I love adding different flavors to rice to liven it up. I’ve tried several combinations, and most have worked well. One of our favorites, however, is Cilantro-Lime Rice, which is really easy and quick to whip up in our Instant Pot!

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We first came across this dish at our favorite Mexican restaurant, and I tried a few different ways of making it at home. Making rice on the stove top requires quite a bit of babysitting…and just being honest, I tend to do far too many things at once to watch rice cook.

It turns out pretty well when I bake it, but I rarely want to wait an hour for it to be done. I’ve got hungry guys to feed!

In the Instant Pot though…oh, good golly. It’s easy, it’s fast, and it comes out great every time. This wonder of a pressure cooker also intensifies the flavor, which makes this rice truly a thing to behold!

If you haven’t gotten an Instant Pot yet, here are some to check out. They come in different sizes and with different functions, so you can find exactly the one that will best fit your family! (There are also some really great deals on them this time of year!)

Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and Warmer Instant Pot DUO Plus 60, 6 Qt 9-in-1 Multi- Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Egg Cooker, Sauté, Steamer, Warmer, and Sterilizer Instant Pot DUO Plus 8 Qt 9-in-1 Multi- Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Egg Cooker, Sauté, Steamer, Warmer, and Sterilizer

Instant Pot Cilantro-Lime Rice

This recipe really couldn’t be easier! I like to rinse the rice first to remove any residual starch, but it’s an optional step. Just put the rice in a colander or sieve and give it a quick rinse. It just takes a minute or so though, and I’ve found it makes a difference!

Ingredients:

2 cups rice
2 cups water
1 Tbs butter or olive oil
1 Tbs fresh lime juice
2 tsp lime zest (optional, but worth it)
3 Tbs fresh cilantro, chopped (can substitute 1 Tbs dried cilantro)
Salt and black pepper, to taste

Directions:

After rinsing the rice, put it in your Instant Pot and cover it with an equal amount of water. (I like to use 2 cups rice and 2 cups water, as I’ve found it tends to work best.) Add the butter OR olive oil (not both), lime juice and zest, and cilantro. Stir to combine.

Put the cover on, lock it in place, and set the vent to “seal.” Program your Instant Pot to Manual (or Pressure Cook) for 5 minutes. Once it beeps to let you know that the cooking time is done, allow it to Natural Pressure Release (NPR) for 1o minutes. The display should say “L 00:10”.

Using the small plastic spoon that came with your Instant Pot (you can also use a wooden spoon or something similar), turn the vent to allow steam to escape. (Please keep your face and hands away from the vent!)

Once the steam has escaped and pressure is released, the lid will unlock. Turn and remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork or wooden spoon. Give it a quick taste and add salt and pepper according to your family’s preference.

You can serve Instant Pot Cilantro-Lime Rice with just about anything you like! Use it as an easy side for taco night, enchiladas, burritos, tamales, etc. It also goes well with Indian dishes like curry, Butter Chicken, or Tikka Masala!

You can also make fantastic burrito bowls with this yummy rice – just pile on whatever you like. You can even set up a DIY burrito bowl bar and let your family and friends make their own!

Be sure to print this recipe so you’ll have it handy, and feel free to pin it so it’s easy to find. I hope you love it as much as we do!

Instant Pot Cilantro-Lime Rice

Name: Instant Pot Cilantro-Lime Rice
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 2 cups rice; 2 cups water; 1 Tbs butter or olive oil; 1 Tbs fresh lime juice; 2 tsp lime zest (optional, but worth it); 3 Tbs fresh cilantro, chopped (can substitute 1 Tbs dried cilantro); Salt and black pepper, to taste

Yield: 4-6 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

2 cups rice
2 cups water
1 Tbs butter or olive oil
1 Tbs fresh lime juice
2 tsp lime zest (optional, but worth it)
3 Tbs fresh cilantro, chopped (can substitute 1 Tbs dried cilantro)
Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

After rinsing the rice, put it in your Instant Pot and cover it with an equal amount of water. (I like to use 2 cups rice and 2 cups water, as I've found it tends to work best.) Add the butter OR olive oil (not both), lime juice and zest, and cilantro. Stir to combine.
Put the cover on, lock it in place, and set the vent to "seal." Program your Instant Pot to Manual (or Pressure Cook) for 5 minutes. Once it beeps to let you know that the cooking time is done, allow it to Natural Pressure Release (NPR) for 1o minutes. The display should say "L 00:10".
Using the small plastic spoon that came with your Instant Pot (you can also use a wooden spoon or something similar), turn the vent to allow steam to escape. (Please keep your face and hands away from the vent!)
Once the steam has escaped and pressure is released, the lid will unlock. Turn and remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork or wooden spoon. Give it a quick taste and add salt and pepper according to your family's preference.