Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
on May 14, 2019, Updated Apr 22, 2024
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Flavorful Cilantro Lime Rice made in the Instant Pot with loads of bright lime and cilantro flavor. Done in less than 30 minutes! This is the perfect side dish for all things dinner, as the base for rice bowls, and is great in tacos and enchiladas.
You really can’t beat the fresh and bright flavor combination of lime and cilantro. It’s a classic Tex-Mex favorite and a classic Bless This Mess favorite. In other words, my family enjoys this Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice on the reg, and we still can’t get enough.
This recipe is also a good one to scale up for parties (because who doesn’t love Burrito Bowls), or just have for Taco Tuesday. Yum.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: Using the Instant Pot speeds up the cooking process significantly. Once you add the ingredients to the pot, you can set it and forget it.
- Perfect Texture: The Instant Pot ensures that the rice cooks evenly and gives the rice the perfect texture—tender but not mushy. It is so much easier than stovetop rice!
- Flavorful Combination: The combination of cilantro and lime is a classic and it just goes with everything Tex-Mex.
Ingredients
- Oil
- Rice: I like long grain or Jasmine
- Minced Garlic
- Lime Zest: Don’t forget to zest the limes before you juice them!
- Chicken Broth: or substitute water and bullion
- Lime Juice: use the juice from the limes you zest (and definitely not bottled stuff if you can help it)
- Sugar
- Fresh Chopped Cilantro
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities
Popular Substitutions and Variations
- Brown Rice for White Rice: I love to use brown rice in this recipe. To make this using brown rice, just cook it for 15 minutes instead of 4, and let it come to natural pressure release for 20 minutes rather than 18. You’ll also want to bump up the water by a half-cup, adjust the seasoning, and add a pinch more sugar if you make it with brown rice.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice in the Instant Pot
Step #1. Brush the Instant Pot liner with oil, then add the rice, zest, garlic, and broth. Close the lid, set to Sealing, then cook for 4 minutes.
Step #3. Stir together the zest, sugar, and cilantro in a small bowl. Pour into the fluffed rice and stir gently to combine.
Step #2. Once the rice is done cooking, let the pressure release naturally for 18 minutes, then turn the valve to release the remaining pressure. Open the lid and fluff rice with a fork.
Step #4. Serve hot!
Once your rice is totally cooled, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can freeze it, but it may be a little dry when you thaw it out. Just sprinkle some water on it when you reheat it, if that’s the case, and store it frozen for up to 3 months.
You can reheat cilantro lime rice on the stovetop in a pan with oil over medium heat, stirring until heated through. This actually adds a nice crunch to some of the bits of rice that is a great texture! Or cover it with a paper towel in the microwave and blast it in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until heated through.
Expert Tips
- In a pinch, you can substitute dried cilantro for fresh cilantro in this recipe. Use 1/3 of the amount called for in the recipe and add it into the instant pot with the rice, broth, and garlic so it has time to rehydrate while the rice cooks.
- If you double (or more) this recipe to feed a crowd, make sure your Instant Pot is large enough to hold the finished amount of rice so that you don’t run into problem with the the Instant Pot not sealing, burning, or any of the other issues that arise from it being too full!
- Also, if you are doubling the recipe, be aware that it will take longer to come to pressure and cook so give yourself plenty of time for the rice to be ready, especially if you’re feeding a hungry crowd!
What goes with cilantro lime rice?
Let your imagination run wild! Cilantro lime rice is a light and bright side (or stuffing) for tons of meals, like fajitas, enchiladas, burritos, tacos, or any other dish with Mexican flavors. Try it with One Pan Chicken Enchilada Casserole or Easy Chicken Enchiladas. You could also use as the base for a Tex-Mex stir fry!
More Rice Recipes to Consider
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Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 2 cup uncooked rice, I like long grain or Jasmine.
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 to 2 teaspoon lime zest, I do at least 2 and sometimes a little more… I love zest.
- 2 cups chicken broth, or water + bullion
- 4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Add the oil to the bowl of your Instant Pot. Use a small pastry brush to brush the oil all over the bottom of the pot. This will keep the rice from sticking.
- Add the rice, garlic, lime zest, and chicken broth to the Instant Pot.
- Put on the lid, set the valve to sealing, and select Pressure Cook with a 4-minute cook time.
- Allow the pressure cooker to come to pressure, start the cook time, and after the 4 minute cook time, let it stay at pressure (natural pressure release) for 18 minutes.
- After 18 minutes, release the pressure. Carefully remove the lid when the pressure and valve have dropped.
- In a small bowl, combine the lime juice, sugar, and cilantro.
- When the rice is done, fluff it with a fork, and then pour the lime juice mixture over hot cooked rice.
- Stir to combine, and serve hot.
Notes
- This is an easy recipe to scale up if you need to.
- I use brown rice for this recipe often and love it. Cook it for 15 minutes instead of 4, and let it come to natural pressure release for 20 minutes instead of 18. I also bump up the water by 1/2 cup and adjust my seasonings. I normally need a little more sugar with the brown rice, too.
- Pay attention to the size of your Instant Pot before doubling or tripling this recipe so you don’t run into any problems!
- Don’t forget that the more you put in your Instant Pot, the longer it will take to come to pressure and cook – be sure to give yourself enough time.
