Rub the seasoning mixture all over the pork and place in a 9x13" pan, fat pad facing up. Do you live around a Kroger? A Bountiful Kitchen Cookbook, filled with recipes, photos, stories, and special notes from me, is now available for purchase! Made it today. Thank you so much for posting this! So glad you like! This looks like the perfect dish to prepare for all my hungry helpers. The aromatics totally make a difference, but you throw them out after its done cooking. Youll have to try ours and see how it compares in taste! Enjoy. Im constantly tweaking this recipe too!Tandie, Yes, you can use a beef roast instead of the pork! Christine, The pork will just be more tender than chicken. I have another request if possible. So sorry, I asked my comment in a reply on accident. Si. Tastes great! This unique cookbook guides the way through every step, including meal lists and easy-to-follow recipes, and features dollops of heartwarming family stories. Si. xo First off, bouquet garni is pronounced exactly how it looks, so dont get hung up on that! I better run over today! Seriously, made my day! If you like a little more spice, try the yellow can. A little more Coke can be added if it seems too thick. Hi Melissa, I havent tried cooking it with soda, but Im sure it would turn out great! Thanks for reading ABK. Chill at least 1 hour or overnight. I would cut it into thirds and definitely do it in the oven. If youve ever been to Utah youve probably had Cafe Rio, specifically Cafe Rio Sweet Pork. ), add on top of the pork roast, cook it up all day, take out the pork and shred it up, and add back in some of the sauce (not all of it.it makes a lot of sauce!) Be sure and follow me over on You Tube for weekly cooking demos, Your email address will not be published. Absolutely! How long would you recommend I cook the meat for in my 8qt IP? Prepare everything the same, but set the pork and bouquet garni in a slow cooker for 8-10 hours. Wondering if I could make this recipe in a crockpot-I dont have an instant pot. I do have a couple of questions, will this amount of sauce work for 4.5 lbs shoulder/butt, do you buy yours with or without the bone? Rumor has it that Dr Pepper or Coke are the preferred pops for Cafe Rio, choose whichever you prefer. Im so glad youre trying this recipe, I know youll love it! Is the 2c brown sugar packed or unpacked? In fact you can make the quesadilla at home too with our Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Quesadilla recipeyoure welcome! By taco seasoning mixes and the Spanish rice. 1 week ago wikihow.com Show details . When I first made this I was so happy to see that adobo sauce and marinating the meat werent part of your recipe (Im glad you agree that it doesnt add noticeable extra flavor). Or just the last 2 hours add the mixture? Im eating leftovers for lunch with my 5yo and 2yo and they also approve. I did see some Frontera sauces at my grocery store today. Sometimes making a slow cooker sweet pork just fits into your schedule better, I totally get that! All Rights Reserved. Thank you so much! Have you made this recipe yet? i didnt continue to cook with sauce mixture but Im sure it would make the flavor more deep and perhaps a little thicker maybe? I tried several different cook times, from 30-75 minutes. Hi! For kids, Id recommend 1/3 lb per person if they are young. 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! To the slow cooker, add in the garlic, onion, chili powder, water and cola. Thanks again! took the tip to let it sit overnight, so i am excited to try it tonight for dinner! It is removed after cooking and can be made with either fresh or dried herbs, root veggies etc. Spray inside of a large crock pot with cooking spray. xo, Were your place for more than 1,000 actionable, traditional recipes to serve and celebrate your friends and family. Add the 2 tablespoons of reserved spices, red enchilada sauce, brown sugar, green chiles and green salsa/enchilada sauce and stir/toss to combine. Then place the pork in the slow cooker and turn it on high and let the meat cook for 4 hour. It is wonderful. Thank you so much! Do you serve this as a pulled pork sandwich on a bun or on a tortilla? The extra two hours gives the shredded meat a chance to soak up more of the marinade. What was the other recipe that called for the elusive sauce packet? Haha I know! Whether its from scratch or not, its a recipe. xo During early experiments with this recipe, I cooked the pork in the sauce but found the sauce ingredients to be so diluted (even without adding water) and the sauce so runny that it was better to drain off some of the sauce and start over after cooking. Let it marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour, up to overnight. I knew there was a reason we get along. Can you please tell me how many this recipe will feed? Can you please post or send me the old recipe? xo One of my favorite dishes to get there is their sweet pork. I have never tried it with Diet coke. How to make Shredded Sweet Pork (CopyCat Cafe Rio): Cut the roast into large chunks of pork. You can use a bone in but it is harder to