It was absolutely phenomenal!!! Bring to a boil and whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Thank you so much! Sometimes at 7 hours its even still a bit tough and then 8 hours and its falling apart. We have a whole section. I love Cafe Rio sweet pork, so I will definitely try this. So glad you like! Cook for the 6 hours, then an additional 2! Cafe Rio Sweet Pork {Copycat} Recipe [+ Video]. If the chicken is frozen cook for 13 minutes and then check it should be easy to shred. But turns out fabulous. If you turn the crock pot on high and heat it for another 30 to 45 minutes it should be good to go! I will update that ASAP, thank you for letting me know. Hi Allison, if youre using a 4 lb roast, I would set the pressure time for 70-80 minutes. Do you think a 7 pound pork would be enough for a family of 12 adults and seven little kids? And also Im loving your post about cooking for a crowd, girls camp and such! I was just freaking out wondering where my sweet pork recipe went! Scoop out the pork from the crock pot and discard the cooking liquid. I am SO excited to try this recipe. Hope this helps . Rumor has it that Dr Pepper or Coke are the preferred pops for Cafe Rio, choose whichever you prefer. Set the manual/pressure cook button for 60 minutes. Thank you . Sorry Christine, but thanks for trying it. Pour half of the Coke and water around pork. Altenew 8th Anniversary Blog Hop Day 5 + Giveaway (over $2,000 in Total Prizes). Put in the marinade for at least a few hours and up to a full day. ), then just shred up the meat and add in the sauce. We dont buy caffeinated drinks so I was hoping it would taste just as great with rootbeer. 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. Im trying to cook this now but only have 3 lbs of meat. Just made this today and no one in my family could wait a day to let it set. Remove the remaining juice from the pan and place in a small bowl. So I moved to Texas a little over a year ago and to my despair there isnt a Cafe Rio for 500 miles. Thanks! If you want to start the meat at 3:00 pm when you leave to start driving carpool, go ahead, the meat will be fine in the Instant Pot for hours. Full of delicious sweet flavor, this copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork recipe goes perfectly in salads, tacos, burritos and more. Do you think it will be enough? 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! The extra two hours gives the shredded meat a chance to soak up more of the marinade. Let marinate for 3 hours or overnight. Pork Tacos today, Pork Salad tomorrow! Place the shredded meat back into the Instant Pot and turn the setting to Saute. Thanks for sharing this, I cant wait to try it! I get it! Use it to top a salad, a burrito, or a taco. -Only use pork butt or shoulder. OHHH, that can be tricky. 3- Cover and secure the lid, and set valve to seal. In a medium sized saute pan on medium high heat add all your ingredients. I found a sauce packet by Frontera. The IP takes away much of the time normally spent in the slow cooking process, but remember the pot needs to come up to pressure, and the process takes a bit of time. Thanks for reading ABK. A bit disappointed but its still yummy. 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. Add the pork to your slow cooker, and discard the marinade. I am getting windy, but the Instant Pot version of CRP is amazing. Check us out on Instagram and be sure to tag us @ohsweetbasil #ohsweetbasil for a chance to be featured! Si. Cafe Rio does marinade the meat but you will still have a delicious meal if you dont. Then the recipe says 45 to cook and 45 NPR. Does anyone have a suggestion for recreating the Old El Paso sauce. Pour mixture into bag. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Burrito Copycat Recipe, Creamy Tomatillo Ranch Dressing (Cafe Rio Copycat), Cafe Rio Copycat Recipes All the Best in One Place, Our Version of Cafe Rios Chicken Tortilla Soup, Our Version of Cafe Rios Sweet Pork Burrito, Our Version of Cafe Rios Cilantro-Lime Rice and Black Beans. When you make it, please let me know how you like it. In general, 1 lb of pulled pork will feed 3 people, so you will probably want 30-35 lbs to feed 100 people. 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. xo Otherwise will try again when I have more time. I hate that stores dont carry the same flavors. 