Pure comfort food! Hey Mindy! I definitely saving this one! Hi Megan, thank you for pointing that out, the cook time should be about and hour and a half. I did it for 8 hours and it was falling apart YUM! Remove Chipotle chilies and shred meat. Were not really Coke people, so we used root beer instead. Combine the cola stevia and cherry flavoring in a 12 fl oz (350 mL) glass. Its so yummy! thanks! Si. So I didnt cook it too long when that happened I actually need to cook it longer and it will get more tender? Si. If I use a 7-8lb shoulder, how long do you think I should cook it? I love this recipe and cant find any sauce either. Biggest compliment ever! Do you think canned enchilada sauce would work instead of the cooking sauce? Or they make, tacos, tostadas, burritos and quesadillas with the pork. If Im using 2.5 lbs of pork instead of 4 like this recipe calls for, do I still do the full two cups of water and 50 minutes pressure cooked time? Add the 2 tablespoons of reserved spices, red enchilada sauce, brown sugar, green chiles and green salsa/enchilada sauce and stir/toss to combine. I usually do not have to increase the cook time much for a larger roast, but I would allow for an extra hour to be safe! All of the recipes are linked below. Sautd a 6.5# pork shoulder on all sides and cooked for 52 min + 50 min natural release and it was still not cooked all the way through, which left the meat tough and not able to be shredded. They have new sauces in the Mexican aisle that will work! It looks so delicious! xo I need guidance. thanks and let us know if you try the beef! We have a smaller group, of about 30. That is how yummy it is! Cover and cook on high 3 hours. Thank you so much for compiling this recipe and all your other recipes. I forgot to take that out of the instructions. This is the perfect mix of savory sweet and will find its way into our regular taco Tuesday rotation. Si. Cover crock pot with lid and cook another 1 to 2 hours on low heat. Wonder what the Coke does? No need to increase sauce amount. We like to use the following toppings on our salad: It works great in the Instant Pot too and you can find my Instant Pot Cafe Rio Pork recipe here. 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 made this last night for my family and we had Missionaries over and everybody loved it- the leftovers are amazing too! We dont buy caffeinated drinks so I was hoping it would taste just as great with rootbeer. Thanks for making this recipe possible in the instant pot! Im a total homebody. Im so glad it turned out well for you and thanks for sharing. We absolutely LOVE Caf Rio. I am doubling the recipe. Yes, the onions will get quite dark, but its ok. Some unusual ingredients are used to marinate and slow-cook the pork until it is just right. Our copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork recipe is the real deal. So, its actually not the butt at all, but the shoulder. The result was excellent! I worked at cafe rio and they boil the pork roasts in the coke unthen put the sugar and enchilada sauce in a bag until it is served on the line ..yours looks good but not the same. The fat will need to be removed and discarded.-I use both homemade and canned red enchilada sauce for this recipe. OR you can place the shredded pork, and the remaining ingredients in a large pot on the stove top and heat it until its all warmed through. xo Have you ever seen a chef create a bundle of herbs and place it in a pot or with a roast to cook then it gets discarded? Thats one of the secrets to this Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe. Permission granted! My husband is leaving in 1.5 hours , But btw i love all of your recipes. This pork look so saucy and delicious! Keep warm until serving. Wedge the bundle next to an end of the pork. Combine a can and a half of Coke with about a quarter cup of brown sugar. Or do you with 2 hours remaining add in the remaining ingredients? Thanks so much for the yummy recipe! Add garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir them together until the sugar is dissolved. Im trying to cook this now but only have 3 lbs of meat. This updated recipe allows cooking of the sweet pork in a fraction of the original 5-12 hour time. We are thrilled that so many of you have enjoyed this recipe as much as we have. I will update that ASAP, thank you for letting me know. Through the years weve