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    Home » Main » Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe

    Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe

    Published: Oct 6, 2024 by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    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!

    Serving bowl filled with shredded tender chicken, and two lime wedges nearby.

    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.

    Cilatnro lime chicken ingredients on a white counter.

    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.

    Chicken breasts and salsa mixture in a crockpot, ready to cook.

    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.
    Fingers squeezing a lime over shredded chicken on tortillas.

    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
    Three chicken tacos on a plate, next to a slow cooker.

    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

    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!
    5 from 3 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 6 hours hours
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 274kcal
    Author: Megan Porta

    Equipment

    • Slow Cooker

    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.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 274kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 739mg | Potassium: 859mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 717IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lori

      February 23, 2015 at 8:13 pm

      We LOVE this! I make it all the time, and I use frozen chicken (because I never think far enough in advance to thaw it first!) I add onions and green peppers too and then in the last hour I add black beans and corn! When it's finished, I put the chicken in my kitchen aide mixer with the paddle and it shreds up soooo easily! This is totally a hit with my gang!!! Thanks for the GREAT recipe!!

      Reply
    2. KgReciPes

      April 17, 2014 at 3:38 pm

      Last night I prepare Slow cooker cilantro lime chicken. Its so delicious.

      Reply
    3. Belinda

      April 02, 2014 at 10:56 pm

      Really delicious, thank you!

      Reply
    4. Belinda

      April 02, 2014 at 10:56 pm

      Really delicious, thank you!

      Reply
    5. Shelly

      February 14, 2014 at 12:10 am

      Thanks for the recipe. My family loved it!

      Reply
    6. Jessica

      January 24, 2014 at 10:04 pm

      Made this and my family loved it and smells sooo good while its cooking thanks

      Reply
    7. Cindy

      January 19, 2014 at 11:37 pm

      Can I do 3 hours on high instead of 6 on low?

      Reply
    8. Anna

      January 09, 2014 at 6:48 pm

      This recipe was AMAZING! I used the chicken to make a salad! 🙂

      Reply
    9. Anthony

      November 25, 2013 at 5:56 am

      Just finished making this… came out amazing!

      Reply
    10. Amanda

      October 22, 2013 at 8:41 pm

      I made this today- and it is super delicious!
      I don't know if I was being blonde and missed something (I am a learner in the slow cooker department) but there wasn't enough salsa to efficiently cover the chicken so I added a tin of chopped tomatoes (all I had) and a cup of water and it turned out great. My man suggested adding a tin of mixed beans which topped the whole thing off. Thank you for sharing! I'll be making this again 🙂

      Reply
    11. Natalie

      September 28, 2013 at 12:10 am

      I tried this recipe last night and it was amazing! It had so much flavor and the chicken was so tender. I will definitely be making this again!

      Reply
    12. Marisa

      September 14, 2013 at 6:18 pm

      Loved this! I shredded the chicken and made soft tacos. Will make this again soon!

      Reply
    13. Megan Porta

      July 23, 2013 at 2:21 am

      Hi Pam! If you don't have taco seasoning, you could make your own: S&P, chili powder, garlic powder, oregano, parsley, cumin and any other seasoning you think might be a great addition!
      Megan

      Reply
    14. Roxanne

      July 22, 2013 at 8:01 pm

      I'm making this for the first time and I'm really excited to see how well I like it. Instead of salsa in a jar I threw Mexican style Rotel tomatoes and Hunts Fire roasted tomatoes (that's my homemade salsa, along with a generous serving of cilantro!) into my food processor and pureed it a bit. It covers the chicken wonderfully. I can't wait to see how the hubby and the boys like it Wish me luck! 🙂

      Reply
    15. pam

      July 22, 2013 at 4:05 pm

      if i don't have taco seasoning what can i substitute?

      Reply
      • Marion Branch

        January 06, 2016 at 5:42 pm

        I use Alton Brown’s Taco Potion #19–aka homemade taco seasoning. I use half the recipe for 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts.

        http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/taco-potion-19-recipe.html

        Reply
    16. Kitty

      July 15, 2013 at 5:08 pm

      I made this with a pork Boston Butt. Came out great. Put it all in at bedtime, and cooked it on low overnight. We had some for dinner, and shredded the rest and froze it in portions for easy dinners later. Yum!

      Reply
    17. eb

      July 02, 2013 at 11:05 pm

      I just tried this and it was delicious – SO easy.

      Reply
    18. CE

      July 01, 2013 at 2:46 am

      This is one of our favorites! I add a can of Rotel & buy the fresh salsa or pico from the grocery store that has cilantro in it already & we make nachos, tacos or salad! So easy my husband can even make it!

      Reply
    19. Samantha H

      July 01, 2013 at 1:02 am

      Found this on Pinterest, and it has become a staple in my household. I double the cilantro and lime juice, shred the chicken and serve it taco style in tortillas. Everyone eats it differently, smothered in the sauce, cheese, tortilla chips or all three! To make it more of a meal I also serve it with rice and sautéed squash and zucchini. Fantastic recipe! I find that the chicken is "fall-apart-tender" after as little as 4 hours. No knives needed!

      Reply
    20. Mallory P.

      May 22, 2013 at 12:50 am

      Usually it's a bad idea to throw frozen raw meat in the crockpot due to the bacteria issue. I mean, I'm sure we've all done it and lived, but the risk of food poisoning makes me wary.

      Reply
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