Im so glad youre trying this recipe, I know youll love it! Weve fed 8 just fine with it but you could always double it and have leftovers! Is this for a bone-in or boneless pork shoulder roast? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our family doesnt like pork, but we love the beef. Some unusual ingredients are used to marinate and slow-cook the pork until it is just right. Hi Kate, it should be the same cooking time even with the bone in. Walmart. Home All Recipes ALL MEALS Dinner Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe (Copycat). Be sure to check out all our other tasty Mexican Recipes! Brown sugar should be included in step 11 yes? 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. Thank you! 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. Cover and heat until warmed all the way through and the meat has absorbed the sauce, about 1 to 2 hours on LOW heat. Allowing the pressure to naturally release results in a moist and tender finished product, similar to slow cooking the meat for 8-10 hours! So I moved to Texas a little over a year ago and to my despair there isnt a Cafe Rio for 500 miles. (Old El Paso brand is gluten free, I like medium spiciness but any will work). Thanks! ), and happy to be watched over by 2 dogs. Youre probably going to want 12-14 hours in the oven. Im guessing when making the sauce? Thank you so much for sharing, Josee, Im so glad you enjoyed the recipe! Ive never tried a recipe from you that Ive disliked. So Ive beenexperimenting withdifferent versions and this one is the one we feel tastes closest to the real thing. Im missing the step where you add the Coke. Thank you. This recipe is the most spot on i have ever found. Have you found a good replacement for The Old El Paso cooking sauce packet which is no longer available? Thank you for this recipe! Or throw it in some enchiladas. Finally got around to making this in the crockpot yesterday. In general, 1 lb of pulled pork will feed 3 people, so you will probably want 30-35 lbs to feed 100 people. Mix the remaining 8 ounces of Coca-Cola, green chilies, enchilada sauce, and brown sugar in a blender or food processor. You just mix together all four ingredients (yes, only four ingredients! Have you made this and froze it for use later? First off, bouquet garni is pronounced exactly how it looks, so dont get hung up on that! This is my go to sweet pork recipe. Peach Mango Salsa Cafe Rio Sweet Pork {Copycat} recipes - Main course Here is the Sweet Pork Recipe that was a favorite among 50% of the judges! My husband and i moved and miss cafe rio/costa vida so much. It does add more flavor to the meat, but it will still turn out great. Check us out on Instagram and be sure to tag us @ohsweetbasil #ohsweetbasil for a chance to be featured! -Pork is marinated in Coke, full strength, not Diet Coke. I have made this recipe all the same prep steps and ingredients with a few tweaks to use an instant pot : 3 lbs of pork tenderloin cut into chunks for 55 minutes on manual (with the grate that lifts the meat mostly off the bottom of the pot. TfRecipes. I bought a 9lb pork shoulder. It also makes the house smell SO good! Thank you so much! The process was so easy and the results were amazing. No taco sauce needed! Place pork in a baking dish and pour 8 ounces of Coca-Cola and water over it (I used a measuring cup). Does. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Sweet and succulent pork, perfect for your go-to Mexican dish. So I thought it was a quick dinner. How to make Shredded Sweet Pork (CopyCat Cafe Rio): Cut the roast into large chunks of pork. HAVE you ever tried Diet Pepsi for the soda in place of coke or Pepsi? Thanks for asking! At what point in the recipe do you add these vegetables? In fact you can make the quesadilla at home too with our Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Quesadilla recipeyoure welcome! XO Here, you can pin off of this link, http://www.pinterest.com/pin/157555686939072946/, Ive gone to three grocery stores and cant find el paso sauce packet WITH roasted garlic. And youll wonder why. Its personal preference if you want to add them to the sauce. xo, Give them a try and let me know what YOU think! Basically, thats asking for an actual recipe. Hi Elise, you could try cooking it for 45 minutes if you only have 3 lbs of meat. . And also Im loving your post about cooking for a crowd, girls camp and such! Is there any particular sauce you recommend? Instructions . Carefully remove the lid from the pot when all of the pressure is released. xo It is so yummy! xo Its is good any way, shape or form! Ive never heard of this old el paso sauce packet. 12 servings Prep: 10 minutes Cook: 6 hours 40 minutes Total: 6 hours 50 minutes Rate Recipe Ingredients 3 lbs. Cafe Rio {Copycat} Sweet Pulled Pork | The Recipe Critic Taste and adjust salt, if needed. 