From freezer to slow cooker, this Cilantro Lime Chicken is your answer to an easy dinner! Take a few minutes to combine a few ingredients, and then freeze them until you need an easy dinner.
About a year ago, I was helping with a church activity where we made a whole bunch of freezer meals to have on hand for if someone needed a meal. We decided to do all freezer to slow cooker meals, since they are so easy prepared.
We did a soup, a chili, and a version of this Cilantro Lime Chicken.
After trying it, I decided to change it up a bit for our own preferences. Mainly by adding in the sour cream after the chicken has been cooked. It adds some creaminess and flavor to this easy meal.
I’ve always been intrigued by freezer to slow cooker meals and have wanted to try more, so hopefully this is the start of an exploration!
What You’ll Need:
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts – you could also substitute chicken thighs.
Frozen Corn – if it’s corn season, you could also use fresh.
Black Beans – I love the black beans in here, but you could add any bean that you like.
Cilantro – you’re going to add in a whole bunch of cilantro. Just chop it up roughly, as it will break down as it cooks. You’ll also need more cilantro for when you serve the meal.
Limes – The citrus brightens everything. I like to also serve it with extra lime wedges.
Garlic – I only add in 2 cloves, but you can definitely add more if you’d like because the slow cooker tends to mute some flavors.
Cumin – I love the smokiness this adds.
Salt and Pepper – I add some to the freezer meal, but make sure you taste when the meal is done cooking and adjust the seasonings. Chances are you’ll need more salt and pepper.
Sour Cream – you don’t need this until you actually serve the meal.
Making a Freezer Meal
My favorite part of this recipe is that you can spend a couple minutes throwing it together, then put it in the freezer for a rainy day. You don’t even need to dirty a bowl – I just combine everything straight into the freezer bag.
Once everything is in the bag, seal it and give it a little shake to distribute everything evenly.
Label with the date (and cooking instructions, if you plan on giving it away).
Freeze it. I like to find a flat place in the freezer to let it freeze flat as this will save you the most room in your freezer. Then you can move it once it is frozen.
You can freeze it for up to 3 months.
How to Cook this Cilantro Lime Chicken
1: Take your meal from the freezer and open the bag. Dump the contents into your slow cooker that has been coated with nonstick cooking spray. Break it up as needed so that your chicken is in a single layer.
2: Cook on low just until your chicken is cooked through, usually between 4-6 hours, depending on your slow cooker.
3: Once it is cooked, remove the chicken from the slow cooker to a cutting board and use 2 forks to shred the chicken. Return the chicken to the slow cooker.
4: Add the sour cream and the fresh cilantro to the slow cooker.
5: Stir to combine. Serve over rice or with tortillas.
Tips and Tricks
- Freeze the recipe as soon as you have it assembled. The lime juice can start to break down the chicken if it sit in it for too long, so you’ll want this to go right to the freezer. For this same reason, I don’t let it defrost in the refrigerator – I add it straight to the slow cooker from the freezer.
- Because you are transferring the meal straight to the slow cooker, you may need to go in after the meal has been cooking for about an hour to make sure everything isn’t too clumped together so that it will cook evenly.
- Don’t overcook your chicken. You want to cook it just until the chicken is done.
- Don’t forget to add in the fresh cilantro. It adds and extra brightness that is needed. You can also serve lime wedges for a squeeze of extra lime.
- We usually have this over rice, but it would be a great taco filling, as well.
- This is super easy to duplicate so that you can have multiples in your freezer, or share with friends or neighbors who need a meal.
More Freezer Meals
Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta Casserole
BBQ Chicken and Vegetables
Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts (about 8 oz each)
- 16 oz frozen corn
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
- Juice from 2 limes
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Combine the chicken, corn, black beans, bunch of cilantro, red onion, lime juice, garlic and cumin in a freezer safe ziplock bag. Label and freeze.
- When ready to cook, spray the inside of a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
- Empty the contents of the bag into the slow cooker. Move the chicken into a single layer as much as possible.
- Cook on low, just until the chicken is cooked through, 4-6 hours, depending on your slow cooker.
- When the chicken is cooked, remove just the chicken from the slow cooker and shred using 2 forks. Return the chicken to the slow cooker. Add in the 1/2 cup sour cream and 1/2 cup cilantro and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve the chicken over rice or with tortillas.
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