had many friends who have moved on to new adventures in places other than Utah (though Cafe Rio is spreading like crazy across the countrynow in CA, AZ, CO, FL, ID, MD, MT, NV, VA, WA, and WY!) It really is better the next day as it sits in the juice or from the freezer. If you dont have cheesecloth, dont stress! Hi Mindy! I have been looking for a new crockpot pork recipe for this weekend! Sometimes making a slow cooker sweet pork just fits into your schedule better, I totally get that! I saw you hint at a Kroger substitute but didnt specify which one. About 2 years ago I started making the sweet pork at home, and it just never tasted right. Cook the Pork Drain marinade. Mention @favoritefamilyrecipes or tag #favoritefamilyrecipes! If I dont have 2 hours once Im home from work, what else can I do? Throw out fluids. Let marinate for 3 hours or overnight. Cook for the 6 hours, then an additional 2! My preference is Pork Shoulder or Boneless Pork Rib meat! This recipe is the most spot on i have ever found. Place the pork roast in the slow cooker. Go goo goo for gooey with that one! Alot of prep work but was delicious. The process was so easy and the results were amazing. 16 ounces Coca-Cola soda, divided (( do not use diet soda. Remove meat and shred. Would I be able to reduce the amount of cooking time in that case? Thanks for catching that! Absolutely! $2.49 is about what I paid 10 minutes ago. Ive added brown sugar to step 11. My husband is coming home from a trip tomorrow and I think this will be a perfect meal to make to make us both happy. This time combination allowed the meat to cook for the proper amount of time, breaking down almost all of the fat so it melted back into the meat when using a pork shoulder. This post may contain affiliate links. Perfect! Seriously! Take the pork out of the slow cooker and place it on the chopping board. Put pork, can of Coke, water, and garlic salt in crock pot and cook on high for about 3-4 hours or on low for 8 hours. Really? Is there anyway to use store bought pulled pork to speed up the recipe? Cut off the meat and shred it. I do love this recipe. We are still working on it too. Can you tell me what I maybe did wrong? [Note to judges: this was recipe 2 for all of you that preferred this one]. xo, It is so tricky to recreate! Instructions. Thanks for checking in on it, Stephanie! When do you add it back? Drain the marinade and add the pork to a 5-quart slow cooker. The extra two hours gives the shredded meat a chance to soak up more of the marinade. This looks so delicious!! Put the pork in a heavy duty ziploc bag to marinate. You can go ahead and cook it with the bone in and then remove the meat when its done. Take the pork out of the crock pot once it's finished cooking and place it on a cutting board. Instructions . I hope this helps! It was to die for. Would timing and measurements be different? Thanks. I pretty much make all the recipes for this meal for family parties and everyone loves it!! Put pork, 1/2 can of coke, water and garlic salt in slow cooker. Yes it really is that fast and simple! Let marinate for 3 hours or overnight. Fixed! Si, Crystal I should have mentioned above, chicken will take way less time. An even coating of garlic powder, salt, and pepper should be spread across the pork roast. Goodness. Everyone says it tastes just like Cafe Rio. The IP tends to release a higher volume of liquid from ingredient in the pot, which can dilute sauces. Thank you. I actually found a sauce packet at Walmart that I made it with, and it was AMAZING!!! Add the pork to a gallon-sized ziplock bag and add cup brown sugar and 2 cups Coca-Cola. I couldnt find the old elpaso sauce packets so I ended up using a 10oz can of red enchilada sauce and adding an entire small head of crushed garlic to it. Place roast inside slow cooker. (sorry for the late reply, just now seeing this). 4 Ways to Make Dr. Pepper - wikiHow . Lets all be nice. Many pressure cooking experts agree that releasing the pressure manually (turning the pressure valve to release) will cause the meat to be tough. 