Si. I hope you all enjoy. Go ahead and make this recipe as written. What brand of enchilada sauce do you prefer? Pour 1/3 cup of the juices back onto the pork and toss to combine well. I do not live near any Kroger stores. Thanks for sharing a fantastic recipe, cant wait to make it again! Thanks! You can't go wrong! Im so glad youre trying this recipe, I know youll love it! You could try to add more brown sugar to compensate if you absolutely cannot find or use a regular soda. Maybe 5 minutes longer? Shake until meat is coated. yahoo!! -Simmer pork in a pan with cut up yellow onions, serrano peppers and chopped carrots. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Salad Copycat Recipe - Food Fun Family [ Note to judges: this was recipe 2 for all of you that preferred this one] *Recipe here [amd-zlrecipe-recipe:10] I hope this makes sense, thank you for asking! SO GOOD! They have pics on their website so you can see it there. Hi! Ann. Hey Holly! Shred pork with two forks, and remove any fat. 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? So so good and so easy. ), but occasionally Ill get the quesadilla because its gooey. Brown sugar should be included in step 11 yes? Weve fed 8 just fine with it but you could always double it and have leftovers! (so 8 hours total) . 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. We are still working on it! As far as pork butt/shoulder goes, if its not shred-able, just keep cooking. I have another question, will cooking the pork shoulder in a crock pot break down the fat enough that it will shred ok? Either I toss everything in a bag with the meat and freeze it then pop it in the slow cooker on low for 10-12 hours or I cook it and allow it to cool completely then put in bags (we separate into two meals since our family is small) and freeze for up to 1 month. I love all your copy cat recipes but cant seem to find one for the spicy pork! Looking forward to making this. . If you friends from Guatemala loved it then its a winner! I think you need the sweetness of regular soda for this recipe. Thanks for catching that! How to make Caf Rio sweet pork in 15 minutes! I actually found a sauce packet at Walmart that I made it with, and it was AMAZING!!! Allowing the pressure to naturally release results in a moist and tender finished product, similar to slow cooking the meat for 8-10 hours! Cafe Rio does marinade the meat but you will still have a delicious meal if you dont. Hi Faith! It might be overcooked a little. mwah! For this recipe, count on 2 hours minimum for preparing, pressurizing and then natural release of pressure and removing any fat still attached to meat. There are lots of different sweet pork copycat recipes out there in the blogosphere and I have experimented with a lot of them. Lets treat others how wed like to be treated . 3, Have you made our easy Shoyu Ramen? YESSS! xo, Si. Si. It is wonderful. Basically, thats asking for an actual recipe. i use a boston butt cut and found it works perfectly. You made my day Rebecca! Does. Theres no need to marinate the pork, like other recipes. We Dont have Cafe Rio in Michigan. 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 can also use Boneless Pork Rib meat, which is basically the same thing as the shoulder, without the bone. It makes me feel so good to hear how much you love this recipe. A little more Coke can be added if it seems too thick. When meat is browned on both sides, Add water around sides of meat. Can I make this is in the crockpot or oven. Thanks again! xo It actually acts as a meat tenderizer in the recipe so dont leave it out. This new IP recipe takes about two hours start to finish, with most of the time spent in the Instant Pot, cooking the meat! This updated recipe allows cooking of the sweet pork in a fraction of the original 5-12 hour time. Cuts of pork are not created equal! Also the dressings freeze well too! 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)! . So happy you enjoyed it! Cook for 30-60 more minutes. I think that is one of the most valuable benefits of the IP, not having to plan dinner early in the morning anymore! I like Old El Paso! Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 1-2 hours. When you make it, please let me know how you like it. I will update that ASAP, thank you for letting me know. 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. A few I use, a few I do not. Cafe Rio is a popular fast-casual Mexican style restaurant with headquarters in Utah. Heather, The difference was, they would warm theirs up for dinner the next night. I agree the IP version is my favorite and I also love using the shoulder cut. Sometimes making a slow cooker sweet pork just fits into your schedule better, I totally get that! Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe in a Delicious Rice Bowl! I would totally make this again. Add the 2 tablespoons of reserved spices, red enchilada sauce, brown sugar, green chiles and green salsa/enchilada sauce and stir/toss to combine. Makes for amazing salads, burritos, tacos and quesadillas! My neighborhood would go crazy without one. I dont go longer than that as each week the flavor seems to fade a little in my opinion. 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. How to make Shredded Sweet Pork (CopyCat Cafe Rio): Cut the roast into large chunks of pork. Hope this helps and thanks for asking! Yes, you can. No need to increase sauce amount. Jennilyn, Its in the crockpot right now. I have a 7lb pork butt and I dont want to chance it in my instant pot. Ive tried a couple other times to make this and this was by far closest to Cafe Rio. Dinner - Costa vida sweet pork recipe without coke The longer the better. 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. Im not sure it would be that good. Is it 10 hours total on low? read more:If you love this copycat sweet pork recipe, youre bound to love our BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe too! Si. You could open a restaurant. Im liking this idea! 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. ). Recipe for Cafe Rio Sweet Pork | Made It. Ate It. Loved It. 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. Thank you! I hope the store doesnt stop carrying them! Las Palmas brand used at Cafe Rio. A big fat huge YES because this Cafe Rio Sweet Pork recipe is phenomenal, and I dont throw that word around too much. Ive had dozens of readers email and leave comments regarding the at home version of this recipe and reported back huge success in making Cafe Rio Sweet Pork for family reunions, weddings, girls camp, and youth conference gatherings to name a few. So there you have a couple of the BEST cola-free Sweet Pork Recipes! Im excited to give this a try! If youve ever been to Utah youve probably had Cafe Rio, specifically Cafe Rio Sweet Pork. It also makes the house smell SO good! I made this after reading all of the reviews and it was a hit. 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. Can this be made ahead of time and frozen? Cafe Rio does marinade the meat but you will still have a delicious meal if you dont. Thank you for sharing!! Id love to hear your comments and suggestions for cookingInstant Pot Cafe Rio Sweet Pork at home. Help!!! Ive tried another Cafe Rio sweet pork recipe, and yours definitely tastes more like the real deal!! Absolutely delicious!! We especially like it in quesidillas. Sorry about the confusion. If you buy lean cuts of pork, your Instant Pot Cafe Rio Sweet Pork will not taste like Cafe Rios Pork. So sorry, I asked my comment in a reply on accident. No words can describe how happy my family is. Thanks for sharing it. 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 When cool enough, pull any remaining visible fat off of meat and set aside. Im fairly certain the carbonation is what breaks down the meat and tenderizes, but the sugar adds sweetness. Si. Or just the last 2 hours add the mixture? Here is a link to my favorite one, I actually own three of them! Cooking in the Instant Pot is totally different than cooking in a slow cooker. I have been looking for a new crockpot pork recipe for this weekend! Then the recipe says 45 to cook and 45 NPR. It takes about 5 minutes to make.-As stated in the post, I did not marinate the pork in the sauce before cooking. I am doing a frozen 7 lb roast should I increase the cooking time? Also, the sauce is actually called roasted garlic and chile or something like that. We love to eat this dish when we are at our cabin. I didnt have root beer so I used Dr. Pepper, also I added a little more brown sugar but I like things very sweet. Thanks! 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. Put meat back in the slow cooker and add enchilada sauce, garlic, green chilies, and cup brown sugar. Add coke, water, garlic salt, onion salt, and chili powder. There are many different cuts of pork sold in the grocery store and at big box stores, such as Costco. Yay! Crave no longer my friends! Youll have to try ours and see how it compares in taste! 