Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice is bursting with fresh lime zest and vibrant cilantro. This fluffy, flavorful rice is the perfect sidekick for all your favorite dishes. Quick, easy, healthy, and absolutely delicious.
Rice is one of my favorite things to make in the Instant Pot. It’s incredibly easy, quick, and always turns out perfectly. It’s the perfect side dish or a great base for many Mexican-inspired meals, whether it’s burrito bowls, taco bowls, or filling tacos and tostadas. It's also a great way to use up a bunch of cilantro!
If you're looking for other great rice dishes, try Arabic Rice With Vermicelli, Simple Instant Pot Yellow Rice, Vegan Instant Pot Jambalaya, Vegan Spanish Paella, and Vegan Sushi Bake.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: The Instant Pot eliminates guesswork when cooking rice, delivering perfect results every time with minimal effort.
- Bursting with Flavor: Infused with fresh cilantro and zesty lime, the fresh flavor of this rice is a nice change from regular white rice.
- Versatile Easy Side Dish: This pairs perfectly with tacos, burritos, stir-fries, or even as a base for a delicious grain bowl.
- Healthy and Light: Made with simple, wholesome ingredients, it’s a nutritious addition to any meal. I make it without oil, so it's healthy and lower-calorie.
- Kid-Friendly: Even picky eaters will love the bright, fresh flavors of this cilantro lime rice.
- Meal Prep Friendly: This simple recipe can be doubled to enjoy throughout the week. Store it covered so it doesn't dry out.
Recipe Ingredients
To make this amazing instant pot cilantro lime rice recipe, you'll need the following ingredients: See the recipe card for quantity details.
Ingredient Notes
- Rice: We use Calrose rice for this recipe. Calrose is a medium-grain rice known for its slightly sticky texture when cooked, which we love for everyday meals. To make it less sticky, rinse it really well. Feel free to use long-grain rice like Basmati or Jasmine - they tend to result in less sticky rice.
- Limes: I like to use Persian limes in this recipe mostly because they are seedless. Their milder, less acidic flavor complements the dish without overpowering it. However, if you prefer a more intense, tangy flavor, you can use Key limes, but use them sparingly to avoid making the dish too acidic.
How To Make Cilantro Lime Rice In The Instant Pot
This is an easy recipe with minimal ingredients but packs a lot of flavor. See the recipe card for details.
Remember to rinse the rice according to the directions on the package. Most rice bags recommend rinsing.
Step 1: Add rice, water, and salt to the Instant Pot. Cook on low pressure for 4 minutes, followed by a 10-minute natural release and a quick release by toggling the top button for any remaining pressure.
Step 2: Fluff the rice with a fork, then stir in lime zest, lime juice, and chopped cilantro. Serve the cilantro lime rice warm.
Recipe Tips
- Rinse the rice according to the package directions. The more you rinse, the less sticky it will be.
- Use fresh lime juice, not the bottled kind - it makes a big difference.
Meal Prep
Cook a larger batch and store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave with a splash of water to restore moisture.
Serving Suggestions
- Use this cilantro lime rice as a base for a burrito bowl, taco bowl, or tacos. Top with Easy Chipotle Aioli Sauce and/or Mango Cucumber Salsa, and you have a delicious meal.
- Add the rice to your favorite burrito wrap with beans, veggies, sauce, and veggie protein for a delicious and filling meal.
- Serve it as a perfect side dish with grilled vegetables, tofu, or your favorite plant-based protein.
- Mix the rice with beans and veggies, then stuff into bell peppers and bake until tender for a tasty and nutritious meal.
- Use the rice as a filling for lettuce wraps, along with beans, corn, and a tangy dressing like Vegan Jalapeno Sauce for a light and refreshing meal.
Storage and Reheating
Storage: Store any leftover rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 3 days. For longer storage, place the rice in a freezer-safe container or a resealable plastic bag. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Make sure to label and date the container for easy identification.
