call for cilantro. If cilantro is the central element of the dish, it is always best to use fresh cilantro.

My answer would be a solid “no” for this particular dish.