This Cafe Rio Chicken Recipe is just like you would get at the restaurant! Chicken breasts are slow-cooked in a zesty dressing and Mexican spices and the finished product is perfect in tacos, burritos, or salads.

White Crock Pot with Cafe Rio chicken on table next to limes and fresh cilantro.

Cafe Rio is one of my all-time favorite restaurants.

I could eat a shredded chicken salad every day!

While most people love getting the sweet pork barbacoa in their entrees, I would rather have their tangy shredded chicken.

It’s not very budget-friendly to eat out every day, so the next best thing is making the recipes at home!

This Cafe Rio chicken recipe is incredibly easy to make because all of the cooking takes place in the Crock Pot and you only need 5 ingredients.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Cafe Rio chicken ingredients including Italian dressing, garlic, cumin and chili powder.

Place 2 pounds of chicken breast (2-3 breasts) in your Crock Pot.

Pour 1 cup zesty Italian dressing over the chicken.

Sprinkle with 1/2 tablespoon of chili powder, 1/2 tablespoon of cumin, and 2 cloves of minced garlic.

Cafe Rio chicken ingredients in large black Crock Pot next to kitchen towel.

Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours.

Once chicken is done, remove it from the Crock Pot, shred, and place it back in the juice to serve.

Recipe Tips and Substitutions

Cafe Rio shredded chicken with cilantro garnish in white Crock Pot.

We love to serve this shredded chicken with cilantro lime rice and tomatillo dressing in a homemade Cafe Rio salad.

You can also use this chicken in:

Burritos: Wrap chicken, cheese, and beans in a burrito-sized tortilla and cover with enchilada sauce and more cheese. Cook at 350 degrees until cheese has melted.

Enchiladas: Substitute this chicken in these chicken enchiladas with sour cream white sauce.

Quesadillas: Sandwich shredded chicken and cheese between two tortillas and cook in a greased frying pan over low heat until cheese has melted.

More Like This

Shredded Cafe Rio chicken and tortilla with rice and beans on cream plate.

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I hope your family loves this Cafe Rio chicken recipe! If you make it, be sure to take a picture and tag me on Instagram with @ashcroftfamilytable and use the hashtag #ashcroftfamilytable!