Creamy Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe

Creamy Cilantro Lime Chicken recipe has tender, seasoned cilantro chicken in a creamy lime sauce. This effortless weeknight dinner can be cooked in either a crock pot or instant pot and served over fluffy rice.

Easy cilantro chicken recipe has become a favorite meal at our house. I love how it can be prepared in either the slow cooker or instant pot to fit in our busy schedules.

The juicy, tender chicken breasts cook in a creamy cilantro lime sauce to spoon over rice or pasta. Alternatively, check out other serving suggestions below for a low carb meal.

Creamy Cilantro Lime Chicken Ingredients

I’m pretty much a cilantro junkie (ahem Sweet and Spicy Tacos, Shrimp Avocado Salsa, Chorizo Chicken Chili, BBQ Pulled Chicken …).

Adding lime plays off cilantro’s bright, fresh, flavor, and makes pretty much every dish taste like heaven.

The cream cheese addition gives Creamy Cilantro Lime Chicken a richness. This dish makes a sauce along with it, so serve it with rice to soak up all that goodness or serve with veggies to keep it a low carb meal. 

• Chicken
• Garlic
• Cumin
• Onion
• Lime – zested and juiced
• Chicken broth
• Red pepper flakes
• Cilantro
• Cream cheese

How to Make Crock Pot Cilantro Lime Chicken 

Slow cooker cilantro lime chicken recipe is an easy dump and start recipe! In the last 30 minutes of cooking the sauce is thickened by adding cornstarch.

1. Mix together garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper. Rub the seasoning over the chicken breasts.
2. Place chicken in the crock pot with chopped onion. Sprinkle on 1/4 cup fresh cilantro and red pepper flakes. 
3. Pour in chicken broth, lime juice, lime zest and cook the chicken for 3-4 hours on low. 
4. In the last 30 minutes of cooking, scoop out a ladle of hot liquid. Whisk cornstarch into the small amount of liquid and add back to the slow cooker. 
5. Cook the remaining time. Remove the lid to add cubed cream cheese and remaining chopped cilantro. Stir until smooth and creamy. 

How to Make Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Chicken

Creamy lime and cilantro chicken recipe also makes a 30 minute quick and easy dinner when prepared in the pressure cooker. 

1. Mix together garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper. Rub the seasoning over the chicken breasts.
2. Heat olive oil on SAUTE setting. Brown the chicken breasts, half at a time, about 2-3 minutes per side. Set chicken aside and repeat with remaining breasts.
3. Remove the cooked chicken from the instant pot and saute onion until tender, about 2 minutes.
4. Add chicken broth to the hot pot, scraping up browned bits at the bottom of the pan. Stir in 1/4 cup cilantro, red pepper flakes, lime juice, lime zest, and browned chicken.
5. Close lid and seal valve. Cook on HIGH pressure for 5 minutes. 
6. Quickly release pressure and transfer chicken to a plate to keep warm.
7. Ladle out some hot liquid and whisk in cornstarch. Press SAUTE LOW and add cornstarch mixture back to pot, stirring constantly until thickened. 
8. Stir in remaining cilantro and cream cheese until smooth. Serve creamy sauce over chicken. 

Intimidated by using an Instant Pot? Learn in minutes with this Easy Start Instant Pot Guide full of tips, hacks, and tricks. 

What type of chicken to use

This recipe has been tested with boneless skinless chicken breasts. Chicken thighs may also be used, if preferred. 

For chicken thighs, cook on HIGH pressure for 10 minutes in the instant pot. For the slow cooker version, cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or HIGH for 3 hours.

Can I use something besides cream cheese for creamy sauce?

Yes, if you prefer to not use cream cheese in the sauce, heavy cream or sour cream may be substituted.

The sauce may not be as thick, but you can add an extra tablespoon of cornstarch or just enjoy a thinner sauce.

Creamy Cilantro Lime Chicken Sides

Since a rich, flavorful creamy sauce is made with the cilantro chicken, it is best served over rice or pasta.

Cilantro chicken may also be chopped up and served in tortillas as tacos or over a large dinner salad with black beans and salsa.

However, here are some additional serving suggestions to keep the meal low carb.

