This cilantro-lime rice is so quick and easy. You only need a few ingredients to make it and it cooks in the microwave in just a few minutes. It’s one of my favorite fast side dish recipes.

A few posts ago I mentioned I could live on Mexican food or, I should say, Mexican-inspired dishes because I’m pretty sure my burrito bowls aren’t “authentic”. Delicious? Yes. A cultural phenom dating back centuries? Um, no.

When you’re hungry and have everything you need for a rice bowl, waiting for 30 minutes (or longer) for the rice to cook is such a drag. When you’re really, really hungry you might end up just ordering pizza, something I’ve done many times.

So, when you make as many burrito/fajita/taco bowls as I do you start looking for shortcuts and this cilantro-lime rice is a shortcut I’ve been taking for a long time.

I didn’t think to share it until now mostly because it’s so simple it’s barely a recipe. But, when I mentioned it to a friend she felt strongly that I should share this hack. So, here we are.

How to Make Cilantro-Lime Rice in the Microwave

It starts with frozen brown rice. There are different brands and I tend to buy Birds Eye because I see it everywhere and each bag has two servings.

photo collage showing before and after the rice is cooked

Place it in a microwave-safe bowl along with chopped cilantro, lime juice, lime zest, and kosher salt. Give it a stir and cover it with plastic wrap.

Pop it in the microwave for about two and half to three minutes. When it’s done keep it covered for a minute or so and then uncover it and give it another stir.

That’s it. That’s the whole thing. It’s the easiest side dish ever – you can serve this cilantro-lime rice with all kinds of main dishes, but I use it mostly for my burrito bowl obsession. It’s just too easy.

Happy Microwaving,

More Recipes to Try