That is so exciting! Thanks for reading ABK and thanks for your help. Im sorry! No matter how it was cooked, it was too lean to achieve the fall apart texture I was looking for. So glad you like! xo Pour enchilada sauce mixture over the shredded pork. I made this 2 weeks ago and my 9 year old who loves Cafe rio said it was way better then the restaurant!!! Im glad you enjoyed the recipe, the IP makes all the difference. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Wonder what the Coke does? Cover and cook on high for 15-20 minutes until heated through. Combine the cola stevia and cherry flavoring in a 12 fl oz (350 mL) glass. enchilada sauce (can) Jennilyn, My secrets (and recipes) for getting dinner on the table FAST! Do you think a 7 pound pork would be enough for a family of 12 adults and seven little kids? 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. Hoping to take it on a trip we are going on next week. Add about a can and a half of coke and about 1/4 cup of brown sugar. 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)! read more:If you love this copycat sweet pork recipe, youre bound to love our BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe too! Cook for 30-60 more minutes. Hello! If I use a 7-8lb shoulder, how long do you think I should cook it? Let us know how it turns out! 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. If you would like to thicken the sauce a bit, whisk one tablespoon of cornstarch into a cup of the liquid removed from pan after the meat was cooked and add back to the Instant Pot with meat and enchilada sauce. Hi Anna, its actually a sauce pouch, so its liquid but not in a can. I originally started this blog to remind me to be happy amid adversity, and I hope it inspires you, too! I have a 7lb pork butt and I dont want to chance it in my instant pot. Frontera Red Chile with roasted tomato and garlic Enchilada Sauce. Mix until well combined. Thankfully, now I can make this a few more times for my family! In general, 1 lb of pulled pork will feed 3 people, so you will probably want 30-35 lbs to feed 100 people. There is no change in cooking time. xo Add the pork roast to the hot skillet and sear on both sides. We love to place a tortilla on a plate, then top it with black beans, rice and the sweetpork, just like Caf Rio does. Si. Im wondering if it will works or if I need to go to the store! I know Ive posted about a few copycat recipes from Cafe Rio like the cilantro lime rice, Creamy tomatillo Cilantro Ranch and slow cookerCafe Rio chicken, but this recipe is so dead on I had no choice but to post. The yellow can said hot and I was a little scared hesitant to try it. Could you put soda in the instant pot instead of water? Put meat back in crock pot and add enchilada sauce, garlic, green chilies and brown sugar. 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. Use the dro Stevia is a natural sweetener that grows as a plant. For keto I subbed Dr. Pepper Zero for the coke, and Monkfruit brown sugar for the regular brown sugar. Recipe for Cafe Rio Sweet Pork | Made It. Ate It. Loved It. 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). Glad you loved this recipe. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Barbacoa Recipe - Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes Served ot with spanish yellow rice and black beans. Enjoy your girls camp! Pour the sauce all over the pork and toss to coat. xo, How many pounds of meat do you recommend, and should I alter the cooking time? What brand of enchilada sauce do you prefer? Thank you so much for taking the time to share this recipe its fabulous I live down the street from the Cafe Rio and I eat there all the time. Drain the marinade, and sprinkle the pork all over with garlic powder, chili powder, salt and pepper. -I only cooked 2 pounds since its just us and a 2 year old. Take the pork out of the crock pot once it's finished cooking and place it on a cutting board. But both have a good side, for example the protein and iron is awesome in beef. . Every time I eat it, its like a warm homey feeling comes over me. Kamie, I had my doubts because the ingredients seem so random, but we love this recipe and have done it with and without marinade several times. How to make Shredded Sweet Pork (CopyCat Cafe Rio): Cut the roast into large chunks of pork. Thanks again! I made it exactly per the directions. It wont taste as close but you could use Mels recipe, http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2011/09/red-chile-sauce-chicken-enchiladas.html Every single time we eat at Caf Rio, he orders the sweet pork salad. This Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe is the real deal. Hi Judene! Living in Midwest we have to make our own Cafe Rio and I have made versions often. My son took some left-overs back to college with him and texted me to let me know that everyone loved it there as well. ? Oh nothe recipe says the total time is 10 min. Cafe Rio Sweet Shredded Pork for Burritos (Slow Cooker/Instant Pot The sweet pork also makes a perfect topping for nachos. 