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zesty lime chili shredded chicken in a wide horizontal frame on a plate, glistening with sauce and topped with fresh cilantro and lime wedges, bright vibrant light, shallow depth of field, landscape orientation

Zesty Lime Chili Chicken

Chicken prepared in a tangy lime-and-chili sauce is ideal for taco bowls.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs chicken breasts fully thawed before slow cooking
  • 0.33 cup lime juice
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp honey

Method
 

  1. Add the fully thawed chicken to the slow cooker.
  2. Whisk together the lime juice, chili powder, cumin, broth, garlic, and honey, then pour over the chicken.
  3. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours until the chicken is fork-tender. Check the thickest chicken pieces with a thermometer and continue only until they reach 165°F and are tender; start checking after 3 hours because thawed breasts may finish before the stated time.
  4. Shred the chicken directly in the cooking liquid and stir to soak up the flavor.
  5. Serve in warm tortillas with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime.

Notes

Reserve some lime zest to stir in at the end for an extra zesty pop.
Thaw chicken fully in the refrigerator before beginning. The listed time is a planning estimate; thickness and slow-cooker performance vary.