Crockpot Cilantro Lime Chicken

Crock pot Cilantro Lime Chicken by Allen Houston

I love this recipe because it is seriously easy to throw into the crock pot and finish up later. I made enough that I could use it all week, and could make different things with it so that I wouldn't get bored of my choice. It is a low maintenance recipe to begin with, and can be made for soups, salads, sandwiches, tacos, or on top of rice.  

Taste: I love food in general, but especially food that is flavorful and not hard to eat. This chicken does a fantastic job with that. The cilantro gives it a homey taste for me, and it doesn't clash with many flavors. I especially love it in tortillas with fresh salsa and avocado on top. 

Ease of preparation: The crock pot makes this meal so easy to do, that it couldn't get much easier. If you make it early enough before you need it, you can cook it on low, or you can turn it up to high and have it done sooner. The chicken doesn't need to be babysat until just before it is done, so you can enjoy other things while your dinner basically cooks itself. 

Prep time: 15 minutes 

Cook time: 3-6 hours, depending

Serving size: 6-8 servings

Recipe:

Crock pot Cilantro Lime Chicken

4-6 Boneless Skinless Chicken breasts (or a whole chicken or thighs)

5 limes

Fresh Cilantro

Onion-cubed

Chicken broth

Salt and Pepper

Garlic powder

Preparation: 

Purchase your groceries, including your choice of cut of chicken breasts. Chicken breasts will cook faster than thighs or a whole chicken. You will also need a medium to large sized crock pot with a lid. Cut your chicken in quarters to make the cooking time faster. Lay your chicken in the bottom of the crock pot. Squeeze several limes over chicken, and cover with chicken broth. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cube an onion over chicken, and lay several stalk of cilantro on top. Cook on low for 3-5 hours, or until chicken is completely cooked through. Remove chicken and toss the wilted cilantro stalks and onion. Pour the liquid into a bowl for later. Shred the chicken with 2 forks. Mix in some fresh cilantro leaves. Put the shredded chicken back into the crock pot and slowly add back in the broth-lime liquid. This will help the chicken stay juicy and moist. Continue adding the broth-lime liquid until it is perfectly juicy for you. Store remainder of the broth-lime liquid for a few days, to ensure the chicken remains moist. 

*If you use a whole chicken, your cook time will increase. 

The Nutritional information is dependent on just chicken alone, not what you pair it with. 

Nutritional Analysis: 

Chicken is an excellent source of protein, and it is easy for students to afford. Protein is necessary for your body to function, because it keeps our muscles, bones, and blood working as they are supposed to. 

Nutritional Value: 

6-8 servings 

Serving size: 1 cup of chicken

Per serving: 

Calories: 172

Total Fat: 2g

Carbohydrates: 4.75g

Protein: 32.3g

This recipe is only based on protein, so it leaves out other food groups that are essential to daily life, but because this is a simple recipe, you can get most of those others by mixing the chicken up with other options as mentioned above.

Houston, A.