This Slow Cooker Chilli Lime Chicken is an easy midweek dinner packed with fresh, vibrant flavours. Chicken breasts are slow cooked with lime juice, garlic, chilli and red onion until tender and juicy, creating a simple dish that is full of flavour without requiring lots of ingredients or preparation.
It’s an easy recipe to prepare ahead and works well served with rice or salad. Any leftovers can be sliced or shredded and used in wraps, tacos or lunchboxes the next day.
I first made this recipe when I wanted something lighter than my usual slow cooker meals that was also really quick to prepare. The lime and chilli give the chicken plenty of flavour without needing a rich sauce, making it ideal for spring and summer dinners.
Ingredients
Here’s what you will need for this recipe. Get the quantities in the recipe card below.
- red onion – the colour remains vibrant even after slow cooking.
- garlic – either garlic puree, lazy garlic in a jar or fresh or frozen garlic can be used.
- ginger – either ginger puree, lazy ginger in a jar or fresh or frozen ginger can be used.
- red chilli – I like to use fresh red chilli here as the chopped chilli flesh adds colour to the dish. Adjust the chilli to your taste, you may wish to use less if you have small children or are feeding picky eaters!
- light soy sauce – forms the basis for the sauce. While soy sauce is salty, you’ll find that after adding all the other ingredients you have sweetness from the sugar, sharpness from the lime juice and heat from the chilli as well as ginger and garlic which all combine and balance really well.
- lime – for juice and zest. Fresh lime works best for the best flavour.
- chicken breasts – chicken breast or chicken thighs can be used. Chicken thighs actually stand up better to longer cooking in case you need to leave this on while you are out for the day.
- fresh coriander (cilantro) – as a garnish when serving.
Method
Before you start, read my step-by-step instructions, with photos, hints and tips so you can make this slow cooker chilli lime chicken recipe perfectly every time.
Scroll down for the recipe card with quantities and more tips at the bottom of the page.
Step 1. Mix all of the sauce ingredients in a bowl.
Step 2. Lightly oil the slow cooker pot to prevent sticking – I use an olive oil spray. Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker pot.
Step 3. Pour the sauce over the chicken, covering it. Put on the lid and cook on high for approx. 3 hours or on low for 5-6 hours.
Step 4. Once cooked, serve with a fresh coriander garnish with lime wedges.
Variations
- Use chicken thighs instead of breasts. Shred the chicken if you like once cooked.
- Make it extra spicy – add additional red chilli or chilli flakes.
- Add peppers – diced or yellow peppers will add more colour.
- Add black beans.
- Use as a filling for tacos. Shred the chicken and pile the onions and chilli on top.
- Make rice bowls with sweetcorn, beans and avocado. Slice the chicken before serving.
Serving Suggestions
One of the best things about this recipe is how many ways you can serve it. Enjoy the chicken whole with rice for an easy family dinner, slice it and add it to rice bowls for lunch, or shred it and serve it in tacos, wraps or burritos.
The bright chilli lime flavours work well with avocado, black beans, sweetcorn and fresh salads, making this a great recipe for meal prep and leftovers.
Try these alongside your chilli lime chicken:
- Steamed rice
- Coconut rice
- Coriander lime rice
- Tortillas or tacos
- Burrito bowls
- Salad bowls
- Roasted sweet potatoes
- Avocado and black bean salad
Storage
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freeze in portions for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge and reheat until piping hot in the microwave.
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Recipe
Slow Cooker Chilli Lime Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 red onion diced finely
- 1 tsp lazy garlic or 1 clove of garlic, crushed
- 1 tsp lazy ginger chopped, or 2 cm ginger, chopped
- 1 red chilli deseeded and chopped finely
- 9 tsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp veg oil
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- juice and zest of half a lime
- 1 tbsp caster sugar (superfine sugar)
- 4 chicken breasts
- fresh coriander and lime juice to serve
Equipment
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients for the sauce together in a bowl.1 red onion, 1 tsp lazy garlic, 1 tsp lazy ginger, 1 red chilli, 9 tsp light soy sauce, 1 tbsp veg oil, 1 tbsp red wine vinegar, juice and zest of half a lime, 1 tbsp caster sugar (superfine sugar)
- Oil the slow cooker pot lightly to prevent sticking. Put the chicken breast in the slow cooker pot.4 chicken breasts
- Put the sauce over the top. Cook on high for 3 hrs or low for 5-6.
- Serve with a fresh coriander garnish and squeeze a little more lime juice over the top.fresh coriander and lime juice
Notes
- Steamed rice
- Coconut rice
- Coriander lime rice
- Tortillas or tacos
- Burrito bowls
- Salad bowls
- Roasted sweet potatoes
- Avocado and black bean salad
- Use chicken thighs instead of breasts. Shred the chicken if you like once cooked.
- Make it extra spicy – add additional red chilli or chilli flakes.
- Add peppers – diced or yellow peppers will add more colour.
- Add black beans.
- Use as a filling for tacos. Shred the chicken and pile the onions and chilli on top.
- Make rice bowls with sweetcorn, beans and avocado. Slice the chicken before serving.
Eb Gargano says
Oooh, this sounds so good! I love the flavours!! Eb x
Kayleigh says
Looks absolutely delicious! I came home after a long day’s work only to find I’d forgotten to turn the slow cooker on the other day…if I’d made this chilli and lime chicken in there at the time I might have cried…
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks Kayleigh! That happens to me too, nearly did it yesterday, so annoying
kerrycooks says
Loving the sound of these bright, zingy flavours Lucy!
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks Kerry!
efwalt says
Wow this sounds so simple yet so delicious. Another fab slow cooker recipe to have in my repertoire 🙂
bakingqueen74 says
It should fit nicely in your small slow cooker too Emma!
Stephanie says
This looks amazing, I really need to get myself a slow cooker – thanks for sharing x
bakingqueen74 says
They are so convenient, you must try one one day
Our Little Organic Life says
I’m pescatarian…but my husband isn’t and we both love chilli and lime flavours. I’m also a big fan of slow cooker recipes too, so I might make this for him and put the same marinade on some monkfish to throw in the oven for myself. Thanks!
bakingqueen74 says
I think it would work really well with monkfish, which reminds me, I must get my hands on some, love monkfish
Emily says
You are the slow cooker queen! Love the flavours here xx
bakingqueen74 says
Thanks Emily, I wanted something really zingy