Name: Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe (EASY)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 2 cups white basmati rice; 2 tablespoons butter; 2 teaspoons kosher salt (1 tsp regular table salt); 4 cups water; 1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped; juice and zest from 1 lime

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This Cilantro Lime Rice recipe is super easy to make at home and is perfect for homemade burrito bowls and so much more!

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When you get burrito bowls at restaurants with perfect Cilantro Lime Rice, do you ever wish you could make it at home just like that? You can! This Cilantro Lime Rice is fresh, fragrant, and incredibly flavorful. It’s one of those side dishes that makes the whole plate feel special, and your family will absolutely love it.

The secret to truly great cilantro lime rice is toasting the rice in butter before adding the water. That one extra step gives it a nutty depth of flavor that you just can’t get any other way. It also helps keep the rice fluffy rather than sticky (along with rinsing off the excess starch first) which is perfect for all the Mexican-inspired dishes you’ll want to serve this with. Trust me—once you make it this way, you won’t go back!

Why You’ll Love This Cilantro Lime Rice

It’s EASY. With just six simple ingredients and about 25ish minutes, you have a beautiful, restaurant-quality side dish on the table.
The flavor is bright and vibrant. The combination of fresh lime juice, lime zest, and cilantro makes every bite feel fresh and lively—not heavy or boring.
It pairs with almost everything. Whether you’re making tacos, grilled fish, or a protein bowl, cilantro lime rice makes the whole meal feel complete.
It’s a crowd-pleaser. Even picky eaters love this rice. It’s flavorful without being overwhelming, and it adds so much more to a plate than plain steamed rice ever could.
It’s naturally gluten-free. No swaps or substitutions needed—this recipe is gluten-free as written!

Recipe Ingredients

This recipe uses simple, wholesome ingredients you likely already have on hand. Here’s what you need!

2 tablespoons butter — Butter is how we toast the rice and build a rich base of flavor before any liquid is added. For extra nutrition, look for pasture-raised butter, which has a higher concentration of omega-3 fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K2.
2 teaspoons kosher salt — Salt brings all of the flavors together and seasons the rice from the inside out as it cooks. Use only 1 teaspoon if you’re using regular salt.
2 cups white basmati rice — Basmati is the ideal kind of rice here because its long grains stay light and fluffy rather than clumping together. It also has a naturally aromatic quality that complements the lime and cilantro beautifully. Plain white rice can be used if that’s all you have, but it won’t be as fluffy and if you use short grain rice it will definitely be more sticky.
4 cups water — The liquid the rice absorbs as it steams to perfectly tender perfection.
Juice and zest from 1 lime — This is where the magic happens! Fresh lime juice adds brightness and a gentle tartness, while the zest contains concentrated citrus oils that give the rice an incredibly fragrant, vibrant lime flavor. Limes are also a great source of vitamin C and antioxidants.
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped — Beyond its fresh, herbaceous flavor, cilantro contains antioxidants and has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also a good source of vitamins A, C, and K.

How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice

Step 1: Rinse the rice. Place your 2 cups of basmati rice in a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold running water, stirring it with your hand, until the water running through it is completely clear. This removes excess surface starch so your rice cooks up light and fluffy instead of sticky and gummy. Don’t skip this step—it makes a real difference!

Step 2: Toast the rice. Melt the 2 tablespoons of butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the 2 teaspoons of kosher salt and stir to combine. Add the rinsed rice and toast, stirring constantly, for about 2 minutes. You’ll start to smell a light, nutty aroma—that’s how you know it’s ready. This step builds incredible depth of flavor in the finished dish.

Step 3: Cook the rice. Pour in the 4 cups of water and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring once to make sure nothing is sticking to the bottom. Once it reaches a boil, reduce the heat to low, place the lid on the pot, and let it gently simmer for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, turn off the heat entirely—but keep that lid on! Let the rice steam, undisturbed, for at least 5 more minutes. Resist the urge to peek! That residual steam is what finishes cooking the rice perfectly.

Step 4: Add the lime and cilantro. Remove the lid and use a fork to gently fluff the rice—never a spoon, which can make it gummy. Gently fold in the fresh lime juice, lime zest, and chopped cilantro until everything is evenly distributed. Taste and adjust salt if needed. Serve immediately and enjoy!

What to Serve With Cilantro Lime Rice

This rice was born to be a side dish for your favorite Mexican-inspired and Latin-flavored dinners. Here are some Happy Healthy Mama recipes that pair perfectly with it.

Crockpot Chicken Tacos — Serve this cilantro lime rice alongside these slow cooker tacos for a complete Taco Tuesday spread everyone will love. It’s the perfect complement to the bold, saucy taco filling.
Chicken Fajita Bowls — Swap the plain rice base in these fajita bowls for cilantro lime rice and take them to the next level. The citrusy, herby flavor makes the whole bowl come alive.
Vegan Stuffed Peppers — These slow cooker stuffed peppers are bursting with Mexican-inspired flavors, and a scoop of cilantro lime rice on the side makes the meal even more satisfying and filling.
Pan Fried Salmon — Cilantro lime rice pairs beautifully with simply seasoned salmon for a fresh, balanced dinner that comes together in no time.
Air Fryer Tilapia —This is quick, easy, and tasty and will be perfect with the cilantro lime rice.
Fish Tacos — Serve this rice on the side of fish tacos for a fun and flavorful spread. The bright lime notes in the rice echo the fresh flavors of the fish perfectly.
Vegan Taco Salad — Adding rice to this taco salad will make it heartier.
Ground Turkey Taco Bowl — This easy bowl would pair perfectly with the flavors of the cilantro lime rice!

I have some new recipes coming that I’ll add here soon, too!

I hope this Cilantro Lime Rice becomes a staple in your dinner rotation! If you make it, or any of my other healthy recipes, please leave a star rating and comment below—it truly helps other readers know which recipes are worth trying. I’d love to connect with you on Instagram and Facebook too. Happy cooking!