xo, We just tried this and it was AMAZING! Hi Morgan, Do you serve this as a pulled pork sandwich on a bun or on a tortilla? Be sure to share a picture and tag, Chocolate Sheet Cake for Two {Texas Sheet Cake}. Thank you Si for another great recipe! No words can describe how happy my family is. I would cut it into thirds and definitely do it in the oven. Easy recipes for quick and delicious homemade meals! Cooking in the Instant Pot is totally different than cooking in a slow cooker. Try our Restaurant Style Salsa on top too! I couldve eaten the meat alone with a fork and left all the toppings!!! Discard any large pieces of fat and then shred. This Cafe Rio Sweet Pork recipe is full of delicious sweet flavor. Its in the crockpot right now. The difference was, they would warm theirs up for dinner the next night. Every single time we eat at Caf Rio, he orders the sweet pork salad. Is there a reason it says prep 10 mins and cook time 10 mins? Si, I dont believe Sirloin pork is fatty enough to achieve a shredded finished product I highly recommend either pork shoulder or butt! These items are bundled up in cheesecloth, tied off with string and throw into the dish with the food. ), but occasionally Ill get the quesadilla because its gooey. to try out. I need guidance. No taco sauce needed! Pork tenderloin and pork loin roast are not good choices for this recipe. 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). I did try the recipe as is and loved it! Ive tried many sweet pork copycats and this one is just spot on. I am Lucky in love to a supportive husband, blessed to raise 3 kids (all moved away now! Thanks again! Your email address will not be published. Thank you so much for your review! Amazingly easy and so delicious. Heather, Share below my top 3 ar, Make our Valentine M&M Chocolate Chip C. A Bountiful Kitchen 2023. I would also place the trivet at the bottom of the instant pot before you put the roast in. xo It is removed after cooking and can be made with either fresh or dried herbs, root veggies etc. It was to die for. Hi Jill, Just had to say thank you again! Pour enchilada sauce mixture over the shredded pork. But most of all, they love the memories made, shared and treasured and its all thanks to a meal shared together with loved ones. Don't forget to add toppings to that as well (chopped onion, lime wedges, chopped lettuce, avocado, black beans, etc. I do not like the taste of frozen cooked meat so I do two things. Remove the remaining juice from the pan and place in a small bowl. I love making meals in the crock pot and this is no exception. Thanks for sharing it. I am getting windy, but the Instant Pot version of CRP is amazing. 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. Im going to have to try and find that sauce packet!! $2.49 is about what I paid 10 minutes ago. So they do a fresh flour tortilla, a little cheese, cilantro rice (recipe is on my blog as well as the cafe rio tomatillo dressing), beans of choice, meat, lettuce, salsa, guacamole, and the special dressing with crisp tortilla strips. Thank you so much for this recipe!! Question: I am making this for girls camp. Mix to combine and sprinkle over the roast. Thicken your sauce Bring your sauce to a slow boil and let it simmer for about 10 minutes. Si, Becky, Continue to heat up until thickened. We love to place a tortilla on a plate, then top it with black beans, rice and the sweetpork, just like Caf Rio does. Only thing I think we were missing was a little heat, will use hot chiles and enchilada sauce next time. Its okay, and turned out fantastic all the same! Delicious sweet pulled pork perfect for your favorite Mexican food dish. Si. Have you made this recipe yet? Thanks. -Use a spice blend of garlic powder, dried oregano, cumin, salt and pepper. Corrected made. xo Thanks for asking! Also, did not take 8 hours in our crock pot, more like 6 total. I love this recipe and cant find any sauce either. I am so sad the Old El Paso sauce is no longer available. Thats so odd. yay!) Si. 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. Ive read those books and enjoyed them except for the ending of the Giver. Want to make it authentic? A bit disappointed but its still yummy. It does add more flavor to the meat, but it will still turn out great. LOVED this cafe rio pork recipe and got multiple compliments on it- I always tell everyone you are my recipe hero. xo If I dont have 2 hours once Im home from work, what else can I do? Thanks again! How would it taste to make this completely through, and then freeze it? By taco seasoning mixes and the Spanish rice. I love the pork dont get me wrong, but I have a ton of frozen chicken I need to use and Ive been craving the sweet pork so Im hoping I can still get the flavor and use up the chicken (we are moving in a few weeks so Im trying to use up our food)! 10/10! 