Hi, in step 10 it says to put the the remaining juice aside in a small bowl. I didnt have root beer so I used Dr. Pepper, also I added a little more brown sugar but I like things very sweet. The nearest Cafe Rio is 1200 miles away and we miss it as much as we miss The Mandarine.which is a lot!!! In a small bowl, mix about a can and a half of coke and about 1/4 cup of the brown sugar. I get it! Lets all be nice. Ive tried many sweet pork copycats and this one is just spot on. Put pork and marinade liquid into a lined slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. But both have a good side, for example the protein and iron is awesome in beef. Add coke, water, garlic salt, onion salt, and chili powder. This recipe is clearly a little different because it uses Coke, but trust me its the way its prepared that is key. Spread some garlic salt, salt, and pepper around. 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. We just tried this and it was AMAZING! Let us know! Excited to try this. Also, just received your cookbook and cant wait to flip through it at lunch! The meat cooks for a long time in the crock pot in its own juices which allows it to absorb a lot of flavor. Made the recipe as directed, rolled it up into a burrito, covered it with some salsa verse and cheesebam. Absolutely delicious!! Cook for 30-60 more minutes. I made this after reading all of the reviews and it was a hit. Marinate in the fridge for several hours or overnight. Si. Should I triple the amount of soda while cooking? I better run over today! Oh darnit! Cook, covered, on high for 6 hours OR on low for 8 hours. 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. Youre welcome, Lindsey! Really? Rub the dry seasoning all over the pork roast. How would it taste to make this completely through, and then freeze it? Its a little scary making a meal for a group when youve never tried the recipe before! Thank you for sharing!! ), and happy to be watched over by 2 dogs. This pork look so saucy and delicious! I was definitely skeptical about adding that much sugar but it came out about perfect. (It does not need to cover roast) Sprinkle evenly with garlic salt, salt and pepper. During the natural pressure release time, the meat continues to cook with the residual heat in the pot, the pressure is slowly released and the juices stay in the meat instead of escaping out of the pan (or pot). Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Barbacoa - House of Nash Eats I used to work at a Costa Vida and the sweet pork is very similar to Cafe Rios. Im trying to cook this now but only have 3 lbs of meat. Used the above ingredients on low. Place shredded pork back in crock pot. Everyone says it tastes just like Cafe Rio. If the chicken is fresh or thawed it takes about 6 minutes both of these times are on high or manual pressure. Hello March! Its not listed in the ingredients. I try to keep recipes as simple and easy as they can be. I would totally make this again. 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. How many will this serve. Add the pork to your slow cooker, and discard the marinade. This looks so delicious!! After eating more than my share of Cafe Rio meals, I came up with this oven or slow cooker recipeback in 2011. 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. All of this info was compiled from various butchers and online sources. Cover and cook on high 3 hours. (Thank you to The Sisters Cafe for such an awesome recipe!) Rub with garlic salt and pour 2 cups of coke and cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 5-6. I havent tried this with frozen pork yet. i didnt continue to cook with sauce mixture but Im sure it would make the flavor more deep and perhaps a little thicker maybe? Im letting you in on all the secrets! Apply nonstick cooking spray to the inside of the slow cooker. Is the additional 2 hours of cooking (step 4) necessary after the meat has already cooked 8 hours? I am anxious to try this recipe since we love their pork : ). This was amazing! 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). You just mix together all four ingredients (yes, only four ingredients! The cook time was perfect. Pour 1/3 cup of the juices back onto the pork and toss to combine well. Cafe Rio Copycat Sweet Pork Recipe | Mel's Kitchen Cafe I love this recipe and cant find any sauce either. I have another request if possible. You can put this sweet pork into a salad, in a burrito, in enchiladas, on top of nachos, in a rice bowl, or in a quesadilla like we already discussed above. 1 packet sauce (no longer made) When prepared correctly, it practically melts in your mouth. Where did you get yours and what part of the grocery store is it in? Place all other ingredients in a blender and puree until very smooth. Dinner - Costa vida sweet pork recipe without coke How much of the mix do I add for this recipe if it makes more than I need? No taco sauce needed! Shred as normal, preparing the sauce separate and toss to combine. 