Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe
This Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken is a flavorful and tender dish made by slow cooking chicken breasts in a zesty blend of lime juice, garlic, jalapeno, and spices. Perfect for a hands-off meal, it’s juicy, easy to shred, and enhanced with fresh cilantro for a bright, fresh finish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 to 6 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes to 6 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Marinade and Sauce
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
- 1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
Main Ingredient
- 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce. Place the chicken broth, olive oil, lime juice, garlic, jalapeno, salt, cumin, paprika, and pepper into a food processor. Blend until the garlic and jalapeno are finely pulverized and the sauce is well combined.
- Arrange chicken. Lay the chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Add sauce and cook. Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the chicken. Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 5-6 hours, until the chicken is very tender and easily shredded with a fork.
- Shred and finish. Using two forks, shred the chicken right in the slow cooker. Add the chopped cilantro and toss until well mixed. Serve warm immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Note 1: Adjust jalapeno quantity or omit seeds if you prefer less heat.
- Note 2: Blending the sauce helps infuse bold flavors and ensures even coating.
- Use kosher salt for best flavor balance in the dish.
- For meal prep, the cooked chicken can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