3, Have you made our easy Shoyu Ramen? This was a hit in my house! This hot thw spot, so easy and incredibly yummy! I used pork butt and my meat was thought at 6 hrs and I cant even shred. Absolutely! It is spot on! -Only use pork butt or shoulder. . , Hi Crystal, I havent tried it with chicken yet, but it should turn out just as well. Thank you for this easy recipe! Do you live around a Kroger? Shred and toss well in sauce. How to make copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork? I love my Instagram friends <3 Do you have a good suggestion to replace the sauce packet since they arent sold anymore? Use a can of Coke and a quarter cup of brown sugar to marinate the pork for at least two hours and up to overnight. You are awesome Im glad I read this! 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). In factI find these recipes to be actually BETTER than the real versions. Its so yummy! When do you add it back? We ate on it for 2 days!! xo If the chicken is fresh or thawed it takes about 6 minutes both of these times are on high or manual pressure. Yes it really is that fast and simple! Maybe we still call it butt because butt is more fun to say than shoulder? Cook the pork in a slow cooker for 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high. I used this recipe to make about 40 pounds of the sweet pork for a graduation party and it was a hit. If your slow cooker is big enough you should be ok with the same time. It actually acts as a meat tenderizer in the recipe so dont leave it out. Ive had readers tell me they didnt get the desired finished product when making Cafe Rio Sweet Pork. i use a boston butt cut and found it works perfectly. How long would it need to be in the oven for a 7lb pork roast? Can you please post or send me the old recipe? The extra two hours gives the shredded meat a chance to soak up more of the marinade. Thanks for asking and for reading ABK! Oh darnit! SO GOOD! This was delicious!! The pork shoulder/butt has the fat and flavor you need! I did see some Frontera sauces at my grocery store today. We've perfected the Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe! If you want to start the meat at 3:00 pm when you leave to start driving carpool, go ahead, the meat will be fine in the Instant Pot for hours. Thanks for catching that! I have made many other recipes for Sweet Pork, but they lack flavor. Living in Midwest we have to make our own Cafe Rio and I have made versions often. Served ot with spanish yellow rice and black beans. Thanks for sharing a keeper. Help please. This unique cookbook guides the way through every step, including meal lists and easy-to-follow recipes, and features dollops of heartwarming family stories. This recipe is clearly a little different because it uses Coke, but trust me its the way its prepared that is key. Thanks for asking! If you like a little more spice, try the yellow can. Erica lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, Jared, an attorney, and her three beautiful girls. Si. Hope this helps! We put ours on top of nachos with homemade guac and queso and fresh pickled jalapeos. Si, I made this Instant Pot Cafe Rio for our RS Birthday dinner which was right before the Covid shutdowns. Just cook up some fresh flour tortillas with a little sprinkle of cheese and throw in those recipes for the cilantro lime rice and tomatillo sauce. That is how yummy it is! The fat will need to be removed and discarded.-I use both homemade and canned red enchilada sauce for this recipe. Thank you for sharing!! You can now make Cafe Rio Sweet Pork at home! Its is good any way, shape or form! I love Cafe Rios pulled pork. Hi Cristi, You might enjoy Cinder. Si. My favorite homemade red enchilada sauce is found here. I am planning a large event and want to make sure I have enough. Good job! Make sure the lid is set to the Sealing position. We recently moved ro an area where we no longer have quick access to cafe rio (our fave). If you are short on time, you can skip the marinating step. I would totally make this again. Would this be good to eat on slidder rolls for a picnic? Use it to top a salad, a burrito, or a taco. Keep warm until ready to serve. . And yes, youll use ground oregano. And Im excited to try this new recipe. So ive been following the steps as i make it and just got to the part that says set timer to 50 min. Im liking this idea! Place all other ingredients in a blender and puree until very smooth. Shanna's Jiffy Mix Cornbread Made Better! Si, Hi there! Thanks for the recipe! Pour half of the can of soda around the roast in the slow cooker. . I tried this tonight to make sweet pork nachos and it was delicious! Oh my gosh, cant thank you enough for perfecting this recipe for the instant pot. Or throw it in some enchiladas. The pork is marinated and slow-cooked to perfection in some surprising ingredients! Thanks for asking and for reading ABK, Pour 8 ounces of Coca-Cola ( I used a measuring cup) and water around pork. xo xo i made this yesterday! You can find my full directions on how to make it here. Cook for the 6 hours, then an additional 2! A little