Description
Tender and flavorful Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken made with a zesty blend of lime juice, garlic, jalapeno, and spices. This easy crockpot recipe results in shredded chicken perfect for tacos, salads, or bowls, offering a bright and savory meal that cooks effortlessly over several hours.
Ingredients
Chicken and Marinade
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 4 cloves garlic (peeled and smashed)
- 1 jalapeno (seeded and chopped)
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade: Place the chicken broth, olive oil, lime juice, garlic, jalapeno, kosher salt, cumin, paprika, and black pepper into a food processor. Blend thoroughly until the garlic and jalapeno are finely pulverized and the sauce is well combined.
- Arrange chicken in crockpot: Lay the boneless skinless chicken breasts in a single layer in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Add marinade and cook: Pour the blended marinade evenly over the chicken breasts. Cover the crockpot and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or on low for 5 to 6 hours, until the chicken is very tender and shreds easily with a fork.
- Shred chicken and add cilantro: Using two forks, shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker. Stir in the chopped cilantro and toss until the chicken is well coated with the sauce.
- Serve: Serve the shredded cilantro lime chicken warm immediately. Perfect as a filling for tacos, burritos, salads, or served over rice.
Notes
- To reduce heat, remove seeds from the jalapeno before blending. For more heat, leave some seeds or add extra jalapeno.
- The food processor helps to create a smooth sauce that evenly flavors the chicken, but a blender can be substituted if needed.
- Using kosher salt ensures better seasoning and flavor absorption, but you can adjust salt amount to taste.
- This recipe works well for meal prep and can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for longer storage.
