This copycat Cafe Rio chicken recipe is one of my family’s favorite meals, and I love it because I can toss everything in my Crock Pot or Instant Pot and have a delicious meal on the table in no time! And one can never have too many delicious, fast, freezer-friendly recipes in their repertoire, as far as I’m concerned.

How To Make Cafe Rio Copycat Chicken
Adapted from Life As A Lofthouse
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs. chicken breasts
- 1 cup zesty Italian salad dressing
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix* (mixed with 1/2 cup of water)
- 1/2 Tbsp. minced garlic
- 1/2 Tbsp. chili powder
- 1/2 Tbsp. ground cumin
*Note: You can use 2 tablespoons of homemade ranch seasoning mix instead if you prefer!

Cafe Rio Chicken Crock Pot Cooking Instructions
Place all of the ingredients in your crock pot and stir. Cook on High for 5-6 hours, or Low for 8 hours. Shred the chicken and return it to the liquid before serving.
Cafe Rio Chicken Instant Pot Cooking Instructions
Add all ingredients to the Instant Pot, select Pressure Cook, and cook on high pressure for 17 minutes. Allow 5 minutes of Natural Release, then use Quick Release to release any remaining pressure from the pot.
Shred the chicken and return it to the liquid before serving.

How To Serve Cafe Rio Shredded Chicken
Once prepared, you can use this flavorful shredded chicken in a lot of different ways! Make it into a salad, burrito, tostada, tacos — whatever you like!
I like to double the recipe and freeze whatever we don’t eat for a super fast meal down the road!
More Delicious Copycat Recipes

Conclusion
This Cafe Rio chicken is inexpensive, easy to make, and so versatile your family will never get tired of it. It also freezes well, which is great for those of us who like to stock up on freezer meals.
I know how mind-numbing it can be to try to think of what to have for dinner every day, and having some prepared, cooked meat in the freezer really helps. (Looking for more meal inspiration? Check out all of my main course recipes!)
What’s your favorite way to eat shredded chicken?

Copycat Cafe Rio Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts boneless and skinless
- 1 cup zesty Italian dressing
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix added to 1/2 cup of water
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 Tbsp chili powder
- 1/2 Tbsp ground cumin
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in a crock pot and stir to combine.
- Cook on high for 5-6 hours (or low for 8 hours).
- Shred and serve.
My 14 and 19 year old boys declared this, “the best chicken they have ever had”. I guess it’s a keeper!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Gotta love hearing that!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Really great recipe! I made it this weekend and had my doubts how it would turn out with all the salad dressing in it, but it was fabulous. I served it on the Indian Fry Bread recipe you have listed, along with guacamole. Perfect meal.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Sounds delicious! I’m so glad you liked it :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love this recipe. Even better on day two! It is my go to gf meal for tacos, salads, nachos, etc. that EVERBODY loves. Because it freezes well, I divide smaller potions. My kids like that they can just take some out of the freezer, heat it up and have something they love without waiting hours. I have also made it quickly on the stovetop, but the flavours blend better if it cooks in the crockpot. AND I recently purchased a tortilla press and make corn tortillas (which are so easy), which makes my celiac son very, very happy!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Perfect! I’ll have to look into getting a tortilla press :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Jillee! Thanks for this great looking recipe. WE don’t have cafe Rio here, but this looks like a perfect dinner! I have a question though – how much water should be added? I see it in the photo, but not on the recipe.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The water is from the 1 cup of italian salad dressing plus 1/2 cup of water that gets mixed in with the ranch dressing packet. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Jillee,
I don’t have a crock pot. How would I make this recipe in the oven? It looks wonderful !!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Here is a post all about converting recipes :-) https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2014/06/stovetopoven-crockpot-conversion-chart.html
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Oh, YUM! Making this tomorrow for sure.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.. . . on new Mission brand gluten-free flour tortillas !
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