more Coke can be added if it seems too thick. -Use a canned red enchilada sauce. Ann. Would I still cook it for 50 mins? Let it marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour, up to overnight. We moved from Utah to Mississippi and its nowhere around! Some say Dr. Pepper. xo, That is an awesome idea! xo, Weve perfected the Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe! Hi Judene! Will the carrots get tender on just the warm setting? Combine a can and a half of Coke with about a quarter cup of brown sugar. Love your blog:). My preference is Pork Shoulder or Boneless Pork Rib meat! Marinade for a few hours or overnight, shaking once or twice during the marinating. Go goo goo for gooey with that one! Thanks for the insider tip! Pure comfort food! This post may contain affiliate links. I need to feed 100 hungry lacrosse players after practice next Thursday and want to have enough! But heres the deal. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker. Notes Freezing: this cooked pork freezes amazing well. Please see disclosure policy here. I made this for Sunday dinner and it was huge hit! Thanks for sharing, Krista! This is by far the best sweet pork recipe! Easy Banana Pudding Recipe (No-Bake Banana Pudding), Quinoa salad with edamame, cucumber and avocado, Chili recipes with ground beef and sausage, 2 pounds pork ((we use boneless pork ribs)), 10 ounces red enchilada sauce ((Old El Paso brand is gluten free, I like medium spiciness but any will work)). Lets all be nice. 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. xo Si. Hope this helps and thanks for asking! I dont go longer than that as each week the flavor seems to fade a little in my opinion. The at home version of Cafe Rio recipes includes: sweet pork, black beans, cilantro lime rice, pico, guac, and of course the most important part of the meal, the dressing! I am one of those people that wont print out a recipe until it meets the mark. I would love to make this for my wife, however she is allergic to sulfites. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours. I saw someone else comment that they use half a liter of Dr Pepper but I wasnt sure if they meant in the instant pot instead of water or what. Thanks for your time and talent! Misti. HAVE you ever tried Diet Pepsi for the soda in place of coke or Pepsi? Remove the roast onto a cutting board. If you friends from Guatemala loved it then its a winner! Thank you so much for compiling this recipe and all your other recipes. Yes, you can freeze the pork and sauce easily in gallon ziplock bags, remove from freezer in the morning, let thaw several hours and then heat on the stovetop or in a slow oven (300-325*) with foil wrapped over the pan. This is my go to sweet pork recipe. serving of pork contains 4.5 g of fat, with 1.5 g of saturated fat. This copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe is one of the most popular recipes on our website. Remove the fat before shredding the pork. first taste before i put it away was tip top, best pulled pork ive ever made Add the full can of coke, brown sugar and green salsa. Check us out on Instagram and be sure to tag us @ohsweetbasil #ohsweetbasil for a chance to be featured! I dont need to spend 10 bucks for one at Cafe Rio ever again when I can make it so easily at home! When prepared correctly, it practically melts in your mouth. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe 8 hr 15 min Boneless pork ribs, gluten free, coke, brown sugar, green chilies 4.617 Copycat Sweet Pork Recipe {Pressure Cooker or Slow Cooker} 2 hr Root beer, pork roast, enchilada sauce, red enchilada sauce, dark brown sugar 4.6325 Cafe Rio Sweet Pork 6 hr 50 min Thanks for this amazing recipe! Home All Recipes ALL MEALS Dinner Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe (Copycat). It really is better the next day as it sits in the juice or from the freezer. When time is up, let sit for 15 minutes before releasing the pressure. I was referring to your homemade spice mix. Discard liquid from crock pot. Pour 1/3 cup of the juices back onto the pork and toss to combine well. We love your recipes and your website! Made it today. I get it. Hi Brenda, I would use about 8-10 pounds of meat. So, its actually not the butt at all, but the shoulder. Any other tips are appreciated! haha. That extra 1 to 2 hours after shredding the pork and pouring in the remaining ingredients is just meant to heat it all up together. Thank you! In this recipe 45 minutes of natural release time is needed. (It does not need to cover roast) Sprinkle evenly with garlic salt, salt and pepper. Many pressure cooking experts agree that releasing the pressure manually (turning the pressure valve to release) will cause the meat to be tough. Whether its from scratch or not, its a recipe. Thank you, Si! Thank you so much for posting this! If you are in a hurry, skip this step and omit the oil in the pot. Place shredded pork back in crock pot. Si. I ordered my groceries online (including the pork roast) and when I got home from picking them up, I found a 20 pound roast! YESSS! I love your blog and havent ever been disappointed! Thank you for asking and for reading ABK! Required fields are marked *. Hi there! -Pork is marinated in Coke, full strength, not Diet Coke. Full of delicious sweet flavor, this copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork recipe goes perfectly in salads, tacos, burritos and more. Have you ever tried adding chipotles in adobo sauce? tastes amazing leftover too!!!! Required fields are marked *. Wonder what the Coke does? 2. Our favorite way to enjoy it is on a Cafe Rio Salad. 