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!

More Delicious Copycat Recipes

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?

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!

3.78 from 18 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 8

Total Time 8 10

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Servings

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