This meal is one of my favorites. In fact, my whole family loves it. Maybe it’s because we could drink the tomatillo ranch dressing because it’s that good. Or maybe it’s because it’s so super easy to get going in the morning with only 5 ingredients! Whatever the reason, this is a recipe worth trying. If you’re not a big salad fan, the chicken goes nicely in tacos or even on pizza.
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Slow Cooker Cafe Rio Salad with Tomatillo Ranch Dressing
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-8 hours
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Super easy slow cooker chicken that is similar to cafe rio chicken salad.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 6 frozen boneless, skinless chicken thighs (doesn’t have to be frozen but if you don’t want to defrost you don’t need to)
- 1 cup Italian salad dressing
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
For the Dressing:
- 1 package Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch mix
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup mayo
- 2 tomatillos (peel outer skin layer)
- 1 clove minced garlic (1 tsp of pre-packaged stuff)
- 1/3 bunch cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 tsp lime juice
- 1 small jalapeno (seeds removed)
Instructions
- Place thighs in bottom of slow cooker.
- Combine remaining ingredients and pour over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4-8 hours (if chicken is thawed then closer to 4 hours, if frozen closer to 8)
- Shred chicken and serve on top of salad greens with cheese, tomatoes, avocado and any other preferred toppings.
- To make the dressing: Place all ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth and refrigerate.
Notes
Ideal slow cooker size: 3-4 quart
- Method: Slow Cooker
Lyndi says
Can I submit thighs for breasts? Do I need to adjust the cooking time for the this?
Karen says
yes. Use 4 hours of cooking time for thawed and 6 for frozen.
gabriela depillis says
this recipe makes a lot of dressing. How long can I keep the dressing in the refrigerator?
[email protected] says
I'd say up to 7 days. You may want to halve the dressing recipe.
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Loraine says
Thank you so much! I used the chicken to make tostada's tonight and all the fixings as well as the dressing instead of salsa. My family couldn't get enough of it! I saved just a bit to make the salads like originally intended for lunch tomorrow. Can't wait to try your other awesome recipes!!
[email protected] says
mmmmmm tostada's sound so yummy right now!
mountain mama cooks says
This looks great! I love Cafe Rio Chicken and I always get the salad! Thanks for sharing!!
[email protected] says
Thanks Kelly! I love it too 🙂
sales tax compliance says
This chicken salad is really amongst my favourite ones indeed…just added to my recipe book and will try it out sooner!
iPhone 5 case says
Chicken rio salad recipie is different and good looking it is very tasty.That fantastic! realy!
research paper says
I love to make a very different varieties of chicken salad…I prefer salad because that is possibly low calories food without giving away the taste really…!!
Your chicken Rio salad has now been added to my top favorite salad list 🙂
Karen says
Traci, peel the paper type skin layer. Then wash off the stickiness…ahhhh I love this dressing
Traci says
When you say "peel outer skin layer" of the tomatillos, does that mean the papery-type skin layer, or the actual skin on the tomatillo?
shopannies says
thanks for sharing this recipe I think it will make everone in family happy come see me at http://shopannies.blogspot.com