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 asking! I love Cafe Rio sweet pork, so I will definitely try this. Hi Tara! The meat cooks for a long time in the crock pot in its own juices which allows it to absorb a lot of flavor. To the slow cooker, add in the garlic, onion, chili powder, water and cola. Its delicious! Or would you stick to the original recipe you posted of the crockpot version? This Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe is the real deal. Add enchilada sauce, garlic, green chilies, and brown sugar to the crock pot with the reintroduced meat. 10/10! Your ingredient list doesnt have the taco sauce on it. Remove the peppers and carrots after cooking. Thanks for sharing this, I cant wait to try it! The finished consistency of the frozen recipe was not nearly as good (obviously) as the fresh made night before and day of batches. I love 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! Looks incredible, Carrian! I am a homebody and especially love a night to myself to putter in the kitchen with a glass of wine. Thanks for asking! Allow to cool for a few minutes. And also Im loving your post about cooking for a crowd, girls camp and such! Thanks! Pork and beef have about the same amount of protein, with beef being slightly higher, so really, it just depends on what youre looking for. You are awesome Im glad I read this! Si, Hi there! We found it right by the refried beans and cans of enchilada sauce. Dont like the one she posted? We also made your Tomatillo Sauce/Dressing and its perfection. Cilantro Lime Rice Lets all be nice. 1 cup rootbeer, coke or Dr Pepper, Your recipe for Cafe Rio Sweet Pork looks fantastic. Thanks for asking and for reading ABK, first taste before i put it away was tip top, best pulled pork ive ever made I was referring to your homemade spice mix. Combine meat and sauce: Return the shredded pork to the crock pot, along with the sauce mixture. Thanks for your time and talent! Misti. And the other 50% of the judges liked my moms recipe! Ugh! Our favorite way to enjoy it is on top of a salad. Can i make this in an instapot? All of the recipes are linked below. Youre probably going to want 12-14 hours in the oven. Hi Kate, it should be the same cooking time even with the bone in. How long did you pressure cook it for? xo 3. Add the shredded pork back to the slow cooker. Shred as normal, preparing the sauce separate and toss to combine. Step 2: Add pork to slow cooker and discard marinade. So the recipe as is feeds 6-8 people. It was AMAZING! I love seeing what you made. It makes me feel so good to hear how much you love this recipe. How many will this serve. Its in the crockpot right now. Hi what kind of old el paso like an envelope or bottle? It is so sweet, so delicious. kinda confusing :/ maybe its showing up weird in my phone. - Pork recipe is made with pork shoulder (Boston pork butt), pantry Hi Kathy! When you try this recipe, please tell me how you like it. No taco sauce needed! 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. I always have used the old recipe and I used the frontera red Chile enchilada sauce packet and still love how it turns out. We are still working on it! Thanks! We will definitely look into that! You might enjoy Cinder. Si. Cafe Rio {Copycat} Sweet Pulled Pork | The Recipe Critic How long should i cook 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 I made this last night for my family and we had Missionaries over and everybody loved it- the leftovers are amazing too! Put meat back in the slow cooker and add enchilada sauce, garlic, green chilies, and cup brown sugar. We like to eat it with a tortilla on a plate then topped with lettuce, black beans, rice and cilantro ranch dressing! Next remove the meat from the crockpot and put in a bowl and shred the meat. Its red chile enchilada sauce with roasted tomato and garlic. Thanks so much! How would you suggest I heat it up once at camp? The only modifications I made were to add some salt and sliced onions. This looks so good! I cant believe it either. Cilantro Lime Dressing, Oh. We have a whole section. Sorry about the confusion. I added a teaspoon or two of Cumin. 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. Move along. Dinner - Cafe rio sweet pork recipe slow cooker Can you please tell me how many this recipe will feed? Just Clarification, do you cook it for 6 hours or 8-9 hours and then an additional 2 hours after adding the remaining ingredients? Im excited to give this a try! The pork shoulder/butt has the fat and flavor you need! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Cook time should state 10 hrs and not 8. Cut off the meat and shred it. It makes it easy to scratch our itch for CPK so far away from Utah. Thanks for reading ABK, Ours are now by the Mexican aisle and the italian tomato sauces. I am one of those people that wont print out a recipe until it meets the mark. I hope this helps! It is on their must-eat list when they come back to visit every single time. Your email address will not be published. I always hope my replies are seen, but Im never sure as spam loves to take my emails. Toss pork into your favorite salads and tacos! The cook time in the Instant Pot will vary according to the cut of meat used. Would timing and measurements be different? I used to work at a Costa Vida and the sweet pork is very similar to Cafe Rios. Dump all the liquid in the crockpot. xo Add apple cider vinegar and chicken broth. Should cook time stay the same or would you suggest longer? Be sure to check out all our other tasty Mexican Recipes! Really? Top 40 Dr Pepper Copycat Recipe Recipes Making this recipe in the Instant Pot is so easy and delicious! We should set up a taste test for the neighbors and see if people can tell which is which. Maybe 5 minutes longer? 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. Im so glad you enjoyed the recipe and thank you for sharing, Love your blog:). So sorry, I asked my comment in a reply on accident. Doing a slow roast on the pork with a spice mixture, those root veggies and preparing the sauce separate makes for an identical result. Some unusual ingredients are used to marinate and slow-cook the pork until it is just right. Maybe closer to 35lbs if you are feeding hungry lacrosse players! Cafe Rio does marinade the meat but you will still have a delicious meal if you dont. , And of course I meant CRP not CPK, Thank you so much for your detailed review! Shake until meat is coated. After the timer goes off, allow the pot to naturally release the pressure for at least 45 minutes. Just halved all ingredients for the sauce after it cooked. I make LOTS when I make it and freeze ittastes just as good when thawed! Everyone at my family gathering loved it. Pour 8 ounces of Coca-Cola ( I used a measuring cup) and water around pork. If so would you put the sauce on before your freeze it or wait until you serve it? xo Shanna's Jiffy Mix Cornbread Made Better! Cant wait to see how it all comes together. 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!!!! I saw you hint at a Kroger substitute but didnt specify which one. I figured some butts/shoulders were just tougher. Sounds yummy. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork - Real Life Dinner I do not live near any Kroger stores. Hope this helps! There are lots of different sweet pork copycat recipes out there in the blogosphere and I have experimented with a lot of them. xo I am so excited to use it for years to come. 2 cups brown sugar The pork will just be more tender than chicken. Cook on low for 8-9 hours or on high for 5-6 hours. Ive made this once before and my husband and I absolutely loved it! xo Or just the last 2 hours add the mixture? . Thanks for reading ABK. For this reason, when cooking in the IP, I often make the finished sauce after the main dish has been cooked. Go ahead and make this recipe as written. Neither has a high enough fat content to make the fall apart finished product youre looking for. I will update that ASAP, thank you for letting me know. Oh darnit! 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. Seriously, made my day! xo Ive read those books and enjoyed them except for the ending of the Giver. Cover with lid and cook on high heat for 6 hours. Its is good any way, shape or form! Its THAT good! Wondering if I could make this recipe in a crockpot-I dont have an instant pot. {recipe to follow} This was, in my opinion, the easiest of the recipes. I would love to pin this, but there is no image associated with it, so it wont let me pin the recipe. Hope this helps and thanks for asking! I did 30 pounds of pork and it went so smoothly and quickly! Filed under: Dinner, Family Reunion Food, Mexican, Pork, Slow Cooker and Instant Pot, Videos. You may substitute beef for this recipe. Si. When using an IP, it is extremely important when cooking meat to allow the meat to naturally release the pressure in the pot. sides, Spinach egg white frittata costco heating instructions. 