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. xo In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water. Permission granted! Si. Cooking in the Instant Pot is totally different than cooking in a slow cooker. We also used coke, the red enchilada sauce that we made, onions and carrots, sugar and butter. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe | Modernmealmakeover.com Thank you! Two neighbors have texted me today asking for the recipe! 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. Pour 8 ounces of Coca-Cola ( I used a measuring cup) and water around pork. Put meat back in the slow cooker and add enchilada sauce, garlic, green chilies, and cup brown sugar. Youre welcome, Lindsey! enchilada sauce can Add the 2 tablespoons of reserved spices, red enchilada sauce, brown sugar, green chiles and green salsa/enchilada sauce and stir/toss to combine. Lettuce Maybe closer to 35lbs if you are feeding hungry lacrosse players! So there you have a couple of the BEST cola-free Sweet Pork Recipes! They love everything from the keep you fit and healthy to the get out your sweat pants indulgent and everything in between. Remove the remaining juice from the pan and place in a small bowl. This one is by far my favorite and is almost identical to the sweet pork from Cafe Rio. Hi Indigo! It doesnt taste like cafe rio pork at all. It goes perfectly in burritos, tacos, salads and so much more. Tastes great! Can you say easy? It actually acts as a meat tenderizer in the recipe so dont leave it out. Si. Place all other ingredients in a blender and puree until very smooth. You might enjoy Cinder. ! Jared, We love, love, love this recipe! Pour enchilada sauce mixture over the shredded pork. Rub the dry seasoning all over the pork roast. 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. Can I sub beef for this or do you have the cafe rio shredded beef recipe? How do you serve this pork? Whisk to combine. Can I make this is in the crockpot or oven. I have never tried it with Diet coke. 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!) Hey Mindy! If using a frozen roast, how would I need to adjust the cook time? , Hi Crystal, I havent tried it with chicken yet, but it should turn out just as well. Thats one of the secrets to this Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe. Thank you for asking and for reading ABK! I ordered a 5 pound one! I made this for my daughter and I for a twist on regular tacos. boneless pork carnitas, shoulder etc 12 oz Coke 1 can 1/4 cup brown sugar 10 oz. When cool enough, pull any remaining visible fat off of meat and set aside. I followed the recipe to a T with a 5 lb boneless butt roast and my meat turned out a gelatinous mess swimming in sauce. We have tried a few Cafe Rio Pork recipes because we love it and live in a state where there is, sadly, no Cafe Rio. xo 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). Im feeding 5 men tomorrow and was hoping to freeze the extra cooked meat, but now Im worried I wont be able to get 9lbs cooked to fork tender. -Simmer pork in a pan with cut up yellow onions, serrano peppers and chopped carrots. Cook for 30-60 more minutes. Cant wait to try it! Dont like the one she posted? 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. 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)! This looks so delicious!! We are doing a lot of recipe testing to find one. Cook, covered, for 6 to 7 hours on low heat. This post may contain affiliate links. I cant find that sauce packet. This was absolutely perfect! cafe rio dressing, copycat recipe, sweet pork, natural pressure release and preparing meat after cooked, butt or boneless pork rib meat*, cut into large chunks, large visible chunks of fat removed, or make your own (see post for instructions). -I made it the night before so it could sit in the sauce overnight. Prepare everything the same, but set the pork and bouquet garni in a slow cooker for 8-10 hours. Or would you recommend using your older recipe? sides, Spinach egg white frittata costco heating instructions. I love seeing what you made. When prepared correctly, it practically melts in your mouth. xo Thanks Lori. If so would you put the sauce on before your freeze it or wait until you serve it? Also, the sauce is actually called roasted garlic and chile or something like that. I am so sad the Old El Paso sauce is no longer available. The result was excellent! Many pressure cooking experts agree that releasing the pressure manually (turning the pressure valve to release) will cause the meat to be tough. Thanks for reading ABK. Si. Im going to have to slice and it absorbed no flavor. I get it! I hope you all enjoy. And yes, youll use ground oregano. Thanks for asking and for reading ABK, Let us know! I knew there was a reason we get along. I figured some butts/shoulders were just tougher. How would the cook time change for this? Im not sure it would be that good. [Note to judges: this was recipe 1 for all of you that picked the first sweet pork sample as the winner]. Enjoy. Do you live around a Kroger? Used the above ingredients on low. Join our family as we cook, bake, and enjoy time together in the kitchen. Thank you so much for your review! Remove pork from marinade and place in a slow cooker along with half a can of coke, water, and garlic salt. Remove meat and shred. The sugar in the drink break down the fibers in the meat. