I love it! My secrets (and recipes) for getting dinner on the table FAST! It is so sweet, so delicious. I already know what youre thinking. Lucky! I make this so often and it is now the ONLY way i make sweet pork! I really am not exaggerating when I say that we have tried pretty much every single Cafe Rio Pork recipe thats out there and while many are quite delicious, they just arent close enough to the real version. Its really quite fun. Wow!!!! Thanks for catching that! Would you recommend cooking all of it at once for a longer time, or cutting it into thirds and cooking only one piece for now? Love your blog:). Hi Lindsay, I havent used an instant pot yet, so Im not sure how long you would cook this recipe in it. But for adults, 1/2 lb perversion (before adding the sauce). This pulled pork was amazing! Si. How long would you recommend I cook the meat for in my 8qt IP? boneless pork carnitas, shoulder etc 12 oz Coke 1 can 1/4 cup brown sugar 10 oz. Definitely try this out. I love Cafe Rio sweet pork, so I will definitely try this. Thanks for reading ABK, Merely arrange everything in the dish with the pork and get rid of it after baking. In a small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, onion powder, and oregano. Hoping to take it on a trip we are going on next week. Sweet pork is my favorite meat at Cafe Rio. Its personal preference if you want to add them to the sauce. Turned out fabulous. Oh no! Place pork shoulder or butt in a slow cooker and pour 1 cup each of Dr. Pepper and water over the meat. You can also use Boneless Pork Rib meat, which is basically the same thing as the shoulder, without the bone. This cafe rio pork recipe is my absolutely favorite. Amazing flavors and I love the slow cooker meals!! This hot thw spot, so easy and incredibly yummy! Thanks for reading ABK. Place 3 tablespoons spice mix in a large gallon size Ziplock bag. My sample batch was with the ribs and I froze that batch ahead of time. How would it taste to make this completely through, and then freeze it? All Cafe Rio style recipes listed and linked on post. -Only use pork butt or shoulder. thanks! Si. An even coating of garlic powder, salt, and pepper should be spread across the pork roast. Do you have a good suggestion to replace the sauce packet since they arent sold anymore? I would wait to put the sauce on until you are ready to serve it. Im wanting to make this this weekend and put it on Rumbi-style rice. I dont think there was another recipe that called for it. Full of delicious sweet flavor, this copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork recipe goes perfectly in salads, tacos, burritos and more. I love it in a burrito or on a salad. Weve perfected the Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe! This pulled pork is perfect over salad, rice, tacos, burritos, quesadillas or on a toasted bun. Once pork is completely cooked, shred up the pork with two forks. 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? Si. Can you please post or send me the old recipe? Lauren, IM planning on tripling it for a birthday PARTy. enchilada sauce can Sometimes making a slow cooker sweet pork just fits into your schedule better, I totally get that! Hi! And Im excited to try this new recipe. Question: I am making this for girls camp. 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. Is there anyway to use store bought pulled pork to speed up the recipe? enchilada sauce (can) Add the shredded pork back to the slow cooker. Appreciate it;). xo, Remove pork from crock pot and transfer to cutting board. 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). Share below my top 3 ar, Make our Valentine M&M Chocolate Chip C. A Bountiful Kitchen 2023. Marinade for a few hours or overnight, shaking once or twice during the marinating. I love Cafe Rios pulled pork. The cook time in the Instant Pot will vary according to the cut of meat used. Drain the marinade and add the pork to a 5-quart slow cooker. And I will link up to the other cola-free Sweet Pork recipe as soon as I get permission! For kids, Id recommend 1/3 lb per person if they are young. Hi Aubrey, Cant wait to make it. 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. Cook for another 2 hours covered on low heat. Let me know how this recipe turned out for you. Thanks for reading ABK, Cook a pork roast and tuck it inside. When you make it, please let me know how you like it. I have tried a lot of different sweet pork recipes. haha, at least Im not the only one dealing with a non-sharer. I wonder if I can use chicken for pork? Check us out on Instagram and be sure to tag us @ohsweetbasil #ohsweetbasil for a chance to be featured! Place the pork, cup brown sugar and one can of Coke in a heavy duty ziploc bag to marinate. thanks for reading ABK, Drain the marinade and add the pork to a 5-quart slow cooker. We like to eat it with a tortilla on a plate then topped with lettuce, black beans, rice and cilantro ranch dressing! Pour can of Coke, water and garlic salt over pork in the slow cooker. Rub the seasoning mixture all over the pork and place in a 9x13" pan, fat pad facing up. Thanks for this amazing recipe! My slow cooked method posted previously recommends marinating, but this recipe does not. Make sure to marinate for at least a few hours, preferably overnight. My husband is leaving in 1.5 hours , But btw i love all of your recipes. Hi! So sorry, I asked my comment in a reply on accident. How would you suggest I heat it up once at camp? 