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!
More Chipotle Copycat Recipes
Slow-Cooker Barbacoa
My husband adores this barbacoa, which is beef roast simmered in lime juice, chipotle and cumin. He would eat it one a week if I would make it that often! We have it over rice with cilantro and a spritz of lime. —Aundrea McCormick, Denver, Colorado
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LAUREN HABERMEHL FOR TASTE HOME
Chipotle chicken is tender, juicy and perfectly seasoned to complement all the burrito fixings in those gigantic
flour tortillas. Making this copycat Chipotle chicken recipe at home couldn't be easier; the key is marinating your chicken overnight in a spicy, smoky blend of herbs, spices and aromatics.
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Chipotle Queso Blanco CopycatOoey-gooey cheesy queso is great in bowls, burritos—even straight out of the cup! This copycat recipe tastes just like Chipotle's queso blanco, but if you want your queso to look more similar, use shredded white cheddar instead of yellow.
Editor's Tip: The famous
Chipotle queso blanco is especially popular and personally, keeps us coming back for more. It’s creamy, cheesy,
and perfectly spicy. The only downside? It will set you back a few bucks to add queso to your order.
Chipotle Guacamole CopycatChipotle's guacamole is legendary—and for good reason. The secret? Its freshness! Though many dips tend to improve the longer they sit, guacamole tastes best shortly after it's made, so the flavor of fresh avocado shines through the rest of the ingredients. Eating it right away also
keeps guacamole from browning.
Chipotle Tomatillo-Green Chili Salsa CopycatTomatillos may look like
green tomatoes, but they're not the same thing. Instead, tomatillos are small, round and firm with a dense interior. When raw, tomatillos have a bright, extremely tart flavor that's somewhat reminiscent of limes. When roasted, tomatillos lose that acidic edge and become a little sweeter. They're the perfect addition to salsa.
Chipotle Rice CopycatHave you ever dreamed of going to Chipotle and eating nothing but a big, heaping bowl of fluffy cilantro-lime rice? Well, you can make that dream come true in your very own home with this simple five-ingredient recipe.
LAUREN HABERMEHL FOR TASTE OF HOME
If possible, try to find fresh or frozen sweet white corn for the most authentic Chipotle corn salsa. It's what the restaurant uses in its recipe. However, if all you can find is yellow corn, this salsa will still be spectacularly delicious.
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Chipotle Fresh Tomato Salsa CopycatYou only need five ingredients (plus salt and pepper) to make this vibrant salsa, which livens up just about everything it's paired with. Although this fresh tomato salsa is delicious the day it's made, it gets even better the longer it sits—double the recipe so you can snack on salsa and veggies or chips all week.
Chipotle Tomatillo-Red Chili Salsa CopycatThis recipe isn't an
exact replica of Chipotle's fiery red salsa, but it's a great "close enough" option if you don't have access to fresh tomatillos. If you like your salsa extra spicy, don't hold back when adding the
hot sauce!
Chipotle Carnitas CopycatCarnitas is arguably one of the most popular meats at Chipotle. Though there's no shortage of winning options on the menu, it was the irresistible slow-roasted spiced pork that put Chipotle on the map when it opened its first location in Denver, Colorado, in 1993.
Chipotle Steak Tacos CopycatFire up the grill to make these Chipotle-inspired flank steak tacos, topped with a simple fresh salsa made explosive with fresh lime juice. For even more delicious acidity, serve these tacos with
pickled red onions.
Chipotle Chicken Tacos Copycat with Avocado SalsaAs good as these chicken tacos are, the real star of this copycat recipe is the easy-to-make avocado salsa, which you'll want to eat straight out of the bowl. Let your guests choose between crispy corn tortillas or soft flour tortillas, just like you would at Chipotle.
Chipotle Cheese Quesadillas CopycatIf you don't want to worry about ordering a quesadilla ahead of time for pickup at Chipotle, you can make quesadillas at home instead. This is a basic, easy
quesadilla recipe everyone should know how to make, and once you do, you can start experimenting with all sorts of additional fillings.
Chipotle Veggie Burrito CopycatPerfect for
meatless Mondays, no one will miss the meat when you dish up these satisfying burritos bursting with a fresh filling. Double the recipe, and you can eat the leftovers for Taco Tuesday! Include guacamole for an even closer copycat recipe.
Chipotle Steak Salad CopycatThis vibrant flank steak salad is easy and quick to prepare, tastes delicious and is a healthy dinner all on one plate. For a non-Chipotle-inspired take, toss this salad with
blue cheese dressing instead of the recommended vinaigrette, or maybe a drizzle of
homemade steak sauce. Learn how to make a copycat of
Chipotle vinaigrette.
