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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 Facts:
Beverly says
Why always chicken breasts – why couldn’t this be thighs?
Leigh Anne says
Beverly, Feel free to try it with thighs if that is what you prefer.
Chris says
How many people would you say this will serve?
Leigh Anne says
Really depends on how big of eaters you have but 12-15 if you are serving it with a lot of other toppings etc.
Karla says
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
Leigh Anne says
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
Julie says
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
Leigh Anne says
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!
Julie says
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
Leigh Anne says
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.
Megan says
I just made this for a birthday dinner, & it was so easy & so yummy! Thanks for sharing this great recipe.