Easy Cafe Rio Copycat Recipes The Whole Family Will Enjoy!

One of our family favorite restaurants is Cafe Rio! If you haven’t been there… I am telling you right now that you HAVE to go there on your next date night. You will not regret it! I have always loved Mexican food… except when I was pregnant. In fact, the littlest thought of Mexican cuisine when I was pregnant made me sick! BUT you better believe, from the moment we left the hospital with our newborn baby – my love for Mexican food returned and is at it’s full force. I am addicted to chips and salsa and obsessed with Cafe Rio’s Sweet Pork Salad with House Dressing. It is to die for.

My older sister is a queen in the kitchen! She is an incredible chef and knows how to make the best homemade meals. She knows how to feed her family of six (actually seven as she had a baby THIS WEEK!) and knows how to feed an army of 19 (our whole entire family) for family gatherings. Luckily, she has shared her secret recipe’s with me and I am excited to start sharing them with you! I thought I would kick off our family’s favorite recipes by the TOP Recipes of Cafe Rio! They are a family favorite that EVERYONE will enjoy!

Cafe Rio Rice

3 cups water
4 t chicken bouillon
4t garlic minced
1/2 bunch cilantro
1 can green chilies
3/4 tsp salt
1 T butter
1/2 onion
3 cups rice

Directions: Blend all cilantro, green chilies and onion together in a food processor.  Bring water to a boil and add all ingredients, simmer and cover 30 min.

Cafe Rio Chicken {CROCKPOT}

1 small bottle Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing
1 T Chili Powder
1 T. cumin
3 cloves garlic- minced
5 lbs. chicken breast

Directions: Cook all together in a crockpot for 4 hours.  Shred meat and cook 1 additional hour

Cafe Rio Homemade Tortillas

3 cups flour
1/2 cup veggie or olive oil
1 1/8 cup luke warm water
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder

Directions: Mix all ingredients and knead.  If too hard to knead, add a little water, but if too sticky add a little more flour.  Let stand for 10 min.  Makes about 12 small balls.  Flatten each by rolling them out and then cook them in a frying pan.  I usually have 2 frying pans going at once they all get cooked faster.

Cafe Rio Creamy Tomatillo Dressing {House Dressing}

1 pkg Hidden Valley Ranch
1 cup Mayo
1 cup cilantro, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
3 tomatillos – peel off paper, chop
1/3-1/2 cup buttermilk, to consistency you want
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper optional

Directions: Put in blender and mix

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork {Crockpot}

3 lb Pork Roast
16 oz Salsa
1 can Coca Cola or Dr. Pepper
2 cups brown sugar
water

Directions: Fill your crock pot with just the roast and fill it half way with water. Cook on high for 5 hours. Drain the liquid. Cut the roast into 3 or 4 sections and place back into crock pot. Puree the salsa in the blender and transfer to a bowl. Add the Coke and brown sugar to the mix. Pour over roast and cook on high for 3 more hours. Shred with fork.

My Recommendations: I also added 1/2 pack of fajita seasoning, 1 can green chilis and about 2 T of taco seasoning during the last hour of cooking.  Also, when it was done cooking, I drained out all the liquid and reduced it in a saucepan so it was thicker.  With these additions it tasted AMAZING!

I hope you have fun trying our favorite Cafe Rio recipes! There is no better way to end a busy day, than with an easy and delicious Mexican fiesta!

Don’t forget to PIN IT to Pinterest to save it for later or share it on Facebook for your family and friends!

Danielle is the owner of Today's the Best Day. She strives to provide creative and uplifting content in order to enrich the parenting experience for women everywhere. Danielle hopes to help you and your family to make every day the best day!

February 20, 2014 by Danielle Davis | 5 Comments