With this recipe, you can now have the amazing taste of Cafe Rio Pork at home all you need is a few simple ingredients and a crock pot. I moved out of the area where my local cafe rio was. I make this so often and it is now the ONLY way i make sweet pork! The nearest Cafe Rio is 1200 miles away and we miss it as much as we miss The Mandarine.which is a lot!!! Thanks for asking and for reading ABK, This will definitely be a staple meal in out home! Now those are some lucky judges! 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. Or throw it in some enchiladas. 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. So I didnt cook it too long when that happened I actually need to cook it longer and it will get more tender? read more:If you love this copycat sweet pork recipe, youre bound to love our BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe too! Cook on low for another 1.5 hours. Just finished eating this for dinner and I raced to my computer to say: Oh. Our favorite way to enjoy it is on a Cafe Rio Salad. 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. We ate on it for 2 days!! Just made this today and no one in my family could wait a day to let it set. But sadly it has not come to Oregon yet. It is wonderful. Would it effect the cooking time if I left the bone in? Be sure to check out all our other tasty Mexican Recipes! 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. Si. Combine a can and a half of Coke with about a quarter cup of brown sugar. Thanks for reading ABK and thanks for your help. Thank you so much for this recipe!! Continue to heat up until thickened. xo, enchilada sauce (can) Finally got around to making this in the crockpot yesterday. 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! Prepare everything the same, but set the pork and bouquet garni in a slow cooker for 8-10 hours. Copyright 2013-2019 Sunshine In My Pocket. Drain the marinade, and sprinkle the pork all over with garlic powder, chili powder, salt and pepper. FOLLOW OH, SWEET BASIL ONFACEBOOK|INSTAGRAM|PINTEREST|TWITTERFOR ALL OF OUR LATEST CONTENT, RECIPES AND STORIES. Wouldnt you know it, this is now my familys favorite. Si, Does this spice mix make the amount one would need to make this recipe, or does it make more? Will the carrots get tender on just the warm setting? I make LOTS when I make it and freeze ittastes just as good when thawed! 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. 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. That is great to know that using coke zero works! I think if I double it there should be enough. Im wanting to make this this weekend and put it on Rumbi-style rice. Set the uncovered pork butt in the oven and bake for 12 hours. ), 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!) Cafe Rio Sweet Pork (copycat recipe) - Like Mother, Like Daughter -Thicken sauce with cornstarch after cooked. Discard the juices in the slow cooker and then add the shredded pork back in along with the sweet sauce and mix together. I am likely the only person in the world that couldnt get this to work for me. Did you have an update to this recipe? Put pork, 1/2 can of coke, water and garlic salt in slow cooker. We Dont have Cafe Rio in Michigan. This recipe will serve 8-10 people. If you turn the crock pot on high and heat it for another 30 to 45 minutes it should be good to go! Shanna's Jiffy Mix Cornbread Made Better! Spring is right around the corner! Oh darnit! (Roast can be omitted.) I absolutely love this recipe but havent been able to find the sauce lately. Cook the shredded pork in the crockpot with the sauce for 2 hours on low. Share below my top 3 ar, Make our Valentine M&M Chocolate Chip C. A Bountiful Kitchen 2023. You just mix together all four ingredients (yes, only four ingredients! . xo We also used coke, the red enchilada sauce that we made, onions and carrots, sugar and butter. Thanks for asking! Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe | by Leigh Anne Wilkes - Your Homebased Mom 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. Use it to top a salad, a burrito, or a taco. Si. 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. Hey Mindy! 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. Please check back and let us know how long it took you to cook your 7 lb roast. Cook on low for 8-9 hours or on high for 5-6 hours. I made this last night for my family and we had Missionaries over and everybody loved it- the leftovers are amazing too! Thanks for all the work you put in to figure this out for the instant pot! Lauren, xo I so look forward to trying some of your recipes. (Thank you to The Sisters Cafe for such an awesome recipe!) The process was so easy and the results were amazing. Im guessing when making the sauce? Biggest compliment ever! Make a smooth paste by blending. Im actually so excited about this that Im going to make it as a crockpot freezer meal for my freezer exchange group, too! Mix until well combined. Double one of the recipes and the make one single recipe in the other. Hi Kathy! -Cook onions in a pan with oil until caramelized, add to cooked pork and enchilada sauce. Cook for the 6 hours, then an additional 2! 2 cups brown sugar The cook time in the Instant Pot will vary according to the cut of meat used. . Looks like Ill have to make me one using your yummy recipe! That is an awesome idea! Cilantro Lime Rice 2c packed is too sweet so I used 1.5c. If using Boston butt, or pork butt, count on about 1/2 of the total pounds before cooking being discarded (after cooking). So today, I am going to share with you my mothers recipe for Sweet Pork. Si. It takes about 5 minutes to make.-As stated in the post, I did not marinate the pork in the sauce before cooking. We should set up a taste test for the neighbors and see if people can tell which is which. 