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. If using Boston butt, or pork butt, count on about 1/2 of the total pounds before cooking being discarded (after cooking). So glad you like! Thanks for your time and talent! Misti. My. 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. Si. (so 8 hours total) . Here is the old recipe: Only thing I think we were missing was a little heat, will use hot chiles and enchilada sauce next time. Thanks for sharing a fantastic recipe, cant wait to make it again! Pour half of the can of soda around the roast in the slow cooker. In a blender or food processor, blend the remaining 8 ounces Coca-Cola, diced green chilies, enchilada sauce and brown sugar. Let us know how it turns out! Is there a reason it says prep 10 mins and cook time 10 mins? 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. Made the recipe as directed, rolled it up into a burrito, covered it with some salsa verse and cheesebam. Its in the crockpot right now. Si. Si. xo, I saw you hint at a Kroger substitute but didnt specify which one. Also, did not take 8 hours in our crock pot, more like 6 total. xo What was the other recipe that called for the elusive sauce packet? Once its shredded and ready to go, use it as a topping or filling in any of the following ways. Have you made this and froze it for use later? This recipe has always been a hit, especially in our family. Don't forget to add toppings to that as well (chopped onion, lime wedges, chopped lettuce, avocado, black beans, etc. Add the pork to a gallon-sized ziplock bag and add cup brown sugar and 2 cups Coca-Cola. Just finished eating this for dinner and I raced to my computer to say: Oh. I love my Instagram friends <3 In a food processor or blender, blend can Coke, chilies, enchilada sauce and remaining brown sugar (about a cup, you can add a little more or less to taste). Cooking in the Instant Pot is totally different than cooking in a slow cooker. 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. Si. Si. Cafe Rio sweet pork can be served on a bed of white rice with toppings such as sliced jalapeno, diced tomatoes, and fresh cilantro. After eating more than my share of Cafe Rio meals, I came up with this oven or slow cooker recipeback in 2011. The pork is tender and juicy, with the perfect amount of sweetness. Thanks! Spray inside of a large crock pot with cooking spray. I agree the IP version is my favorite and I also love using the shoulder cut. I ordered my groceries online (including the pork roast) and when I got home from picking them up, I found a 20 pound roast! That is great to know that using coke zero works! Weve fed 8 just fine with it but you could always double it and have leftovers! That is how yummy it is! Is it 10 hours total on low? thank you si!!! A pork loin or roast is going to be too lean and wont turn out exactly like Cafe Rio. Im going to try this recipe tonight but I mistakenly got a bone-in shoulder butt pork roast. Calista This amount of sauce will work fine for 4.5 lbs. Hi Faith! . Its THAT good! Hi Indigo! A bit disappointed but its still yummy. Hope this helps! We have used it and it was pretty good but we are working on a new recipe since we cant find that cooking sauce anymore. 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. Im glad you enjoyed the recipe, the IP makes all the difference. So I didnt cook it too long when that happened I actually need to cook it longer and it will get more tender? Thanks! Si. I think if I double it there should be enough. 1 week ago wikihow.com Show details . Its that good! Cook on high for 3-4 hours (or until the meat shreds easily) or on low for 8 hours. Thank you! Theres no need to marinate the pork, like other recipes. Make a smooth paste by blending. Delicious! Thanks Lori. Here is the link to the cilantro-tomatillo dressing, but there are also links to my guacamole, black beans, rice and pico. Not sure if tripling it will fit in one crock pot, so I would just use two separate crock pots/ slow cookers. Yes, I have a slow cooker or oven version of this recipe as well! Mix the remaining 8 ounces of Coca-Cola, green chilies, enchilada sauce, and brown sugar in a blender or food processor. Is the 2c brown sugar packed or unpacked? Remove the peppers and carrots after cooking. When we boiled it down (no pun intended) I found they used a cut of meat OTHER THAN the cuts I recommend. Changing the amount doesnt change the time when using the IP. Pure comfort food! Ingredients 3 pounds Pork Shoulder/Butt Bone in with a nice fat pad on top 1 Tablespoons Garlic Powder 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder Heaping 1 Tablespoon Cumin 1 Tablespoon Smoked Paprika 1 Tablespoon Kosher Salt Heaping 2 teaspoons Black Pepper 2 teaspoons Onion Powder 3 teaspoons Dried Oregano Hi Jeri, yes you can freeze it. The Dr pepper moistens the pork incredibly. How to make copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork? Does thefood blogworldreally need another Caf Rio recipe? I tried the recipe with both boneless pork ribs and boneless pork shoulder. It actually acts as a meat tenderizer in the recipe so dont leave it out. Cook the Pork Drain marinade. 