Were not really Coke people, so we used root beer instead. And youll wonder why. Si. Full of delicious sweet flavor, this copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork recipe goes perfectly in salads, tacos, burritos and more. It really is better the next day as it sits in the juice or from the freezer. Add coke, water, garlic salt, onion salt, and chili powder. We have moved to a state that doesnt have Cafe Rios and needed to recreate it! Oh, I wish you did! Spring is right around the corner! ), Hi Tanya! Si, I made this Instant Pot Cafe Rio for our RS Birthday dinner which was right before the Covid shutdowns. Alot of prep work but was delicious. Discard liquid from crock pot. It goes perfectly in burritos, tacos, salads and so much more. Combine the cola stevia and cherry flavoring in a 12 fl oz (350 mL) glass. This process can't be rushed! We recently moved ro an area where we no longer have quick access to cafe rio (our fave). It was absolutely phenomenal!!! Thank you . Goodness. Pour can of Coke, water and garlic salt over pork in the slow cooker. Their sweet pulled pork was the absolute sizzle and now that Ive found this recipe I can have it whenever I want. xo, Rub with garlic salt and pour 2 cups of coke and cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 5-6. Try our Restaurant Style Salsa on top too! You can find my full directions on how to make it here. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker. In general, 1 lb of pulled pork will feed 3 people, so you will probably want 30-35 lbs to feed 100 people. 10/10! It is spot on! Ingredients Scale 2 1/4 cups Coke, divided (not diet) 2 1/2 pounds pork shoulder, trimmed of excess fat and cut into quarters 1 1/4 cup brown sugar, divided 1 tsp garlic salt 1 (4 oz) can green chilies 1 (10 oz can) red enchilada sauce Instructions 16 ounces Coca-Cola soda, divided (( do not use diet soda. The pork will just be more tender than chicken. 50 min and I let it npr for 1hr until I was ready to finish dinner. It is SO helpful to read about your experiences making this a few different ways and also your opinion about the best cut of meat and making ahead vs fresh! Arrange the carrots, celery, onions, and bay leaves around the pork, or place in a square of cheesecloth (the traditional way), pull up the corners and tie it shut with a string. I tried this tonight to make sweet pork nachos and it was delicious! If you want a true copycat of Cafe Rio sweet pork, you have to use a bone in pork shoulder/butt with a nice fat pad on top. That is an awesome idea! Please check back and let us know how long it took you to cook your 7 lb roast. We feel like the Cafeo Rio pork, at least the one by us, tastes totally different than it did years ago which is a bummer too. CopyCat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Mommy's Kitchen Lets treat others how wed like to be treated . Si. OHHH, that can be tricky. Place shredded pork back in crock pot. Oh no! ), but occasionally Ill get the quesadilla because its gooey. Then the recipe says 45 to cook and 45 NPR. ), then just shred up the meat and add in the sauce. I always hope my replies are seen, but Im never sure as spam loves to take my emails. Im happy to announce that I found a couple recipes and then put them up to the Taste Test Challenge! Wow Bonnie, how lucky are you! If you friends from Guatemala loved it then its a winner! [ Note to judges: this was recipe 2 for all of you that preferred this one] *Recipe here [amd-zlrecipe-recipe:10] Blend for 20 seconds. I love this recipe and cant find any sauce either. Thanks Madison! Si. Marinate for a few hours or overnight. Healthy Sweet Pork (Caf Rio Copycat) | Sugar Free No Cafe Rio?!! This hot thw spot, so easy and incredibly yummy! yay!) Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe, Cafe Rio Sweet Pork, Cafe Rio Sweet Pork, Slow Cooker Cafe Rio Sweet Pork. Add apple cider vinegar and chicken broth. I have always marinated my pork the night before or for at least a couple hours, but if you forget or just dont have time go ahead and cook it without marinading it. Heather, Were your place for more than 1,000 actionable, traditional recipes to serve and celebrate your friends and family. Brown sugar should be included in step 11 yes? 15 Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe Without Coke - Selected Recipes Maybe closer to 35lbs if you are feeding hungry lacrosse players! I do love this recipe. We moved from Utah to Mississippi and its nowhere around! Pork tenderloin and pork loin roast are not good choices for this recipe. Hi Deb, Im sorry to hear that. The longer the better. Cook, covered, on high for 6 hours OR on low for 8 hours. I would also place the trivet at the bottom of the instant pot before you put the roast in. If you are trying to lose weight, pork is a better choice than beef, because pork is lower in calories. This is by far the best sweet pork recipe! Do I have to thaw my meat? Pour half of the seasoning mixture over the roast and rub it into the meat. First its so easy, and second its delicious! Keep warm until ready to serve. Yes, I made it last night for our Relief Society activity. I am so excited to use it for years to come. {Plus, I sorta have an aversion to cooking with soda pop.