Cafe Rio Copy Cat Recipes

Cafe Rio is one of those restaurants in Utah that is always crowded.  For good reason too!  It’s really good!  Everything there is so flavorful!  I especially love their salads and the spicy cilantro dressing.  I came across this recipe and I really like this chicken so much more than Cafe Rio’s.  And it’s so simple and easy because it’s made in the crockpot. This recipe includes the green rice and spicy ranch dressing. This is my favorite dinner for a large group too!  Once you try it, you’ll think twice about going out to eat!

1 buttermilk ranch dressing packet (make as per recipe)
2 tomatillos (tomato like vegetable with a husk around them)
½ bunch of cilantro
1 clove garlic
Juice of 1 lime
1 jalapeZo (Use the seeds too if you like it spicy. You could substitute a few drops of green tobasco for the jalapeno.)
Use a food processor to blend all the ingredients well. Refrigerate.

Cafe Rio Chicken

1 small bottle Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing
1 T chili powder
1 T cumin
3 cloves garlic—minced
5 lbs chicken breast

Cook all together in a crock pot for 4 hours, shred meat and cook 1 additional hour.

Café Rio Rice

3 c water
4 t chicken bouillon
4 t garlic –minced
½ bunch cilantro
1 can green chiles—or equivalent fresh
¾ t salt
1 T butter
½ onion
3 c rice (see note)

Blend cilantro, green chiles and onion together in food processor. Bring water to a boil and add all ingredients, simmer covered 30 minutes. (Annette uses this in the rice cooker, much easier)

3 tsp. minced garlic

1 jalapeno

1/4 yellow onion

1/2 bunch cilantro

1 small can diced green chilies

3 (regular size) cans diced tomatoes

1 T. Kosher Salt or sea salt

1 T. Sugar

1T. Cumin

Let sit for about 30 min in refrigerator to let the flavors combine and ENJOY!

This is how I serve it to my kids:

-I use the uncooked tortilla’s from costco or Wal-Mart (back by the cream cheese) and cook the tortillas according to pkg directions.

-add to the tortilla: rice, chicken, shredded fiesta cheese, salsa, and dressing.

-wrap it up and serve to the kids!

This is how I eat it:

-add to a single salad bowl a cooked tortilla (it takes the shape of the bowl) add a bunch of salad, rice, chicken, cheese, salsa and dressing and eat it like a salad. Yum Yum! And EASY!