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!!!! Toss into your preferred salad or burrito! Marinate the pork by placing it in a large ziploc bag. Its red chile enchilada sauce with roasted tomato and garlic. Drain the marinade, and sprinkle the pork all over with garlic powder, chili powder, salt and pepper. We like to eat it with a tortilla on a plate then topped with lettuce, black beans, rice and cilantro ranch dressing! Thanks so much for sharing and for reading ABK! -Only use pork butt or shoulder. This one is by far my favorite and is almost identical to the sweet pork from Cafe Rio. Required fields are marked *. Cook again. Wonder what the Coke does? This will definitely be a staple meal in out home! The packet is at walmart in the Mexican food area. Ill have to try chicken next time. Its up to you. Si, Does this spice mix make the amount one would need to make this recipe, or does it make more? I have tried a lot of different sweet pork recipes. You can put this sweet pork into a salad, in a burrito, in enchiladas, on top of nachos, in a rice bowl, or in a quesadilla like we already discussed above. We recently moved ro an area where we no longer have quick access to cafe rio (our fave). Looks incredible, Carrian! Please check back and let us know how long it took you to cook your 7 lb roast. I make LOTS when I make it and freeze ittastes just as good when thawed! Cafe Rio Sweet Pork - Real Life Dinner Thats because it tastes so similar to the original. Sothis recipe is sugar, pre-packaged sauce, and meat. Years ago, I posted a slow cooker or oven version of Cafe Rio Sweet Pork, along with a complete menu of recipes. Hope this helps. Will the carrots get tender on just the warm setting? Remove all liquid from the slow cooker. It goes perfectly in burritos, tacos, salads and so much more. Hi Anita, 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? Im planning to make this for cinco de mayo tomorrow. Hi Brenda, I would use about 8-10 pounds of meat. Si. Add garlic powder, salt, and pepper over pork roast. I actually called General Mills and was told they discontinued it. Pour the sauce all over the pork and toss to coat. . I just asked about the spice mix being the right amount for the recipe or if it makes more. Youre welcome, Lindsey! Dinner - Cafe rio sweet pork recipe without coke 2- Cut pork roast into quarters and add to the Instant Pot. Place the pork loin in a crock pot and turn on to high heat. The IP cooks at such a high temperature and pressure for a small amount of time, while the slow cooker is the complete opposite. Thank you! REMEMBER TO SUBSCRIBE TO our FREEOh Sweet Basil NEWSLETTERAND RECEIVE EASY RECIPES DELIVERED INTO YOUR INBOX EVERY DAY! I havent tried the old elpaso version, but this is very close to the cafe rio flavor. Cant wait to try your recipe. Hi Elise, you could try cooking it for 45 minutes if you only have 3 lbs of meat. The cook time was perfect. Add the pork to a gallon-sized ziplock bag and add cup brown sugar and 2 cups Coca-Cola. Oh darnit! We also made your Tomatillo Sauce/Dressing and its perfection. Im so glad you enjoyed the recipe and thank you for sharing, I saw the Frontera one and want to know if it turned out similar. Im going to try this recipe tonight but I mistakenly got a bone-in shoulder butt pork roast. -I made it the night before so it could sit in the sauce overnight. I saw you hint at a Kroger substitute but didnt specify which one. Place the pork, cup brown sugar and one can of Coke in a heavy duty ziploc bag to marinate. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe (Copycat) - Favorite Family Recipes Let marinate for 3 hours or overnight. Si. In the Instant Pot It took me years to jump on the pressure cooker bandwagon. I was wondering if you could make an Instant Pot variation on this recipe! I strained the meat, but it looks nothing like yours!! This recipe for Cafe Rio Sweet Pork is the real deal. If Cafe Rio Sweet Pork is your family favorite, youre going to love this recipe! Thanks for your time and talent! Misti. It actually acts as a meat tenderizer in the recipe so dont leave it out. How do you serve this pork? This easy Pulled Pork recipe is made with pork shoulder (Boston pork butt), pantry spices and Cherry, Coke to tenderize the meat and then cooked in the oven, slow cooker or instant pot., Serve the spoon tender BBQ Pulled Pork in sandwiches, mac and cheese, grilled cheese, on pizza etc. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe From: Leigh Anne Wilkes Delicious sweet pulled pork perfect for your favorite Mexican food dish. 