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This Crockpot Chicken Lime Soup is a twist on Mexican-style chicken soup called sopa de lima. Made with flavorful tomato broth, bold Mexican seasonings, and tender shredded chicken, this crockpot soup recipe makes meal prep a breeze plus it freezes well if you want to make extra.  Light and fresh from the cilantro and lime with a little spice, this delicious cilantro lime chicken soup will awaken your tastebuds!

Close up of cilantro lime chicken soup with avocado.
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Why You’ll Love This Chicken Lime Soup

One of my most favorite *SIMPLE* protein-packed soup combinations! SO flavorful, satisfying, and just GOOD! Finishing this tasty soup with fresh lime + avocado is everything dear to me 😁

  • Multiple cooking methods: This delicious soup recipe can be made using whatever method you prefer or have time for. The Instant Pot, Stovetop, & Crockpot Instructions are all included.
  • Easy Crockpot Recipe:  This easy cilantro chicken lime soup simmers away in the crockpot, the instant pot, or on the stove doing all the work to cook and blend the flavors for you. Just sear your chicken, toss everything in a big pot of your choice.
  • High Protein Content:  This soup recipe contains XXX grams of protein to help you stay satisfied longer and build healthy muscle.
  • Perfect for Meal Prep:  Making this as a weekly meal prep will keep your busy weeks a little more sane with food that is ready to eat!
  • Budget Friendly:  Soup helps stretch the family dinner budget while filling up those bellies with fresh, whole-food ingredients you carefully choose yourself.
  • Customizable: Soup recipes are great because you can add virtually anything you need to use up in the refrigerator, add your own favorite toppings like cheese, or let the kids add what they love.

If you’re looking for more Healthy Chicken Soup Recipes, then you may want to try our Healthy Thai Chicken Soup, Mexican Fiesta Chicken Soup, or Easy Greek Chicken Soup.

👉 Try this Homemade Bone Broth Recipe to use in any of our soup recipes!

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

  • 1 Tbsp olive or avocado oil
  • 1-1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 white onion, finely diced
  • 4 fresh celery ribs, finely diced
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, finely diced
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped
  • 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • 1 (14-oz) jar of crushed tomatoes
  • 8 cups chicken bone broth
  • 1 Tbsp chipotle chili powder or regular chili powder
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tsps ground cumin
  • 2 tsps dried oregano
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • freshly squeezed juice of 3 limes
  • 2 avocados, diced

How to make Chicken Lime Soup in the Crockpot

⬛ Crockpot Method:

Rub the chicken with all of the seasonings on all sides.

Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sear for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until nicely browned but not fully cooked through.

Transfer your seared chicken to the crockpot.

Sauteed chicken in crockpot to make chicken lime soup recipe.

Add in the onions, celery, peppers, garlic, crushed tomatoes, all seasonings, and broth.

Diced ingredients for lime chicken soup.
Ingredients in a crockpot to make a shredded chicken lime soup.
Bone broth added to crockpot for chicken lime soup topped with avocado.

Stir to combine.

Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours, or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.

Once the time is up, remove the chicken breasts from the crockpot and shred them using 2 forks.

Return the shredded chicken back to the crockpot.

Stir in chopped cilantro and fresh lime juice.

⬛ Instant Pot Method:

Rub the chicken with all the seasonings on all sides.

Press the SAUTE button. Add the oil and sear the chicken, in batches, for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until nicely browned but not fully cooked through.

Add in the onions, celery, peppers, garlic, crushed tomatoes, all seasonings, and broth.

Stir to combine.

Press the CANCEL button to turn the sauté function off.

Set the lid and seal the vent of the instant pot. Press the HIGH PRESSURE button and set the timer for 15 minutes.

Once the time is complete, manually release the pressure.

Remove the chicken breast from the crockpot and shred them using 2 forks.

Return the shredded chicken back to the crockpot.

Stir in chopped cilantro and lime juice.

⬛ Stovetop Method:

Rub the chicken with all of the seasonings on all sides.

Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sear for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until nicely browned but not fully cooked through.

Add in the onions, celery, peppers, garlic, crushed tomatoes, all seasonings, and broth.

Stir to combine.

Bring to a boil, then lower heat to LOW.

Cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes.

Once the time is up, remove the chicken breasts from the pot and shred them using 2 forks.

Return the shredded chicken back into your pot.

Stir in chopped cilantro and fresh lime juice.

Enjoy!

❤Rachel

Rachel’s Tips for the Best Chicken Lime Soup Recipe

Close up of chicken lime soup.

