Copycat Cafe Rio Chicken Recipe

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.

Copy Cat Cafe Rio Chicken Recipe - tray of shredded chicken tacos

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!

Copy Cat Cafe Rio Chicken Recipe - adding the cumin to the other ingredients in a crock pot

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.

Copy Cat Cafe Rio Chicken Recipe - plate of the Cafe Rio copy cat chicken, plate of tortillas, bowls of diced sweet peppers, guacamole, shredded cheese, lime wedges with hot pepper on table.

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!

Copy Cat Cafe Rio Chicken Recipe - squeezing a lime wedge over chicken tacos

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?

Cafe Rio Chicken

Copycat Cafe Rio Chicken Recipe

Jill Nystul
This recipe for Cafe Rio-style shredded chicken is a family favorite, and I love how easy it is to make (in a crockpot OR Instant Pot!) It's great for parties and gatherings, too!
3.69 from 19 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 10 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 6
Calories 284 kcal

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.

Nutrition

Calories: 284kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 32gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.05gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 926mgPotassium: 617mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 264IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg

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Jill Nystul (aka Jillee)

Jill Nystul is an accomplished writer and author who founded the blog One Good Thing by Jillee in 2011. With over 30 years of experience in homemaking, she has become a trusted resource for contemporary homemakers by offering practical solutions to everyday household challenges.I share creative homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make your life easier and more enjoyable!

About Jillee

Jill Nystul

Jill’s 30 years of homemaking experience, make her the trusted source for practical household solutions.

About Jillee

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3.69 from 19 votes (19 ratings without comment)

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12 Comments

  1. My 14 and 19 year old boys declared this, “the best chicken they have ever had”. I guess it’s a keeper!

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  2. 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.

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  3. 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!

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    • Perfect! I’ll have to look into getting a tortilla press :-)

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  4. 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.
  5. 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.
    • . . . on new Mission brand gluten-free flour tortillas !

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.
3.69 from 19 votes (19 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

12 Comments

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
    • . . . on new Mission brand gluten-free flour tortillas !

      Please log in or create a free account to comment.