Remove Chipotle chilies and shred meat. -Shred pork after cooked and let sit in a ziplock bag overnight with sauce made fresh after pork is cooked. Thanks for passing on the recipe. Really? . When you make it, please let me know how you like it. Combine meat and sauce: Return the shredded pork to the crock pot, along with the sauce mixture. We have received many rave reviews on this sweet pork recipe. Be sure to share a picture and tag, Chocolate Sheet Cake for Two {Texas Sheet Cake}. Let us know! ), Hi Tanya! And then release for 45 min. 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. Remove pork from marinade and place in a slow cooker along with half a can of coke, water, and garlic salt. Weve perfected the Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe! Meanwhile, in a pot, add the enchilada sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder and Coke. 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? I made this 2 weeks ago and my 9 year old who loves Cafe rio said it was way better then the restaurant!!! . Years ago, I posted a slow cooker or oven version of Cafe Rio Sweet Pork, along with a complete menu of recipes. Every single time we eat at Caf Rio, he orders the sweet pork salad. You can find my full directions on how to make it here. You do not need to change the cooking time. Let marinate for 3 hours or overnight. Its in a yellow liquid sauce packet. In a medium sized saute pan on medium high heat add all your ingredients. Hi Lindsay, I havent used an instant pot yet, so Im not sure how long you would cook this recipe in it. I hope you all enjoy. Well, this one got printed out right after dinner! xo Looks like Ill have to make me one using your yummy recipe! 2. Cook, covered, on high for 6 hours OR on low for 8 hours. And thank you! We dont have Caf Rio where I am, so I have nothing to compare to, but it sounds like a great combo. Do you have a good suggestion to replace the sauce packet since they arent sold anymore? Cover and cook on high for 4 hours. The fat will need to be removed and discarded.-I use both homemade and canned red enchilada sauce for this recipe. You can just turn it on and walk away! How to make copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork? Or do you with 2 hours remaining add in the remaining ingredients? By taco seasoning mixes and the Spanish rice. In your tips it says to simmer pork with cut up yellow onions (later you suggest caramelizing the onions prior), serrano peppers and carrots and then discard the peppers and carrots. IM planning on tripling it for a birthday PARTy. Spread some garlic salt, salt, and pepper around. I made this after reading all of the reviews and it was a hit. Amazing flavors and I love the slow cooker meals!! This recipe is clearly a little different because it uses Coke, but trust me its the way its prepared that is key. Thicken your sauce Bring your sauce to a slow boil and let it simmer for about 10 minutes. xo Im sorry! I made it in the crock pot on high with a 5 lb pork shoulder. Is there any particular sauce you recommend? I am getting windy, but the Instant Pot version of CRP is amazing. Its a good sweet pork recipe but its definitely not the cafe rio one. Cover and heat until warmed all the way through and the meat has absorbed the sauce, about 1 to 2 hours on LOW heat. After eating more than my share of Cafe Rio meals, I came up with this oven or slow cooker recipeback in 2011. Thirty minutes did not give the meat enough time to tenderize while 75 was too long. 1 cup rootbeer, coke or Dr Pepper. It also makes the house smell SO good! The only modifications I made were to add some salt and sliced onions. Drain the marinade and add the pork to a 5-quart slow cooker. Sometimes making a slow cooker sweet pork just fits into your schedule better, I totally get that! Made it today. Sorry about the half eaten salad in this next pictureit was SO good that I forgot to take a picture before I ate most of it! 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 need to get myself an instapot and try this! It does add more flavor to the meat, but it will still turn out great. Shred pork. OHHH, that can be tricky. I love the copycat cafe rio recipes. Thank you . If you dont have cheesecloth, dont stress! Absolutely! Sweet pork is my favorite meat at Cafe Rio. We should set up a taste test for the neighbors and see if people can tell which is which. Marinate the pork by placing it in a large ziploc bag. Can you please post or send me the old recipe? Thanks for sharing, Krista! Remove the fat before shredding the pork. Instructions. 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). It is so sweet, so delicious. Does. Si. Si. I am so excited to use it for years to come. My slow cooked method posted previously recommends marinating, but this recipe does not. I do not like the taste of frozen cooked meat so I do two things. Delicious sweet pulled pork perfect for your favorite Mexican food dish. Just made this recipe for the second time. So delicious- this recipe is a keeper! I have a 5 pound, bone-in pork shoulder. All rights reserved. Grab a blender and add 8 oz coke, green chilies, red enchilada sauce and brown sugar. Two neighbors have texted me today asking for the recipe! It is spot on! Definitely a new go to!! -Only use pork butt or shoulder. My family loved it! Use this pork to make giant burritos smothered with Cilantro-Tomatillo Dressing, or an amazing pork salad. Easy recipes for quick and delicious homemade meals! Thats the only reason, its just gooey. My sample batch was with the ribs and I froze that batch ahead of time. In a blender or food processor, blend the remaining 8 ounces Coca-Cola, diced green chilies, enchilada sauce and brown sugar. I cant believe they discontinued that packet on us!! 