2 pounds pork (we use boneless pork ribs) 36 ounces Coke (3 soda cans) NOT diet 1/4 cup brown sugar dash garlic salt 1/4 cup water 1 can diced green chilies 10 ounces red enchilada sauce (Old El Paso brand is gluten free, I like medium spiciness but any will work) 1 cup brown sugar Instructions Put the pork in a heavy duty ziploc bag to marinate. -Make red enchilada sauce from scratch. I am so sad the Old El Paso sauce is no longer available. You could try to add more brown sugar to compensate if you absolutely cannot find or use a regular soda. Cannot wait to use leftovers in tacos and a salad. Im wondering if it will works or if I need to go to the store! I think these homemade salads are SO delicious! Si, This may seem like a dumb question, but could you also use this recipe with chicken? Si. Ive tried many sweet pork copycats and this one is just spot on. You made my day Rebecca! Shred as normal, preparing the sauce separate and toss to combine. Thank you!! Place the seasoned pork roast into the slow cooker. Wow Bonnie, how lucky are you! No taco sauce needed! I was referring to your homemade spice mix. The sauce will darken and thicken to a thin glaze. xo Has anyone tried it? 3. Its a good sweet pork recipe but its definitely not the cafe rio one. Hi Allison, if youre using a 4 lb roast, I would set the pressure time for 70-80 minutes. Ive tried it and it still turns out amazing! This recipe looks delicious! The best imitation of the caf rio pork recipe Ive tried! Your email address will not be published. -It is important to remember that Instant Pot cooking is not necessarily quick cooking! Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker. I made it in the crock pot on high with a 5 lb pork shoulder. So I moved to Texas a little over a year ago and to my despair there isnt a Cafe Rio for 500 miles. It literally melts in your mouth. Move along. He just loves it. Making this recipe in the Instant Pot is so easy and delicious! Ive never heard of this old el paso sauce packet. Set it and forget itthats why we love that slow cooker! Si, My butcher wouldnt cut the bone out of the shoulder for me, should I put it in the insta pot with the bone and pull the bone off after or cut it off the bone before, Step 7 needs to be fixed to say naturally not manually., KK, THANK YOU for pointing that out! You can use a bone in but it is harder to shred. thank you si!!! Hi Elise, you could try cooking it for 45 minutes if you only have 3 lbs of meat. 12 servings Prep: 10 minutes Cook: 6 hours 40 minutes Total: 6 hours 50 minutes Rate Recipe Ingredients 3 lbs. Then place the pork in the slow cooker and turn it on high and let the meat cook for 4 hour. Maybe they will give me a hint. Cant wait to try it! Thanks again! And I will link up to the other cola-free Sweet Pork recipe as soon as I get permission! Cant wait to see how it all comes together. I need to make this for 20-25 people. Remove pork from crock pot and drain any liquid left in the pot. I have not done so, but would use a pot roast or a chuck roast in place of the pork. Everyone at my family gathering loved it. Here is the Sweet Pork Recipe that was a favorite among 50% of the judges! Ive never tried a recipe from you that Ive disliked. Help!!! I have not tried this recipe using chicken, but if I were to try it, I would use the same amount of chicken as pork (3 lbs) but cook it for about 6 hours. (And Si is one of my favorite imaginary friends on instagramId love to actually meet her. Serve on top of tortilla chips, tortillas, or a bed of rice. It doesnt taste like cafe rio pork at all. I bought a 9lb pork shoulder. I make LOTS when I make it and freeze ittastes just as good when thawed! Thanks for sharing this, I cant wait to try it! Thanks for reading ABK, There are many different cuts of pork sold in the grocery store and at big box stores, such as Costco. Oh good! Share below my top 3 ar, Make our Valentine M&M Chocolate Chip C. A Bountiful Kitchen 2023. Hi Lindsay, I havent used an instant pot yet, so Im not sure how long you would cook this recipe in it. You could open a restaurant. Sorry Christine, but thanks for trying it. That is an awesome idea! Serve pork in burritos, salads and tacos! Since 2007, our family has been dishing out tried and true recipes for classic, home-cooked food online. Hi Melissa, Thanks for reading ABK. Its up to you. Add the shredded pork back to the slow cooker. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Burrito Copycat Recipe, Creamy Tomatillo Ranch Dressing (Cafe Rio Copycat), Cafe Rio Copycat Recipes All the Best in One Place, Our Version of Cafe Rios Chicken Tortilla Soup, Our Version of Cafe Rios Sweet Pork Burrito, Our Version of Cafe Rios Cilantro-Lime Rice and Black Beans. We love to place a tortilla on a plate, then top it with black beans, rice and the sweetpork, just like Caf Rio does. Cut pork loin into three to four large chunks and add to crockpot. A few I use, a few I do not. The finished consistency of the frozen recipe was not nearly as good (obviously) as the fresh made night before and day of batches. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Cook time should state 10 hrs and not 8. I love anything and everything with root beer.and now youve made pulled pork with it. Marinate in the fridge for several hours or overnight. Carole, Spray inside of a large crock pot with cooking spray. . Hello All, I'm looking to smoke a Pork Butt for sweet pulled pork using the Caf Rio Pulled Pork recipe using Coke or Dr Pepper as the flavor. And Im excited to try this new recipe. Meaning, it will take time to allow this to happen and this time needs to be built in to the cooking time of the meat. Cafe Rio is a popular fast-casual Mexican style restaurant with headquarters in Utah. A 4 oz. xo Just finished eating this for dinner and I raced to my computer to say: Oh. Thirty minutes did not give the meat enough time to tenderize while 75 was too long. Or would you recommend using your older recipe? Filed under: Dinner, Family Reunion Food, Mexican, Pork, Slow Cooker and Instant Pot, Videos. This one is by far my favorite and is almost identical to the sweet pork from Cafe Rio. This recipe has always been a hit, especially in our family. I am Lucky in love to a supportive husband, blessed to raise 3 kids (all moved away now! Thanks! Im guessing when making the sauce? I think that is one of the most valuable benefits of the IP, not having to plan dinner early in the morning anymore! I have cooked frozen chicken breasts successfully in the IP, but chicken is a much smaller cut of than a pork roast I suggest letting it thaw and cooking afterward. If youve ever been to Utah youve probably had Cafe Rio, specifically Cafe Rio Sweet Pork. to try out. Las Palmas brand used at Cafe Rio. Drain marinade and put pork, 1/2 can of coke, water, and garlic salt in crock pot on high for about 3-4 hours (or until it shreds easily, but don't let it get TOO dry) or on low for 8 hours. I recommend using a large, marbled boneless pork roast like pork shoulder, pork butt or pork carnitas. Here is a link to my favorite one, I actually own three of them! first taste before i put it away was tip top, best pulled pork ive ever made If you buy lean cuts of pork, your Instant Pot Cafe Rio Sweet Pork will not taste like Cafe Rios Pork. SO GOOD! So sorry, I asked my comment in a reply on accident. 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? We've perfected the Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe! So if you are cooking a 7 lb roast, about 3.5-4 lbs of meat left if using a pork butt or shoulder. Thank you so much! . Do you mean a 12 oz can or a 16.9 oz bottle? Thanks for sharing a keeper. And thank you! Thankfully, now I can make this a few more times for my family! But have you noticed that most of them call for Coke or Dr. Pepper? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our family doesnt like pork, but we love the beef. Tastes great! Si. How to make Caf Rio sweet pork in 15 minutes! Weve perfected the Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe! Easy recipes for quick and delicious homemade meals! I would cut it into thirds and definitely do it in the oven. Pour can of Coke, water and garlic salt over pork in the slow cooker. Hoping to take it on a trip we are going on next week. A++ both ways. Jessica, THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY SPOT. I think if I double it there should be enough. I get it! ! Jared, We love, love, love this recipe! I have never tried it with Diet coke. So the recipe as is feeds 6-8 people. Marinate the pork by placing it in a large ziploc bag. A pork loin or roast is going to be too lean and wont turn out exactly like Cafe Rio. Oh, I wish you did! I cant find that sauce packet. If you like a little more spice, try the yellow can. The pork will just be more tender than chicken. Pour enchilada sauce mixture over the shredded pork. Im starting to wonder about the pork being cooked different. Scoop out the pork from the crock pot and discard the cooking liquid. Altenew 8th Anniversary Blog Hop Day 5 + Giveaway (over $2,000 in Total