Jump to Recipe
6 hours hrs 45 minutes mins
13 Comments
No ratings yet
Our Cafe Rio copycat recipe for slow cooker chicken and cilantro rice tastes just like the real deal. It's healthy, simple, and delicious.
Cafe Rio Slow Cooker Chicken is a whole family favorite recipe and one made with simple ingredients that make the bestburrito bowlswith chicken and the best Mexican rice like any other cafe rio recipes you’ve tried.
This is a personal favorite since it is a healthydelicious chicken recipethat I can pair with my favorite toppings and enjoy the leftovers for aneasy dinneror lunch recipe.
For this yummy recipe, serve the chicken and copycat cilantro lime rice with some pico de Gallo and tortilla chips for your next taco Tuesday.
Ingredients used to make Cafe Rio Slow Cooker Chicken:
Chicken
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or chicken thighs)
- Italian dressing (light or fat free) – about half a bottle
- Cumin
- Chili powder
Rice
- Uncooked brown rice
- Fresh cilantro chopped
- Salsa verde green salsa
- Green onions sliced
- Water
- Salt
How to make Cafe Rio Slow Cooker Chicken:
- Mix cumin, chili powder & dressing in bowl.
- Place frozen chicken breasts incrock pot.
- Pour mixture over chicken & cover.
- Cook on high for 5 hrs or on low for 7 to 8. Shred chicken in the crockpot and mix it well.
- Wash and chop the cilantro. Mix the cilantro with 2 cups of water and pour in the pan for cooking the rice. Add two more cups of water, the salt, Salsa Verde, and onion. Bring to a boil. Stir in the rice in the boiling water. Cover and turn down heat to very low; steam for 30 minutes. Makes about 10 servings.
- Put it all together with Toppings:
- Cook whole wheat burrito tortillas on non-greased skillet 10-15 seconds on each side.
- Put Chicken, Cilantro Rice, black beans, avocado, lowfat cheese, cilantro, tomatoes, (I also added red pepper, green onions and spinach) inside of tortilla.
- Add anything else you like (fat free sour cream, salsa, etc.).
- Roll up your tortilla and eat your delicious and healthy Cafe Rio Burrito!
Can this become a taco?
Of course, it can! Simply use your favorite corn tortillas or flour tortilla and use your favorite toppings for cafe rio chicken tacos.
Toppings for this copycat cafe rio chicken recipe
This copycat recipe does not need too many ingredients to be delicious and the best Mexican flavor. You can keep this a simple recipe or get extravagant with it! Here are some of my favorite things to use with this easy recipe and favorite taco toppings:
- Olives
- Banana Peppers
- Red Onions
- Lettuce
- Refried Beans
- Spanish Rice
- Black Beans
- Sour Cream (or plain Greek yogurt)
- Guacamole
- Avocado
- Jalapeños
- Tomatoes
- Bell Peppers
How to store this tasty chicken recipe:
Store the café Rio chicken in the refrigerator in an airtight container. The leftover chicken will be great for dinner the next night or stay delicious for 4-5 days.
What to serve with this cafe rio shredded chicken recipe:
- Easy Mexican Salsa Rice (Quick Spanish Rice) Recipe
- Fresh Lime Salsa (Easy Homemade Salsa) Recipe
- Copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa Recipe
- Fully Loaded Guacamole Recipe
- Baked Avocado Egg Rolls Recipe
Love cooking as much as we do? Join our FREE private Facebook Group: Six Sisters’ Dinner Club!
Serves: 10
Cafe Rio Slow Cooker Chicken and Cilantro Rice Recipe
Our Cafe Rio copycat recipe for slow cooker chicken and cilantro rice tastes just like the real deal. It's healthy, simple, and delicious.
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 6 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
Total Time 6 hours hrs 45 minutes mins
PrintPin
Ingredients
Chicken
- 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 8 ounces Italian dressing (light or fat free) – about half a bottle
- 1 Tablespoon cumin
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
Rice
- 2 cups uncooked brown rice
- 2 cups fresh cilantro chopped
- 1 cup salsa verde green salsa
- 1 bunch green onions sliced
- 4 cups water
- pinch of salt
Instructions
Mix cumin, chili powder & dressing in bowl
Place frozen chicken breasts in crock pot
Pour mixture over chicken & cover
Cook on high for 5 hrs or on low for 7 to 8. Shred chicken in the crockpot and mix it well.