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. You could do the same cooking time if you have 4-6 pieces in there or less you should be able to do low for 4 hours. Im planning to make this for cinco de mayo tomorrow. Your pork is incredible. ), 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!) This is my go to sweet pork recipe. Add the remaining ingredients and reduce the heat to low and continue cooking for 3 hours. If you are wanting to triple the recipe, yes you would triple the amount of soda. Required fields are marked *. Thanks for sharing a keeper. Are you marinating it in the Coke before you add the spices and brown in the Instant Pot? Made some mistakes about draining the juices but it was pretty fool proof turns out. Their sweet pulled pork was the absolute sizzle and now that Ive found this recipe I can have it whenever I want. Hi Deb, Im sorry to hear that. ), and happy to be watched over by 2 dogs. I am planning a large event and want to make sure I have enough. I have a 5 pound, bone-in pork shoulder. thanks and let us know if you try the beef! If I dont have 2 hours once Im home from work, what else can I do? Hi Mindy! If you like a little more spice, try the yellow can. Place pork roast inside. xo Add about a can and a half of coke and about 1/4 cup of brown sugar. We have a whole section. Spring is right around the corner! All of the recipes are linked below. I love this sweet pulled pork!! boneless pork (carnitas, shoulder etc) 12 oz Coke (1 can) 1/4 cup brown sugar 10 oz. I'm a creator, a card maker, and a day maker! It is on their must-eat list when they come back to visit every single time. Glad you loved this recipe. Enjoy your girls camp! My hubby doesnt share anything either. Lets all be nice. I actually found a sauce packet at Walmart that I made it with, and it was AMAZING!!! Ill have to try chicken next time. Wait 30-60 minutes before serving. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours. 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!!!! xo We dont buy caffeinated drinks so I was hoping it would taste just as great with rootbeer. Should I take the time to cut it off the bone? I have not done so, but would use a pot roast or a chuck roast in place of the pork. xo Yes, the onions will get quite dark, but its ok. 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. If you buy lean cuts of pork, your Instant Pot Cafe Rio Sweet Pork will not taste like Cafe Rios Pork. Blend until smooth. Si. Im so excited to make this. Hello! Hope this helps. Give them a try and let me know what YOU think! xo It is great as a salad, burrito, or nachos. The link for my homemade sauce is on this post under the last paragraph "Tips and Secrets for Perfect Cafe Rio Sweet Pork". I cook a recipe from your blog at least 3x a week , Oh no Sara, Im sorry! I used the green can of El Pato (jalepeno salsa). 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. It is spot on! I used pork butt and my meat was thought at 6 hrs and I cant even shred. Is the additional 2 hours of cooking (step 4) necessary after the meat has already cooked 8 hours? Some unusual ingredients are used to marinate and slow-cook the pork until it is just right. Would it effect the cooking time if I left the bone in? Im so excited to try this. We are still working on it, but we still havent found quite the right replacement. I made this last night for my family and we had missionaries over and everybody loved it- the leftovers are amazing too! 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. Cafe Rio pork is my fav! Mention @favoritefamilyrecipes or tag #favoritefamilyrecipes! Do you serve this as a pulled pork sandwich on a bun or on a tortilla? The only problem is the other six people who live with me hated it. Scoop out the pork from the crock pot and discard the cooking liquid. All of this info was compiled from various butchers and online sources. Making this recipe in the Instant Pot is so easy and delicious! 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. I just love that theres a quick version! Cafe Rio Sweet Pork {Copycat} Recipe [+ Video]. 