This Pineapple Lime Rice Recipe is a flavor bomb of sweet pineapple, zesty lime juice, and fresh cilantro! You can whip it up in the Instant Pot or on the stovetop-either way, it's a total crowd-pleaser. Perfect for your next Hawaiian, tropical, or Latin-inspired feast!
If you love this versatile grain as much as we do, check out our variety of rice recipes for you to enjoy all year long!
If you haven't made this pineapple rice recipe yet, it is a must-try! It's a family favorite, just like our coconut rice and orange cranberry rice.
It's not a Thai pineapple fried rice recipe (with the typical bell peppers, green onions, and curry powder). Instead it's a tropical-inspired rice dish with tons of fresh flavor that's much simpler than fried rice. Plus it is:
- Flavorful and moist! The juicy pineapple chunks and tangy lime make the perfect sweet and savory flavor.
- Make it in the Instant Pot or on the stove top.
- Easy recipe for busy weeknights or last minute menu plan.
- Freeze leftover rice for next time (instructions below).
The flavor profile for this rice was inspired by Our Best Bites pineapple lime rice. We added extra layers of flavor and started with raw rice to allow the flavors to infuse. For more side dish ideas, check out our side dish recipes.
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Pineapple lime rice ingredients
- Butter: Because butter makes rice more delicious!
- Onion: Finely diced yellow, white or sweet onion.
- Garlic: Jarred minced garlic is easiest, but you can also mince fresh garlic.
- White rice: Long-grain rice is best because it has less starch, which means no clumpy rice. Jasmine or basmati are good choices. Brown rice or instant rice will not work.
- Pineapple: This is a great way to use fresh pineapple because it adds the best sweet flavor, but you can also use canned chunks (cut into quarters) or crushed pineapple.
- Pineapple juice: Canned pineapple juice is fine.
- Water: The amount of water depends on the cooking method you use. Read the recipe card for details.
- Lime: Fresh lime zest and juice. Try this microplane (affiliate) for easy zesting.
- Cilantro: Fresh cilantro is a must for extra flavor.
How to make pineapple rice
You can make this recipe for pineapple rice in the Instant Pot (affiliate) or in a medium pot on the stove. Either way it comes out tender, moist, and fluffy.
Start by cutting the pineapple into small pieces, about ¼ inch. If using canned, drain the juice and reserve it for later. If using crushed pineapple, skip this step.
Melt the butter in a pan over medium-high heat and saute the garlic and onions for 3-5 minutes. Toss in the rice and stir well, allowing it to toast for 1-2 minutes and coating each grain in butter.
While the rice is toasting, heat 1 cup of pineapple juice and 2 cups of water in the microwave for 2-4 minutes.
Add the hot liquid, lime zest, and pineapple to the pan and cover immediately to trap the heat. Cook for 20 minutes on low heat (it should be softly simmering), but don't peak!
Once finished, remove the lid and add the cilantro and fresh lime juice on top.
Fluff it with a fork until it is mixed evenly.
Hint: Use a microplane to remove the zest before using the juicer to get out the juice.
How to serve
This rice pairs well with tropical as well as latin flavors. Here are a few suggestions.
Can I freeze and reheat pineapple rice?
We've written a detailed post on how to freeze rice and a different one for how to reheat rice. Make the rice according to the directions, then fluff it out onto a baking sheet to cool thoroughly. This prevents it from sticking and becoming one big clump of rice.
Once cool, freeze in a storage container or disposable pan. Reheat by baking it covered at 300°F for 30 minutes straight from frozen or, if you have allowed it to partially thaw, at 300°F for 20 minutes. Fluff again and add fresh lime and cilantro for flavor.
FAQ
Yes! Although I usually use fresh pineapple, canned does just as well. Use either crushed, tidbits, or chunks (cut each chunk into quarters before using). Make sure to drain the juice first and reserve it for later in the recipe.
Any long-grain rice including jasmine rice or basmati rice are good options. Do not use instant rice or short-grain rice varieties.
Tips and tricks
- Zest the limes before juicing them.. because zesting a squeezed lime is crazy talk!
- Allow the raw rice to toast in the butter for a few minutes before adding the liquids. This helps keep the granules separated - no sticky, clumpy rice here!
- When fluffing the rice, use a fork instead of a spoon. Spoons tend to smash the rice, but a fork will keep it fluffy.
- If you don't have a citrus juicer, use a pair of tongs. Less strain on your hands, no sticky fingers, and no wasted juice.
More flavored rice recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
- Cilantro Lime Rice - A knockoff of Cafe Rio's!
- Toasted Coconut Rice - Moist rice with sweet toasted coconut. Yum!
- Brown Butter Rice Pilaf - A super easy pilaf flavored with brown butter and chicken stock.
- All our Instant Pot rice pilaf recipes can be found in one spot!
- Lemon Rice Recipe - A delicious rice dish with a tangy lemon flavor.
- Garlic Rice Recipe - A side dish with only 5 minutes of hands-on time!