Prizes). Not quite the same as Cafe Rio, but Ill definitely make it again! Now those are some lucky judges! Also, did not take 8 hours in our crock pot, more like 6 total. All the recipes are for a slow cooker and the coke is added to the pork about 6 hours after starting, then another two hours of cooking time. I was SO tempted to make a taco at almost midnight because it smelled so good as I was finishing it. I hope you all enjoy. Get free recipes sent straight to your inbox! I m making it again today. I made this last night for my family and we had missionaries over and everybody loved it- the leftovers are amazing too! Hi, which instant pot did you use for this recipe? Maybe closer to 35lbs if you are feeding hungry lacrosse players! Yay Rebecca! You can now make Cafe Rio Sweet Pork at home! * Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. xo I ordered a 5 pound one! Heres my question in someones reply: I bought a 9lb pork shoulder. There is no change in cooking time. Also the dressings freeze well too! It is safer not to risk a reaction. Thank you! Sorry about the confusion. xo Or throw it in some enchiladas. I have even been told this recipe tastes better than the real thing. I so look forward to trying some of your recipes. Allow to cool for a few minutes. Si. Could you put soda in the instant pot instead of water? As far as pork butt/shoulder goes, if its not shred-able, just keep cooking. Oh it's so good! Haha I know! If using a frozen roast, how would I need to adjust the cook time? Hoping it turns out! Whisk to combine. Im happy to announce that I found a couple recipes and then put them up to the Taste Test Challenge! xo Cover and heat until warmed all the way through and the meat has absorbed the sauce, about 1 to 2 hours on LOW heat. Not only that this pork sounds deeelicious, I absolutely LOVE that serving bowl! Thanks for sharing a fantastic recipe, cant wait to make it again! Hi I'm Kari. Im sorry! Cheese Were your place for more than 1,000 actionable, traditional recipes to serve and celebrate your friends and family. 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. Enjoy. 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. 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. Sometimes at 7 hours its even still a bit tough and then 8 hours and its falling apart. xo Thank you so much for your review! Our favorite way to enjoy it is on a Cafe Rio Salad. Delicious sweet pulled pork perfect for your favorite Mexican food dish. 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. When time is up, let sit for 15 minutes before releasing the pressure. Thanks! Ive made this recipe now as its written, and with keto substitutes, and they were both divine!! Put the shredded pork into a casserole dish and cover with the enchilada sauce. Any suggestions for a good replacement? 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. Use the dro Stevia is a natural sweetener that grows as a plant. Cover with lid and cook on high heat for 6 hours. I skipped out on doing it this time, and I could not tell a difference at all. Whisk the enchilada sauce, chopped green chiles, brown sugar and one can of soda together in the Instant Pot. Marinate for a few hours or overnight. We are doing a lot of recipe testing to find one. Cook for 30-60 more minutes. Would this be good to eat on slidder rolls for a picnic? Pour the remaining 1 cup of Dr. Pepper, green chilies, enchilada sauce, and brown sugar into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Si. Rub the seasoning mixture all over the pork and place in a 9x13" pan, fat pad facing up. Thank you for this easy recipe! Definitely a new go to!! Place the pork, cup brown sugar and one can of Coke in a heavy duty ziploc bag to marinate. xo, The cook time was perfect. Add the pork to your slow cooker, and discard the marinade. . The pork slow cooks all day, and then at dinnertime, you have an amazing dish to serve to your family. We had our friends from Guatemala over and they RAVED, exclaiming it tasted extremely authentic. Weve fed 8 just fine with it but you could always double it and have leftovers! If the chicken is fresh or thawed it takes about 6 minutes both of these times are on high or manual pressure. -Use a canned red enchilada sauce. ), Hi Tanya! , Hi Crystal, I havent tried it with chicken yet, but it should turn out just as well. How to cook . If it looks