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. I cant wait to try this!! I love seeing what you made. I dont think there was another recipe that called for it. -Shred pork after cooked and let sit in a ziplock bag overnight with sauce made fresh after pork is cooked. Use a can of Coke and a quarter cup of brown sugar to marinate the pork for at least two hours and up to overnight. This Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe is the real deal. Stir them together until the sugar is dissolved. 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. Thanks for asking! I need guidance. One of my favorite dishes to get there is their sweet pork. Can you please tell me how many this recipe will feed? Appreciate it;). It literally melts in your mouth. Put the shredded pork into a casserole dish and cover with the enchilada sauce. Remove the roast onto a cutting board. I have about four hours. If it was bigger than 3-4 pounds it just needed more like 8-12 hours. I need to get myself an instapot and try this! Or would you stick to the original recipe you posted of the crockpot version? Thanks so much for the yummy recipe! We've perfected the Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe! Karis Garden Salsa Im not sure how much. Si, I made this Instant Pot Cafe Rio for our RS Birthday dinner which was right before the Covid shutdowns. Thanks for asking! 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. Hi Mindy! Thanks to todays recipe, I can make the delicious sweet pork at home in mycrock pot. We put ours on top of nachos with homemade guac and queso and fresh pickled jalapeos. Thank you so much for compiling this recipe and all your other recipes. Cook the shredded pork in the crockpot with the sauce for 2 hours on low. He just loves it. Have you found a good replacement for The Old El Paso cooking sauce packet which is no longer available? Does anyone have a suggestion for recreating the Old El Paso sauce. This unique cookbook guides the way through every step, including meal lists and easy-to-follow recipes, and features dollops of heartwarming family stories. Cut off the meat and shred it. Thanks! I used this recipe to make about 40 pounds of the sweet pork for a graduation party and it was a hit. Add about a can and a half of coke and about cup of brown sugar. 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. Were your place for more than 1,000 actionable, traditional recipes to serve and celebrate your friends and family. . Here is the link to the cilantro-tomatillo dressing, but there are also links to my guacamole, black beans, rice and pico. Is there a reason it says prep 10 mins and cook time 10 mins? xo Please check back and let us know how long it took you to cook your 7 lb roast. I am getting windy, but the Instant Pot version of CRP is amazing. I'm a creator, a card maker, and a day maker! Pure comfort food! 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? 1 cup rootbeer, coke or Dr Pepper, Your recipe for Cafe Rio Sweet Pork looks fantastic. I did it for 8 hours and it was falling apart YUM! Let us know how it turns out! Remove pork from crock pot and drain any liquid left in the pot. Turn to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. I love your variation and thanks for sharing, Joana! Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe From: Leigh Anne Wilkes Delicious sweet pulled pork perfect for your favorite Mexican food dish. I ordered a 5 pound one! Si. 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!!!! So there you have a couple of the BEST cola-free Sweet Pork Recipes! Made it today. Thanks for asking and for reading ABK, Yay! Cilantro Lime Dressing, Oh. How to make copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork? In a medium sized saute pan on medium high heat add all your ingredients. Sarah, 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. All of the recipes are linked below. After reading the comments, I figured out that you changed the recipe. 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. So sorry, I asked my comment in a reply on accident. Hi Morgan, Surprise! Si. In this recipe 45 minutes of natural release time is needed. xo The only modifications I made were to add some salt and sliced onions. Place the pork roast in the slow cooker. Made some mistakes about draining the juices but it was pretty fool proof turns out. He, Cinnamon Swirl Bread with Sweet Cinnamon Butter! Ive read those books and enjoyed them except for the ending of the Giver. Maybe they will work? How to make Caf Rio sweet pork in 15 minutes! The butt is usually sold without bone and the shoulder almost always is sold with a large bone-in. Heather, Definitely a new go to! Will the carrots get tender on just the warm setting? Let marinate for 3 hours or overnight. , And of course I meant CRP not CPK, Thank you so much for your detailed review! Mention @favoritefamilyrecipes or tag #favoritefamilyrecipes! What better place to share tips for making the best sweet pork, than on a recipe for Instant Pot Cafe Rio Sweet Pork?! Question: I am making this for girls camp. Hi Melissa, you can cook it for the same amount of time, 50 min. Si. You can now make Cafe Rio Sweet Pork at home! 