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. 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. Si. We will have ovens, or I could bring a crockpot to reheat? Is it a powder or liquid and where have you found it? Sounds delicious. I hope this helps! Or should I do it in the oven? Thank you so much! Dinner - Cafe rio sweet pork recipe without coke Heres my question in someones reply: I bought a 9lb pork shoulder. My neighborhood would go crazy without one. I love that! 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. It makes it easy to scratch our itch for CPK so far away from Utah. OR you can place the shredded pork, and the remaining ingredients in a large pot on the stove top and heat it until its all warmed through. xo Rub with garlic salt and pour 2 cups of coke and cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 5-6. No taco sauce needed! I saw you hint at a Kroger substitute but didnt specify which one. Ours always appears to be done at 6 as well but I like how the flavor builds when going to 8 hours. Sweet and tender shredded pork just like the one from Caf Rio. Discard the liquid from the slow cooker. I ordered my groceries online (including the pork roast) and when I got home from picking them up, I found a 20 pound roast! Oops! I am SO excited to try this recipe. If I use a 7-8lb shoulder, how long do you think I should cook it? Maybe they will work? Oh good! This pork look so saucy and delicious! Sounds yummy. It literally melts in your mouth. xo Mothers Day is coming soon(hint, hint) Fresh cooked tortillas Chill at least 1 hour or overnight. This Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe is the real deal. Instructions . I love Cafe Rio! Thanks for reading ABK, xo Please see disclosure policy here. A pork loin or roast is going to be too lean and wont turn out exactly like Cafe Rio. took the tip to let it sit overnight, so i am excited to try it tonight for dinner! A Bountiful Kitchen Cookbook, filled with recipes, photos, stories, and special notes from me, is now available for purchase! So glad you like! Discard any fat. Pour half of the seasoning mixture over the roast and rub it into the meat. This recipe looks delicious! Can i make this in an instapot? Delicious sweet pulled pork perfect for your favorite Mexican food dish. Im considering this for dinner but theres not enough time to thaw it today. There are a lot of Sweet Pork (Cafe Rio Copycat) Recipes out there. Add your pork to a large zip-top bag, bowl with a lid, or other container with one cup of coke, and 1/4 cup of brown sugar. Thanks! ), but occasionally Ill get the quesadilla because its gooey. . I was wondering if you could make an Instant Pot variation on this recipe! Its THAT good! Its is good any way, shape or form! Las Palmas brand used at Cafe Rio. My husband doesnt like sweet sauces so I pulled some meat out for him to make carnitas and even that was fantastic. xo Cafe Rio does marinade the meat but you will still have a delicious meal if you dont. Thanks! This is by far the best sweet pork recipe! It looks so delicious! Im hoping to serve 8 people. Place the shredded meat back into the Instant Pot and turn the setting to Saute. The meat cooks for a long time in the crock pot in its own juices which allows it to absorb a lot of flavor. 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. Usually, after cooking, you will have approx a little over half of the meat left in weight. Recognizing the Sunshine and Living Happy. It wont taste as close but you could use Mels recipe, http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2011/09/red-chile-sauce-chicken-enchiladas.html Prepare everything the same, but set the pork and bouquet garni (see section below) in a slow cooker for 8-10 hours. Thanks for the recipe! I am one of those people that wont print out a recipe until it meets the mark. I am so excited to use it for years to come. Si, My butcher wouldnt cut the bone out of the shoulder for me, should I put it in the insta pot with the bone and pull the bone off after or cut it off the bone before, Step 7 needs to be fixed to say naturally not manually., KK, THANK YOU for pointing that out! Blend until smooth. 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. Add garlic, salt, and pepper. xo ? We are still working on it too. After eating more than my share of Cafe Rio meals, I came up with this oven or slow cooker recipeback in 2011. Have you made this recipe yet? Some things: Would this be good to eat on slidder rolls for a picnic? In fact you can make the quesadilla at home too with our Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Quesadilla recipeyoure welcome! Yes it really is that fast and simple! Don't forget to add toppings to that as well (chopped onion, lime wedges, chopped lettuce, avocado, black beans, etc. 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. We dont buy caffeinated drinks so I was hoping it would taste just as great with rootbeer. Pour enchilada sauce mixture over the shredded pork. I bought a 9lb pork shoulder. Hope this helps and thanks for asking! Hi Ginger, thats so sweet of you to help out your sister! Its a good sweet pork recipe but its definitely not the cafe rio one. Also, the sauce is actually called roasted garlic and chile or something like that. $2.49 is about what I paid 10 minutes ago. * Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Hi! I just asked about the spice mix being the right amount for the recipe or if it makes more. I tried the recipe with both boneless pork ribs and boneless pork shoulder. I agree the IP version is my favorite and I also love using the shoulder cut. Thank you so much for your review! Its that good! Im going to have to slice and it absorbed no flavor. 