Favorite Cafe Rio Copycat Recipes

Over the years, I’ve posted several of my Cafe Rio Copycat recipes, which have been favorites to many of you on ABK. To make it as simple as possible for you (and me)  to find and make our favorite Cafe Rio menu items, I’ve compiled all of our family Favorite Cafe Rio Copycat Recipes recipes on one post!

Favorite Cafe Rio Copycat Recipes

Cafe Rio is a favorite of many in the state of Utah, until a couple of years ago, Utah was the only place Cafe Rio restaurants existed. Now they are in several states and spreading the love to many who live outside of Utah! If you have searched, but not found a Cafe Rio near you, you’ve come to the right place. The restaurant serves basically the same 25? prepared dishes such as black beans, lime rice, sweet pork, homemade tortillas, leafy romaine, and creamy cilantro dressing in a variety of ways: burritos, salads, soup, enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas, etc. The ingredients are fresh, dishes made in house and the servings are HUGE. A winning combination. Cafe Rio has become an institution in Utah, and a spot most families love and are more than familiar with.  Making our favorite Cafe Rio copycat recipes at home is a fun way to bring the dishes we love at Cafe Rio to a family gathering without breaking the bank!  Here are all of our Favorite Cafe Rio Copycat Recipes so you can serve up your family or a crowd…

First on the list is the sweet pork.  You can’t do Cafe Rio without the sweet pork. I have two ways to make it- in the Instant Pot or slow roasting it in your oven. Either way, you can’t go wrong. This pork goes great with so many different Mexican dishes. Enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas, nachos, salads, you name it! If you don’t love sweet pork, try this recipe for Instant Pot Chile Verde.

Instant Pot Cafe Rio Sweet Pork

Cafe Rio Style Sweet Pork Salad – this is the oven roasted version.

Cilantro Lime Rice

Next,  you’ve got to have the cilantro lime rice. It’s the perfect side dish to compliment all of the Cafe Rio tacos and burritos and salads. It’s a little tangy, fluffy, and packed with flavor. I like this recipe better than the restaurant version and I think you will too! It’s also perfect for any meal as a side dish.

Cafe Rio Style Creamy Tomatillo Salad Dressing

If you’re making the Cafe Rio salad, then you absolutely need the creamy tomatillo salad dressing. It’s my favorite dressing in the world. It’s creamy, tangy, and a little bit spicy. Everything you want in a dressing. You can also adjust the heat level in the dressing. At Cafe Rio, the dressing is quite spicy. I like it a little more milk, so I seed the jalapeño and just leave a few seeds in the dressing for a little kick. This recipe makes a huge amount so you can serve it on everything from salad to fish tacos during the week… or the recipe is easily halved. Oh, and one huge bonus, the dressing is one of the most expensive items at Cafe Rio (if you are purchasing dressing for a crowd),  and one of the easiest menu items to make at home!

Pico de Gallo

Pico de Gallo is the frosting on the cake to Mexican food. It completes so many Mexican dishes. You can also just eat it with chips and be good to go. I like making this recipe at home and then enjoying it throughout the week!

ABK’s Ultimate Chunky Guac

Do not leave me alone with a bowl of guac and a bag of chips. It’s my weakness and I could eat it faster than you can say guacamole. This chunky guac is amazing. It’s flavored just right and even has chopped tomatoes in it, which I love! Also, I love this recipe more than Cafe Rio’s guac. Where’s my “don’t tell” emoji??

Who doesn’t love warm, cheesy Queso and chips when there’s a family gathering? Our Amazing Cafe Rio Queso Copycat is fast, easy and a great way to keep the family happy while you’re preparing dinner!

Cafe Rio Style Black Beans

What is Mexican food without the black beans? These homemade black beans taste exactly like the ones you’ll find at Cafe Rio. A little cumin, a little cilantro, and a can of black beans are mostly all it takes to whip these up. This recipe also gives measurements for making a HUGE pot of beans, as well as a family size recipe.

Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup

I love when the weather cools down enough to mix up this chicken tortilla soup. This is the closest you’ll get to the Cafe Rio version without having to buy it. So tasty and a recipe everyone in the family will love. It takes less than 30 minutes start to table. Make it alone or as a side and serve it in a crockpot for an easy way to keep it warm at a gathering!

So there you have it- all of our Favorite Cafe Rio Copycat Recipes in one post. Save or pin this post in your favorites so you can refer back to it anytime you have the craving for some Cafe Rio!