Looking for more Crockpot chicken soup recipes? Try our this Crockpot Creamy Green Chile Chicken Soup, Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili, or Chicken Vegetable Packed Soup (Stovetop or Slow Cooker).

Serving Suggestions

Serve soup hot with chopped avocado, lime wedges, and extra cilantro.

This chicken lime soup with cilantro is a great light summer lunch and would be perfect served with a side dish of cilantro lime slaw, Mexican salad, or beans and quinoa.

Here are some other recipes that go well with this cilantro lime soup:

Leftover Storage and Reheat Instructions

If you have leftovers or decide to meal prep, this recipe will last in the refrigerator up to 4 days. It also freezes really well for up to 2 months, however, I don’t recommend freezing this chicken soup with the avocado.  Instead, add those right before serving.  

To reheat lime chicken soup, place it in the refrigerator to thaw if it is frozen, then reheat using the microwave or the stove top.

I often double up soup recipes because it always tastes even better the next day, and also freezes very well. So right after dinner, dish up your lunch containers for tomorrow and stash them in the fridge, then freeze the rest for the next time you’re craving this DELICIOUS soup!

Healthy chicken lime soup bowl.

Recipe FAQs

What is chicken lime soup?  

Chicken lime soup is a boldly flavored broth based soup similar to sopa de lima.  The seasonings are Mexican-style, and the soup has an overall brightness from the lime juice.

More Easy Meal Prep Soups You’ll Love:

Servings: 6

Crockpot Chicken & Lime Soup

This Crockpot Chicken Lime Soup is a  twist on a classic Mexican-style chicken soup called sopa de lima, with bold and flavorful tomatoey broth, spicy Mexican seasonings, and of course tender shredded chicken. 
Prep: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
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Ingredients 

  • 1 Tbsp olive or avocado oil
  • 1-1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 white onion, finely diced
  • 4 fresh celery ribs, finely diced
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, finely diced
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped
  • 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • 1 14-oz jar of crushed tomatoes
  • 8 cups chicken bone broth
  • 1 Tbsp chipotle chili powder or regular chili powder
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tsps ground cumin
  • 2 tsps dried oregano
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • freshly squeezed juice of 3 limes
  • 2 avocados, diced

Instructions 

Crockpot Method:

  • Rub the chicken with all of the seasonings on all sides.
  • Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sear for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until nicely browned but not fully cooked through.
  • Transfer your seared chicken to the crockpot.
  • Add in the onions, celery, peppers, garlic, crushed tomatoes, all seasonings, and broth.
  • Stir to combine.
  • Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours, or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
  • Once the time is up, remove the chicken breasts from the crockpot and shred them using 2 forks.
  • Return the shredded chicken back to the crockpot.
  • Stir in chopped cilantro and fresh lime juice.

Instant Pot Method:

  • Rub the chicken with all the seasonings on all sides.
  • Press the SAUTE button. Add the oil and sear the chicken, in batches, for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until nicely browned but not fully cooked through.
  • Add in the onions, celery, peppers, garlic, crushed tomatoes, all seasonings, and broth.
  • Stir to combine.
  • Press the CANCEL button to turn the sauté function off.
  • Set the lid and seal the vent of the instant pot. Press the HIGH PRESSURE button and set the timer for 15 minutes.
  • Once the time is complete, manually release the pressure.
  • Remove the chicken breast from the crockpot and shred them using 2 forks.
  • Return the shredded chicken back to the crockpot.
  • Stir in chopped cilantro and lime juice.

Stovetop Method:

  • Rub the chicken with all of the seasonings on all sides.
  • Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sear for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until nicely browned but not fully cooked through.
  • Add in the onions, celery, peppers, garlic, crushed tomatoes, all seasonings, and broth.
  • Stir to combine.
  • Bring to a boil, then lower heat to LOW.
  • Cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes.
  • Once the time is up, remove the chicken breasts from the pot and shred them using 2 forks.
  • Return the shredded chicken back into your pot.
  • Stir in chopped cilantro and fresh lime juice.

To serve:

  • Serve soup hot with chopped avocado, lime wedges, and extra cilantro.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 243kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 24mg, Sodium: 644mg, Potassium: 670mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 818IU, Vitamin C: 47mg, Calcium: 53mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Pinterest pin for crockpot chicken lime soup.


Hi, I'm Rachel!

Welcome to CleanFoodCrush! Here you will find SIMPLE and FUN recipes. We’re all about REAL Food for REAL Life. Eating a little bit better, not “perfect”.

I’ve been creating recipes, inspiration, and supportive online communities through Cleanfoodcrush for over 12 years! I hope you feel supported and inspired to make some small changes that add up big time!

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