Here’s How to Make Chipotle Rice at Home

Learn how to make Chipotle rice, the chain's signature cilantro-lime rice. You'll never wait in line for takeout again!

We can’t get enough of Chipotle’s burritos. Whether we’re ordering our fixin’s wrapped in a tortilla, piled high in a bowl or served as a salad, there’s one thing we always order: the cilantro-lime rice. It tastes so good because it’s rich and flavorful, but unfortunately, it’s not as healthy as you’d think. (That’s not the only secret Chipotle employees won’t tell you.)

To make our copycat version better for you, we played around with the ingredients. In the end, we landed on a 5-ingredient recipe that’s definitely worthy of the original. Instead of adding butter, we’re using jasmine rice because of its naturally buttery flavor and aroma. It only took a couple more tweaks to make this dish exceptional!

How to Make Chipotle Rice at Home

A 4-ounce portion of Chipotle’s cilantro-lime rice clocks in at 210 calories, 4 grams of fat and 40 grams of carbs. Our recipe contains nearly half as many calories, no fat and 28 carbs without sacrificing any of the flavor.

Ingredients to make 3 cups of cooked rice:

  • 1 cup uncooked jasmine rice
  • 2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Step 1: Prepare the rice

There are two secrets to making our copycat cilantro-lime rice. The first is all about the type of liquid you use to cook the rice. Using homemade stock or reduced-sodium chicken broth adds a ton of flavor to the rice without amping up the salt content.

Prep the rice by placing both the rice and broth in a small saucepan and bringing it to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, covered, for 12-15 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.

Step 2: Allow it to rest

Jasmine rice is notorious for sticking to the bottom of the saucepan, so we let the rice sit for 5 to 10 minutes before stirring. It takes a bit of patience and self-control, but it’ll be worth it when you have soft, fluffy grains!

Step 3: Fluff it up

It’s time to add your seasonings. Add the remaining ingredients to the rice and fluff the mixture with a fork. The lime juice and fresh cilantro are obvious, but the pinch of ground nutmeg is our second secret ingredient. This warming spice will seep into the grains, adding a slightly spicy aroma while also bringing out the rich flavor of the rice and enhancing the bright lime and herbaceous cilantro flavors. Yum!

Now it’s time to use that rice to build your own burrito or rice bowl with our favorite Chipotle copycat recipes. I don’t know about you, but I can’t get enough of that barbacoa!

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Lindsay D. Mattison
Lindsay has been writing for digital publications for seven years and has 10 years of experience working as a professional chef. She became a full-time food writer at Taste of Home in 2023, although she’s been a regular contributor since 2017. Throughout her career, Lindsay has been a freelance writer and recipe developer for multiple publications, including Wide Open Media, Tasting Table, Mashed and SkinnyMs. Lindsay is an accomplished product tester and spent six years as a freelance product tester at Reviewed (part of the USA Today network). She has tested everything from cooking gadgets to knives, cookware sets, meat thermometers, pizza ovens and more than 60 grills (including charcoal, gas, kamado, smoker and pellet grills). Lindsay still cooks professionally for pop-up events, especially when she can highlight local, seasonal ingredients. As a writer, Lindsay loves sharing her skills and experience with home cooks. She aspires to motivate others to gain confidence in the kitchen. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her cooking with fresh produce from the farmers market or planning a trip to discover the best new restaurants.