A healthy meal that is sure to please all of the family.
Here is another great slow cooker freezer meal. Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken isn’t too far off from my Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos from the 40 Meals in 4 Hours Slow Cooker Freezer Meals post.
This recipe is great because if you are looking for a healthier option you can skip the tortillas, since there is the incorporation of corn as a grain… Also great served over rice or quinoa. We love serving this over avocados with a bit of cheese and a very small dollop of sour cream.
Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken
Inspired by [Ring Around the Rosies|http://www.ringaroundtherosies.net/?s=cilantro+lime+chicken]
Ingredients
- 6 chicken breasts
- 3 Tbs olive oil
- 2 limes, juiced
- 2 cups cilantro
- 24 oz bag of frozen corn (can be less depending on preference)
- 4 minced garlic cloves
- 1 finely chopped red onion
- 2 cans of black beans, rinsed
- 2 t cumin
- 2 t chipotle powder
- salt/pepper to taste
- IF FREEZING:
- *1/2 c water or chicken broth for freezer meal.
Instructions
- Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Add all ingredients, stir.
- Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. At end of cooking time, shred chicken with 2 forks. Serve with warm tortillas, rice or corn chips. Top with sour cream, guacamole, and/or cheese
Notes
If making for freezer meals, split everything evenly into two large freezer bags.
Close bags, label and give a good shake to get everything mixed. Freeze. Place freezer bag into refrigerator night prior to slow cooking. Dump contents into slow cooker. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
Great recipe Bevin! Looks delicious and I love the healthy alternative with the serving it over avocado. Plus, lets be honest avocado just rocks!
This looks like a great dinner! Thanks for sharing at Sweet & Savory Saturdays #26.
~Amber @ Dessert Now, Dinner Later!
http://www.dessertnowdinnerlater.com
Oh man this looks awesome! Who needs a tortilla, I’d love it with just avocado. Thanks for sharing at Simple Supper Tuesday.
This looks so delicious and I love that it’s a slow cooker recipe! It’s also a good one for kids to help out with, even younger kids can help put all the ‘stuff’ in the slow cooker 😀
Chicken in the crock pot..my favorite way to cook 🙂 Great recipe..looks amazing! Thanks for linking up at Share Your Stuff Tuesdays!
In the directions it says to split all ingredients into 2 containers. Is this because it is enough for 2 meals? It seems like 1 container would be plenty for a family of 4.
That is correct, Brad! I guess I forgot to mention that part!
This was so delicious! My favorite so far of your meals that we’ve fixed. The only problem I had is that it had a lot of liquid in the bottom – even if I think I’ve only pulled out the actual mix and not the liquid, my burrito usually ends up just dripping all over the place. Curious if anyone else has had this problem, or maybe I messed something up?
I’ve never had that problem, but I don’t usually eat this on a tortilla. Maybe take the lid off for the last 30 minutes to reduce the liquid a bit more if you can?
Do you know how many ounces are in your large bag of corn? My store has 4 different sizes, and the largest one is really huge, like 2 pounds I believe.
Thanks
I’m waiting for the same answer!
24 ounces of corn… This is subjective though, less if you want less corn.
Eating this as we speak. Mine came out a bit spicy but it is delicious and dupe easy.
I made this the other night and it was a huge hit! I’m making 2 more tonight for the freezer. So easy! Just throw everything into a Ziploc! Love it. We had it with tortillas.
I have a question…I’ve been trying to use my cockpot a lot lately, because it’s SO easy when you work and allows me to budget, etc. I saw this and was so excited to try it. You’re right, the avocado pairs WONDERFULLY with this. But my dish turned out very dry for some reason?? How did your stay so moist?? Mine was delicious once I added in some salsa but I’m wondering if there’s an ingredient missing or it did something wrong, etc.
I am thinking perhaps it may have run dry from a few different factors (all may not apply). I made mine from fresh not frozen. The cooking temperatures/time cooked may have varied as well because all slow cookers are not created equally. 🙂 I have changed the recipe a bit to accommodate for cooking longer in the slow cooker by adding 1/4 c water or chicken broth. I will add it to my grocery list this week to see if that helped! Thanks for the comment and information!!
Hi I am very new to crockpot recipes and making them…The recipes that you have here, are they for a single batch? or do you split what’s written?
Are you supposed to take the meal out of the freezer and place in fridge the night before or take it out of the freezer the morning of and place in crockpot completely frozen?
Take out the night before and put it in the fridge. It will not be completely thawed in the am – but thawed enough for the crock pot 😉
I have a stupid question. I am looking to find freezer-friendly slow cooker recipes. One I found that I like includes cream cheese, but i’m worried cream cheese will not freeze well. Does anyone know this answer??thanks
Mandy – none of our recipes call for Cream Cheese to be frozen. So…not sure 🙂 If you look around our website you’ll find loads of freezer friendly meals!
You can add the cream cheese 15 minutes before the cook time finish or I believe you can put together with your recipe to be frozen. I normally buy a large box of cream cheese original in Costco or Sam’s Club and I frozen them. They will be okay! I only didn’t have a good result with the 1/3 less fat.
For the cilantro did you remove the stems and chop, or just tossed in whole?
Thanks
I removed from the stems and chopped it up. It really is a preference. Sometimes I tear it up a little or leave the leaves whole.
Is it really 2 cups of cilantro?
Yes. I love lots of cilantro.
Cilantro Lime Chicken is AWESOME! So glad it made 2 freezer bags!
What if you want to make it that night for dinner? Do you thaw the meat or could I just buy raw chicken and throw it in? I don’t want it to be too dry but I thought I could do the 4 hours on high after I get home tonight.
The chicken would have to be thawed or just raw. 4 hours should be enough time, just monitor the liquid!
Great recipe! I made it this week and blogged about it here: http://healthykitchenhealthybudget.com/2015/05/08/one-crockpot-4-dinners/ We used it as a filling in yummy enchiladas. Can’t wait to try more recipes!
Can you specify the pounds of chicken breasts you use? I feel like there is a lot of variety in size of chicken breasts, such as 2 breasts in a 1.5lb pkg, but 4.5 lbs chicken sounds like too much for 6-8 servings. Thanks.
I should change that. I use probably 2-3 lbs of chicken. Thanks for the question!
Do you put chicken breast in whole or cut up?
Whole
I don’t have chipotle powder and can’t seem to find it in the grocery stores here. Can I just substitute chili powder?
Yes sure 😉 just might taste a bit different but I’m sure it would still be yummy!
Hi you say at the end pop into two freezer bags is that for two meals or ?
Probably a silly question but do you put the 1/2 c water or chicken broth for freezer meal into the bag before freezing it or is it just to be added to the slowcooker when it comes to cooking the recipe?
either way works!