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    Home » Main » Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe

    Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe

    Published: Feb 14, 2019 · Modified: Jun 14, 2020 by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken is a no-fail dinner recipe, great any night of the week. Tender, flavorful chicken is slow-cooked in a zingy, delicious sauce! All done in your slow cooker, so less effort and clean-up for you!

    cooked chicken breast on a plate covered in salsa and cilantro

    Why This Recipe Works

    Do you know those recipes in your dinner rotation that never fail? Cilantro Lime Chicken made in the slow cooker is one of those recipes for me. It takes almost no time to prep this easy dinner and my crock pot does all the work!

    The end result is a spicy (feel free to keep it on the mild side, if you’d like!), flavorful meal with the most tender chicken my teeth have ever met.

    The first time I made this meal I could not believe that my fork (no knife required!) was easily cutting into a piece of chicken like it was butter. No lie, it’s really that tender. (Recipe adapted from this one over at All Recipes.)

    Add this recipe to your dinner rotation pronto. I promise you’ll keep it around! This is a GREAT recipe, tried and tested approximately 9,000 times in our home.

    How To Make Cilantro Lime Chicken

    Aside from the ridiculously tender chicken, the ease of preparing Cilantro Lime Chicken is my favorite thing about this recipe. Follow these simple instructions for a delicious, no-fail, easy meal!

    Step 1

    In a slow cooker, mix together salsa, lime juice, cilantro, taco seasoning and jalapenos (if using). Add 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts and coat with the salsa mixture.

    Step 2

    Cook on low heat for 6 hours, or high heat for 3 hours (low and slow is definitely recommended). After the chicken is cooked, serve with rice and with salsa mixture spooned over top, or shred it and use as a taco filling!

    Recipe Notes

    • Grate lime zest over the top of the meal just before serving it. I love the flavor this tiny little step adds!
    • The sauce in this recipe can also be used as a chicken marinade if you would rather grill chicken on a hot summer day. Marinate chicken for a minimum of 30 minutes and up to 24 hours. Cook for 6 minutes on each side, or until breasts are cooked in the centers.
    • If you want to know exactly what is inside your taco seasoning, make your own!
    • For a creamier sauce, add 1/4 cup sour cream to the sauce mixture before cooking.
    • Add the chicken to the slow cooker in pieces rather than adding whole breasts so the meat will be ready to eat when time is up!

    Can I Omit the Jalapeno Peppers?

    Of course! There is plenty of room to turn up the heat on this recipe, if that’s your thing, and it it also easy enough to keep it on the mild side. Tailor it to your liking!

    How To Chop Jalapenos

    Chop the jalapeno in half and remove the seeds, then you can dice or slice your jalapeno. However if you want more heat, then you can leave some seeds in.

    The heat from jalapenos is stored in the oil of the skin and the seeds so be sure to wear gloves!

    How To Serve Cilantro Lime Chicken

    Serve the chicken with the salsa mixture spooned over the top, all over a bed of white, brown or Spanish rice (or go no rice!). If you’re feeling crazy, throw a dollop of sour cream on top with some crushed tortilla chips and extra cilantro.

    Or grab two forks and start shredding! Add the shredded chicken to a tortilla or turn it into a delicious taco salad. Don’t forget to spoon the sauce over the top. It is so bold and delicious.

    Sprinkle red pepper flakes over the top just before serving for an added zing!

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    Uses For Taco Seasoning

    If you have extra taco seasoning on hand and you want to use it up, here are some other recipe ideas to throw it into!

    • Add it to ground beef and top Campfire Nachos with it!
    • Really, you could add it to just about any meat-based meal to transform it into a tasty, spicy food. I’m thinking meatballs, burgers or even chicken.
    • Use it as a rub on your next Rotisserie chicken or batch of ribs!
    • Add it to salad dressing for an extra zing.

    Uses For Rice

    If you have extra rice hanging around your fridge after making this recipe, here are a few other ways to enjoy rice!

    • Sprinkle in some chopped fresh cilantro and mix with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and juice from 1 lime. No need for Chipotle!
    • Serve underneath a heaping scoop of Hoisin Chicken Rice Bowls, Orange Chicken or Mongolian Beef. DELISH!
    • Serve alongside Instant Pot Chicken for the perfect complete meal.
    • Mix a bit of ginger sauce with rice for a delish side dish.
    • Go simple and serve with a few pats of butter or olive oil. Stir until the butter has melted.
    • Mix together with salsa, black beans, lime juice and chopped avocado. Add shredded chicken for a meaty dish!
    Forkful of perfectly cooked tender chicken covered in salsa

    Party Food Recipes

    • The classic, crowd-pleasing Fruit Pizza has a cookie dough crust, dreamy cream cheese frosting and a colorful top layer of fruit and a tasty glaze.
    • Taco Ranch Pasta Salad gets totally devoured at gatherings, no matter the season.
    • Sausage Cheese Dip is easy to make (let your crockpot do the work for you!), cheesy, flavorful and totally irresistible! Only 6 ingredients required for this delicious party food!
    • This is the best 7-Layer Taco Dip you’ll ever meet! It’s the perfect appetizer and party food and it is always the first thing to get devoured.
    • Pickle Rollups are most perfect appetizer for any type of gathering! Only THREE ingredients, ten minutes of your time and guests will be raving!
    • If you have fallen in love with the delicious Harry Potter Butterbeer Recipe from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you are in luck! This drink tastes just like the original beverage that is so loved by adults and kids alike.

    Slow Cooker Recipes

    Here are a few of my other favorite EASY crockpot creations! Enjoy, friends!

    • Crockpot Mac and Cheese
    • Slow Cooker Pesto Ranch Chicken
    • Slow Cooker Pot Roast
    top view of plate of cilantro lime chicken with fork resting on plate

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    If you make this recipe and love it, stop back and give it a 5-star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a comment. THANK YOU!

    Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe

    Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken is a no-fail dinner recipe, great any night of the week. Tender, flavorful chicken is slow-cooked in a zingy, delicious sauce! All done in your slow cooker, so less effort and clean-up for you!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 6 hours
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 274kcal
    Author: Megan Porta

    Equipment

    • Slow Cooker

    Ingredients

    • 24 oz medium salsa
    • 1 lime juice
    • 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 hours. Serve chicken with rice and with salsa mixture spooned over top, or shred and use as a taco filling!

    Notes

    Click here for an Easy Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe + VIDEO
    Recipe adapted from this one over at All Recipes: https://allrecipes.com/recipe/218863/slow-cooker-cilantro-lime-chicken/
    • Grate lime zest over the top of the meal just before serving it. I love the flavor this tiny little step adds!
    • The sauce in this recipe can also be used as a chicken marinade if you would rather grill chicken on a hot summer day. Marinate chicken for a minimum of 30 minutes and up to 24 hours. Cook for 6 minutes on each side, or until breasts are cooked in the centers.
    • If you want to know exactly what is inside your taco seasoning, make your own!
    • For a creamier sauce, add 1/4 cup sour cream to the sauce mixture before cooking.
    • Add the chicken to the slow cooker in pieces rather than adding whole breasts so the meat will be ready to eat when time is up!

    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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