If you love Costa Vida Chicken or Cafe Rio Chicken, than this recipe is for you! So easy to make with all the delicious flavors of your favorite Mexican Grill! You only need 5 ingredients and you make it in the slow cooker!
Cafe Rio is my favorite place to eat while in Utah. I have even shared a recipe for Cafe Rio Sweet Pork with you. Which is another great, quick meal for the crock pot.
Fortunately for me a Cafe Rio knock off, Costa Vida, opened up in Portland a few years ago. Now I can get my Cafe Rio fix without having to drive 13 hours to Utah. But I still enjoy making this Costa Vida chicken at home.
Today’s recipe for crock pot Costa Vida Chicken is one I’ve been making for years. Besides being SUPER easy and only requiring 5 ingredients, it is super flexible. You can enjoy it in tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, nachos, so many ways!
And even though it is easy to make, it is really delicious. You will love it. Your family will enjoy it. And it is even a recipe that I would recommend serving to guests.
More Crock Pot Meals:
- Slow Cooker Honey Parmesan Pork
- Beef Gyros for the Crock Pot or Instant Pot
- Crock Pot Curry Chicken
Some of my favorite kitchen tools for making Crock Pot Costa Vida Chicken:
CROCK POT – My favorite one is the classic, the Rival CrockPot. In fact, I love it so much I own three of them. Two 6 qt and one 4 qt.
CROCK POT LINERS – These liner bags are a life saver and make clean up so much easier and faster! Stock up on them!
SHREDDER CLAWS – These make shredded pork or chicken a breeze!
Costa Vida Chicken Recipe
Costa Vida Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts skinless, boneless
- 16 oz. Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 Tbsp cumin
Instructions
- Add chicken to crockpot. Sprinkle with chili powder, cumin and garlic.
- Cover with Italian Dressing. Cover crockpot and cook on low for 4 hours.
- Shred meat and cook 1 additional hour.
Nutrition
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Why always chicken breasts – why couldn’t this be thighs?
Beverly, Feel free to try it with thighs if that is what you prefer.
How many people would you say this will serve?
Really depends on how big of eaters you have but 12-15 if you are serving it with a lot of other toppings etc.
Can you tell me about how much this recipe serves, I might do all three flavors for a taco bar at a grad party!
Thanks in advance,
Karla
That’s a bit of challenge because it depends on so many things. How you are serving? In a tortilla, over rice? Also how many other things you are having will effect how much people take. Not much help am I? would say 12-15
Hi,
I am having a graduation looking at probably having around two hundred guests and was thinking of doing the chicken and lime cilantro rice recipes. Would these recipes be good for a crowd. I think the chicken would work not sure about the rice. any suggestions
I think both the chicken and rice would be great. The nice thing about the rice is you can make a big batch ahead of time and just reheat it the day of the party. Have fun!
LeighAnne, How much of the lime cilantro rice do you think I would need to make for around 250 people. How much in advance could I make it? Can I freeze it and reheat? If so how do I do that?
Julie
Julie, It would depend on how big your serving size is. What I usually do is make a batch – figure out my serving size and how many I can get out of it and then just do the math. I have frozen the rice before and then just reheated it in the microwave . Because of the large amount you are making reheating it may be a bit harder – do you have one of those roaster ovens that you plug in. They work pretty well for reheating rice – you just need to keep stirring it to make sure it doesn’t stick to the bottom and may need to add in some extra liquid.
I just made this for a birthday dinner, & it was so easy & so yummy! Thanks for sharing this great recipe.
I just found your site when looking for Costa Vida recipe. I am actually am single so no family to feed, but I want to be prepared for that day by practicing on my roommates. I love Costa Vida (I live near one) but I wanted to see how I could do. I have never used a crock pot before, but luckily one of my roommates does have one. Just wanted to say thanks I will try it out this week!
I think this site is great!
This is very delicious and the chicken is soooo tender! It is also yummy as leftovers. By the way, Sam’s has carried the uncooked tortillas for years – find them in the area where all the grated cheeses are. Safeway also carries them, though in a small package. Thank you for this great recipe – I will use it often.
Oh my goodness! I love Cafe Rio/Costa Vida! You can buy their tortillas, freshly made right there in their restaurant.
Someone sent me the recipes from Cafe Rio in an email. I have yet to try them. Now, I have some real authority and definitely will tackle this.
In the 3 weeks in Utah, I only hit Cafe Rio once. Amazing, I know!
Jessica »
If the chicken is thawed I cook it on high for four hours. If I want to put it in first thing in the morning and cook it longer I’ll put the chicken in frozen and cook in on low for 8 hours. Enjoy!
Sounds wonderful! Do you put your crockpot on High or Low?
This looks yummy and easy! Perfect in my book. I wish I had a Costco closer for the tortilla factor – people rave about them and I’ve never seen them at Sam’s…bummer!
Patti »
I’ve had the same problem with the tortillas so I divide them up and throw them in the freezer. They thaw fine and taste great!
Hooray! Your class went well. I’ll check back on Monday for all the details. Oh, and I also love the tortillas from Costco, but I didn’t eat them fast enough last time and they got a little “green.” Ugh.
I just found your blog through Holly – Phemomenon – and I’m so glad! I’m a total fan of quick and easy meals – and of Cafe Rio!!