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork - Chef in Training Marinate for a few hours or overnight. We love to place a tortilla on a plate, then top it with black beans, rice and the sweetpork, just like Caf Rio does. Yum. I love your blog and havent ever been disappointed! Im going to try this recipe tonight but I mistakenly got a bone-in shoulder butt pork roast. I always have used the old recipe and I used the frontera red Chile enchilada sauce packet and still love how it turns out. xo 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)). And they both liked the SAME one. Or they make, tacos, tostadas, burritos and quesadillas with the pork. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Cook time should state 10 hrs and not 8. Hoping it turns out! We have all kinds of yummy Mexican dishes to round out your meals and celebrations! Toss into your preferred salad or burrito! We just tried this and it was AMAZING! Also, should I double the sauce? But turns out fabulous. Si. So if you are cooking a 7 lb roast, about 3.5-4 lbs of meat left if using a pork butt or shoulder. I made extra sweet sauce, would I be able to freeze the sauce alone to use for my next batch of sweet pork later this month? Thank you. I love using the IP to speed up what used to take hours to cook in a slow cooker or oven. Sweet pork is my favorite meat at Cafe Rio. 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. During the natural pressure release time, the meat continues to cook with the residual heat in the pot, the pressure is slowly released and the juices stay in the meat instead of escaping out of the pan (or pot). I am getting windy, but the Instant Pot version of CRP is amazing. The aromatics totally make a difference, but you throw them out after its done cooking. xo It is a bundle of aromatic herbs and sometimes vegetables that are used to enhance the flavor of soups, stews, stocks, poaching liquids and even braised dishes. I know, I know. 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. If it looks too thick, add more Coke little by little. . 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. Take the pork out of the slow cooker and place it on the chopping board. How to make Caf Rio sweet pork in 15 minutes! ). Cant wait to make it. Hope this helps and thanks for asking! I think these homemade salads are SO delicious! Si. Make sure to marinate for at least a few hours, preferably overnight. It is spot on! If you are wanting to triple the recipe, yes you would triple the amount of soda. Thanks for sharing, Double one of the recipes and the make one single recipe in the other. Living in Midwest we have to make our own Cafe Rio and I have made versions often. Combine a can and a half of Coke with about a quarter cup of brown sugar. Serve on top of tortilla chips, tortillas, or a bed of rice. Let me know how this recipe turned out for you. Make a smooth paste by blending. Shred as normal, preparing the sauce separate and toss to combine. I make my IP pork similar to yours but pour 1/2 liter of Dr pepper around pork chunks in IP and cook under manual pressure for 60 min unless very large portion in 8 qt I would cook for 75 min. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Barbacoa Recipe - Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes Xo You may substitute beef for this recipe. Good job! Ours always appears to be done at 6 as well but I like how the flavor builds when going to 8 hours. Make sure the lid is set to the Sealing position. Si, Does this spice mix make the amount one would need to make this recipe, or does it make more? * Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. took the tip to let it sit overnight, so i am excited to try it tonight for dinner! I dont go longer than that as each week the flavor seems to fade a little in my opinion. Taking some of the liquid out if there is too much. I am one of those people that wont print out a recipe until it meets the mark. I need to feed 100 hungry lacrosse players after practice next Thursday and want to have enough! 1 packet sauce (no longer made) Hello! It is so tricky to recreate! 2. Maybe we still call it butt because butt is more fun to say than shoulder? Add the pork to a gallon-sized ziplock bag and add cup brown sugar and 2 cups Coca-Cola. yay!) I forgot to take that out of the instructions. 