Cafe Rio Copy-Cat Pork or Chicken Salad

I love Cafe Rio. If you haven't had the chance to eat there, you should try it {if you can find one close to you!}. And if you are on a strict budget and feeling creative, here's the best recipe for their pork or chicken salad. I know there are many variations out there, but this is the best one I've tried so far.

This is also a great idea if you're serving a large group. You can just serve it like a buffet and everyone can build their own salad {or burrito} We made it for our family reunion a couple years ago and it was a big hit! But, let's be honest any food with that side of my family usually is a big hit. I think that's where I inherited my love of food. I also inherited my schnoz from that side. Yep, thanks a lot guys. 

Now, if only I could find the perfect copy-cat recipe for Cafe Rio's queso and tortilla soup. Although, I think my tortilla soup is pretty darn delicious!

Enjoy!

CAFE RIO COPY-CAT PORK OR CHICKEN SALAD

click here for a printable version of this recipe

{Café Rio Pork}

3-4 lbs. pork roast (not a fatty one)

2 c. salsa

2 c. brown sugar

1 c. coca cola

Cook pork in a slow cooker on high for 5 hours with water covering halfway. Drain water after 5 hours.  Shred pork with a fork.  Add the rest of the ingredients and cook 4-5 more hours.  Shred again if not completely shredded.

{Café Rio Chicken}

1 small bottle Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing

1 T. chili powder

1 T. cumin

3 cloves minced garlic

5 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts

Roast all ingredients in a crock pot on low for 4 hours.  Shred chicken, roast an additional hour.

 

{Café Rio Cilantro Dressing}

1 c. mayonnaise

¾ - 1 c. buttermilk

3 tomatillos

1/3 c. cilantro

1 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 pkg. ranch dressing (buttermilk recipe)

Put in blender and puree.  Refrigerate 4 hours before serving.

{Café Rio Rice}

3 c. water

4 tsp. chicken bouillon

4 tsp. minced garlic

½ bunch chopped cilantro

1 tsp. cumin

1 can diced green chiles

¾ tsp. salt

1 tsp. butter

½ medium onion, chopped

3 c. uncooked rice

Bring water to a boil, add all ingredients.  Cook on low for 30 minutes.

{HOW TO ASSEMBLE}

Layer your plate with the following:

Warm tortilla {we love the uncooked ones from Costco}

Romaine lettuce

Black or pinto beans {can't you just hear them asking you that at the restaurant?}

Cafe Rio Rice*

Cafe Rio Pork or Chicken*

Shredded cheese of your choice

Crushed tortilla chips

Cafe Rio Cilantro Dressing*

Guacamole

Pico de Gallo or Salsa

Fiesta Lime Chicken

I'm liking the "copy cat" recipes. So much in fact, I've started a new category of copycat recipes on my blog. I'm hoping to add to them, so feel free to send me your favorite copy cat recipes to try.

This is the meal I order whenever I go to Applebees. And since that doesn't happen too often, I found a recipe to match. And it is YUMMY! I love this, especially when it's done on the grill. And that's for a couple reasons: 1) Because chicken grilled on the BBQ is delicious and 2) it means my husband is the chef for the night.

Other things that I'm a sucker for: lime and meals that include crushed tortilla chips. So, when I came across this dish, I was immediately hooked. Enjoy!

{FIESTA LIME CHICKEN}

1 c. water
1/3 c. teriyaki sauce
1/2 lime, juiced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. liquid smoke
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1 lb. chicken breasts
1/4 c. mayonnaise
1/4 c. sour cream
2 T. spicy, salsa
1 T. milk
1 tsp. cajun spice
1/4 tsp. dried parsley
1/4 tsp. hot sauce
1/8 tsp. dried dill weed
1/8 tsp. cumin
1 c. shredded cheese

Whisk together the first 7 ingredients, coat chicken in mixture, and marinate for at least 2 hours. Whisk together the next 9 ingredients, cover, and chill until needed. Grill the marinated chicken breasts for 3-5 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Discard marinade. Brush grilled chicken with reserved dressing, sprinkle with cheese, and broil until cheese has melted. Serve the chicken over a bed of crumbled chips.

Aloha Island Salad

Wow, I've been doing a lot of copy-cat recipes lately. Like this one and this one. But there's a reason for that...they're good!

This is just like a salad you'd find at Rumbi, which I LOVE! We had this on one of those nights when we just needed something healthy and light. It was just what we were looking for. So much in fact, we ate it two nights in a row.

Watch out though, this makes a lot of dressing. Enjoy!

{ALOHA ISLAND SALAD}

Salad:

Tender Salad mix (or your favorite lettuce mix)

Feta cheese, crumbled

Tomatoes, diced

Tortilla chips, broken

Chicken breast, cooked & shredded

Dressing:

1/4 c. Dijon mustard

1 T. fresh lime juice

2 tsp. chili paste

1 tsp. crushed red pepper

3/4 c. mayo

2 c. sesame oil (I realize this is a lot!)

1/2 c. rice wine vinegar

1/2 c. soy sauce

1/2 c. white sugar

2 T. minced garlic

1 T. minced ginger

Zuppa Toscana Soup

I USED to order this every time I went to Olive Garden. I don't anymore, because I actually think this recipe tastes even better! It is so delicious. Try it with these, and you'll be in heaven. And you could even go one-step farther and buy Olive Garden's salad dressing in a bottle and do a copy cat of their salad, which is easy: lettuce, tomato, onion, olives, and Parmesan cheese. 

You'll never have to eat out again....except on "those" days. You know the ones where you didn't sleep a wink the night before. It's 4:00pm and you still haven't gotten dressed or done your hair. Your baby is running around in just a diaper, toys are scattered all around the floor.  You look like a mess and you feel like a mess. I mean, I never have days like that. :) I'm just saying...hypothetically...IF you have a day like that, yea, just don't bother cooking.

Enjoy!

{ZUPPA TOSCANA SOUP}

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1 lb spicy Italian sausage, crumbled
½ lb smoked bacon, chopped

1 qt. water
2 (14.5-oz.) cans chicken broth (3 2/3 c.)
2 lg russet potatoes, scrubbed clean and cubed
2 garlic cloves, peeled, crushed
1 med. onion, peeled, chopped
2 c. chopped kale or swiss chard
1 c. heavy whipping cream
Salt & pepper to taste

In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown sausage, breaking into small pieces; set aside. In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown bacon, drain and set aside. Place water, broth, potatoes, garlic and onion in a pot; simmer over medium heat until tender. Add sausage and bacon to pot; simmer for 10 minutes. Add kale and cream to pot; season with salt and pepper; heat through.