We all experience times when motivation is lacking. I love cooking for its creative outlet, but the nightly ritual of getting dinner on the table can be a chore. Sometimes, feeding one’s family feels like a monumental effort. Even for me.
Of course, we still get hungry and, sadly, there is no Dinner Fairy. Pouring a big bowl of cereal can be tempting but won’t do for the long haul. It definitely won’t satiate my two growing boys, even for the short haul! The following recipe is a solution to kitchen burnout. It practically cooks itself. With the exception of the fresh cilantro, everything can be kept easily on hand.
In a pinch, frozen chicken can be added directly to the slow cooker, so this meal will work even if you forget to thaw the meat. In this case, the cooking time will need to be increased to ensure the chicken is completely cooked through the center.
To reinvent leftovers, I often make tacos. If I have extra rice from the first night, I’ll stir it into the chicken mixture. The rice will absorb the leftover juice and create a thick, flavorful “stuffing” for a taco. Cooked quinoa, couscous, or almost any grain may be used in place of rice.
Another way to repurpose leftovers is to whip up a Mexican-inspired chopped salad, piling the chicken mixture atop romaine lettuce or greens of choice. Add your favorite taco-type toppings, like tomatoes, cucumbers, black olives, avocado, shredded cheese, and salsa. For a delicious 2-ingredient dressing, try mixing equal parts salsa and ranch dressing. (To print my homemade buttermilk ranch recipe, click here.) Alternatively, the leftover chicken mixture can be used for enchiladas.
For those who may not be a fan of cilantro, simply omit it. (Have you ever heard that some people have a gene that makes cilantro taste like soap to them? Apparently, there are genetic differences linked to the sense of smell.) Whatever the case, this meal is worth making even if you leave the cilantro out. In lieu of the cilantro, chopped parsley will add a welcome hint of freshness.
For additional details and uses for the homemade taco seasoning, click here.
Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (see notes)
- 1 (24-ounce) jar salsa (see notes)
- 1 recipe homemade taco seasoning (recipe follows) or 1 (1.25-ounce) package purchased taco seasoning
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice and the zest of one lime
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Optional add-ins: 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained; 1 jalapeño pepper, finely chopped (seeded to reduce heat, if desired)
- Toppings: Shredded Mexican blend or sharp cheddar cheese; additional cilantro
- For serving: Hot cooked rice, quinoa, or tortillas; lime wedges
Instructions
- In a slow cooker, mix together the salsa, lime juice and zest, taco seasoning, and optional black beans and jalapeño pepper.
- Add the chicken and flip to coat with the salsa mixture.
- Cook on low heat for approximately 6 hours (or 3 hours on high) or until the chicken is cooked through. At this point, you may remove the chicken to a plate and shred with two forks before returning to the slow cooker. Or you may serve the chicken breasts whole.
- Stir in the 1/4 cup cilantro and serve over rice or your grain of choice. Sprinkle with cheese, and garnish with additional cilantro, if desired.
Notes
- The weights of boneless, skinless chicken breasts can vary substantially. You may cook 6-8 chicken breasts halves at one time if you prefer to serve them as whole breasts or make extra for leftovers. I based the recipe on chicken weight, however, in order to have an adequate chicken-to-sauce ratio, which is more important when shredding the chicken and mixing it back into the sauce.
- Many salsa jars are 16 ounces, so you could use 1 1/2 of this size jar. Choose mild, medium, or hot according to preference.
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