How many pounds of meat do you recommend, and should I alter the cooking time? Try Walmart or Smiths for Old El Paso sauce packets. 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. But sadly it has not come to Oregon yet. This process can't be rushed! Cant wait to try your recipe. Marinade for a few hours or overnight, shaking once or twice during the marinating. I think a few are helpful. So there you have a couple of the BEST cola-free Sweet Pork Recipes! Ill see what I can find. I made this after reading all of the reviews and it was a hit. to try out. Place pork roast inside. Shred pork with two forks, and remove any fat. When we boiled it down (no pun intended) I found they used a cut of meat OTHER THAN the cuts I recommend. The difference was, they would warm theirs up for dinner the next night. My husband is coming home from a trip tomorrow and I think this will be a perfect meal to make to make us both happy. Si. Thank you for such a great recipe!!!! Sometimes at 7 hours its even still a bit tough and then 8 hours and its falling apart. Sounds yummy. Let me know how this recipe turned out for you. Im wondering if it will works or if I need to go to the store! I so look forward to trying some of your recipes. Set it and forget itthats why we love that slow cooker! xo Ohhh, Ill have to check it out! Sarah, I hope this makes sense, thank you for asking! Im excited to give this a try! Remove the fat before shredding the pork. Cade and Carrian have three children and love to spend time together whether its vacationing or snuggled up on the couch for a good movie. Place the shredded meat back into the Instant Pot and turn the setting to Saute. If you turn the crock pot on high and heat it for another 30 to 45 minutes it should be good to go! I am so sad the Old El Paso sauce is no longer available. ), but occasionally Ill get the quesadilla because its gooey. Marinate in the fridge for several hours or overnight. And youll wonder why. Pork Tacos today, Pork Salad tomorrow! Si. I need to get myself an instapot and try this! 3- Cover and secure the lid, and set valve to seal. It makes it easy to scratch our itch for CPK so far away from Utah. Si. I already know what youre thinking. Love your blog:). Yum. Thank you for this recipe! Get free recipes sent straight to your inbox! We especially like it in quesidillas. My neighborhood would go crazy without one. This recipe is the most spot on i have ever found. Ann. Hi Jeri, yes you can freeze it. You could try to add more brown sugar to compensate if you absolutely cannot find or use a regular soda. Or do you with 2 hours remaining add in the remaining ingredients? Cook the Pork Drain marinade. Mariel, Thank you for sharing!! Thank you so much for compiling this recipe and all your other recipes. 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? xo I have been looking for a new crockpot pork recipe for this weekend! Yum! Cover and cook on high for 4 hours. Place pork in a baking dish and pour 8 ounces of Coca-Cola and water over it (I used a measuring cup). Thanks Madison! I used pork butt and my meat was thought at 6 hrs and I cant even shred. Definitely a new go to! You are amazing!! Is there anyway that you could still leave the old recipe up too? Cafe Rio sweet pork can be served on a bed of white rice with toppings such as sliced jalapeno, diced tomatoes, and fresh cilantro. This pulled pork is perfect over salad, rice, tacos, burritos, quesadillas or on a toasted bun. The meat cooks for a long time in the crock pot in its own juices which allows it to absorb a lot of flavor. Thank you Si for another great recipe! Did you have an update to this recipe? I actually found a sauce packet at Walmart that I made it with, and it was AMAZING!!! My family loved it! -I somehow didnt have onion powder, for the first stage of rubbing the spices on the meat in the ziploc. The meat cooks for a long time in the crock pot in its own juices which allows it to absorb a lot of flavor. Just made this today and no one in my family could wait a day to let it set. Still used 2 cups of water, kept the time the same. 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. 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. 