This Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken is the perfect, no-fail dinner recipe for any night of the week. Tender, spicy chicken is slow-cooked in a zingy cilantro lime sauce that will leave you singing! It’s an easy slow cooker recipe with the most minimal prep, so less effort and clean-up for you! Winner, winner!
Updated: February 2019 and October 2024
Why This Slow Cooker Chicken Recipe Works
- Shred the chicken and use it for cilantro lime chicken tacos or a nacho topping.
- 10 minutes of prep, your slow cooker does the heavy lifting and dinner is DONE.
- I’ve never tasted more tender, fall-apart chicken in all my life.
- We make this recipe ALL the time and it never fails. Ever.
- Great recipe if you’re wanting leftovers throughout the week, and can be used in a variety of ways. It doesn’t get old.
- It’s versatile! Eat with rice and black beans, potatoes or pasta OR…
- Shred the chicken and use it for cilantro lime chicken tacos or a nacho topping.
You know those fantastically easy dinner recipes that never fail? This delicious Cilantro Lime Chicken made in the slow cooker is one of those recipes for me. This easy meal takes almost no time to prep and my crock pot does all the work!
The end result is a spicy, flavorful meal with the most tender chicken I have ever eaten. Like “no knife required” tender! And the cilantro, jalapeno, lime sauce is so flavorful you’ll want to eat it with a spoon.
Add this delicious dinner recipe to your meal rotation once, and I promise you’ll keep it around. It just doesn’t get old! It’s also great for busy weeknights, meal prep or leftovers. Trust me, this tender cilantro lime chicken has been tried and tested approximately 9,001 times in our home and always to rave reviews.
Cilantro Lime Chicken Ingredients
Use fresh ingredients for the best tasting results to your recipe.
Salsa – The spice level of the salsa determines the spiciness of the dish. Go mild or super spicy!
Lime – Use fresh lime juice only (the plastic fake limes should be banned from existence).
Cilantro – You can’t go wrong with adding as much cilantro as you’d like. It IS the star of the show, after all.
Taco seasoning – Use your favorite brand OR make your own homemade taco seasoning!
Jalapeno peppers – Definitely optional, but if you enjoy a spicy meal go for it with the jalapenos!
Boneless skinless chicken breasts – Thaw completely and trim any excess fat before adding to the slow cooker.
How to Make Crockpot Cilantro Lime Chicken
This simple recipe couldn’t be easier to make. Just put everything in the crockpot and let it do all the work.
Step 1
In a slow cooker, mix together the salsa, lime juice, cilantro, taco seasoning and jalapenos (if using). Add the chicken and coat with the salsa mixture.
Step 2
Cook on Low heat for 6 hours, or on High heat for 3-4 hours.
Serve cilantro chicken with rice and with salsa mixture spooned over top, or shred the chicken and use it as a taco filling!
Recipe Notes
- Grate some lime zest over the top of the meal just before serving it. I love the burst of fresh flavor this tiny little step adds!
- The delicious sauce in this recipe can also be used as a chicken marinade if you would rather grill chicken. Marinate the chicken for a minimum of 30 minutes and up to 24 hours. Cook for 6 minutes on each side, or until breasts are cooked to an internal temperature of 165° in the centers.
- If you want to know exactly what is inside your taco seasoning, make your own!
- For a creamy cilantro lime sauce, add 1/4 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt to the sauce mixture before cooking.
- Shred chicken to use for tacos or nachos.
- Cut the chicken breasts into large bite size chunks and add the pieces to the slow cooker rather than adding whole breasts so the meat will be ready to eat when time is up!
- Use less spicy peppers or omit them all together.
How to Make This Recipe Less Spicy
You can make this slow cooker cilantro lime chicken recipe less spicy in a few different ways.
The first is to make sure your jalapenos are completely seeded. There’s a lot of heat in those little seeds.
Another option is to switch out the jalapeno peppers for something less spicy. You can use cherry peppers, anaheims, or poblanos, for example. For no heat peppers, I’d recommend mini bell peppers (also called lunchbox peppers), shishito peppers, or regular bell peppers.
What To Do With Cilantro
Cilantro is a tremendously piquant herb that is either loved or loathed. Personally, I love its fresh taste and zip and add it to all sorts of dishes. Here are just a few great ways to use fresh cilantro.
- Add the leaves to salad dressings or to the salad itself
- Add it to your salsa or guacamole
- Make cilantro lime rice or quinoa
- Make chimichurri sauce or pesto
- Add it to corn chowder or other soups
- Add some to your morning eggs or smoothie
- Top other chicken or fish recipes with some chopped cilantro leaves
How To Serve Cilantro Lime Chicken
- Serve it along with white or brown rice, cilantro lime rice, or Spanish rice
- Serve it with taco-seasoned roasted potatoes or with some creamy pasta
- Add it to rice bowls with loads of your favorite toppings and some flour tortillas (think: Chipotle burrito bowls copycat)
- Use shredded chicken as taco filling or nacho topping or just with some guac and chips
- Add this flavor-filled chicken to salads or protein bowls
How to Store Leftover Chicken in the Refrigerator
After the chicken has cooled completely, you can refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
Turn Cilantro Lime Chicken Into a Freezer Meal
Cook the recipe as directed, let cool completely, then add to an airtight container or freezer bag, date, and freeze for up to 6 months.
