Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Brown Rice

Prepare cilantro lime brown rice effortlessly in the Instant Pot! This dish is vibrant, bursting with flavor, and serves as an ideal side dish. Prepped in just minutes, it allows for a hands-off approach to making cilantro lime rice. With easy-to-find ingredients, this recipe the whole family will love.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Tastes just like the cilantro lime brown rice from Chipotle!
• It is a great side dish for Taco Tuesday.
• Gluten Free and Low FODMAP Recipe

Featured Ingredients

• Brown Rice - Whole-grain or brown basmati rice are good options. Minute brown rice isn’t a good option. It cannot be parboiled, or it will turn to mush. 
• Chicken Broth - This provides the rice with the additional flavor it needs. Rice is a blank canvas, and cooking it in chicken broth adds great flavor depth. 
• Kosher Salt - I love this salt. It adds an excellent salty flavor without going too far over. 
• Butter- I love salted butter. I know some folks like to use unsalted, but in my fridge, it is salted for now. 
• Fresh Cilantro - Chop the stems and the leaves into a fine dice. 
• Lime Juice - Adds a beautiful bright flavor to the rice. 

See the recipe card for the exact measurements and complete instructions.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: Grab a 6-quart Instant Pot. Spray the liner with nonstick cooking spray or softened butter for easy clean-up. Add the chicken broth, brown rice, and salt. Stir.

Do not do this meal prep step in advance. The rice will absorb the liquid and become mush. 

Step 2: Make sure the sealing ring is firmly in place, then put the cover on. Set it to sealing. Cook on high pressure for 22 minutes. Allow the pressure to do a natural release. Once the pin drops, open the cover.

Step 3: Add the butter and squeeze in the lime juice.

Step 4: Chop up the fresh cilantro and add. Stir.

Enjoy immediately. 

Ingredient Swaps

• Vegetable Broth - Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth or the same amount of water. 
• Citrus - Use half of a lime and half a lemon juice for citrus flavor. 
• Lime Zest- To increase the lime flavor, Include the zest of a lime. Only zest the bright green part; the white is bitter. A microplane is the perfect tool for this job!

Variations

Would you rather use white rice? Make Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice. The cooking times are different for brown rice versus white rice. 

Dairy Free Cilantro Lime Rice: Swap the butter out and use olive oil or avocado oil in its place.

Vegetarian Cilantro Lime Brown Rice: Swap the chicken broth for vegetable broth. 

Storing And Reheating

Store: Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. 

Reheat: Place the leftovers on a microwave-safe plate, place an ice cube in the middle, and cover. Heat for 1-2 minutes. Remove the ice cube and stir. 

Freeze: Any leftovers can be placed in a freezer-friendly container or freezer bag and kept in the freezer for up to four months. Defrost and reheat with the instructions above. Add a bit of fresh lime juice and cilantro to bring back the fresh taste. 

FAQs

What To Serve With Cilantro Lime Brown Rice

Cilantro rice is the perfect, inexpensive side dish for Taco Tuesday. It offers a healthy, whole grain option that makes it easy to feed everyone. Pair this flavorful rice with black beans or refried beans for an additional protein-packed option for a simple dinner.

This brown rice is a great base option for buffalo chicken rice bowls. It is also a great side dish for tacos, fajitas, tortilla soup, slow cooker chicken enchilada casserole, and so much more. 

Additional Rice Recipes

• Instant Pot Lemon Rice - Perfect side dish for Greek-inspired meals.
• Low FODMAP Risotto - A creamy rice dish with parmesan cheese.
• Instant Pot Wild Rice Blend - This is a nutty, chewy rice side dish.