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. You do not need to change the cooking time. Prepare everything the same, but set the pork and bouquet garni (see section below) in a slow cooker for 8-10 hours. Ann. Cheese Once its shredded and ready to go, use it as a topping or filling in any of the following ways. -Cook onions in a pan with oil until caramelized, add to cooked pork and enchilada sauce. Recognizing the Sunshine and Living Happy. No Cafe Rio?!! Hi Angie, It was to die for. The meat cooks for a long time in the crock pot in its own juices which allows it to absorb a lot of flavor. Lauren, Lets all be nice. Im considering this for dinner but theres not enough time to thaw it today. This unique cookbook guides the way through every step, including meal lists and easy-to-follow recipes, and features dollops of heartwarming family stories. Yay! Turn the roast over and use the other half of the seasoning mixture to do the same on the other side. Can i make this in an instapot? Total time: 495 minutes Cook time: 480 minutes Prep time: 15 minutes Yields: 10 servings Cuisine: Mexican/Spanish Number of ingredients: 8 Ingredients: 2 pounds pork ((we use boneless pork ribs)) This was delicious!! Cafe Rio Sweet Pork - Garnish & Glaze And Im excited to try this new recipe. It looks so delicious! Im wanting to make this this weekend and put it on Rumbi-style rice. Put shredded pork and sauce in crockpot and cook on low for 2 hours. I experimented with pork loin, Boston butt and pork shoulder for Instant Pot Cafe Rio Sweet Pork. Soooo good. 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! Thanks for catching that! Required fields are marked *. We put ours on top of nachos with homemade guac and queso and fresh pickled jalapeos. thank you si!!! I actually called General Mills and was told they discontinued it. Place pork shoulder or butt in a slow cooker and pour 1 cup each of Dr. Pepper and water over the meat. Im going to have to try and find that sauce packet!! Hope this helps and thanks for asking! Shred pork with two forks, and remove any fat. Dump all the liquid in the crockpot. Do you think a 7 pound pork would be enough for a family of 12 adults and seven little kids? Or do you with 2 hours remaining add in the remaining ingredients? ? Cover with lid and cook on HIGH for about 3-4 hours. I have been a little intimidated by new recipes in my IP, but had a great cut of meat from a sale and thought I would give it a try. Such a sweet comment!! Thanks for posting the recipe. It wont taste as close but you could use Mels recipe, http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2011/09/red-chile-sauce-chicken-enchiladas.html Wouldnt you know it, this is now my familys favorite. thanks and let us know if you try the beef! I secretly love when the hubs is out of town, I put the kids to bed WAY early and spend the night pampering in myself with dinner, a movie and a pedicure! Here is a link to my favorite one, I actually own three of them! Im glad you can make sweet pork any time you need a Cafe Rio fix. Now those are some lucky judges! Ours are now by the Mexican aisle and the italian tomato sauces. Do you think it will be enough? Add coke and brown sugar and seal bag. 3 lbs. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork (copycat recipe) - Like Mother, Like Daughter Thank you for bringing that to my attention! I found a sauce packet by Frontera. YESSS! I make LOTS when I make it and freeze ittastes just as good when thawed! Si. Interesting fact- the name Boston butt originates from 18th century New England when pork was packed in barrels (which were also known as butts) to store and ship meat. After eating more than my share of Cafe Rio meals, I came up with this oven or slow cooker recipeback in 2011. Si. But both have a good side, for example the protein and iron is awesome in beef. Drain the marinade and add the pork to a 5-quart slow cooker. Amazingly easy and so delicious. The IP cooks at such a high temperature and pressure for a small amount of time, while the slow cooker is the complete opposite. Add coke, water, garlic salt, onion salt, and chili powder. I used pork butt and my meat was thought at 6 hrs and I cant even shred. Thanks for reading ABK and thanks for your help. I moved out of the area where my local cafe rio was. If it was bigger than 3-4 pounds it just needed more like 8-12 hours. [Note to judges: this was recipe 2 for all of you that preferred this one]. Enjoy using your Instant Pot! I used the green can of El Pato (jalepeno salsa). Id love your suggestions. serving of beef provides 11 g of fat, with 4.5 g of saturated fat, while a 4 oz. I tried this tonight to make sweet pork nachos and it was delicious! I am so excited to use it for years to come. 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. Thanks for asking and for reading ABK! Thank you Si! The nearest Cafe Rio is 1200 miles away and we miss it as much as we miss The Mandarine.which is a lot!!! I also love the effect soda has when cooking meat, especially pork. Thank you so much. Wonder what the Coke does? In a blender or food processor, blend the remaining 8 ounces Coca-Cola, diced green chilies, enchilada sauce and brown sugar. 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).