too thick, add more Coke little by little. xo Thats because it tastes so similar to the original. IM planning on tripling it for a birthday PARTy. Si. But heres the deal. My family loves it! The pork cooks for a long time in the slow cooker which makes the meat tender and easy to shred. How To Make Our Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe: When you are ready to prepare the sweet pork for this Cafe Rio copycat recipe, get out your slow cooker and fill it half of the way with water. Wonder what the Coke does? Finally got around to making this in the crockpot yesterday. Now I really have a hankering for a Cafe Rio pork salad. My. Thanks for sharing, Merely arrange everything in the dish with the pork and get rid of it after baking. Do you think a 7 pound pork would be enough for a family of 12 adults and seven little kids? 1 packet sauce (no longer made) The meat cooks for a long time in the crock pot in its own juices which allows it to absorb a lot of flavor. Place 3 tablespoons spice mix in a large gallon size Ziplock bag. Keep warm until ready to serve. Drain the marinade and add the pork to a 5-quart slow cooker. We absolutely love this pork!! Place all other ingredients in a blender and puree until very smooth. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe, Cafe Rio Sweet Pork, Cafe Rio Sweet Pork, Slow Cooker Cafe Rio Sweet Pork. Hello! Cook, covered, for 6 to 7 hours on low heat. Youre not making something that needs to be cooked to a temperature, so unless you cook to the point where the meat starts dissolving, which is possible, you cant really over cook it. A big fat huge YES because this Cafe Rio Sweet Pork recipe is phenomenal, and I dont throw that word around too much. We Dont have Cafe Rio in Michigan. Please let us know how it goes! Cilantro Lime Dressing, Oh. Make sure to marinate for at least a few hours, preferably overnight. I also love the effect soda has when cooking meat, especially pork. The butt is usually sold without bone and the shoulder almost always is sold with a large bone-in. Its delicious! Should cook time stay the same or would you suggest longer? yahoo!! Your email address will not be published. Made some mistakes about draining the juices but it was pretty fool proof turns out. Ann. Brown sugar should be included in step 11 yes? Every single time we eat at Caf Rio, he orders the sweet pork salad. Thank you! Walmart. My favorite homemade red enchilada sauce is found here. Any progress on a new recipe? Thank you, Si! Let me know how this recipe turned out for you. Yes, I made it last night for our Relief Society activity. Would it effect the cooking time if I left the bone in? Give them a try and let me know what YOU think! The pork is marinated and slow-cooked to perfection in some surprising ingredients! Pour over the pork in the crock pot and cook for 5-6 hours, or until tender and shreds easily with a fork. With this recipe, you can now have the amazing taste of Cafe Rio Pork at home all you need is a few simple ingredients and a crock pot. It was all delicious!! If you scroll down the IP Cafe Rio post, under the second photo are links to all the Cafe Rio recipes (the words in blue writing). ? You can't go wrong! Not sure if tripling it will fit in one crock pot, so I would just use two separate crock pots/ slow cookers. You need the regular soda for the sugar in it)). Try it and let us know if your Cafe Rio cravings are satisfied! Hi Sara, the cook time will be the same, but to be safe I would pressure cook it for 60 minutes. Shred meat with a fork. I love my Instagram friends <3 Someone sneaky got into my cans of Coke I keep stored only to make Cafe Rio pork (we drink diet on a regular basis) and therefore I made this without it. I am planning a large event and want to make sure I have enough. Si. Place pork in a heavy duty Ziploc bag. In the Instant Pot It took me years to jump on the pressure cooker bandwagon. The pork is tender and juicy, with the perfect amount of sweetness. HAVE you ever tried Diet Pepsi for the soda in place of coke or Pepsi? Shred pork. Be sure to share a picture and tag, Chocolate Sheet Cake for Two {Texas Sheet Cake}. xo Si. All rights reserved. You can just turn it on and walk away! We have spent YEARS, much like we did for the perfect Melt in Your Mouth Buttermilk Pancakes and The Very Best Banana Bread, searching out exactly how this pork is made.