Wash and chop the cilantro. Mix the cilantro with 2 cups of water and pour in the pan for cooking the rice. Add two more cups of water, the salt, Salsa Verde, and onion. Bring to a boil. Stir in the rice in the boiling water. Cover and turn down heat to very low; steam for 30 minutes. Makes about 10 servings.
Put it all together with Toppings:
Cook whole wheat burrito tortillas on non-greased skillet 10-15 seconds on each side
Put Chicken, Cilantro Rice, black beans, avocado, lowfat cheese, cilantro, tomatoes, (I also added red pepper, green onions and spinach) inside of tortilla.
Add anything else you like (fat free sour cream, salsa, etc.)
Roll up your tortilla and eat your delicious and healthy Cafe Rio Burrito!
Notes
For the Cilantro Rice we used brown rice but you could also use white, long grain, or Jasmine.
Nutrition
Calories: 364 kcal · Carbohydrates: 34 g · Protein: 32 g · Fat: 10 g · Saturated Fat: 2 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 3 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 87 mg · Sodium: 568 mg · Potassium: 720 mg · Fiber: 2 g · Sugar: 4 g · Vitamin A: 675 IU · Vitamin C: 4 mg · Calcium: 37 mg · Iron: 2 mg
Equipment
Large Saucepan
Recipe Details
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican, Tex-Mex
Be sure to not miss another recipe! Follow Six Sisters’ Stuff on Instagram|Facebook|Pinterest|YouTube
If you made our recipe be sure to tag us on Instagram so we can see your hard work using #sixsistersstuff.
Join The Discussion
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
-
Mary says:
Just came across your blog on Pinterest...the name intrigued me. I'm the youngest of 6 girls, but we also have 4 boys in the mix! (but we're a "bit" older than you girls!)
Am now following! -
Katrina says:
Looks so yummy! We moved from out there about 6 years ago, and I am kicking myself that we never went to Cafe Rio. I am always hearing how great it is! Now I guess I can try the copycat recipe!
-
Inside a British Mum's Kitchen says:
Delicious flavors - simply wonderful
Mary x -
online shop says:
-
Jocelyn says:
Way to go with such a simple and easy recipe. I have never heard of Cafe Rio, but I think this looks like the perfect dinner for on the go nights. Thank you for sharing on Trick or Treat Tuesday!!!
-
mdnightrose86 says:
OMG!! I love Cafe Rio... and I live in Indiana. Needless to say... I was so happy to see this... will try it out soon. Thanks!
-
C says:
Yum! Just put the chicken in the crock pot for tonight, going to make your white chicken enchiladas with it. I can't wait!
-
Haylee says:
This was great! Thanks for sharing! I also added 3 garlic cloves as suggested by another copy cat recipe!
-
Theresa says:
Love love love this site! Will look more at the allergen friendly site too... when my 2yr old isn't trying to grab the keyboard... lol This looks amazing! I'd love your salsa verde recipe... if you have one! We've only had Costa Vida - I love love love their green enchilada sauce... I love that you made the cilantro lime rice w/brown rice!!! Keep up the great work - what a fun thing to do with your sisters!!!
-
Laurie says:
Love Cafe Rio! How many does this serve?
-
Cyd says:
Just click on the MAGIC button under the picture and then click on Nutrition. It will give you all of the nutritional value on our recipes. This is our new sister site - MyRecipeMagic.com. Hope you'll stop by and check it out! :) It has so many great features.
-
Krystal says:
Do you happen to have a copycat recipe for Cafe Rio's mild enchilada sauce?
-
Momma Cyd says:
We do not have a recipe for their mild enchilada sauce yet. We'll try to find one though! That would be delicious!
About The Author:
Contributor
This post was written by a past contributor of Six Sisters' Stuff. We appreciate all of the creative contributions that make Six Sisters' Stuff an amazing resource for families!
Read More
Other Recipes You Might Enjoy
Rainforest Cafe Copycat Beef Lava Nachos Recipe
28 minutes mins
Slow Cooker Healthy King Ranch Chicken Soup
4 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
Homemade Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Truffles Recipe
1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
Slow Cooker Chicken Gyros Recipe
8 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
Readers’ Favorite Recipes
Easy Baked Crack Chicken Recipe
30 minutes mins
Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars Recipe
40 minutes mins
Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas Recipe
1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Peaches and Cream Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
20 minutes mins
Peach Cobbler Dump Cake {4 Ingredients} Recipe
50 minutes mins
Chicken Zucchini Casserole Recipe
55 minutes mins