Cafe Rio Copycat Shredded Beef Recipe (in the Crock Pot!)
Do you all live near a Cafe Rio? I had never heard of it until we moved to DC last year and a coworker of my husband’s took him there for lunch. He came home raving about it and insisted on taking the entire family and of course, we were hooked immediately on the fresh Mexican food!
As soon as I tasted their shredded beef I started searching online for a copycat Cafe Rio recipe-it’s SO good! I found quite a few versions online, some even having you cook the meat in soda! After trying a few versions (not the soda one-that doesn’t go at all with my clean eating goals!) I found that this combination of ingredients gave me the exact flavor I wanted. It’s a super easy meal thanks to the slow cooker, beware though, it smells amazing while it’s cooking, you may be tempted to dig in before it’s finished!
Ingredients
- 3 lb chuck roast
- 10 oz can green enchilada sauce
- 1/2 cup plain tomato sauce or tomato paste
- 1 1/2 tbsp ground cumin
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 1/3 cups beef broth
- 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and quartered
- salt to taste
Directions:
Place roast in the bottom of a slow cooker. Pour beef broth, enchilada sauce, and tomato sauce/paste over the roast. Top with cumin and garlic. Place onion slices over the top. Cook on high 6-8 hours. Use a slotted spoon to remove onion. Shred meat with two forks. Season with salt if desired.
You can also combine the ingredients ahead of time in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to three months. Then just thaw overnight and cook as directed.
My favorite way to eat this shredded beef is in a bowl topped with fresh peppers, pico de gallo, and avocado but it’s amazing in tortillas or over rice as well!
Have you tried Cafe Rio? If so what is your favorite meal there?
Mine also turned out like a dried up roast. I couldn’t shred it.
We’ve made this recipe like 6 times. It is SO GOOD. I did not realize how easy it was to make and it always turns out awesome. I’m usually a one-hit wonder with every new recipe I try, not this one. Repeated success! Yay! Thanks so much!
Mine turned out like a dried up roast. I couldn’t shred it at all. Doesn’t look like yours at all. I was so disappointed. Not sure what I did wrong.
I have made this several times and is very good. But because of the smell factor. I put the crockpot out in the garage when it’s cooking. Thanks
Thank you for this recipe! I made this recipe today, and it was AMAZING! I did a 5 lb. roast for about 6 1/2-7 hours on high and it was delicious. We’ll be making this more often!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Ana! You might like my Pork Carnitas too-they are very similar (and just as easy!) https://thehappierhomemaker.com/2016/10/slow-cooker-pork-carnitas/ ~Melissa