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. Its red chile enchilada sauce with roasted tomato and garlic. Si. Place the pork loin in a crock pot and turn on to high heat. Seal. xo, . Hope that helps! Id love your suggestions. Yes, the onions will get quite dark, but its ok. Thanks Madison! Sprinkle the garlic salt and salt and pepper over the meat and cook on high for 6 hours. Any progress on a new recipe? Get free recipes sent straight to your inbox! Prepare everything the same, but set the pork and bouquet garni in a slow cooker for 8-10 hours. This updated recipe allows cooking of the sweet pork in a fraction of the original 5-12 hour time. We have a whole section. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our family doesnt like pork, but we love the beef. Lucky! The result was excellent! Hi Anna, its actually a sauce pouch, so its liquid but not in a can. I secretly love when the hubs is out of town, I put the kids to bed WAY early and spend the night pampering in myself with dinner, a movie and a pedicure! Ive never heard of this old el paso sauce packet. {recipe to follow} This was, in my opinion, the easiest of the recipes. This looks so good! If you do try this recipe, be sure to try their Garlic Black Beans as wellso good! Finally got around to making this in the crockpot yesterday. I have even been told this recipe tastes better than the real thing. Whisk to combine. It makes it easy to scratch our itch for CPK so far away from Utah. Neither has a high enough fat content to make the fall apart finished product youre looking for. Lettuce Si, Theres no need to marinate the pork, like other recipes. This pork is the real deal! Soooo good. A 4 oz. Hope this helps and thanks for asking! 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. 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. Also, did not take 8 hours in our crock pot, more like 6 total. No Cafe Rio?!! Serve on top of tortilla chips, tortillas, or a bed of rice. Cover with lid and cook on high heat for 6 hours. My favorite homemade red enchilada sauce is found here. I have another question, will cooking the pork shoulder in a crock pot break down the fat enough that it will shred ok? Its a tender pulled pork recipe with a coke or dr pepper sauce that Utah loves! Put pork, 1/2 can of coke, water and garlic salt in slow cooker. The IP cooks at such a high temperature and pressure for a small amount of time, while the slow cooker is the complete opposite. to try out. Everyone at my family gathering loved it. Hi Jeri, yes you can freeze it. Help!!! xo, Cooking in the Instant Pot is totally different than cooking in a slow cooker. This was a hit in my house! Is there anyway to use store bought pulled pork to speed up the recipe? Still used 2 cups of water, kept the time the same. Place 3 tablespoons spice mix in a large gallon size Ziplock bag. Thank you! But most of all, they love the memories made, shared and treasured and its all thanks to a meal shared together with loved ones. The recipe for the spice rub was a bonus, flavoring the pork beautifully. Delicious! Can I make this is in the crockpot or oven. Altenew 8th Anniversary Blog Hop Day 5 + Giveaway (over $2,000 in Total Prizes). I saw you hint at a Kroger substitute but didnt specify which one. The great thing about these recipes is: you put all the ingredients in the crock pot to cook all day (easy! My hubby is the biggest sweet pork fan. Thanks. Cook on low for another 1.5 hours. Thanks for the insider tip! However, in my experience coke zero and light brown sugar work really well in this recipe. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Sweet and succulent pork, perfect for your go-to Mexican dish. No words can describe how happy my family is. Your email address will not be published. In fact you can make the quesadilla at home too with our Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Quesadilla recipeyoure welcome! We are still working on it too. Once pork is completely cooked, shred up the pork with two forks. You can also use Boneless Pork Rib meat, which is basically the same thing as the shoulder, without the bone. Im so excited to make this. Make sure to marinate for at least a few hours, preferably overnight. Would timing and measurements be different? Hi Indigo! Full of delicious sweet flavor, this copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork recipe goes perfectly in salads, tacos, burritos and more. I have been looking for a new crockpot pork recipe for this weekend! This one is by far my favorite and is almost identical to the sweet pork from Cafe Rio. I also love the effect soda has when cooking meat, especially pork. Id love to hear your comments and suggestions for cookingInstant Pot Cafe Rio Sweet Pork at home. It is a bundle of aromatic herbs and sometimes vegetables that are used to enhance the flavor of soups, stews, stocks, poaching liquids and even braised dishes. Merely arrange everything in the dish with the pork and get rid of it after baking. I make this so often and it is now the ONLY way i make sweet pork! Hi Melissa, We absolutely love this pork!! Step 2: Add pork to slow cooker and discard marinade. I did try the sauce and it is tasty. Pour 8 ounces of Coca-Cola ( I used a measuring cup) and water around pork. I havent tried the old elpaso version, but this is very close to the cafe rio flavor. Here is the old recipe: Discard the liquid from the slow cooker. My family LOVES your Caf Rio Chicken. Thanks for sharing, Krista! I am Lucky in love to a supportive husband, blessed to raise 3 kids (all moved away now! Spray inside of a large crock pot with cooking spray. So I moved to Texas a little over a year ago and to my despair there isnt a Cafe Rio for 500 miles. How long did you pressure cook it for? Also, when you write oregano it is the ground oregano, not the leaves, right? Si. 3 lbs. Remove meat and shred. LOVED this cafe rio pork recipe and got multiple compliments on it- I always tell everyone you are my recipe hero. The pork is marinated and slow-cooked to perfection in some surprising ingredients! Toss into your preferred salad or burrito! My husband doesnt like sweet sauces so I pulled some meat out for him to make carnitas and even that was fantastic. Or do you with 2 hours remaining add in the remaining ingredients? If you buy lean cuts of pork, your Instant Pot Cafe Rio Sweet Pork will not taste like Cafe Rios Pork. . boneless pork (carnitas, shoulder etc) 12 oz Coke (1 can) 1/4 cup brown sugar 10 oz. Thanks so much! Oh no! Remove the lid, turn the heat up to high and cook for about 30 minutes until the sauce is . -Use a canned red enchilada sauce. This Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe is the real deal. 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. Ann. You made my day Rebecca! We are doing a lot of recipe testing to find one. Hope this helps and thanks for asking! Good job! It really is better the next day as it sits in the juice or from the freezer. I so look forward to trying some of your recipes. Shred and toss well in sauce. xo And I think you will have enough sauce for an 8 lb roast. I strained the meat, but it looks nothing like yours!! My sample batch was with the ribs and I froze that batch ahead of time. Drain the marinade and add the pork to a 5-quart slow cooker. Perfect! We love this pork! Cant wait to see how it all comes together. Im wanting to make this for a group of 20-25 people. Thank you! Thirty minutes did not give the meat enough time to tenderize while 75 was too long. 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. Sorry Christine, but thanks for trying it. It is heaven! Im glad you can make sweet pork any time you need a Cafe Rio fix. I always have used the old recipe and I used the frontera red Chile enchilada sauce packet and still love how it turns out. Hi Si you said if you do a frozen pork butt to increase the time to 70-80 minutes, but you also said that was for 4 lbs. Sounds yummy. * Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Be sure to check out all our other tasty Mexican Recipes! Im a total homebody. I love anything and everything with root beer.and now youve made pulled pork with it. Hi what kind of old el paso like an envelope or bottle? Sounds delicious. I followed the recipe exactly and soooo good! Im so looking forward to making this for my family! that all work together. A++ both ways. Jessica, THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY SPOT. Are you able to add to your Cafe Rio group of recipes a shopping list of some sort we can print, listing all the ingredients but we would have to fill in the quantity ourselves? * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. I recommend using a large, marbled boneless pork roast like pork shoulder, pork butt or pork carnitas. Taste and adjust salt, if needed. You can use a bone in but it is harder to shred. So glad you like! Don't forget to add toppings to that as well (chopped onion, lime wedges, chopped lettuce, avocado, black beans, etc.