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. Thanks for asking and for reading ABK, 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. Its THAT good! This new IP recipe takes about two hours start to finish, with most of the time spent in the Instant Pot, cooking the meat! It was absolutely phenomenal!!! (Roast can be omitted.) We have a smaller group, of about 30. Good job! Im sorry! Si. Here is the old recipe: 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. Ive tried it only with the bone and its been great. Si. This Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat recipe does much better in the oven as it really brings out the flavor, but a slow cooker will work just fine. Cant wait to make it. Doing a slow roast on the pork with a spice mixture, those root veggies and preparing the sauce separate makes for an identical result. So delicious- this recipe is a keeper! Here is a link to my favorite one, I actually own three of them! Delicious sweet pulled pork perfect for your favorite Mexican food dish. Our favorite way to enjoy it is on top of a salad. If your slow cooker is big enough you should be ok with the same time. Pour mixture into bag. Do you think a 7 pound pork would be enough for a family of 12 adults and seven little kids? I followed the recipe exactly and soooo good! Cook, covered, on high for 6 hours OR on low for 8 hours. Definitely try this out. Its a little scary making a meal for a group when youve never tried the recipe before! You are awesome Im glad I read this! Christine, So I didnt cook it too long when that happened I actually need to cook it longer and it will get more tender? 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? xo Throw out fluids. I would love to pin this, but there is no image associated with it, so it wont let me pin the recipe. Meanwhile, in a pot, add the enchilada sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder and Coke. Ours are now by the Mexican aisle and the italian tomato sauces. Pour over the pork in the crock pot and cook for 5-6 hours, or until tender and shreds easily with a fork. Please check back and let us know how long it took you to cook your 7 lb roast. Pour 8 ounces of Coca-Cola ( I used a measuring cup) and water around pork. Two neighbors have texted me today asking for the recipe! . I think if I double it there should be enough. Pour 1/3 cup of the juices back onto the pork and toss to combine well. We love to place a tortilla on a plate, then top it with black beans, rice and the sweetpork, just like Caf Rio does. Over the years I have read many comments, suggestions and tips for preparing the highly guarded secrets in Cafe Rio recipes, namely the Sweet Pork recipe. But both have a good side, for example the protein and iron is awesome in beef. Any other tips are appreciated! I cook all the vegetables with the pork because it adds a really nice flavor, but I only use the onions in the sauce. Altenew 8th Anniversary Blog Hop Day 5 + Giveaway (over $2,000 in Total Prizes). -Pork is marinated in Coke, full strength, not Diet Coke. 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. So so good and so easy. Would not recommend. 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. This was delicious!! Cover and cook on high for 15-20 minutes until heated through. Oh, I wish you did! I love it in a burrito or on a salad. Check us out on Instagram and be sure to tag us @ohsweetbasil #ohsweetbasil for a chance to be featured! 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. Would timing and measurements be different? I couldve eaten the meat alone with a fork and left all the toppings!!! Xo Wow Bonnie, how lucky are you! Take the pork out of the slow cooker and place it on the chopping board. Required fields are marked *. In the recipe, It states to place the shredded the pork with the sauce and additional 2 hours on the crock pot. There are many different cuts of pork sold in the grocery store and at big box stores, such as Costco. Oh darnit! Shake until meat is coated. Just to make sure of our results, I took both cooked recipes to my brother and sister-in-law (who just had a baby! This pork is the real deal! How many will this serve. Shred the meat well, discarding large pieces of the fat pad. How would the cook time change for this? The pork slow cooks all day, and then at dinnertime, you have an amazing dish to serve to your family. Be sure and follow me over on You Tube for weekly cooking demos, Your email address will not be published. The butt is usually sold without bone and the shoulder almost always is sold with a large bone-in. Thank you! I dont go longer than that as each week the flavor seems to fade a little in my opinion. Could you put soda in the instant pot instead of water? Drain the marinade and add the pork to a 5-quart slow cooker. I did try the sauce and it is tasty. Seal. I wish I had looked for an instant pot recipe earlier!! Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe From: Leigh Anne Wilkes Delicious sweet pulled pork perfect for your favorite Mexican food dish. In general, 1 lb of pulled pork will feed 3 people, so you will probably want 30-35 lbs to feed 100 people. 