Cilantro Lime Chicken made in the crockpot (slow cooker) or as a freezer meal is packed with flavor! You’re family is going to love this dinner, you’re going to love how easy it is to prepare!
It’s safe to assume that if you’ve popped over to read about today’s Cilantro Lime Chicken recipe, it means you love cilantro.
For those of you who think cilantro tastes like soap, you’re better off making this Chicken Tetrazzini recipe or this Classic Chicken Pot Pie.
The rest of you? Let’s talk about dinner!
I’m a huge fan of cooking meals in my slow cooker, and meals that can be prepped ahead of time are my jam.
I’ve joined a group of friends who meet once a month and swap freezer meals. We each make 8 family size dinners (all the same recipe) and then swap. You’ll go home with 8 different freezer meals.
Most of the meals are crockpot dinners, like this Pineapple Chicken Curry I brought this month.
Today’s Cilantro Lime Chicken was brought by someone else, so I had to make it again for you! It’s amazing.
How to make Cilantro Lime Chicken
In a large crockpot or slow cooker (6 qt minimum), add boneless, skinless chicken breast.
PRO TIP: I usually use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for slow cooker dinners as it doesn’t dry out like breasts do. HOWEVER, today’s meal is so flavorful and juicy, the chicken breasts work perfectly!
Add black beans, tomatoes, green chilies, corn, and salsa on top!
Then add, diced red onion, jalapeno, cumin, chili powder, garlic, salt, pepper, and lime juice.
Finally, top with cilantro, and mix it all together.
PRO TIP: When chopping cilantro, you can use the stems too! Lots of flavor is actually stored in the cilantro stems.
Cover your crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 4 hours.
When ready to serve, shred chicken and serve!
What to serve with Cilantro Lime Chicken
Your chicken is finished and you’ve got an entire crockpot full of juicy, tender cilantro lime chicken. What do you serve with it?
- Cilantro Lime Rice – just like Chipotle!
- Pico de Gallo
- Chips and Salsa
- Guacamole -or sliced avocados
- Sour Cream
Cilantro Lime Chicken makes great TACOS too! Fill up your tortilla with the contents of the crockpot. Add some homemade mango salsa and you’ve got a delicious Cilantro Lime Taco recipe.
This makes a great use of the leftovers!
How to freeze Cilantro Lime Chicken
For our freezer meal prep, take a large gallon sized freezer safe ziploc bag and add all the ingredients to the bag (instead of putting them in the slow cooker).
Label the bag. I usually double bag my freezer meals, just in case anything has dripped out, I like them super clean and safe!
If you’re wondering how long you can freeze chicken, I usually opt for 3 months for best flavor! If it’s a deep freezer (like a chest freezer), I go as long as 6 months.
When ready to use, either thaw in refrigerator overnight, or cut away the ziploc bag and place contents in slow cooker. Cook according to recipe directions. ENJOY.
MORE CHICKEN RECIPES
- Bourbon Chicken– Instant Pot recipe!
- Chicken Pot Pie Soup
- Chicken Alfredo
- BBQ Chicken
- Tuscan Garlic Chicken
- Chicken Paprikash
MORE FREEZER MEAL IDEAS
- Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells
- Sweet Chili Chicken – for the Slow Cooker!
- Balsamic Chicken – can also use Pork!
- Tequila Chicken
- Carne Asada
- Firecracker Chicken Wraps
- Mississippi Pot Roast Recipe
Cilantro Lime Chicken
Cilantro Lime Chicken made in the crockpot (slow cooker) or as a freezer meal is packed with flavor! You're family is going to love this dinner, you're going to love how easy it is to prepare!
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless, chicken breasts
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can (4 oz) diced green chilies
- 1 can (15 oz) sweet corn, drained
- ½ cup salsa
- ½ cup red onion, diced
- 2 jalapeno, diced and seeded
- 1 Tbsp ground cumin
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 4 cloves garlic, pressed
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 limes, juiced
- ¾ cup fresh cilantro, chopped (with stems)- about one full bunch
Instructions
- Place chicken in bottom of slow cooker. Top with remaining ingredients. Cover.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours (or high for 4 hours).
- Shred chicken and serve over cilantro lime rice.
Notes
To prepare as freezer meal, place all ingredients in a freezer safe ziploc bag. Label and store for up to three months.
To heat, cut off ziploc bag and place contents in slow cooker. Cook for 6-8 hours on low. ENJOY.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 258Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 96mgSodium: 550mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 4gSugar: 3gProtein: 39g
*Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.
Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken is your answer for an easy, flavorful, freezer meal recipe!
This was DELICIOUS! We made this for a small party, served with the Cilantro Lime Rice and also Cumin Brown Rice. We had chips and queso as well. Everyone gave the recipe a 10/10! And it only required about 15 minutes of assembly in the crockpot to begin with! Will be making again.
I made this for dinner tonight. Family said 10/10 over white rice. I made it in the pressure cooker with frozen chicken breast. PC on hi 35 min QR add cornstarch slurry to thicken and served over rice.
Yay! So happy to hear it 🙂
This might be a dumb question, but do you put the cilantro in and let it cook with all the ingredients, or do you just sprinkle the cilantro on the top when its completed?
I do both 🙂
Love that this can be made in a slow cooker. So easy and delicious!
I want this for dinner tonight! So easy and so much flavor, my family is going to love it.
Such a fantastic meal!! My family would LOVE this!!
So easy and delicious – this chicken is our family’s new go-to!
I’m always looking for freezer meals to add to my stash! Perfectly easy and delicious!