Recipe
Easy Pineapple Lime Rice Recipe (with cilantro)
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoon butter
- ½ medium onion diced
- ½ tablespoon garlic minced
- 2 cups long-grain white rice
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1 ½ - 2 cups water depending on cooking method
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup pineapple diced ¼ inch pieces (canned or fresh)
- Lime zest from 1-2 limes
- Lime juice from 1-2 limes
- ½ cup cilantro chopped
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions
- Select "saute" option. Once pot is very hot, melt butter and saute onions and garlic for 3-5 minutes until onions are translucent.4 tablespoon butter, ½ medium onion, ½ tablespoon garlic
- Add rice and toast for 1-2 minutes, stirring well to coat every grain with butter.2 cups long-grain white rice
- Add pineapple juice, 1 ½ cups water, salt, pineapple, and lime zest. Seal the Instant Pot and turn the venting knob to "sealing." Press "rice" and allow to cook.1 cup pineapple juice, 1 ½ - 2 cups water, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 cup pineapple, Lime zest
- Once finished, allow to naturally release for 10 minutes (do NOT release the steam yet). After 10 minutes, turn the knob to "venting" to release the steam. Open the lid, then add cilantro and lime juice. Fluff with a fork until it is evenly mixed.Lime juice, ½ cup cilantro
Stovetop Instructions
- Heat a medium saucepan on medium-high heat. Once hot, melt butter and saute onions and garlic for 3-5 minutes until onions are translucent.4 tablespoon butter, ½ medium onion, ½ tablespoon garlic
- Add rice and toast for 1-2 minutes, stirring well to coat every grain with butter.2 cups long-grain white rice
- While rice is toasting, heat pineapple juice and 2 cups of water in microwave for 2-4 minutes or until very hot.1 cup pineapple juice, 1 ½ - 2 cups water
- Add hot liquids, salt, pineapple, and lime zest to pan. Cover immediately and cook on low heat for 20 minutes (should simmer softly).1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 cup pineapple, Lime zest
- Once finished, remove lid and add lime juice and cilantro. Fluff with a fork until evenly mixed.Lime juice, ½ cup cilantro
Notes
- Zest the limes before juicing them.. because zesting a squeezed lime is crazy talk!
- Allow the raw rice to toast in the butter for a few minutes before adding the liquids. This helps keep the granules separated - no sticky, clumpy rice here!
- When fluffing the rice, use a fork instead of a spoon. Spoons tend to smash the rice, but a fork will keep it fluffy.
- If you don't have a citrus juicer, use a pair of tongs. Less strain on your hands, no sticky fingers, and no wasted juice.
Add Your Own Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.
Frustrated says
Y’all really make people sign up to print recipes?
Misty says
Hi there! I'm so sorry about your frustration. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share feedback so that we can better serve you and our other readers. We spend hours upon hours creating free recipe content, so utilizing the print feature is something we are trying as a strategy to offset the many expenses of running this site. We also are hopeful it builds community around more great recipes. However we understand your sentiment. Please feel free to unsubscribe anytime.
We hope you enjoy this rice recipe - it's one that is made on repeat in our family!
Rebecca Whetman says
really annoyed by your requirements to subscribe to print the Print version. I put my email in and it pulled up the print automatically and I had to close that because I wanted to be able to select the photo and remove the notes and then Print but it’s not allowing me to access those features. It’s forced me to try to print it with the preset features. I didn’t know that if I dismissed that and went back and try to select the proper features that it would then not allow me to print again. So now I keep putting my email and to try to print again and it just keeps failing now. So I can’t even print the first option that popped up. Why have those print options of picking the notes and photo etc. but not allow access. And not warn me that if I get forced all the way to my print screen from the subscription link button that if I close that I would never be allowed to access it to print again. And what if I’m already subscribed and now it’s still won’t let me see the print versions to Print.
Danielle says
Rebecca,
I am truly sorry to hear that you are so frustrated. I am not sure where the trouble is. I went to the post and entered my personal email address. It worked exactly as it is designed. Our recipes will print without the photo, but with the all the information in the recipe card. There is not the option of choosing sections or not to print. You can choose which pages you want to print once your printer comes up, but not on our end. If you want to be able to print recipes repeatedly that is possible by creating a Grow Account. To do so click the link at the bottom of the unlock print box. Again, so sorry that this was frustrating for you. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.
Patlin Q says
This is one of my favorite blogs. I made this rice tonight with their honey chicken un-kabobs and it was amazing! Highly recommend.
Kerry says
My husband hates Cilantro, he says it tastes like soap. What other seasonings would you recommend?
Thanks
Danielle says
It's crazy how some people can love it (me!) and other people think it takes like soap. If it were me I would make it and just serve him without the cilantro and stir it in to the rest. There really isn't a good substitute. Some people say parsley, but to me they taste very different from each other. The rice would be delicious still with just pineapple and lime. Hope that helps!
Rose says
What is length of time to cook rice if Instant pot doesn't have a "rice" setting.
Danielle says
I am not sure as all pressure cookers are different. I would look at the manual to see what it recommends for white rice.
Melissa says
I tried making this ahead and freezing it following the directions in the post. Worked really well! It came out fluffy and moist. I added a few tablespoons of water to the rice before reheating in the oven. Then I added fresh lime juice and cilantro before serving. Yum!
Misty says
Awesome, glad you tried the freezing and reheating! Thanks for sharing your success.
Sara says
I've always loved Cilantro & Lime rice but this rice took it to a whole new level! So delicious! And so very easy too! Making it in my instant pot made it easy to cook it up along with our favorite Mexican dishes.
Danielle says
Yay! We love hearing how much you enjoyed it! Keep your eye out for some tropical inspired main dishes we have for pairing with this rice. But how can you ever go wrong with Mexican food? 😉
Dakota says
I’m not a big fan of rice, but this recipe has changed my mind! The pineapple is super delicious and not overpowering like I thought it would be! I definitely give this recipe a 9/10.