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? While it isnt spot on (I think it would be very hard to get it right), it is very tasty. , Hi Crystal, I havent tried it with chicken yet, but it should turn out just as well. Remove the lid, turn the heat up to high and cook for about 30 minutes until the sauce is . In a blender or food processor, blend the remaining 8 ounces Coca-Cola, diced green chilies, enchilada sauce and brown sugar. Im trying to cook this now but only have 3 lbs of meat. Hi Tara! ), then just shred up the meat and add in the sauce. The only modifications I made were to add some salt and sliced onions. That is so exciting! Stir to combine. I researched a lot of different recipes on the internet and Im glad I went with yours turns out its the best thanks again. Add coke, water, garlic salt, onion salt, and chili powder. Would timing and measurements be different? I need guidance. You can go ahead and cook it with the bone in and then remove the meat when its done. Such a sweet comment!! In a small bowl, combine remaining can of Coke, can of chiles, enchilada sauce and brown sugar. I saw the Frontera one and want to know if it turned out similar. Help!!! It is a family favorite for sure! Mine needed more time in the pressure cooker, but that was an easy fix. Hi Judene! I do love this recipe. Set the manual/pressure cook button for 60 minutes. first taste before i put it away was tip top, best pulled pork ive ever made Im sorry! Let marinate for 3 hours or overnight. The pork slow cooks all day, and then at dinnertime, you have an amazing dish to serve to your family. Xo Thanks! We love this pork! Stir them together until the sugar is dissolved. Mariel, Hi Jill, Cant wait to try it! Hi Cristi, Remove meat and shred. I recommend using a large, marbled boneless pork roast like pork shoulder, pork butt or pork carnitas. Hi Tamara, I usually just simmer the pork in a pan with cut up yellow onions, serrano peppers and chopped carrots, then remove the peppers and carrots after cooking and do not use the peppers and carrots in the sauce. that all work together. Ill see what I can find. 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? A big fat huge YES because this Cafe Rio Sweet Pork recipe is phenomenal, and I dont throw that word around too much. Thank you . Thank you so much! Would not recommend. Hi Anita, Pour pork and liquid into crock pot and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. Hi Kathy! Yes, I do. We love to place a tortilla on a plate, then top it with black beans, rice and the sweetpork, just like Caf Rio does. Place the shredded meat back into the Instant Pot and turn the setting to Saute. you can use any flavor you want but we usually stick with roasted garlic or tomato as the other is a little spicy for the kids. When cool enough, pull any remaining visible fat off of meat and set aside. Move along. I have another request if possible. Hope this helps! Thanks for another great one!! That is the best compliment ever! Is it a powder or liquid and where have you found it? Surprise! Thanks for passing on the recipe. mwah! 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. How many will this serve. My husband doesnt like sweet sauces so I pulled some meat out for him to make carnitas and even that was fantastic. Thanks for asking! Thank you, Si! Lettuce (sorry for the late reply, just now seeing this). Im actually so excited about this that Im going to make it as a crockpot freezer meal for my freezer exchange group, too! Pour mixture into bag. Sometimes at 7 hours its even still a bit tough and then 8 hours and its falling apart. We have all kinds of yummy Mexican dishes to round out your meals and celebrations! 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. Cover and heat until warmed all the way through and the meat has absorbed the sauce, about 1 to 2 hours on LOW heat. I need to feed 100 hungry lacrosse players after practice next Thursday and want to have enough! Si. Permission granted! In a medium sized saute pan on medium high heat add all your ingredients. Drain marinade and put pork, can of coke, water, and garlic salt in crock pot on high for about 3-4 hours (or until it shreds easily, but dont let it get TOO dry) or on low for 8 hours. Hi I'm Kari. I have about four hours. (Roast can be omitted.) Im so glad you enjoyed the recipe and thank you for sharing, I have another question, will cooking the pork shoulder in a crock pot break down the fat enough that it will shred ok? and it was a huge hit! ). Toss with the shredded meat and cook an additional 30 minutes. How long did you pressure cook it for? Makes for amazing salads, burritos, tacos and quesadillas! 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. If Cafe Rio Sweet Pork is your family favorite, youre going to love this recipe! It does add more flavor to the meat, but it will still turn out great. I planned and prepped, started the process and allotted for 8 hrs, as top of recipe states but did not realize until it was too late there was additional 2 hours. That would be amazing! Should I triple the amount of soda while cooking? The longer the better. Im wanting to make this for a group of 20-25 people. -I somehow didnt have onion powder, for the first stage of rubbing the spices on the meat in the ziploc. I dont go longer than that as each week the flavor seems to fade a little in my opinion. xo This was amazing! But have you noticed that most of them call for Coke or Dr. Pepper? Soooo good. Instant Pot Cafe Rio Sweet Pork is an updated version of my original recipe made in the oven or slow cooker, which takes up to 12 hours to cook.