Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe

This is an easy and delicious cilantro-lime chicken recipe. Perfect for weeknight dinners, my cilantro lime chicken crockpot recipe has simple ingredients and is full of flavors your family will love.

Serve this meal with Roasted Chili-Corn Salsa and chips, or some salsa verde and don’t forget a beverage! Adults would love a strawberry rhubarb margarita or my spicy peach bourbon smash.

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Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken

I was never a fan of chicken thighs until this slow cooker cilantro lime chicken recipe. I know that the thighs are full of flavor and are a favorite for a lot of people but I was just not that into them. Until this recipe. If any recipe is going to make me go from the light side to the dark side of meat this is the recipe that is going to do that.

With just a few minutes of prep and then a few hours in the crock pot slow cooker your slow cooker cilantro lime chicken dinner is ready for you and your family.

Can cilantro lime chicken be cooked in the oven?

If you do not have a slow cooker, this recipe will work well in the oven. You just need a dutch oven or a large pot with an oven safe lid. A cast iron pot will work well. 

What type of chicken is used to make cilantro lime chicken?

This recipe calls for boneless, skinless chicken thighs. I like to use bone in dark meat chicken because they are full of flavor and often they can be found on sale at my local grocery store. Other cuts of meat such as chicken breasts can be used but I find the greatest depths of flavor comes from using dark meat chicken.

What do you serve with cilantro lime chicken?

I will serve cilantro lime chicken over white rice but other delicious options would be spaetzle, gnocchi, wide noodles or even cauliflower rice. 

Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Ingredients:

• chicken thighs
• chili powder
• cumin
• salt
• olive oil
• chicken broth
• lime juice
• heavy cream
• cornstarch
• cold water
• cilantro, chopped

How to make Crockpot Cilantro Lime Chicken:

1. Make a dry rub with the chili powder, cumin, and salt.
2. Rub the chicken with the spice mixture.
3. Add the olive oil to a heavy bottom pan and sear the chicken
4. Place the chicken in the crockpot/slow cooker.
5. Add the 2 cups of chicken broth and lime juice.
6. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8.
7. Remove the chicken (be careful not to let it fall apart!) It is so tender!!!!
8. Mix together the heavy cream, cornstarch and water.
9. Add the chopped cilantro to the slow cooker.
10. Add the cream/cornstarch mixture to the slow cooker.
11. Replace the chicken back to the slow cooker.
12. Allow the sauce to thicken for 20 minutes.
13. Serve over rice or starch of your choosing!

How to make cilantro lime chicken in the oven:

1. Preheat your oven to 350.
2. Make a dry rub with the chili powder, cumin, and salt.
3. Rub the chicken with the spice mixture.
4. Add the olive oil to a heavy bottom dutch oven or cast iron pan and sear the chicken
5. Add the 2 cups of chicken broth and lime juice.
6. Bake for 60 minutes, with the cover on the pot. 
7. Remove the pot from the oven.
8. Transfer the chicken to a clean plate. 
9. Mix together the heavy cream, cornstarch and water.
10. Add the chopped cilantro to the pot.
11. Add the cream/cornstarch mixture to the pot.
12. Replace the chicken back to the pot.
13. Place the pot on the stove over medium heat and allow the sauce to thicken.
14. Serve over rice or starch of your choosing!

Cilantro Lime Chicken

Sarah Mock

This is an easy and delicious cilantro lime chicken recipe. Perfect for weeknight dinners, my cilantro lime chicken crockpot recipe has simple ingredients and is full of flavors your family will love.

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 4 hrs

Total Time 4 hrs 10 mins

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark, toggle to button to the right to turn GREEN

Course Crock-Pot Recipes

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 560 kcal

Equipment

• Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry Slow Cooker

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1 Tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• 2 teaspoon salt
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cups chicken broth
• ¼ cup lime juice
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed
• 1 tablespoon cold water
• 2 Tablespoons cilantro chopped

Instructions

 

• Make a dry rub with the chili powder, cumin, and salt.
• Rub the chicken with the spice mixture.
• Add the olive oil to a heavy bottom pan and sear the chicken
• Place the chicken in the crockpot/slow cooker.
• Add the 2 cups of chicken broth and lime juice.
• Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8.
• Remove the chicken (be careful not to let it fall apart!) It is so tender!!!!
• Mix together the heavy cream, cornstarch and water.
• Add the chopped cilantro to the slow cooker.
• Add the cream/cornstarch mixture to the slow cooker.
• Replace the chicken back to the slow cooker.
• Allow the sauce to thicken for 20 minutes.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 560kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 57gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 313mgSodium: 1989mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2g

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Originally published on Apr 15, 2016.