Cinco de Mayo, Revisited: Slow-cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos

This post was originally published on my old blog. This version may contain minor edits and updates. The original is preserved at Recipe Repository. 

May 5, already! Just got this post in under the wire. Phew.

One year ago today I began Recipe Repository. I posted a recipe for chicken tomatillo enchiladas, a recipe I absolutely love. It’s full of flavor, healthful and filling.

Though it’s not difficult to make, a quick recipe it is not. I honestly love that about it, as making it requires you to use several techniques and less-than-mainstream ingredients you can learn here and use for other recipes. I wholeheartedly believe making recipes that take time and thought is one of the surest ways to learn to cook, and that everyone could benefit from spending a little more time cooking.

Still, I realize that sometimes you truly need a quick and easy recipe. We’re all running around like chickens with our heads cut off all the time. From work, to class, from the store, to a party that you were looking forward to but now you’re honestly kind of exhausted to go to… all the while you’re still compulsively checking your email without realizing it.

If you still want to make your own meal after all of that, you’re on the superhero fast-track, my friend.

Because I appreciate your super status and your food journey—whatever it looks like right now—I’m going to share the antithesis of chicken tomatillo enchiladas. One of my go-to quick recipes. Slow-cooker cilantro-lime tacos.

Though slow is in the name, speed is the game.

If you can carve out 10-15 minutes in the morning (or on your lunch break, as I did today), you can make these. When you get home, shred it, stick it in a tortilla and add your favorite toppings.

This recipe makes quite a bit, so it’s great if you have guests. Personally I like to make it and then eat off of it for a few days. I’m a big leftovers for lunch kind of girl, so it’s perfect. I know some people don’t like leftovers (explain this to me, please), but what kind of MONSTER doesn’t want tacos for lunch?!

Sorry, got a little carried away there.

Anyway.

I really can’t believe it’s been a full year since I started this blog. I call it that lightly, because this was never meant to be permanent. Soon I’ll be starting a bigger project (really, it’s almost ready), so be on the lookout here, on my Instagram (@leanndacavalier) and on SnapChat (lcavalier33)!

Yay for progress! And TACOS.

Tacos. Mmmmm…

Let me know what you think with a comment or over on SnapChat. I’d love to hear from you!

Slow-cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos

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• Author: Leannda Cavalier
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 6-8 hours
• Total Time: -26112915.383333 minute
• Yield: 14-16 tacos
• Category: Dinner
• Method: slowcooking
• Cuisine: Mexican

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Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 3-4 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 small white or yellow onions, quartered
• 6 medium garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 Tablespoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• ¾ cup cilantro, chopped and divided in half
• 3 limes, halved
• Salt and pepper to taste (start with ½ tsp each)
• Taco tortillas (8-inch)

Topping suggestions: 

• Avocados or guacamole
• Salsa
• Diced tomatoes
• Shredded lettuce
• Crema Mexicana or sour cream
• Cheese of your choice

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Instructions

1. Pour oil in the bottom of the slow-cooker, making certain to cover the sides as well as the bottom.
2. Place the onions in the slow-cooker.
3. Add the chicken, garlic and bay leaves.
4. Evenly spread the cumin, red pepper flakes, oregano, salt and pepper over the chicken.
5. Squeeze two of the lime halves over the chicken, placing the (clean) rinds in the slow-cooker.
6. Place the lid on and cook 6-8 hours on low or (if you’re desperate) 4 hours on high.
7. Shred the cooked chicken with two large forks*, removing bay leaves as you go.
8. Squeeze the remaining lime juice over the chicken and add the remaining cilantro.

Optional: wrap 3-4 tortillas in a clean, slightly damp kitchen towel (squeeze out as much water as you can), and microwave on a plate for 30 seconds to warm.

*If any part of the chicken is still pink and will not shred, put the lid back on for half an hour more and check again.

Notes

• For even more flavor: sprinkle the raw chicken breasts with a little salt and pepper and sear for 4 minutes in a pan over high heat. This is a totally optional step and will make prep take longer, but it takes the flavor to a whole new level thanks to the maillard browning reaction that happens when you cook food with higher, direct heat.
• Frozen chicken is a Godsend, but it doesn’t belong in a slow cooker. Unthawing with the slow-building heat of the crock-pot puts chicken in the prime temperature range for bacteria growth for too long. If you want to use frozen chicken, be certain to thaw it overnight in the refrigerator first.

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