}. If I dont have 2 hours once Im home from work, what else can I do? I like Old El Paso! This post may contain affiliate links. Top 40 Dr Pepper Copycat Recipe Recipes I really am not exaggerating when I say that we have tried pretty much every single Cafe Rio Pork recipe thats out there and while many are quite delicious, they just arent close enough to the real version. It is great as a salad, burrito, or nachos. If there is excess liquid drain some off. Thats so odd. I made this for Sunday dinner and it was huge hit! We love to place a tortilla on a plate, then top it with black beans, rice and the sweetpork, just like Caf Rio does. Ive tried it and it still turns out amazing! Hi what kind of old el paso like an envelope or bottle? I ordered my groceries online (including the pork roast) and when I got home from picking them up, I found a 20 pound roast! I love the pork Barbacoa burrito and have not been able to recreate it or find some thing close to it here in Texas until this recipe thank you for posting this. Give them a try and let me know what YOU think! Thank you so much for your review! xo Hi Megan, Here are the tips and secrets, all in one place for you to sift through and decided if you want to incorporate any into your recipe. So the recipe as is feeds 6-8 people. I dont go longer than that as each week the flavor seems to fade a little in my opinion. Cade and Carrian have three children and love to spend time together whether its vacationing or snuggled up on the couch for a good movie. xo, I know the huge Pork Loin Roast at Costco is ridiculously inexpensive, and hardly has any fat on it, so not much waste as far as discarding fat goes. All Rights Reserved. Heat just until sauce boils and the meat is heated through, then turn the setting to keep warm mode. Hi Melissa, Caramelized the chopped onions and then add them with the carrots and peppers to the sauce in the IP before adding the meat and then add the shredded pork and let it stay on warm for a while? I am Lucky in love to a supportive husband, blessed to raise 3 kids (all moved away now! xo In a small bowl, combine the cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Hi Jill, Si. This was absolutely perfect! xo, So Ive beenexperimenting withdifferent versions and this one is the one we feel tastes closest to the real thing. I always have used the old recipe and I used the frontera red Chile enchilada sauce packet and still love how it turns out. Thank you so much for your support! So today, I am going to share with you my mothers recipe for Sweet Pork. I have been making various copycat recipes for the past 15 years and this is the best and least fussy. If using Boston butt, or pork butt, count on about 1/2 of the total pounds before cooking being discarded (after cooking). Absolutely! I have never tried it with Diet coke. Thank you! -It is important to remember that Instant Pot cooking is not necessarily quick cooking! You can now make Cafe Rio Sweet Pork at home! Once it finishes and steam is released I drain liquid, shred with two forks, then add the enchilada sauce mixture and just incorporate together until hot. I would wait to put the sauce on until you are ready to serve it. Youre welcome, Lindsey! But heres the deal. In a small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, onion powder, and oregano. I found the best time combination was 50 minutes at high pressure and then a 45+ minute natural pressure release, which means no touching the valve that allows pressure to release from the pot for at least 45 minutes. xo Thank you so much for sharing, Josee, Im so glad you enjoyed the recipe! No taco sauce needed! Hi Morgan, The packet is at walmart in the Mexican food area. I dont need to spend 10 bucks for one at Cafe Rio ever again when I can make it so easily at home! If it looks too thick, add more Coke little by little. I have both a 6 nd 8 quart, I most often use the 6 quart unless Im cooking for a big crowd or cooking two dishes at once in the IP. That is great to know that using coke zero works! Instructions. If you like a little more spice, try the yellow can. Slow Cooker Sweet Pork- Cafe Rio Copycat - One Sweet Appetite Then place the pork in the slow cooker and turn it on high and let the meat cook for 4 hour. Place the lid on the top of the pot (make sure the sealing ring is in place inside of the lid) and lock into sealing position. tastes amazing leftover too!!!! I have a 7lb pork butt and I dont want to chance it in my instant pot. Hi! We should set up a taste test for the neighbors and see if people can tell which is which. (Thank you to The Sisters Cafe for such an awesome recipe!) I think these homemade salads are SO delicious! He, Cinnamon Swirl Bread with Sweet Cinnamon Butter! We've perfected the Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe! Don't drink the crock pot liquid. The link for my homemade sauce is on this post under the last paragraph "Tips and Secrets for Perfect Cafe Rio Sweet Pork". To help my sister out for her blessing I offered to do the pork for my mom and was feeling a little nervous but of course this recipe was not only delicious it was simple too! I love seeing what you made. Cafe Rio {Copycat} Creamy Tomatillo Cilantro Ranch Dressing [+ Video], Cilantro Lime Rice Cafe Rio {Copycat} [+ Video], Crock Pot Cafe Rio {Copycat} Chicken [+ Video], Smothered Cafe Rio {Copycat} Chicken Burrito. 