1 cup rootbeer, coke or Dr Pepper. Ive never heard of this old el paso sauce packet. Thank you for bringing that to my attention! 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. Top 40 Dr Pepper Copycat Recipe Recipes I have an 8 quart instant pot. 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. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork {Copycat} Recipe [+ Video]. I would love to pin this, but there is no image associated with it, so it wont let me pin the recipe. It actually acts as a meat tenderizer in the recipe so dont leave it out. (They do rival the restaurant however, there is something lovely about having all the ingredients ready and a salad made-to-order for you at the restaurant!). I need guidance. This Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe is the real deal. I made this 2 weeks ago and my 9 year old who loves Cafe rio said it was way better then the restaurant!!! Mention @favoritefamilyrecipes or tag #favoritefamilyrecipes! Thank you . It is spot on! This was delicious!! 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. Thank you so much! Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Barbacoa Recipe - Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes Si. Youll have to try ours and see how it compares in taste! Not only that this pork sounds deeelicious, I absolutely LOVE that serving bowl! Well, my answer is YES. it is super yummy. Get free recipes sent straight to your inbox! Si. Im letting you in on all the secrets! Is it 10 hours total on low? Thicken your sauce Bring your sauce to a slow boil and let it simmer for about 10 minutes. I have been making various copycat recipes for the past 15 years and this is the best and least fussy. I cant wait to try this!! Cook the Pork Drain marinade. Place shredded pork back in crock pot. 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. Thats because it tastes so similar to the original. Discard any large pieces of fat and then shred. 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. Hi Brenda, I would use about 8-10 pounds of meat. Thank you. Hoping to take it on a trip we are going on next week. I recommend using a large, marbled boneless pork roast like pork shoulder, pork butt or pork carnitas. I preferred the finished consistency of the shoulder meat. TfRecipes. 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. Tastes great! Neither has a high enough fat content to make the fall apart finished product youre looking for. Hi Anita, Si. Ive made this recipe now as its written, and with keto substitutes, and they were both divine!! Cook the pork in a slow cooker for 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high. REMEMBER TO SUBSCRIBE TO our FREEOh Sweet Basil NEWSLETTERAND RECEIVE EASY RECIPES DELIVERED INTO YOUR INBOX EVERY DAY! It really is better the next day as it sits in the juice or from the freezer. Hi, in step 10 it says to put the the remaining juice aside in a small bowl. Some unusual ingredients are used to marinate and slow-cook the pork until it is just right. Si. Would I still cook it for 50 mins? I have a 7lb pork butt and I dont want to chance it in my instant pot. How to make Cafe Rio Sweet Pork in a slow cooker: Place the pork in the pot of your slow cooker. 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!!!! And thank you! Dinner - Costa vida sweet pork recipe without coke In a small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, onion powder, and oregano. 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. Si. Ive tried it only with the bone and its been great. just a thought for those trying to watch their sugar intake. Si. Your pork is incredible. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe (Copycat) - Favorite Family Recipes Thank you so much for your support! Is this for a bone-in or boneless pork shoulder roast? Cover with lid and cook on high heat for 6 hours. My secrets (and recipes) for getting dinner on the table FAST! xo, So if you are cooking a 7 lb roast, about 3.5-4 lbs of meat left if using a pork butt or shoulder. It goes perfectly in burritos, tacos, salads and so much more. Cover and cook on high for 15-20 minutes until heated through. ), and happy to be watched over by 2 dogs. One caution, not all cuts of pork work well in this recipe! Sorry to not get back to you sooner! Thank you Si! Brown sugar should be included in step 11 yes? Thanks. My family said it tasted just like cafe rio. I have made many other recipes for Sweet Pork, but they lack flavor. I cant believe they discontinued that packet on us!! Can this be made ahead of time and frozen? Remove pork from crock pot and drain any liquid left in the pot. Im so excited to make this. Si. 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. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe in a Delicious Rice Bowl! Goodness. Thanks for reading ABK, Instructions. We especially like it in quesidillas. If your slow cooker is big enough you should be ok with the same time. boneless pork carnitas, shoulder etc 12 oz Coke 1 can 1/4 cup brown sugar 10 oz. , Hi Crystal, I havent tried it with chicken yet, but it should turn out just as well. Ive tried it and it still turns out amazing! Also, when you write oregano it is the ground oregano, not the leaves, right? We have a whole section. 2. The meat cooks for a long time in the crock pot in its own juices which allows it to absorb a lot of flavor. Mine needed more time in the pressure cooker, but that was an easy fix. Si, Crystal I should have mentioned above, chicken will take way less time. Thank you so much for sharing, Josee, Im so glad you enjoyed the recipe! I would totally make this again. The finished consistency of the frozen recipe was not nearly as good (obviously) as the fresh made night before and day of batches. Dinner - Cafe rio sweet pork recipe slow cooker