Our model of Cafe Rio Shredded Chicken is slow-cooked to perfection with a mix of savory spices good for a salad, burrito, quesadilla or enchiladas!
![a bowl of shredded chicken with spices like the version at cafe rio restaurant](https://www.superhealthykids.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cafe-rio-shredded-chicken-featured-image-square-1.jpeg)
![shredded chicken in a bowl with spices and a salad in the background](https://www.superhealthykids.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/cafe-rio-shredded-chicken-4.jpg)
Crockpot Shredded Chicken
Crockpot or gradual cooker shredded hen is an absolute game-changer for busy households and meal preppers alike! It’s tremendous handy—you simply toss the hen within the crockpot with some scrumptious seasonings and let it cook dinner low and gradual when you go about your day. By the time dinner rolls round, you’ve bought completely tender, juicy hen that virtually shreds itself.
It’s extremely versatile, too! Use it for tacos, salads, quesadillas, wraps, burritos—the probabilities are limitless. If you meal prep, this hen is nice to portion and hold within the fridge for as much as 5 days. It additionally freezes rather well and could be frozen for as much as 3 months!
This recipe is impressed by certainly one of our favourite native favourite eating places – Cafe Rio! The seasonings on the hen give it SO a lot taste and it all the time seems tremendous moist. You have gotten to present it a strive!
![overhead view of cafe rio shredded chicken recipe in a black bowl](https://www.superhealthykids.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/cafe-rio-shredded-chicken-3.jpg)
Ingredients for Cafe Rio Shredded Chicken
- Boneless Skinless Chicken. Lots of people wish to know what minimize of hen is finest for shredding. Boneless skinless hen breasts and thighs are your finest wager. Chicken breasts are leaner and shred simply, making them good for lighter dishes like salads and wraps. Chicken thighs are barely fattier, giving a richer, juicier shredded hen that’s improbable for tacos, casseroles, and hearty soups. Both cuts cook dinner superbly within the crockpot, and so it truly is simply your choice!
- White Vinegar. The acidity of the vinegar helps to interrupt down the hen fibers, making the meat additional tender and juicy. It additionally provides a delicate tanginess that brightens up the general taste profile of the hen with out overpowering the opposite components.
- Zesty Italian Dressing (dry). This seasoning combine is filled with herbs, spices, and a tangy kick that permeates the hen because it cooks, making a savory, well-seasoned dish. The mixture of garlic, onion, purple pepper flakes, and Italian herbs like oregano and basil offers the hen a posh and scrumptious style that may elevate easy shredded hen into one thing extraordinary. It’s a handy, all-in-one seasoning that saves you time from measuring out the entire components!
- Dry Ranch Dressing Mix. Ranch dressing combine combines the flavors of buttermilk, garlic, onion, dill, and parsley that provides a creamy, herby taste that everybody loves.
![ingredients to make cafe rio shredded chicken recipe](https://www.superhealthykids.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/cafe-rio-shredded-chicken-ingedients.jpg)
How to Make Crockpot Shredded Chicken Cafe Rio Style
There are simply 3 easy steps to make this hen!
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine vinegar, oil, zesty Italian seasoning packet, chili powder, cumin, and dry ranch seasoning.
- Spray the within of your gradual cooker with cooking spray after which add the hen. Pour the dressing combination excessive.
- Cover and cook dinner on excessive for 4 hours. When it’s completed, shred the hen with a fork.
![4 steps for making cafe rio shredded chicken in the crock pot](https://www.superhealthykids.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/cafe-rio-shredded-chicken-process-combined.jpg)
Tips for Shredding Chicken
An straightforward hack for shredding hen is to chill the hen barely after it’s cooked. Put the hen into a big bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment to shred the hen. Start on low velocity and steadily enhance to medium-high velocity. The hen will shred rapidly and evenly inside a minute or two!
If you’re questioning whether or not it’s higher to shred meat when its scorching or chilly, the reply is that its finest to do it when its heat. It is more durable to deal with it whereas it’s scorching scorching, but it surely doesn’t shred as simply when its chilly. Allow it to chill barely till it’s snug to deal with, then proceed with shredding for finest outcomes.
![cafe rio shredded chicken in a bowl with spices and a salad in the background](https://www.superhealthykids.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/cafe-rio-shredded-chicken-featured-image-square-2.jpg)
How to Make Cafe Rio Salad with Chicken
We love this hen for many recipes, however our very favourite is Cafe Rio Salad! We prefer to layer:
![](https://www.superhealthykids.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/cafe-rio-salad-process-4.jpg)
Then layer:
- Lettuce
- Pico or salsa
- Guacamole
- Cotja Cheese
- Cilantro Ranch Dressing
- Lime
- Tortilla Strips
- Fresh cilantro
Such a filling and scrumptious meal! Every time I make this, everybody in my household loves it!
![](https://www.superhealthykids.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/cafe-rio-salad-8.jpg)
Recipes We Love Adding This Chicken To
Cafe Rio Shredded Chicken Copycat
Our model of Cafe Rio Shredded Chicken is slow-cooked to perfection with a mix of savory spices good for a salad, burrito, quesadilla or enchiladas!
Servings: 8 individuals
Calories: 206kcal
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In a medium mixing bowl, combine vinegar, oil, zesty Italian seasoning packet, chili powder, cumin, and dry ranch seasoning.
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Spray the within of your gradual cooker with cooking spray after which add the hen. Pour the dressing combination excessive.
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Cover and cook dinner on excessive for 4 hours (frozen hen) or 2 1/2 – 3 hours (recent hen) When it’s completed, shred the hen with a fork. Serve Cafe Rio model with a freshly cooked tortilla, chopped lettuce, beans, cilantro lime rice, pico de gallo, tortilla strips and cilantro lime dressing. Enjoy!
Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 435mg | Potassium: 436mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.05g | Vitamin A: 187IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg
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Natalie Monson
I’m a registered dietitian, mother of 4, avid lover of meals and robust promoter of wholesome habits. Here you can see a number of scrumptious recipes stuffed with fruits and veggies, ideas for getting your youngsters to eat higher and turn out to be intuitive eaters and many assets for feeding your loved ones.