shred. Made the recipe as directed, rolled it up into a burrito, covered it with some salsa verse and cheesebam. I need to make this for 20-25 people. Just made this today and no one in my family could wait a day to let it set. You do not need to change the cooking time. (It does not need to cover roast) Sprinkle evenly with garlic salt, salt and pepper. You just mix together all four ingredients (yes, only four ingredients! Thanks again! Cover with lid and cook on high heat for 6 hours. I would love to pin this, but there is no image associated with it, so it wont let me pin the recipe. Sounds yummy. I realized after I made this and then ate at Cafe Rio that this recipe tastes better than the actual Cafe Rio sweet Pork Burittos! Put pork and marinade liquid into a lined slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. just a thought for those trying to watch their sugar intake. Si. Put the lid on and cook on high for 4 hours (or low for 8). Thanks so much! thank you si!!! Oops! Thank you!! Use the dro Stevia is a natural sweetener that grows as a plant. [Note to judges: this was recipe 1 for all of you that picked the first sweet pork sample as the winner]. Be sure to check out all our other tasty Mexican Recipes! xo I do love this recipe. I am doubling the recipe. I always make a ton of this sweet pork so I can use it in multiple recipes throughout the week, I also find myself snacking on it straight out of the fridge. For keto I subbed Dr. Pepper Zero for the coke, and Monkfruit brown sugar for the regular brown sugar. This one has a small hint of a spicy kick to it (probably from the enchilada sauce) that was delicious, and this one was definitely quite a bit sweeter than the other. Turn the setting to Manual or High Pressure and set the timer for 50 minutes. The fat will need to be removed and discarded.-I use both homemade and canned red enchilada sauce for this recipe. Whisk the enchilada sauce, chopped green chiles, brown sugar and one can of soda together in the Instant Pot. Hi Lindsay, I havent used an instant pot yet, so Im not sure how long you would cook this recipe in it. xo I do not like the taste of frozen cooked meat so I do two things. Put meat back in crock pot and add enchilada sauce, garlic, green chilies and brown sugar. Erica lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, Jared, an attorney, and her three beautiful girls. OHHH, that can be tricky. Im actually so excited about this that Im going to make it as a crockpot freezer meal for my freezer exchange group, too! My secrets (and recipes) for getting dinner on the table FAST! Add your pork to a large zip-top bag, bowl with a lid, or other container with one cup of coke, and 1/4 cup of brown sugar. Our favorite way to enjoy it is on a Cafe Rio Salad. 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. Thank you!! In the comments,someone asks for a substitute for the sauce package. I have another question, will cooking the pork shoulder in a crock pot break down the fat enough that it will shred ok? You can turn on the keep warm feature and the meat will stay on a low temperature for hours and be ready to eat later in the evening without overcooking. Receive recipes straight to your inbox and be the first for new content! xo I made this last night for my family and we had Missionaries over and everybody loved it- the leftovers are amazing too! Thats one of the secrets to this Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe. Can you tell me what I maybe did wrong? Question: I am making this for girls camp. I am one of those people that wont print out a recipe until it meets the mark. -Thicken sauce with cornstarch after cooked. We've perfected the Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe! Hi Melissa, you can cook it for the same amount of time, 50 min. Hence, 4 out of 5 stars. Here is the old recipe: Is this for a bone-in or boneless pork shoulder roast? After trying a few different cook times and water levels and also marinating vs not marinating, I found pork loin to be too lean. I absolutely love this recipe but havent been able to find the sauce lately. If you are wanting to triple the recipe, yes you would triple the amount of soda. Discard the juices in the slow cooker and then add the shredded pork back in along with the sweet sauce and mix together. Si. I think these homemade salads are SO delicious! Give them a try and let me know what YOU think! 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 all other ingredients in a blender and puree until very smooth. xo Oh, I already know I am going to love this week over here!! But heres the deal. Really? Yes, the onions will get quite dark, but its ok. We originally shared this recipe back in 2007, and it has been the most popular Cafe Rio copycat recipe on the internet! I like my endings all wrapped up. The nearest Cafe Rio is 1200 miles away and we miss it as much as we miss The Mandarine.which is a lot!!! xo, ? This one is by far my favorite and is almost identical to the sweet pork from Cafe Rio. Shred pork with two forks, and remove any fat. The yellow can said hot and I was a little scared hesitant to try it. Calm down now. I originally started this blog to remind me to be happy amid adversity, and I hope it inspires you, too! I hope the store doesnt stop carrying them! Ok and lastly can you post a pics of the old paso sauce packet you used, I cant seem to find it at the local grocery store Thanks a lot!!!! 2- Cut pork roast into quarters and add to the Instant Pot. A 4 oz. 