Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe (2024)

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

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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!

Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe (1)

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!

Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe (2)

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

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Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours 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

Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!

FAQs

Does chicken get more tender the longer it cooks in a slow cooker? ›

That is why tough meats become “fork tender” in the slow cooker. Chicken breasts have very little connective tissue; that means they can be cooked quickly because the long cooking time needed to soften connective tissue isn't necessary. They also have little fat, which means they can become dry if cooked too long.

Get More Info Here ›

Should I slow cook chicken on high or low? ›

We found that the only way to cook chicken (and turkey) in a slow cooker is on the low setting and for a relatively short amount of time.

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Do you put lime on chicken before or after cooking? ›

Cook on each side for about 5 minutes, or until it's browned and cooked through. Add the remaining chopped cilantro to the cooked chicken. Squeeze fresh lime over the finished chicken or serve with lime wedges so each person can squeeze their own.

Find Out More ›

Why is my chicken tough after cooking in crockpot? ›

Aside from accidentally overcooking the meals, the most common reason we see for tough, rubbery, or overdone chicken is customers using a Crockpot that is far too big. Each of our meals comes with a recommended slow cooker size.

How do you keep chicken from drying out in a slow cooker? ›

Using a nice, long, low-and-slow cook time helps chicken breasts retain plenty of moisture - but you can certainly opt to add a splash of water or chicken stock to the crockpot if you like!

Can you put raw chicken in a slow cooker? ›

Yes, you can put raw chicken in a slow cooker! Slow cookers and Crock-Pots are designed to cook raw meats. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking time and steam created from the tightly covered container destroys bacteria, making slow cooking safe. You can put frozen chicken in a slow cooker, too!

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Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low? ›

Low: 7-8 hours to reach the simmer point. High: 3-4 hours to reach the simmer point.

Read On ›

How long can you leave chicken in a crockpot on low? ›

Cover your crock pot and cook chicken breasts on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Chicken is done when the internal temp reaches 165 degrees F. Use chicken in your favorite recipes. Perfect for shredding!

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How long does crockpot chicken take? ›

Cook boneless chicken breasts in slow cooker on LOW for 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours. Always cook your boneless skinless chicken breasts on LOW for the best results. I do not recommend cooking boneless chicken breast on HIGH, as it will become very dry and tough, even if you check it early.

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What happens if you marinate chicken in lime? ›

The Lime Marinade makes the chicken juicy on the inside and injects with flavour so you won't need a sauce with it. And after resting the chicken for a few minutes before serving it, some of those juices will sweat to the surface, like you see below. As for what to serve on the side, here are a few suggestions!

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What does soaking chicken in lime do? ›

This helps to remove the slime and film off the chicken. The salt helps to "exfoliate" as you scrub the limes on the chicken like a "sponge". You can add water and let it sit in the solution for up to 30 minutes or you can rinse it off right away.

Keep Reading ›

Why do people rub lime on chicken? ›

Using lemon juice, lime juice or vinegar to wash off chicken and fish before cooking is a common practice in the West Indies/Caribbean. Before the invention of refrigerators, people applied an acidic solution because they thought it would kill any bacteria on the chicken, and also give a hint of extra flavor.

Know More ›

How to stop chicken falling apart in a slow cooker? ›

Crockpots are designed to make this very easy. Roasting in the oven is hot and dry. The meat cooks faster, not very much gelatin is converted and the meat holds together better (or is tough depending on the meat). The solution is simple: Don't cook your chicken as long.

Why does chicken get watery in crockpot? ›

This moist environment allows you to leave food to cook for hours without risking it drying out. But because there is no evaporation, the liquid isn't able to reduce and thicken naturally in a slow cooker, often resulting in watery sauces and loose gravies.

Show Me More ›

How to make crockpot chicken less chewy? ›

Chicken becomes rubbery/chewy when it's overcooked. So in general, including in a slow cooker, don't cook as long. There are lots of recipes online, they can give you a good place to start.

Learn More ›

How long does it take for chicken breast to get tender in crockpot? ›

View Details ›

Can you leave chicken in the slow cooker too long? ›

Mushy, mealy, stringy chicken, which is sometimes the result of cooking low and slow for an extended period of time. I've learned this the hard way, after many attempts at cooking chicken in the crockpot on a workday, for 8 plus hours at a time.

Read The Full Story ›

Does meat get softer the longer you cook it in slow cooker? ›

Collagen makes meat tough when cooked quickly, but when slow-cooked, it breaks down into gelatin, giving you that juicy, tender mouthfeel. Fattier — and cheaper — cuts of beef can also be good for slow cooking, because the fat helps to ensure the beef won't dry out while adding extra flavour.