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. The pork shoulder/butt has the fat and flavor you need! Hope this helps. Si. 3- Cover and secure the lid, and set valve to seal. Cover and cook on high for 15-20 minutes until heated through. Im happy to announce that I found a couple recipes and then put them up to the Taste Test Challenge! You are awesome Im glad I read this! I have a very happy husband! I absolutely love this recipe but havent been able to find the sauce lately. This cafe rio pork recipe is my absolutely favorite. Thank you! Thanks Madison! Ill have to try chicken next time. Share below my top 3 ar, Make our Valentine M&M Chocolate Chip C. A Bountiful Kitchen 2023. I made this last night for my family and we had missionaries over and everybody loved it- the leftovers are amazing too! Looks incredible, Carrian! 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? Did you have an update to this recipe? Using a slow cooker is an easy way to make pulled pork. Makes for amazing salads, burritos, tacos and quesadillas! Its a little scary making a meal for a group when youve never tried the recipe before! Hi! Has anyone tried it? I used pork butt and my meat was thought at 6 hrs and I cant even shred. Your email address will not be published. Hi Melissa, Im so glad youre trying this recipe, I know youll love it! Excited to try this. I ordered my groceries online (including the pork roast) and when I got home from picking them up, I found a 20 pound roast! Hence, 4 out of 5 stars. Pour half of the seasoning mixture over the roast and rub it into the meat. This one is by far my favorite and is almost identical to the sweet pork from Cafe Rio. I just added that to step 11 (where it should have been!). Peach Mango Salsa Si. We had our friends from Guatemala over and they RAVED, exclaiming it tasted extremely authentic. It was a TIE. Thanks! So if you are cooking a 7 lb roast, about 3.5-4 lbs of meat left if using a pork butt or shoulder. ITs still really sweet and delicious. Thank you so much! If so would you put the sauce on before your freeze it or wait until you serve it? All Cafe Rio style recipes listed and linked on post. Wow Bonnie, how lucky are you! Thanks for asking! We've perfected the Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe! The link for my homemade sauce is on this post under the last paragraph "Tips and Secrets for Perfect Cafe Rio Sweet Pork". My hubby doesnt share anything either. Can you tell me what I maybe did wrong? Hi Kathy! Keep warm until serving. Put pork, 1/2 can of coke, water and garlic salt in slow cooker. Looking forward to making this. Blend until smooth. Yes, I made it last night for our Relief Society activity. Just halved all ingredients for the sauce after it cooked. It really is the saddest thing! (sorry for the late reply, just now seeing this). I just want to make sure Im using correct measurements. What brand of enchilada sauce do you prefer? So Ive beenexperimenting withdifferent versions and this one is the one we feel tastes closest to the real thing. I used the green can of El Pato (jalepeno salsa). The pork is marinated and slow-cooked to perfection in some surprising ingredients! Ive seen some other recipes use Coke and I think it would definitely add to the flavor. Hope this helps! I pretty much make all the recipes for this meal for family parties and everyone loves it!! Shred pork with two forks, and remove any fat. I made this for my daughter and I for a twist on regular tacos. Discard liquid from crock pot. Becky, Cover crock pot with lid and cook another 1 to 2 hours on low heat. Excellent! This recipe is the most spot on i have ever found. Add garlic, salt, and pepper. You can use a bone in but it is harder to shred. We love your recipes and your website! FOLLOW OH, SWEET BASIL ONFACEBOOK|INSTAGRAM|PINTEREST|TWITTERFOR ALL OF OUR LATEST CONTENT, RECIPES AND STORIES. Finally got around to making this in the crockpot yesterday. Question: I am making this for girls camp. Then the recipe says 45 to cook and 45 NPR. Total time: 410 minutes Cook time: 400 minutes Prep time: 10 minutes Yields: 12 servings Cuisine: Mexican Number of ingredients: 7 Ingredients: 3 lbs. And this recipe is perfect for a crowd! 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. Definitely a new go to! HAVE you ever tried Diet Pepsi for the soda in place of coke or Pepsi? Try it and let us know if your Cafe Rio cravings are satisfied! Si. Add apple cider vinegar and chicken broth. We are thrilled that so many of you have enjoyed this recipe as much as we have. Muffins, Quick Bread, Coffee Cake & Cinnamon Rolls, https://abountifulkitchen.com/favorite-cafe-rio-copycat-recipes/. 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! took the tip to let it sit overnight, so i am excited to try it tonight for dinner! Cuts of pork are not created equal! Step 2: Add pork to slow cooker and discard marinade. Toss pork into your favorite salads and tacos! I love Cafe Rio sweet pork, so I will definitely try this. It is so yummy! I make LOTS when I make it and freeze ittastes just as good when thawed! 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. Do you mean a 12 oz can or a 16.9 oz bottle? I saw you hint at a Kroger substitute but didnt specify which one. Filed under: Dinner, Family Reunion Food, Mexican, Pork, Slow Cooker and Instant Pot, Videos. 