More Chicken Recipes
Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie
Chicken Parmesan Stromboli
Chicken Enchilada Bake
Pineapple Barbecue Chicken
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Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 24 oz medium salsa
- 1 lime juiced
- 1/4 cup cilantro fresh, chopped
- 1.25 oz taco seasoning or 2 Tbsp homemade taco seasoning
- 2 jalapeno peppers finely chopped (optional)
- 6 chicken breasts boneless, thawed
Instructions
- In a slow cooker, mix together the salsa, lime juice, cilantro, taco seasoning and jalapenos (if using). Add the chicken and coat with the salsa mixture.
- Cook on Low heat for 6 hours, or High heat for 3-4 hours. Serve chicken with rice and with salsa mixture spooned over top, or shred and use as a taco filling!
Video
Notes
- Grate some lime zest over the top of the meal just before serving it. I love the burst of fresh flavor this tiny little step adds!
- The delicious sauce in this recipe can also be used as a chicken marinade if you would rather grill chicken. Marinate the chicken for a minimum of 30 minutes and up to 24 hours. Cook for 6 minutes on each side, or until breasts are cooked to an internal temperature of 165° in the centers.
- If you want to know exactly what is inside your taco seasoning, make your own!
- For a creamy cilantro lime sauce, add 1/4 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt to the sauce mixture before cooking.
- Shred chicken to use for tacos or nachos.
- Cut the chicken breasts into large bite size chunks and add the pieces to the slow cooker rather than adding whole breasts so the meat will be ready to eat when time is up!
- Use less spicy peppers or omit them all together.
Hey there, I got this recipe from a friend and I am very excited to make it! I've already got the sauce put together for easy assembly this weekend. I was wondering how many people this recipe served? I'm cooking for about 8 people and originally had estimated a whole chicken breast per person.
answered my own question. 2tbs lime juice = juice from one lime according to google lol. if anyone else out there doesnt have fresh limes on hand!
Hi there I am making this tonight for dinner but I don't have a fresh lime, I just have the squeeze bottle of lime…How much would you recommend using from a squeeze bottle?
This looks awesome!
Hi Pip & Ebby~~I apologize for my earlier post. I must've been having an extreme senior moment! lol I just went to print out this recipe today to make and noticed that I had asked about trying the boneless,skinless chicken breasts. The recipe CALLS for boneless, skinless, Diane!!!! This whole month, I've been on holiday recipe overload! lol! Anyhoo, I am going to make this for New Years Eve with all of the trimmings, all the way down to Margaritas and flan! I hope everyone has a wonderful, safe Christmas and all the best for a blessed New Year.
This was an awesome dish! The house smelled so good for hours! I did double the recipe since I was feeding 5 people and I like to have leftovers, also my tomatoes really cooked down so it was pretty watery, so the last half hour or so I cooked it with the lid off to help thicken it up a little! YUMMY!
This is in my crockpot right now. Made it a couple weeks ago and it was EXCELLENT! Thank you!
This is on the crock pot as I type… I have made it once before and then I also saw a similar one that added Cream of Mushroom soup. So this time I am adding one can … lets hope it turns out as good! I have doubled the recipe.
Hi Tina! Honestly, it doesn't matter. Do whatever is easiest and it will work out. Throw it all in separately or mix it and then pour it over. Either way, it will turn out great!
Megan
Making this tommorow. I was wondering do you mix the taco seasoning, cilantro and lime with the salsa and then pour it over the chicken. Directions doesn't say.
Hello everyone! I really feel for all of you in Minnesota and S. Dakota! Here in Las Vegas, Nv. it's a cool day (for us) at 67°at 2 p.m.!! Probably get down to around 50° tonight. I can't wait to try this, it looks so amazing! Love Julia's idea of onions and green peppers!Has anyone tried to make this using the boneless, skinless breasts? I buy the big bags at Sam's Club, so always have them on hand. Boneless, skinless thighs also. Would so love to try them, probably both in the same batch. Someone asked about salsas. Pace is always a good choice, but there are so many great ones out there. Just trial and error I guess.
Well it was 72 in Georgia today, but I'm making this anyway! Smells sooo good and is falling apart. Can't wait to try it 🙂 Thanks!
I found this recipe on Pinterest and made it! It was delicious. I featured it on my blog:
http://pinterestprojects.blog.com/2012/11/21/slow-cooker-cilantro-lime-chicken/
Thanks for the great recipe! It's definitely a keeper. 🙂
This recipe is OUTSTANDING! Just delicious!! I used green salsa and added an extra jalapeno. I served it to my friends and everyone was raving about it!!
A coworker recommended this recipe from her Pinterest page, and it is one of the most delicious things I've ever made! I couldn't wait to eat because the house smelled so good! Thanks for a super delicious, satisfying meal!
I make this all the time and tried it with a small beef chuck roast the other night and made shredded beef tacos. It was AMAZING!
Just finished getting this into the crock pot! Can't wait to dig into tonight. Thanks for a super simple recipe 🙂
Hi Jen! Hmm, not sure what to suggest. You can give the frozen a try. Hoping for the best for you! Let me know how it goes..
Megan
I work pretty long hours and don't have a programmable crockpot. Generally any crockpot meal I make stays in for 10 hours which can lead to dry ingredients. Any recommendations for stretching the time out on this recipe? Frozen chicken? Additional salsa or water? Hoping to try your recipe this week-it looks amazing!
Awesome! Absolutely delicious! Thanks for sharing!