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. Shred as normal, preparing the sauce separate and toss to combine. Shoot. Marinate the pork by placing it in a large ziploc bag. If there is excess liquid drain some off. 3 lbs. Marinade for a few hours or overnight, shaking once or twice during the marinating. Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter to receive updates. Heather, Becky, Enjoy your girls camp! Still used 2 cups of water, kept the time the same. Thank you so much for taking the time to share this recipe its fabulous I live down the street from the Cafe Rio and I eat there all the time. We like to eat it with a tortilla on a plate then topped with lettuce, black beans, rice and cilantro ranch dressing! Is it a powder or liquid and where have you found it? So if you are cooking a 7 lb roast, about 3.5-4 lbs of meat left if using a pork butt or shoulder. We've perfected the Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe! I cant believe they discontinued that packet on us!! Thank you! My. Please let us know how it goes! Add garlic powder, salt, and pepper over pork roast. Biggest compliment ever! Is the additional 2 hours of cooking (step 4) necessary after the meat has already cooked 8 hours? Add about a can and a half of coke and about cup of brown sugar. How many pounds of meat do you recommend, and should I alter the cooking time? Cover and cook on high for 4 hours. (Old El Paso brand is gluten free, I like medium spiciness but any will work). Some things: Oh no! Ours always appears to be done at 6 as well but I like how the flavor builds when going to 8 hours. Ive made this once before and my husband and I absolutely loved it! I make everything ahead and then we simply chop up lettuce and tomatoes and grill fresh tortillas for a homemade Cafe Rio style feast! You could try to add more brown sugar to compensate if you absolutely cannot find or use a regular soda. It is so sweet, so delicious. Place the pork loin in a crock pot and turn on to high heat. Cafe Rio does marinade the meat but you will still have a delicious meal if you dont. Please share below and rate the recipe after youve given it a try! 50 min and I let it npr for 1hr until I was ready to finish dinner. No Cafe Rio?!! 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. I dont go longer than that as each week the flavor seems to fade a little in my opinion. Ive tried another Cafe Rio sweet pork recipe, and yours definitely tastes more like the real deal!! How to cook . In this recipe 45 minutes of natural release time is needed. Perfect for burritos, salads and tacos! Thanks for reading ABK, {recipe to follow} This was, in my opinion, the easiest of the recipes. Thanks! Some say Dr. Pepper. Finally got around to making this in the crockpot yesterday. Remove all liquid from the slow cooker. I made this yesterday and it was delicious and so much better than having to remember to thaw the pork a day in advance and then put it in the crock pot first thing in the morning. Ours are now by the Mexican aisle and the italian tomato sauces. That is how yummy it is! Would I be able to reduce the amount of cooking time in that case? Thanks for sharing, Krista! It actually acts as a meat tenderizer in the recipe so dont leave it out. Can you use Dr. pepper instead of coke? This was amazing! Si. I always hope my replies are seen, but Im never sure as spam loves to take my emails. If you've ever been to Utah you've probably had Cafe Rio, specifically Cafe Rio Sweet Pork. After I cooked up both recipes, I put a taste of each on small plates for our judges. It is heaven! Allowing the pressure to naturally release results in a moist and tender finished product, similar to slow cooking the meat for 8-10 hours! boneless pork (carnitas, shoulder etc) 12 oz Coke (1 can) 1/4 cup brown sugar 10 oz. Put pork, 1/2 can of coke, water and garlic salt in slow cooker. Thanks for the insider tip! Oh darnit! Hi Tara! This copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe is one of the most popular recipes on our website. Thanks for posting the recipe. Have you found a good replacement for The Old El Paso cooking sauce packet which is no longer available? (Thank you to The Sisters Cafe for such an awesome recipe!) Im sorry! Thanks! Si. Ill have to whittle away at the leftovers until its gone, but now I know not to take any of my family to Cafe Rio. I need to feed 100 hungry lacrosse players after practice next Thursday and want to have enough! When prepared correctly, it practically melts in your mouth. . haha. The cook time was perfect. Hi Mindy! Not sure if tripling it will fit in one crock pot, so I would just use two separate crock pots/ slow cookers. We will have ovens, or I could bring a crockpot to reheat? The regular Coke does add a sweetness to it that makes this pork so amazing. Whisk to combine. I used this recipe to make about 40 pounds of the sweet pork for a graduation party and it was a hit. Hey Mindy! Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 1-2 hours. Warm in a slow oven or stovetop. Could you put soda in the instant pot instead of water? I love using the IP to speed up what used to take hours to cook in a slow cooker or oven. When you make it, please let me know how you like it. Use it to top a salad, a burrito, or a taco. Thank you for such a great 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. Turned out fabulous. Should cook time stay the same or would you suggest longer? xo Required fields are marked *. The process was so easy and the results were amazing. I have tried a lot of different sweet pork recipes. enchilada sauce (can) Combine meat and sauce: Return the shredded pork to the crock pot, along with the sauce mixture. Sorry about the confusion. Prepare a large crock pot by spraying the inside with cooking spray. and it was a huge hit! My slow cooked method posted previously recommends marinating, but this recipe does not. Ive added brown sugar to step 11. Its not listed in the ingredients. Cook the shredded pork in the crockpot with the sauce for 2 hours on low. Make a smooth paste by blending. Id love to know if this turned out well for you! In fact, I pinned it to make sure. ), add on top of the pork roast, cook it up all day, take out the pork and shred it up, and add back in some of the sauce (not all of it.it makes a lot of sauce!) . I followed the recipe to a T, also making the ABK homemade menudo dry rub and the ABK Homemade Enchilada Sauce for the simmering meat. Thats so odd. Also, did not take 8 hours in our crock pot, more like 6 total. Hi Anita, Thank you for bringing that to my attention! sides, Spinach egg white frittata costco heating instructions. Being critical is mean, but this is not what Id expect on a food blog. We love your recipes and your website! A bit disappointed but its still yummy. The meat cooks for a long time in the crock pot in its own juices which allows it to absorb a lot of flavor. When we boiled it down (no pun intended) I found they used a cut of meat OTHER THAN the cuts I recommend. Over the years I have read many comments, suggestions and tips for preparing the highly guarded secrets in Cafe Rio recipes, namely the Sweet Pork recipe. Making this recipe in the Instant Pot is so easy and delicious! I would wait to put the sauce on until you are ready to serve it. I didnt have root beer so I used Dr. Pepper, also I added a little more brown sugar but I like things very sweet. I made this today for dinner, and my husband said if he closed his eyes he would not be able to tell the difference between Cafe Rio or Costa Vida or what I made. If I use a 7-8lb shoulder, how long do you think I should cook it? Fresh cooked tortillas If Cafe Rio Sweet Pork is your family favorite, youre going to love this recipe! I would also place the trivet at the bottom of the instant pot before you put the roast in. This recipe looks delicious! Hi Si you said if you do a frozen pork butt to increase the time to 70-80 minutes, but you also said that was for 4 lbs. i use a boston butt cut and found it works perfectly. Cook, covered, for 6 to 7 hours on low heat. Put shredded pork and sauce in crockpot and cook on low for 2 hours. I was wondering if you could make an Instant Pot variation on this recipe! Wouldnt you know it, this is now my familys favorite. . I dont think there was another recipe that called for it. I have had pork butt get tough before, and good results other times even cooking around the same amount of time with about the same size butt! Hi Cristi, Yum! It was to die for. You can just turn it on and walk away! 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. I am SO excited to try this recipe. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker. Do you have a good suggestion to replace the sauce packet since they arent sold anymore? Si. Si. I missed this because I was doing all the other recipes as well. Combine a can and a half of Coke with about a quarter cup of brown sugar. Move along. When we go to Cafe Rio, I pretty much always get the salad to split (this is quite rare as the hubs DOES NOT split anything. I couldve eaten the meat alone with a fork and left all the toppings!!! You are awesome Im glad I read this! Shred and toss well in sauce. (And Si is one of my favorite imaginary friends on instagramId love to actually meet her. Rub with garlic salt and pour 2 cups of coke and cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 5-6. Appreciate it;). Or throw it in some enchiladas. This post may contain affiliate links. Thanks for asking! Si. xo, Sweet pork is my favorite meat at Cafe Rio. 16 ounces Coca-Cola soda, divided (( do not use diet soda. Blend or process 1/2 can of Coke with the chilies, enchilada sauce, and the rest of the brown sugar until smooth (about a cup, you can add a little more or less to taste).