1 cup rootbeer, coke or Dr Pepper. That is the best compliment ever! Add the shredded pork back to the slow cooker. My. Im letting you in on all the secrets! It was a life saver for me as my sister was blessing her baby and my other sister went into labor two days before and my mom flew out to Florida to be with her. Thank you! This Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe is the real deal. Its a great alternative to eating out! $2.49 is about what I paid 10 minutes ago. Si. I dont think there was another recipe that called for it. This cafe rio pork recipe is my absolutely favorite. Thanks for asking! If Cafe Rio Sweet Pork is your family favorite, youre going to love this recipe! No need to increase sauce amount. Well, my answer is YES. Sorry about the confusion. It is so sweet, so delicious. Cook the pork in a slow cooker for 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high. I cant wait to try this!! Oh my gosh, cant thank you enough for perfecting this recipe for the instant pot. I hope this helps! Thank you. I am so sad the Old El Paso sauce is no longer available. This will definitely be a staple meal in out home! -Use a canned red enchilada sauce. It actually acts as a meat tenderizer in the recipe so dont leave it out. Not sure if tripling it will fit in one crock pot, so I would just use two separate crock pots/ slow cookers. Its personal preference if you want to add them to the sauce. Here is the old recipe: Hence, 4 out of 5 stars. This looks so delicious!! Wonder what the Coke does? Do you think a 7 pound pork would be enough for a family of 12 adults and seven little kids? Also, did not take 8 hours in our crock pot, more like 6 total. How many will this serve. Cut off the meat and shred it. In the recipe, It states to place the shredded the pork with the sauce and additional 2 hours on the crock pot. I know, I know. Also, when you write oregano it is the ground oregano, not the leaves, right? Cook a pork roast and tuck it inside. You need the regular soda for the sugar in it)). That is so exciting! Hi! Our favorite way to enjoy it is on a Cafe Rio Salad. We dont have Caf Rio where I am, so I have nothing to compare to, but it sounds like a great combo. Si. Hi Allison, if youre using a 4 lb roast, I would set the pressure time for 70-80 minutes. This error message is only visible to WordPress admins, Menu Plan Monday #121 - Life In The Lofthouse, Menu Plan Monday #165 - Life In The Lofthouse, Sweet Pork Nachos - Life In The Lofthouse, Light Creamy Tomatillo Dressing - Life In The Lofthouse. Place the meat in a warming oven with tin foil over it until ready to use or for at least 20 minutes to let the meat soak up the sauce a bit. xo Thank you!! When do you add it back? Here is a link to my favorite one, I actually own three of them! If so would you put the sauce on before your freeze it or wait until you serve it? So, its actually not the butt at all, but the shoulder. How do you make the dressing/sauce that is on top? But sadly it has not come to Oregon yet. I agree the IP version is my favorite and I also love using the shoulder cut. Hi Kate, it should be the same cooking time even with the bone in. Hope that helps! Im hoping to serve 8 people. I wonder if I can use chicken for pork? I need to make this for 20-25 people. Im guessing when making the sauce? I am doubling the recipe. Spray inside of a large crock pot with cooking spray. Si. Marinade pork for at least 2 hours or overnight in can of coke and 1/4 C brown sugar. Cafe Rio {Copycat} Sweet Pulled Pork - Recipes Studio Definitely a new go to!! My hubby is the biggest sweet pork fan. Made it today. Hi, which instant pot did you use for this recipe? Can I sub beef for this or do you have the cafe rio shredded beef recipe? Its really quite fun. Can you use Dr. pepper instead of coke? Sometimes at 7 hours its even still a bit tough and then 8 hours and its falling apart. I hope you all enjoy. Whisk to combine. If you would like to thicken the sauce a bit, whisk one tablespoon of cornstarch into a cup of the liquid removed from pan after the meat was cooked and add back to the Instant Pot with meat and enchilada sauce. A few I use, a few I do not. Slow Cooker Cafe Rio Sweet Pork {Copycat Recipe} Thank you so much! 2. Si. If youve ever even had a flight layover in Utah, youve probably eaten at Cafe Rio (thanks to the airport location)! Discard the liquid from the slow cooker. Makes for amazing salads, burritos, tacos and quesadillas! Well, Ive tried my fair share of these recipes in the pastbut since I strongly dislike colas (yes, all of them) I found that I did not like those recipes that included them! xo Thank you so much for this recipe!! Walmart. How long should i cook it? Place all other ingredients in a blender and puree until very smooth. Krista, brown sugar, cafe rio, cafe rio copycat, cafe rio pork, copycat, copycat recipe, mexican pork, pork, root beer, shredded pork, sweet pork, FREE EMAIL BONUS: Cozy Soup Recipes to Get You Through the Winter, http://www.pinterest.com/pin/157555686939072946/, http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2011/09/red-chile-sauce-chicken-enchiladas.html, Jenna @ Extra Income Genie on February 24, 2014, Rocky Mountain Woman on September 11, 2013, Lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain on September 11, 2013, Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking on September 11, 2013.