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!) I have an 8 quart instant pot. The recipe for the spice rub was a bonus, flavoring the pork beautifully. Let marinate for 3 hours or overnight. Thanks for sharing a keeper. And this recipe is perfect for a crowd! In a blender or food processor, blend the remaining 8 ounces Coca-Cola, diced green chilies, enchilada sauce and brown sugar. Everyone says it tastes just like Cafe Rio. -I only cooked 2 pounds since its just us and a 2 year old. I like Old El Paso! Its red chile enchilada sauce with roasted tomato and garlic. {Plus, I sorta have an aversion to cooking with soda pop.}. Does. We absolutely LOVE Caf Rio. You can go ahead and cook it with the bone in and then remove the meat when its done. Krista, I need to make this for 20-25 people. Thanks! Place pork shoulder or butt in a slow cooker and pour 1 cup each of Dr. Pepper and water over the meat. Thank you!! Mix until well combined. That is the best compliment ever! Some unusual ingredients are used to marinate and slow-cook the pork until it is just right. I do not like the taste of frozen cooked meat so I do two things. Thanks for your time and talent! Misti. Hi what kind of old el paso like an envelope or bottle? Basically, thats asking for an actual recipe. Here is the old recipe: Combine meat and sauce: Return the shredded pork to the crock pot, along with the sauce mixture. No Cafe Rio?!! Hi Morgan, Chill at least 1 hour or overnight. Step 2: Add pork to slow cooker and discard marinade. I have a very happy husband! ITs still really sweet and delicious. All of the recipes are linked below. Can you tell me what I maybe did wrong? I did it for 8 hours and it was falling apart YUM! Once its shredded and ready to go, use it as a topping or filling in any of the following ways. Let marinate for 3 hours or overnight. Id love to hear your comments and suggestions for cookingInstant Pot Cafe Rio Sweet Pork at home. 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. Thanks for sharing, I used to work at a Costa Vida and the sweet pork is very similar to Cafe Rios. Filed under: Dinner, Family Reunion Food, Mexican, Pork, Slow Cooker and Instant Pot, Videos. Im so glad it turned out well for you and thanks for sharing. Turn to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. This applies to braising or smoking or an oven roast. Yay Rebecca! Si. Im eating it right now for the third day in a row, still in awe at how delicious it is. You can just turn it on and walk away! A Bountiful Kitchen Cookbook, filled with recipes, photos, stories, and special notes from me, is now available for purchase! Use this pork to make giant burritos smothered with Cilantro-Tomatillo Dressing, or an amazing pork salad. Do you by chance have a copycat recipe for the Cafe Rio spicy green chile pork? I wonder if I can use chicken for pork? Place the seasoned pork roast into the slow cooker. boneless pork carnitas, shoulder etc 12 oz Coke 1 can 1/4 cup brown sugar 10 oz. Heres the definition of recipe: a set of instructions for making or preparing something, especially a food dish: a recipe for a cake. Pour the sauce all over the pork and toss to coat. I cant believe they discontinued that packet on us!! I love anything and everything with root beer.and now youve made pulled pork with it. Si. I am SO excited to try this recipe. This unique cookbook guides the way through every step, including meal lists and easy-to-follow recipes, and features dollops of heartwarming family stories. Theyre smoked jalapeos, but the adobo sauce they come canned in is the magical part. 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. Wow!!!! So, its actually not the butt at all, but the shoulder. A 4 oz. We've perfected the Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe! Usually, after cooking, you will have approx a little over half of the meat left in weight. Well, this one got printed out right after dinner! This cafe rio pork recipe is my absolutely favorite. (sorry for the late reply, just now seeing this). 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. I am anxious to try this recipe since we love their pork : ). So sorry, I asked my comment in a reply on accident. ), then just shred up the meat and add in the sauce. It doesnt taste like cafe rio pork at all. And Im excited to try this new recipe. Scoop out the pork from the crock pot and discard the cooking liquid. IM planning on tripling it for a birthday PARTy. Im so glad you enjoyed the recipe and thank you for sharing, I didnt have root beer so I used Dr. Pepper, also I added a little more brown sugar but I like things very sweet. 