Healthy Cilantro Lime Brown Rice

This copycat Chipotle Cilantro Brown Rice Recipe is a quick and healthy side dish that can be made in less than 45 minutes! Make this cilantro lime brown rice and add it to your favorite bowl, tacos and burritos, or serve it on the side of your favorite Mexican dishes!

a serving of cilantro lime brown rice in white plate

When I am in need of a quick and easy side dish for a weeknight meal this cilantro and lime brown rice is always my go-to. It’s healthy, fresh, fast, and made with ingredients I always have in the pantry. I add fresh squeezed lime juice, lime zest and fresh cilantro to give this rice tons of flavor. This easy rice recipe is made without butter or oil making it a light and healthy side dish.

Why I love this brown rice with cilantro and lime:

  • Easy! Prep just takes 5 minutes, and you probably already have most of the ingredients on hand in your pantry.
  • Healthy! There’s no butter or oil in this recipe.
  • Tasty! This isn’t your average rice side dish! It’s loaded with flavor from garlic, cilantro, lime zest and fresh squeeze lime juice!
  • Kid-Friendly! Kids may even prefer this flavorful rice to the usual plain white rice. Healthy win!

fluffing cooked brown rice

How do I make this healthy cilantro lime brown rice?

It’s so easy – just 2 steps!

Boil the rice: Add rice, water or chicken broth and lime zest to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook for 30-35 minutes or until the water is fully absorbed and the rice is tender.

simmering rice with chicken broth and lime zest

  1. Stir in herbs and seasonings: Take off of the heat and stir in the lime juice, cilantro and garlic powder. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.

adding lime juice and fresh chopped cilantro to cooked rice

Do I have to use brown rice?

No! You can use white rice, jasmine rice or instant rice for this healthy side dish! It’s totally preference! Just make sure to remember that white rice or jasmine rice will take about 15-20 minutes and instant rice should take about 10 minutes.

Tips

  • Cook the rice in stock instead of water. Chicken or vegetable stock works really well in this recipe!
  • Other herbs to try: Cilantro is my favorite for this recipe, but fresh basil, parsley or oregano would also be delicious! If you like a bit of heat, try dicing a chili pepper or adding crushed red pepper flakes!

What do I serve this Cilantro Lime Brown Rice recipe with?

There are plenty of options – any of your Mexican favorites will work! My go-to’s are grilled salmon or grilled chicken.

Copycat Chipotle burrito bowl: This is a great option for meal prep! Here is how I would make a super tasty burrito bowl:

burrito bowls with cilantro lime dressing, black beans, chicken, lettuce and salsa

Other fantastic recipes to make a healthy burrito bowl:

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Healthy Cilantro Lime Brown Rice

5 from 2 votes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4

A quick and healthy side dish that can be made in less than 45 minutes!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups uncooked long grain brown rice
  • 4 cups water or low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 lime, zested and juiced
  • 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
  • 2 tsp garlic powder or 1 tsp of fresh garlic, minced
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Images:
  • Add rice, water or chicken broth and lime zest to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat to low and cook for 30-35 minutes or until the water is fully absorbed and the rice is tender.
  • Take off of the heat and stir in the lime juice, cilantro and garlic powder. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts
Healthy Cilantro Lime Brown Rice
Amount Per Serving
Calories 353 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 20mg1%
Potassium 252mg7%
Carbohydrates 74g25%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 8g16%
Vitamin A 135IU3%
Vitamin C 5mg6%
Calcium 34mg3%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Cilantro lime brown rice, Easy side dish, Healthy

 

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Comments

  • Lesli

    So easy – so delicious – the perfect accompaniment to grilled chicken and asparagus on the back porch yesterday evening.

  • Hi, Kelley, your recipe is amazing i am surely gonna try it for my children. thanks for sharing

  • Maggie

    I would just like to know in what world the total time for this recipe would equal 15 minutes when you are cooking the rice for at least 35. My fault for not reading through it all the way, but the summary at the top should accurately reflect the amount of time this dish will take from start to finish.

    • Hi Maggie,

      Sorry about the confusion! This recipe was originally made with instant boil in a bag rice that is where the 15 minutes came from. When we updated the recipe we chose to not use instant rice and forgot to change the time in the heading. Thanks so much for pointing it out to me I just went ahead and corrected it.

      Kelley

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