Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice recipe is ready in less than 20 minutes with no effort from you. The fresh cilantro and lime flavors make for a great side dish, ingredient for Mexican or bowl recipes. Conventional recipe included.
Much like Quick Pickled Red Onion recipe, today's Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice recipe is an easy staple to have in your recipe repertoire.
I make a batch of this Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice recipe almost weekly. It’s perfect for use as:
- a side dish for Mexican-themed dinners
- ingredient for tacos or burritos
- a base for bowls
- to serve with Asian-inspired grilled foods
The possibilities are limitless and it's fast and easy!
Don’t have an Instant Pot? Check ‘More Rice Recipes You’ll Love‘ at the end of the blog post for a conventional (non Instant Pot) Cilantro Lime Rice recipe!
Jump to:
The base recipe is a perfect way to cook white rice in the Instant Pot Instant Pot. You can stop there and be good!
The Best Way to make Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
After loads of experimenting this recipe is my favorite for the end flavor.
I've tried adding the lime zest or juice to the liquid in cooking. Combining chicken stock with water.
I've played with the times and always come back to this method: cooking the white rice and stirring in the lime and cilantro after it's cooked makes the best tasting Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice recipe.
It leaves the rice perfectly cooked and the flavors of the cilantro and lime fresh and true.
This Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice recipe is so easy it’s almost embarrassing to call it a ‘recipe’!
STEP 1. Rinse the rice
The long grain white rice is rinsed until the water runs clear (do not soak it).
STEP 2. Cook
Combine the rinsed rice and water in the Instant Pot.
Cook for 3 minutes on high pressure; slow release for 10 minutes and perform a manual release to release any remaining pressure.
STEP 3. Fluff
Fluff the rice with the tool that came with the instant pot. Add the zest of one lime and the cilantro (can do it right in the Instant Pot).
Expert tip
If desired add lime juice for a tangier lime flavor and drizzle a bit of vegetable oil into the rice for a ricer flavor. That’s it!
Lime Zest vs. Lime Juice: Which Has the Best Lime Flavor
As much as I love the tangy flavor of lime juice in a fresh-style margarita or Instant Pot Lime Cheesecake, it's the lime flavor from the zest I feel gives this rice a wonderful flavor.
The oils in the lime skin impart a fragrant flavor of lime that is more about the essence than the tang. Does that make sense?
It doesn't fight with other flavors by being too tart but definitely brings forward the lime ingredient.
Having said all of that, adding the flavors at the end of the recipe leaves you in the flavor driver's seat.
If you love that tangy lime flavor, stir in some freshly squeezed lime juice to make the taste what you love best (included in recipe).
The rice is light and fluffy but if you want a richer flavor, stirring in a few teaspoons of your favorite neutral flavored vegetable oil will provide that (also in the recipe as an option).
A Note About Cooking Rice in the Instant Pot
I love cooking rice in the Instant Pot for the end result, the time and not having to pay attention to it. However there are some things to know.
- Different types of rice require different time to cook AND the ratio of rice to water is different!
- Brown rice could not just be swapped into this recipe or even a Basmati white rice, without changing the time and/or ratio of water to rice.
- What I love about long grain white rice or Jasmine rice is the ratio of water to rice is always 1 to 1. So, no matter how much you are making it's easy to know how much water to use.
Supplies Needed to make Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
- Strainer or fine mesh Colander for rinsing the rice
- 6 quart Instant Pot
- Zester NOTE: this is my all time favorite zester. It has a cover to shield the zesting surface when stored, a measuring cover on the back to measure the amount of zest if needed (or can be removed to zest directing into the rice as I did for this recipe), non-stick surface for easy zesting and it does not zest into the pith. It’s one of my all time favorite kitchen tools! I’ve given several as gifts too!
- Large Knife
- Cutting Board
- Rice Paddle (one comes with the Instant Pot but it’s perfect for fluffing rice; see photos)
Mind-Blowing Instant Pot Tips You Need to Know!
After developing Instant Pot recipes for the past few years, I’ve uncovered some unexpected, useful tips I think you’ll want to know!
Sign-Up below and I’ll tell you all my Instant Pot secrets!
More Rice Recipes You’ll Love:
Recipe
Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups Long Grain White Rice rinsed until water runs clear
- 2 cups Water
- Zest of 1 Lime
- 1/3 cup fresh chopped Cilantro
- 2 teaspoons freshly squeeze Lime Juice optional
- 1-2 teaspoons Vegetable Oil optional
Instructions
- Place the rinsed rice in the Instant Pot insert. Pour in the water.
- Seal the lid, move the pressure vent to SEALING, set the Instant Pot to MANUAL, HIGH PRESSURE and using the '+/-' buttons set 3 minutes cooking time.
- When the cooking time is complete, allow a SLOW REALEASE for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes release the remaining pressure. Fluff the rice with the plastic rice paddle that came with the Instant Pot (or a spatula).
- Stir in the lime zest and chopped cilantro. Taste; add lime juice and/or oil as desired. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published: April 26, 2018
Emily Hill says
I love cilantro rice and I love my Instant Pot. I need to make this!
Kirstin says
Can this recipe be doubled in the instant pot?
Toni Dash says
Hi Kirstin. I have only made the recipe as written however did some research about your question. You should be able to double the recipe if you keep the rice and water ratios the same (1:1) and the cooking time the same as noted in the recipe (do not increase or decrease it). If you double it in this way please let me know how it turns out!
Heather Spencer says
Thank you for this recipe. I was surprised at the 1:1 ratio, but it was right on.. I was also skeptical of the short pressure cooking time but the rice was well cooked. Next time I will add a tsp. Of salt or change the water for chix broth. I did add 2 Tbs. lime juice and a bit of olive oil for some more depth. That said, I was eating the rice as the main star, as opposed to a side dish.
Toni Dash says
I’m so glad the recipe sounds to have served you well Heather!
Heather says
This is a serious upgrade to our fiesta menus. The lime sounds like it makes the recipe so fresh. Can’t wait to try it.
Cathy @ Lemon Tree Dwelling says
Cilantro Lime Rice is the BEST! And perfect for Cinco de Mayo!!!
Sandra | A Dash of Sanity says
I need to try this! Thanks so much for all your tips!
Ashlyn says
I am in love with my Instant Pot and need to try this rice! It goes with so many meals!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
Looks delicious and so easy to make! !
Nancy at Whispered Inspirations says
This looks really delicious. I am going to have to give it a try as soon as possible.
Sherry says
I haven’t tried making rice in my Instant Pot yet. I am loving the fresh lime zest. Can’t wait to try it.