16 ounces Coca-Cola soda, divided (( do not use diet soda. I have been looking for a new crockpot pork recipe for this weekend! Chill at least 1 hour or overnight. Share below my top 3 ar, Make our Valentine M&M Chocolate Chip C. A Bountiful Kitchen 2023. I followed the recipe to a T, also making the ABK homemade menudo dry rub and the ABK Homemade Enchilada Sauce for the simmering meat. Ive tried many sweet pork copycats and this one is just spot on. Si. Thank you! The regular Coke does add a sweetness to it that makes this pork so amazing. Toss pork into your favorite salads and tacos! Its perfect in burritos, tacos and salads. Recognizing the Sunshine and Living Happy. I have both a 6 nd 8 quart, I most often use the 6 quart unless Im cooking for a big crowd or cooking two dishes at once in the IP. An even coating of garlic powder, salt, and pepper should be spread across the pork roast. It is removed after cooking and can be made with either fresh or dried herbs, root veggies etc. Pour enchilada sauce mixture over the shredded pork. Cut pork loin into three to four large chunks and add to crockpot. Thanks for asking and for reading ABK, xo Thanks for making this recipe possible in the instant pot! Marinate for a few hours or overnight. In a small bowl, combine remaining can of Coke, can of chiles, enchilada sauce and brown sugar. Im not sure it would be that good. It is spot on! Thank you so much for compiling this recipe and all your other recipes. The pork is marinated and slow-cooked to perfection in some surprising ingredients! This was amazing! Required fields are marked *. Frontera Red Chile with roasted tomato and garlic Enchilada Sauce. Being a mother of 5, I love the simplicity and still great taste of it! The result was excellent! ON. It literally melts in your mouth. This Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe is the real deal. Prepare everything the same, but set the pork and bouquet garni (see section below) in a slow cooker for 8-10 hours. Heat just until sauce boils and the meat is heated through, then turn the setting to keep warm mode. Ive tried another Cafe Rio sweet pork recipe, and yours definitely tastes more like the real deal!! Ive tried it only with the bone and its been great. Thanks, The recipe calls for a 4-7 lb roast, and you are using a 7-8 lb roast, so the cook time should be close to the same. Wow Bonnie, how lucky are you! Taking some of the liquid out if there is too much. You need the regular soda for the sugar in it)). If Cafe Rio Sweet Pork is your family favorite, youre going to love this recipe! Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker. I like Old El Paso! Si, This may seem like a dumb question, but could you also use this recipe with chicken? No matter how it was cooked, it was too lean to achieve the fall apart texture I was looking for. -I somehow didnt have onion powder, for the first stage of rubbing the spices on the meat in the ziploc. At what point in the recipe do you add these vegetables? All the recipes are for a slow cooker and the coke is added to the pork about 6 hours after starting, then another two hours of cooking time. Please let us know how it goes! Be sure to check out all our other tasty Mexican Recipes! 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. We put ours on top of nachos with homemade guac and queso and fresh pickled jalapeos. Add the pork roast to the hot skillet and sear on both sides. Ours are now by the Mexican aisle and the italian tomato sauces. Your email address will not be published. I usually order the fire-grilled chicken, but I always seem to ask Kale if I can have a bite of his! Ive had readers tell me they didnt get the desired finished product when making Cafe Rio Sweet Pork. We love to place a tortilla on a plate, then top it with black beans, rice and the sweetpork, just like Caf Rio does. Mention @favoritefamilyrecipes or tag #favoritefamilyrecipes! Take the pork out of the crock pot once it's finished cooking and place it on a cutting board. Si. Thank you! About 2 years ago I started making the sweet pork at home, and it just never tasted right. Thanks again! I have a 7lb pork butt and I dont want to chance it in my instant pot. xo, Cafe Rio pork is my fav! first taste before i put it away was tip top, best pulled pork ive ever made Give them a try and let me know what YOU think! Si. When cool enough, pull any remaining visible fat off of meat and set aside. A little more Coke can be added if it seems too thick. Thanks again! Remove Chipotle chilies and shred meat. Enjoy. Si. Home All Recipes ALL MEALS Dinner Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe (Copycat). The slow cooker makes this recipe so easy to make. This unique cookbook guides the way through every step, including meal lists and easy-to-follow recipes, and features dollops of heartwarming family stories. Add the full can of coke, brown sugar and green salsa. 