• cauliflower rice
• spaghetti squash
• roasted vegetables, such brussels sprouts, zucchini or cabbage 
• salad 

Tips for Cooking Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe

• Zest lime first, then extract juice (Learn from me – zesting an already squeezed lime can result in scrapped fingers. No bueno👎)
• If you prefer no hint of spice, omit the red pepper flakes.
• For golden brown chicken out of the crock pot, brown the chicken in a skillet over medium high heat first in a little olive oil.
• To save time when preparing the instant pot version, browning the chicken can be skipped. However, the chicken will need to be cooked for 8 minutes.
• Use leftover chicken for tacos or make a double batch and freeze half for tacos later.
• Substituting light cream cheese for regular works great in this recipe.
• If you prefer shredded chicken, cook the chicken on LOW for 6-7 hours in crock pot, or HIGH pressure for 10 minutes in the instant pot.
• This dish is best served over rice. Have you tried making rice in the Instant Pot? 

Intimidated by using an Instant Pot? Learn in minutes with this Easy Start Instant Pot Guide full of tips, hacks, and tricks.

More Chicken Recipes to LOVE!

• Bacon Wrapped Chicken
• Quick Lemon Thyme Chicken
• Spinach Artichoke Chicken
• Creamy Tuscan Chicken
• Buffalo Chicken Salad

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Creamy Cilantro Lime Chicken

Creamy Cilantro Lime Chicken recipe has seasoned chicken in a creamy, lime sauce. This effortless dinner can be cooked in a crock pot or instant pot.

4.35 from 20 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours 40 minutes

Servings: 4

Author: Melissa Erdelac

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil (for instant pot directions)
• ▢ 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ▢ 1 teaspoon cumin
• ▢ 3/4 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• ▢ 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• ▢ pinch red pepper flakes
• ▢ 1/2 cup fresh chopped cilantro, divided
• ▢ 1/2 cup chicken broth (increase to 1 cup for instant pot directions)
• ▢ 1 lime, zested and juiced
• ▢ 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• ▢ 8 ounces cream cheese, cubed and room temperature
• ▢ for serving: cooked rice, additional lime wedges, cilantro

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Instructions

SLOW COOKER DIRECTIONS:

• Place chopped onion on bottom of slow cooker. In a small bowl combine garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper. Rub seasonings all over chicken breasts and place chicken on top of chopped onion.
• Sprinkle chicken with 1/4 cup cilantro and red pepper flakes. Pour in 1/2 cup chicken broth, lime juice, and lime zest. Cover and cook chicken on LOW for 3 hours.
• Remove lid and ladle out about 1/4 cup hot liquid into a small bowl. Whisk cornstarch into the small amount of liquid and stir back into the slow cooker. Cook for 30 additional minutes, until chicken temperature reaches 160ºF.
• Remove the lid to add cubed cream cheese and remaining chopped cilantro. Stir until smooth and creamy. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Serve creamy sauce over chicken with rice, additional cilantro, and lime wedges.

INSTANT POT DIRECTIONS:

• In a small bowl combine garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper. Rub seasonings all over chicken breasts and set aside.
• Turn instant pot onto SAUTE and heat 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Brown 2 chicken breasts in heated oil 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden (but not cooked through). Set aside and repeat with remaining 2 chicken breasts, adding remaining oil. Remove browned chicken and set aside.
• Add onion to instant pot and sauté until tender, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup of chicken broth to the pot, scraping up browned bits with silicone spoon. Add in 1/4 cup cilantro, lime juice, lime zest, and red pepper flakes. 
• Place chicken back in pressure cooker. Close lid and seal valve. Cook on HIGH pressure for 5 minutes. Quick release pressure and transfer chicken to a clean plate. Cover with foil to keep warm.
• Remove lid and ladle out about 1/4 cup hot liquid into a small bowl. Whisk cornstarch into the small amount of liquid. Press SAUTE LOW and add cornstarch mixture back to pot, stirring constantly until thickened. Stir in remaining cilantro and cream cheese until smooth. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Serve creamy sauce over chicken with rice, additional cilantro, and lime wedges.

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Recipe Notes

 

Tips for Cooking Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe

• Zest lime first, then extract juice.
• If you prefer no hint of spice, omit the red pepper flakes.
• For golden brown chicken out of the crock pot, brown the chicken in a skillet over medium high heat first in a little olive oil.
• To save time when preparing the instant pot version, browning the chicken can be skipped. However, the chicken will need to be cooked for 8 minutes.
• Use leftover chicken for tacos or make a double batch and freeze half for tacos later.
• Substituting light cream cheese for regular works great in this recipe.
• If you prefer shredded chicken, cook the chicken on LOW for 6-7 hours in crock pot, or HIGH pressure for 10 minutes in the instant pot.

Nutrition

Calories: 216kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 1076mg | Potassium: 673mg | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 200IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 224mg | Iron: 1mg

Course: Dinner

Categories: Dinners Fall Gluten Free Grain Free Instant Pot One Pot Meals Recipes Slow Cooker Spring Summer Winter

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