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. The sugar in the drink break down the fibers in the meat. Is the 2c brown sugar packed or unpacked? Thank you so much! Weve fed 8 just fine with it but you could always double it and have leftovers! Yes, I do. Hi Melissa, you can cook it for the same amount of time, 50 min. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water. I am likely the only person in the world that couldnt get this to work for me. Changing the amount doesnt change the time when using the IP. I hope the store doesnt stop carrying them! Hi there! Your email address will not be published. Or just the last 2 hours add the mixture? Hi! Caramelized the chopped onions and then add them with the carrots and peppers to the sauce in the IP before adding the meat and then add the shredded pork and let it stay on warm for a while? This recipe looks delicious! Becky, Thank you! -Simmer pork in a pan with cut up yellow onions, serrano peppers and chopped carrots. 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? LOVED this cafe rio pork recipe and got multiple compliments on it- I always tell everyone you are my recipe hero. Bring to a boil and whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Si. Put pork, 1/2 can of coke, water and garlic salt in slow cooker. Prepare everything the same, but set the pork and bouquet garni (see section below) in a slow cooker for 8-10 hours. Yes, you can freeze the pork and sauce easily in gallon ziplock bags, remove from freezer in the morning, let thaw several hours and then heat on the stovetop or in a slow oven (300-325*) with foil wrapped over the pan. 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. 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. This Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe is the real deal. This was super yummy! Is it 10 hours total on low? Si. Pour half of the Coke and water around pork. I love the recommendation of using Pork Shoulder or Boneless Pork Rib meat the meat is perfect every time! Thank you so much for sharing, Josee, Im so glad you enjoyed the recipe! Move along. I like my endings all wrapped up. This is by far the best sweet pork recipe! Im glad you enjoyed the recipe, the IP makes all the difference. You can also use the meat in tacos, enchiladas or burritos. 1 packet sauce (no longer made) Sweet pork is my favorite meat at Cafe Rio. And then release for 45 min. Easy recipes for quick and delicious homemade meals! When prepared correctly, it practically melts in your mouth. When you try a recipe, please use the hashtag#ohsweetbasilonINSTAGRAMfor a chance to be featured in our stories! Cafe Rio is a popular fast-casual Mexican style restaurant with headquarters in Utah. No need to increase sauce amount. i made this yesterday! Cafe Rio Sweet Pork {Copycat} Recipe [+ Video]. I have a 7lb pork butt and I dont want to chance it in my instant pot. first taste before i put it away was tip top, best pulled pork ive ever made Wondering if I could make this recipe in a crockpot-I dont have an instant pot. Do you think it will be enough? This recipe will serve 8-10 people. xo Is there a reason it says prep 10 mins and cook time 10 mins? thanks for reading ABK I need guidance. 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. What size of cut did you use? Using a slow cooker is an easy way to make pulled pork. Do you live around a Kroger? Thank you for your kind comments! Hope this helps! Si. ). 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. Discard any fat. In the end, your best bet for tender fall apart meat is either Pork Shoulder, Boneless Pork Ribs or Boston Butt. Im so excited to try this. The pork is tender and juicy, with the perfect amount of sweetness. You may substitute beef for this recipe. 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). When we go to Cafe Rio, I pretty much always get the salad to split (this is quite rare as the hubs DOES NOT split anything. Don't forget to add toppings to that as well (chopped onion, lime wedges, chopped lettuce, avocado, black beans, etc. Were your place for more than 1,000 actionable, traditional recipes to serve and celebrate your friends and family. Perfect! Add coke and brown sugar and seal bag. Thank you so much for posting this! Looks incredible, Carrian! You do not need to change the cooking time. {recipe to follow} This was, in my opinion, the easiest of the recipes. Si. 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. 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 am one of those people that wont print out a recipe until it meets the mark. We put ours on top of nachos with homemade guac and queso and fresh pickled jalapeos. 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! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Has anyone tried making it with rootbeer? Turn the roast over and use the other half of the seasoning mixture to do the same on the other side. It goes perfectly in burritos, tacos, salads and so much more. xo 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. I absolutely love this recipe but havent been able to find the sauce lately. I would wait to put the sauce on until you are ready to serve it. 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 love Cafe Rio! OHHH, that can be tricky. This pork is SO flavorful! Sounds delicious. The pork cooks for a long time in the slow cooker which makes the meat tender and easy to shred. How to make copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork? All rights reserved. Place all other ingredients in a blender and puree until very smooth. then make sure you roast the garlic first and if possible roast your own tomatoes and then puree to the amount that the can normally is. I saw you hint at a Kroger substitute but didnt specify which one. Full of delicious sweet flavor, this copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork recipe goes perfectly in salads, tacos, burritos and more. Thanks again! Ive made this recipe now as its written, and with keto substitutes, and they were both divine!! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Cook time should state 10 hrs and not 8. Thanks for reading ABK, xo In a small bowl, combine the cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Also, when you write oregano it is the ground oregano, not the leaves, right? See our disclosure policy. -Make red enchilada sauce from scratch. And thank you! I strained the meat, but it looks nothing like yours!! I usually order the fire-grilled chicken, but I always seem to ask Kale if I can have a bite of his! xo Thirty minutes did not give the meat enough time to tenderize while 75 was too long. If you've ever been to Utah you've probably had Cafe Rio, specifically Cafe Rio Sweet Pork. Home All Recipes ALL MEALS Dinner Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe (Copycat). My family said it tasted just like cafe rio. Who says eating healthier means you have to give up everything?! Cook the pork in a slow cooker for 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high. The Dr pepper moistens the pork incredibly. That is an awesome idea! Si. The IP tends to release a higher volume of liquid from ingredient in the pot, which can dilute sauces. xo, 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. A little more Coke can be added if it seems too thick. I always hope my replies are seen, but Im never sure as spam loves to take my emails. Thanks for catching that! Mothers Day is coming soon(hint, hint) Thank you so much! What brand of enchilada sauce do you prefer? Shred pork with two forks, and remove any fat. Remove the peppers and carrots after cooking. Heat just until sauce boils and the meat is heated through, then turn the setting to keep warm mode. Use it to top a salad, a burrito, or a taco. Or would you stick to the original recipe you posted of the crockpot version? Si. Cook on low for at least 6-7 hours. I just asked about the spice mix being the right amount for the recipe or if it makes more. 3, Have you made our easy Shoyu Ramen? We have a whole section. You can also use Boneless Pork Rib meat, which is basically the same thing as the shoulder, without the bone. It was to die for. If I dont have 2 hours once Im home from work, what else can I do? Pure comfort food! xo, The great thing about these recipes is: you put all the ingredients in the crock pot to cook all day (easy! Toss into your preferred salad or burrito! Add coke, water, garlic salt, onion salt, and chili powder. 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. Hi! I have tried a lot of different sweet pork recipes. 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). Sothis recipe is sugar, pre-packaged sauce, and meat. Thankfully, now I can make this a few more times for my family! It takes minut, Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookie Copyc, Finished off the day with Pan Cream Cheese Sugar C, Come see us today (Monday only) from 3-6:00 at @ru, Favorite appetizer? Some things: You made my day Rebecca! It makes me feel so good to hear how much you love this recipe. Cook again. Because of differences in slow cooker heat, make sure you check it a few times throughout the day to make sure the meat doesnt overcook. 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. The sweet pork also makes a perfect topping for nachos. I hope you all enjoy. No words can describe how happy my family is. Meaning, it will take time to allow this to happen and this time needs to be built in to the cooking time of the meat.