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. Does thefood blogworldreally need another Caf Rio recipe? Place pork in a baking dish and pour 8 ounces of Coca-Cola and water over it (I used a measuring cup). My neighborhood would go crazy without one. Slow Cooker Sweet Pork- Cafe Rio Copycat - One Sweet Appetite Cover with lid and cook on HIGH for about 3-4 hours. (Old El Paso brand is gluten free, I like medium spiciness but any will work). -Use a spice blend of garlic powder, dried oregano, cumin, salt and pepper. Can I sub beef for this or do you have the cafe rio shredded beef recipe? Finally got around to making this in the crockpot yesterday. How long would you recommend I cook the meat for in my 8qt IP? We have all kinds of yummy Mexican dishes to round out your meals and celebrations! Id love to hear your comments and suggestions for cookingInstant Pot Cafe Rio Sweet Pork at home. During early experiments with this recipe, I cooked the pork in the sauce but found the sauce ingredients to be so diluted (even without adding water) and the sauce so runny that it was better to drain off some of the sauce and start over after cooking. Or they make, tacos, tostadas, burritos and quesadillas with the pork. This recipe looks delicious! 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! Thanks for ALL of your great Cafe Rio copycat recipes, Si! It is great as a salad, burrito, or nachos. Cook on low for another 1.5 hours. This recipe is the most spot on i have ever found. Oh it's so good! I tried this tonight to make sweet pork nachos and it was delicious! Will the carrots get tender on just the warm setting? Also, the sauce is actually called roasted garlic and chile or something like that. Home All Recipes ALL MEALS Dinner Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe (Copycat). One caution, not all cuts of pork work well in this recipe! 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! Add the pork to your slow cooker, and discard the marinade. It does add more flavor to the meat, but it will still turn out great. This recipe is clearly a little different because it uses Coke, but trust me its the way its prepared that is key. Im letting you in on all the secrets! Don't drink the crock pot liquid. Mine needed more time in the pressure cooker, but that was an easy fix. . Wouldnt you know it, this is now my familys favorite. Let marinate for 3 hours or overnight. I love it! Cook the Pork Drain marinade. I experimented with pork loin, Boston butt and pork shoulder for Instant Pot Cafe Rio Sweet Pork. These items are bundled up in cheesecloth, tied off with string and throw into the dish with the food. Im actually so excited about this that Im going to make it as a crockpot freezer meal for my freezer exchange group, too! I made this today for dinner, and my husband said if he closed his eyes he would not be able to tell the difference between Cafe Rio or Costa Vida or what I made. We put ours on top of nachos with homemade guac and queso and fresh pickled jalapeos. Is there any particular sauce you recommend? IM planning on tripling it for a birthday PARTy. I do love this recipe. -Use a canned red enchilada sauce. It is a family favorite for sure! Hi Anita, Im a total homebody. Perfect for burritos, salads and tacos! Yes, the onions will get quite dark, but its ok. Im so glad youre trying this recipe, I know youll love it! Step 1: Place pork in a zip lock bag. Place the lid on the top of the pot (make sure the sealing ring is in place inside of the lid) and lock into sealing position. Its personal preference if you want to add them to the sauce. You can also use Boneless Pork Rib meat, which is basically the same thing as the shoulder, without the bone. Absolutely delicious!! I havent tried this with frozen pork yet. Also, when you write oregano it is the ground oregano, not the leaves, right? 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. Does. Chopped pork. My family loved it! After trying a few different cook times and water levels and also marinating vs not marinating, I found pork loin to be too lean. Discard any fat. The pork is tender and juicy, with the perfect amount of sweetness. We love to eat this dish when we are at our cabin. If you scroll down the IP Cafe Rio post, under the second photo are links to all the Cafe Rio recipes (the words in blue writing). I wish I had looked for an instant pot recipe earlier!! -Thicken sauce with cornstarch after cooked. Do you live around a Kroger? Thanks for the insider tip! This unique cookbook guides the way through every step, including meal lists and easy-to-follow recipes, and features dollops of heartwarming family stories. Sweet Pork (Cafe Rio Copycat) with NO cola involved - Sunshine in my pocket My family LOVES your Caf Rio Chicken. Hope that helps! Thank you Si! 2c packed is too sweet so I used 1.5c. Heather, It is removed after cooking and can be made with either fresh or dried herbs, root veggies etc. My slow cooked method posted previously recommends marinating, but this recipe does not. I would totally make this again. If Cafe Rio Sweet Pork is your family favorite, youre going to love this recipe! Hi! You could try to add more brown sugar to compensate if you absolutely cannot find or use a regular soda. Thanks! Soooo good. Cover and heat until warmed all the way through and the meat has absorbed the sauce, about 1 to 2 hours on LOW heat. Thanks so much for the yummy recipe! xo Si. Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter to receive updates. The great thing about these recipes is: you put all the ingredients in the crock pot to cook all day (easy! Turn the setting to Manual or High Pressure and set the timer for 50 minutes. Mariel, I was SO tempted to make a taco at almost midnight because it smelled so good as I was finishing it. . I hate that stores dont carry the same flavors. I used pork butt and my meat was thought at 6 hrs and I cant even shred. 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. Put shredded pork and sauce in crockpot and cook on low for 2 hours. ), and happy to be watched over by 2 dogs. Cheese But turns out fabulous. Sprinkle the pork with the garlic powder and roast in a slow cooker on low for 8 hours. This post may contain affiliate links. Any other tips are appreciated! Using a slow cooker is an easy way to make pulled pork. Some say Dr. Pepper. My family said it tasted just like cafe rio. Also, should I double the sauce? Thank you so much for sharing, Josee, Im so glad you enjoyed the recipe! Total time: 410 minutes Cook time: 400 minutes Prep time: 10 minutes Yields: 12 servings Cuisine: Mexican Number of ingredients: 7 Ingredients: 3 lbs. 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. Instructions . Im so excited to try this. Beyond the world of recipes, she loves adventuring with everything from kayaking, to cruising, to snowboarding and taking the family along for the thrill ride. 12 servings Prep: 10 minutes Cook: 6 hours 40 minutes Total: 6 hours 50 minutes Rate Recipe Ingredients 3 lbs. HAVE you ever tried Diet Pepsi for the soda in place of coke or Pepsi? This was absolutely perfect! Ive tried many sweet pork copycats and this one is just spot on. My family loves it! It is heaven! Thanks for sharing it. Try Walmart or Smiths for Old El Paso sauce packets. Pour half of the seasoning mixture over the roast and rub it into the meat. And I think you will have enough sauce for an 8 lb roast. xo Cuts of pork are not created equal! serving of pork contains 4.5 g of fat, with 1.5 g of saturated fat. Whisk the enchilada sauce, chopped green chiles, brown sugar and one can of soda together in the Instant Pot. The sugar in the drink break down the fibers in the meat. 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! Hi Truann, the homemade spice mix is the amount you need for the recipe, so you should use all of it. xo, I absolutely love this recipe but havent been able to find the sauce lately. And Im excited to try this new recipe. Im going to have to slice and it absorbed no flavor. You can also use the meat in tacos, enchiladas or burritos. I am planning a large event and want to make sure I have enough. Recognizing the Sunshine and Living Happy. ), 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!) Drain the marinade and add the pork to a 5-quart slow cooker. ). 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. Ill have to try chicken next time. 2 cups brown sugar 15 Minute Caf Rio Sweet Pork Recipe - Oh So Delicioso Hello March! Add about a can and a half of coke and about cup of brown sugar. Yay Rebecca! Yay! Cafe Rio Sweet Pork {Copycat} Recipe [+ Video]. Continue to heat up until thickened. Si. Hence, 4 out of 5 stars. Thank you! Is there a reason it says prep 10 mins and cook time 10 mins? Las Palmas brand used at Cafe Rio. Place the shredded meat back into the Instant Pot and turn the setting to Saute. ), then just shred up the meat and add in the sauce. Please check back and let us know how long it took you to cook your 7 lb roast. Hello! You can go ahead and cook it with the bone in and then remove the meat when its done. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork {Copycat} - Creme De La Crumb And they both liked the SAME one. I just love a good Sweet Pork Salad. Whisk to combine. The best imitation of the caf rio pork recipe Ive tried! Place the pork loin in a crock pot and turn on to high heat. Thanks for asking! The IP cooks at such a high temperature and pressure for a small amount of time, while the slow cooker is the complete opposite. xo Karis Garden Salsa Shred the meat well, discarding large pieces of the fat pad. After reading the comments, I figured out that you changed the recipe. Remove pork from crock pot and drain any liquid left in the pot. We absolutely LOVE Caf Rio. Yes it really is that fast and simple! Thanks for sharing a fantastic recipe, cant wait to make it again! Thank you so much for your support! xo Im happy to announce that I found a couple recipes and then put them up to the Taste Test Challenge! I just asked about the spice mix being the right amount for the recipe or if it makes more. 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.