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. Cook for another 2 hours covered on low heat. Prepare a large crock pot by spraying the inside with cooking spray. After trying a few different cook times and water levels and also marinating vs not marinating, I found pork loin to be too lean. -Thicken sauce with cornstarch after cooked. Healthy Sweet Pork (Caf Rio Copycat) | Sugar Free Frontera Red Chile with roasted tomato and garlic Enchilada Sauce. Remove Chipotle chilies and shred meat. Used the above ingredients on low. Cook a pork roast and tuck it inside. How long would it need to be in the oven for a 7lb pork roast? Si. I did try the sauce and it is tasty. xo Mix the Sauce packet, brown sugar and pop and bring to a simmer over medium high heat until thickened a little. I am SO excited to try this recipe. Made some mistakes about draining the juices but it was pretty fool proof turns out. But heres the deal. Pork tenderloin and pork loin roast are not good choices for this recipe. The only modifications I made were to add some salt and sliced onions. How many pounds of meat do you recommend, and should I alter the cooking time? But both have a good side, for example the protein and iron is awesome in beef. Marinade pork for at least 2 hours or overnight in can of coke and 1/4 C brown sugar. Boston butt and pork shoulder, technically from the same part of the pig or hog, are from the top portion of the shoulder area. -Simmer pork in a pan with cut up yellow onions, serrano peppers and chopped carrots. Whether its from scratch or not, its a recipe. That is great to know that using coke zero works! Place pork in a baking dish and pour 8 ounces of Coca-Cola and water over it (I used a measuring cup). If there is excess liquid drain some off. I like my endings all wrapped up. Home All Recipes ALL MEALS Dinner Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe (Copycat). 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. Yes, I made it last night for our Relief Society activity. Just halved all ingredients for the sauce after it cooked. Oh, I already know I am going to love this week over here!! xo We dont buy caffeinated drinks so I was hoping it would taste just as great with rootbeer. Im happy to announce that I found a couple recipes and then put them up to the Taste Test Challenge! Thank you so much for your support! We have all kinds of yummy Mexican dishes to round out your meals and celebrations! Cafe Rio Sweet Pork | Wanderzest I tried this tonight to make sweet pork nachos and it was delicious! Drain the marinade and add the pork to a 5-quart slow cooker. Hi Tara! Hence, 4 out of 5 stars. [Note to judges: this was recipe 1 for all of you that picked the first sweet pork sample as the winner]. Hi Melissa, I havent tried cooking it with soda, but Im sure it would turn out great! Thats one of the secrets to this Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe. Scoop out the pork from the crock pot and discard the cooking liquid. Pour pork and liquid into crock pot and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. Its a good sweet pork recipe but its definitely not the cafe rio one. How long should i cook it? If you are in a hurry, skip this step and omit the oil in the pot. I love this sweet pulled pork!! I made this last night for my family and we had Missionaries over and everybody loved it- the leftovers are amazing too! Its okay, and turned out fantastic all the same! Put meat back in crock pot and add enchilada sauce, garlic, green chilies and brown sugar. Its a hit at any gathering! Ive added brown sugar to step 11. xo Instant Pot Cafe Rio Sweet Pork | A Bountiful Kitchen Si. I already know what youre thinking. Can you use Dr. pepper instead of coke? 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! It is great as a salad, burrito, or nachos. I just love that theres a quick version! This is the best sweet pork recipe Ive tried! Is there anyway to use store bought pulled pork to speed up the recipe? Or would you recommend using your older recipe? Cover and cook on high 3 hours. I cook all the vegetables with the pork because it adds a really nice flavor, but I only use the onions in the sauce. Have you ever tried adding chipotles in adobo sauce? Hi Lindsay, I havent used an instant pot yet, so Im not sure how long you would cook this recipe in it. I would love to make this for my wife, however she is allergic to sulfites. But for adults, 1/2 lb perversion (before adding the sauce). Ive read those books and enjoyed them except for the ending of the Giver. Xo Put pork, 1/2 can of coke, water and garlic salt in slow cooker. If you dont have cheesecloth, dont stress! The pork slow cooks all day, and then at dinnertime, you have an amazing dish to serve to your family. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.