Reheating: Transfer the rice to a microwave-safe dish. Add a splash of water to prevent it from drying out. Cover loosely with a microwave-safe lid and heat on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the rice is heated through.
Additions and Variations
- Use lemon juice and zest instead of lime for a different citrus flavor.
- Cook the rice with veggie broth instead of water.
- This is an oil-free recipe, but you can add 2 teaspoons of olive oil to enhance the flavor and texture if desired.
Equipment
I use an Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus, which is no longer available. Rest assured, these directions work great with other Instant Pots, too. I have another brand of pressure cooker that also works great with these same directions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Adjust the cooking time and water ratio according to the type of brown rice you’re using. Brown rice requires more cooking time than white rice. We do 24 minutes and 1 ¼ cups of water to achieve our desired texture.
You can make cilantro lime rice on the stovetop. Cook the rice according to the package instructions, then mix in the cilantro, lime juice, and zest.
No, it would not result in the same flavor.
More Mexican-Inspired Vegan Recipes
What did you think?
Have a minute? I'd love for you to read the comments and rate this Cilantro Lime Rice Instant Pot recipe. Your feedback is invaluable—did you love it? Did you make any fun twists? Let me know how my directions worked so I can keep improving my recipes. For inspiration, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
PrintRecipe
Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
- Total Time: 19 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice is bursting with fresh lime zest and vibrant cilantro. This fluffy, flavorful rice is the perfect sidekick for all your favorite dishes. Quick, easy, and delicious.
Ingredients
- 2 cups white rice*
- 3 cups of water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup fresh chopped cilantro (softly packed; about 35-40 grams)
- juice of 3 Persian limes**
- zest of 1 lime
Instructions
- Rinse the Rice: Rinse the rice according to the package directions.*
- Prepare the Instant Pot: Add the rinsed rice, water, and salt to the Instant Pot.
- Cook the Rice: Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and set the valve to the sealing position. Select the “Pressure Cook” or “Manual” setting and cook on LOW pressure for 4 minutes. Once the cooking time is complete, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then carefully perform a quick release for any remaining pressure.
- Add Lime and Cilantro: Open the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Add the lime zest, lime juice, and chopped cilantro to the rice. Gently stir to combine and evenly distribute the flavors.
- Serve: Serve the cilantro lime rice warm for best flavor.
Equipment
6-quart Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus
Buy Now →Notes
*We use Calrose rice because we like its slightly sticky texture, but you can use long-grain white rice like Basmati or Jasmine if you prefer—they tend to be fluffy and separate more than medium grains. I suggest rinsing the rice according to the package directions since rinsing removes excess starch, dirt, and impurities, resulting in noticeably fluffier, cleaner, and better-tasting cooked rice.
For extra flavor, you can cook the rice in vegetable broth instead of water.
**I use Persian limes in this recipe because they are seedless. They're also milder and have a less acidic flavor, complementing the dish without overpowering it. However, if you prefer a more intense, tangy taste, use Key limes, but use less to avoid making the dish too acidic—about 1 Key lime works well to give a delicious lime flavor.
If you want a more separate grain texture, preventing the rice from becoming too sticky or clumpy, add about 2 teaspoons of olive oil to step 2.
Two cups of uncooked rice generally will make between 5-6 cups of cooked rice perfect for leftovers or a larger family.
If you’ve researched how to cook white rice in a pressure cooker, you’ll notice varying rice-to-water ratios. For slightly sticky rice, I like to use a 1:1.5 ratio like in this recipe. If you prefer less sticky rice, a 1:1 or 1:1.25 ratio will work better. Let me know in the comments what you prefer.
Nutritional information is only an estimate.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Natural Pressure Release: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 minutes
- Category: side dish
- Method: pressure cooker
- Cuisine: American
Ceci says
This was super easy. I added extra juice when serving. Thanks for the recipe.
Regi Pearce says
It's very customizable. Glad it worked for you.