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. I love anything and everything with root beer.and now youve made pulled pork with it. We ate on it for 2 days!! How much of the mix do I add for this recipe if it makes more than I need? Cafe Rio does marinade the meat but you will still have a delicious meal if you dont. Next remove the meat from the crockpot and put in a bowl and shred the meat. Si. This is my favorite cafe rio pork recipe. I havent tried the old elpaso version, but this is very close to the cafe rio flavor. In general, 1 lb of pulled pork will feed 3 people, so you will probably want 30-35 lbs to feed 100 people. Its really quite fun. Your ingredient list doesnt have the taco sauce on it. My family loves it! Seriously, made my day! In a blender or food processor, blend the remaining 8 ounces Coca-Cola, diced green chilies, enchilada sauce and brown sugar. I recommend using a large, marbled boneless pork roast like pork shoulder, pork butt or pork carnitas. 2c packed is too sweet so I used 1.5c. Thanks! Where did you get yours and what part of the grocery store is it in? This error message is only visible to WordPress admins, Menu Plan Monday #121 - Life In The Lofthouse, Menu Plan Monday #165 - Life In The Lofthouse, Sweet Pork Nachos - Life In The Lofthouse, Light Creamy Tomatillo Dressing - Life In The Lofthouse. I cook a recipe from your blog at least 3x a week , Oh no Sara, Im sorry! Ive tried many sweet pork copycats and this one is just spot on. Does thefood blogworldreally need another Caf Rio recipe? Being critical is mean, but this is not what Id expect on a food blog. This was absolutely perfect! Add coke, water, garlic salt, onion salt, and chili powder. 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. Tastes great! I love your variation and thanks for sharing, Joana! It makes me feel so good to hear how much you love this recipe. Ill see what I can find. Im constantly tweaking this recipe too!Tandie, Yes, you can use a beef roast instead of the pork! Thanks for reading ABK. Made the recipe as directed, rolled it up into a burrito, covered it with some salsa verse and cheesebam. SO, Ive been searching for a good recipe for sweet pork that didnt have cola in the ingredient list. 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!) Do you think canned enchilada sauce would work instead of the cooking sauce? Jennilyn, We have all kinds of yummy Mexican dishes to round out your meals and celebrations! Theres no need to marinate the pork, like other recipes. And I will link up to the other cola-free Sweet Pork recipe as soon as I get permission! Im liking this idea! To the slow cooker, add in the garlic, onion, chili powder, water and cola. Notes Freezing: this cooked pork freezes amazing well. 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. I tried the recipe with both boneless pork ribs and boneless pork shoulder. Thank you for such a great recipe!!!! Carefully remove the lid from the pot when all of the pressure is released. Try Walmart or Smiths for Old El Paso sauce packets. The difference was, they would warm theirs up for dinner the next night. In fact you can make the quesadilla at home too with our Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Quesadilla recipeyoure welcome! Now those are some lucky judges! Cafe Rio sweet pork can be served on a bed of white rice with toppings such as sliced jalapeno, diced tomatoes, and fresh cilantro. Home All Recipes ALL MEALS Dinner Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe (Copycat). Karis Garden Salsa In the Instant Pot It took me years to jump on the pressure cooker bandwagon. Drain the marinade and add the pork to a 5-quart slow cooker. My family LOVES your Caf Rio Chicken. 1 week ago wikihow.com Show details . $2.49 is about what I paid 10 minutes ago. Hope this helps and thanks for asking! Remove all liquid from the slow cooker. How would the cook time change for this? I wonder if I can use chicken for pork? ? In a small bowl, mix about a can and a half of coke and about 1/4 cup of the brown sugar. Move along. I did see some Frontera sauces at my grocery store today. Everyone says it tastes just like Cafe Rio. xo . I believe homemade is best, but it's very difficult to taste the difference between homemade and canned when the brown sugar and green chiles are added! Each time I visit Utah, a visit to Cafe Rio is required at least once. 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. Heather, Im planning to make this for cinco de mayo tomorrow. Please see disclosure policy here. . Oh no! I was wondering if you could make an Instant Pot variation on this recipe! I have another request if possible. Id love to know if this turned out well for you! Hi Anita, 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. (so 8 hours total) . I need to make this for 20-25 people. xo 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. 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. Im guessing when making the sauce? Yes, thank you for your observant eyes! Recognizing the Sunshine and Living Happy. Delicious! It actually acts as a meat tenderizer in the recipe so dont leave it out. 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. If you are trying to lose weight, pork is a better choice than beef, because pork is lower in calories. I always hope my replies are seen, but Im never sure as spam loves to take my emails. Drain the marinade and add the pork to a 5-quart slow cooker. No cafe rio close by. I love my Instagram friends <3 It really is better the next day as it sits in the juice or from the freezer. It is unnecessary to cover the roast with it. Hope this helps and thanks for asking! Being a mother of 5, I love the simplicity and still great taste of it! I know, I know. 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. When do you add it back? If the chicken is fresh or thawed it takes about 6 minutes both of these times are on high or manual pressure. Its a hit at any gathering! Thank you for sharing!! Heat just until sauce boils and the meat is heated through, then turn the setting to keep warm mode.