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. Im a total homebody. I agree the IP version is my favorite and I also love using the shoulder cut. We had our friends from Guatemala over and they RAVED, exclaiming it tasted extremely authentic. boneless pork (carnitas, shoulder etc) 12 oz Coke (1 can) 1/4 cup brown sugar 10 oz. This is my favorite cafe rio pork recipe. Place 3 tablespoons spice mix in a large gallon size Ziplock bag. I tried several different cook times, from 30-75 minutes. [Note to judges: this was recipe 1 for all of you that picked the first sweet pork sample as the winner]. Thanks for making this recipe possible in the instant pot! Add garlic, salt, and pepper. Its perfect in burritos, tacos and salads. My secrets (and recipes) for getting dinner on the table FAST! Merely arrange everything in the dish with the pork and get rid of it after baking. I love it in a burrito or on a salad. In the end, your best bet for tender fall apart meat is either Pork Shoulder, Boneless Pork Ribs or Boston Butt. I made this for my daughter and I for a twist on regular tacos. Si. Christine, Hi Kate, it should be the same cooking time even with the bone in. xo :o). Should I triple the amount of soda while cooking? This post may contain affiliate links. Seriously, made my day! Spray inside of a large crock pot with cooking spray. Ive tried it only with the bone and its been great. Yes, the onions will get quite dark, but its ok. Put in the marinade for at least a few hours and up to a full day. Maybe 5 minutes longer? Neither has a high enough fat content to make the fall apart finished product youre looking for. Total time: 410 minutes Cook time: 400 minutes Prep time: 10 minutes Yields: 12 servings Cuisine: Mexican Number of ingredients: 7 Ingredients: 3 lbs. Its red chile enchilada sauce with roasted tomato and garlic. Hi, which instant pot did you use for this recipe? Blend until smooth. I have another question, will cooking the pork shoulder in a crock pot break down the fat enough that it will shred ok? thanks! Here is the link https://abountifulkitchen.com/favorite-cafe-rio-copycat-recipes/, I have used this recipe several times, most recently for New Years Eve. Hi Megan, thank you for pointing that out, the cook time should be about and hour and a half. Oh good! ). I am so excited to use it for years to come. This recipe has always been a hit, especially in our family. Any suggestions for a good replacement? If so would you put the sauce on before your freeze it or wait until you serve it? The IP tends to release a higher volume of liquid from ingredient in the pot, which can dilute sauces. {Plus, I sorta have an aversion to cooking with soda pop.}. Si, Crystal I should have mentioned above, chicken will take way less time. Can i make this in an instapot? Thanks for checking in on it, Stephanie! Remove the meat and set on a cutting board. Im not sure how much. The process was so easy and the results were amazing. So so good and so easy. How long would you recommend I cook the meat for in my 8qt IP? Thanks so much for the yummy recipe! Its a tender pulled pork recipe with a coke or dr pepper sauce that Utah loves! Cover crock pot with lid and cook another 1 to 2 hours on low heat. Added some lettuce, corn salsa, pico, and cotija cheese and it was so, so good! The nearest Cafe Rio is 1200 miles away and we miss it as much as we miss The Mandarine.which is a lot!!! Thirty minutes did not give the meat enough time to tenderize while 75 was too long. I have made this recipe several times (we love it) and suddenly I cant find the Old El Paso sauce at the grocery store weve always gotten it at. Youre welcome, Lindsey! We also used coke, the red enchilada sauce that we made, onions and carrots, sugar and butter. Whisk the enchilada sauce, chopped green chiles, brown sugar and one can of soda together in the Instant Pot. Im with you Natalie! My husband is leaving in 1.5 hours , But btw i love all of your recipes. Will it make a difference with cooking time at all? Ugh! Cook a pork roast and tuck it inside. The only modifications I made were to add some salt and sliced onions. that all work together. So glad you like! Place the seared pork roast and coke in a 6 quart slow cooker. Let us know! We have moved to a state that doesnt have Cafe Rios and needed to recreate it!