4 Ways to Make Dr. Pepper - wikiHow . Doing a slow roast on the pork with a spice mixture, those root veggies and preparing the sauce separate makes for an identical result. Pour over the pork in the crock pot and cook for 5-6 hours, or until tender and shreds easily with a fork. , Hi Crystal, I havent tried it with chicken yet, but it should turn out just as well. Shred the meat well, discarding large pieces of the fat pad. Dont like the one she posted? Seriously, made my day! Thanks for sharing a fantastic recipe, cant wait to make it again! This is by far the best sweet pork recipe! I'm a creator, a card maker, and a day maker! Place the pork loin in a crock pot and turn on to high heat. The meat was super tender and shredded with the slightest of pressure. Thanks for passing on the recipe. In the end, your best bet for tender fall apart meat is either Pork Shoulder, Boneless Pork Ribs or Boston Butt. The cook time was perfect. I ordered my groceries online (including the pork roast) and when I got home from picking them up, I found a 20 pound roast! My family loves it! We are thrilled that so many of you have enjoyed this recipe as much as we have. Spread some garlic salt, salt, and pepper around. I know, I know. Im sorry! Thanks for reading ABK, This pork look so saucy and delicious! xo Place roast inside slow cooker. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our family doesnt like pork, but we love the beef. So delicious! I made it in the crock pot on high with a 5 lb pork shoulder. Si. Your email address will not be published. Hope this helps. If using a frozen roast, how would I need to adjust the cook time? I cant believe it either. Do I have to thaw my meat? Try Walmart or Smiths for Old El Paso sauce packets. It was to die for. The pork will just be more tender than chicken. This is my go to sweet pork recipe. I am doubling the recipe. 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!!!! Maybe closer to 35lbs if you are feeding hungry lacrosse players! I just love that theres a quick version! Required fields are marked *. Discard any large pieces of fat and then shred. This was a hit in my house! Grab a blender and add 8 oz coke, green chilies, red enchilada sauce and brown sugar. Theyre smoked jalapeos, but the adobo sauce they come canned in is the magical part. Si. How to make Caf Rio sweet pork in 15 minutes! Seal. 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! Ive read those books and enjoyed them except for the ending of the Giver. Calm down now. xo, Don't drink the crock pot liquid. It was all delicious!! And they both liked the SAME one. I just asked about the spice mix being the right amount for the recipe or if it makes more. We moved from Utah to Mississippi and its nowhere around! Turn the setting to Manual or High Pressure and set the timer for 50 minutes. I followed the recipe to a T with a 5 lb boneless butt roast and my meat turned out a gelatinous mess swimming in sauce. Some say Dr. Pepper. I am so sad the Old El Paso sauce is no longer available. Also, when you write oregano it is the ground oregano, not the leaves, right? sides, Spinach egg white frittata costco heating instructions. How can i SUBSTITUTE the pork for chicken? Taste and adjust salt, if needed. Have you found a good replacement for The Old El Paso cooking sauce packet which is no longer available? Brown sugar should be included in step 11 yes? It doesnt taste like cafe rio pork at all. 1 cup rootbeer, coke or Dr Pepper. Would timing and measurements be different? Who says eating healthier means you have to give up everything?! xo Haha I know! Im considering this for dinner but theres not enough time to thaw it today. It is a family favorite for sure! Mix the Sauce packet, brown sugar and pop and bring to a simmer over medium high heat until thickened a little. Ill have to whittle away at the leftovers until its gone, but now I know not to take any of my family to Cafe Rio. You are amazing!! xo 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). 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! Their sweet pulled pork was the absolute sizzle and now that Ive found this recipe I can have it whenever I want. Thank you, Si! Rub with garlic salt and pour 2 cups of coke and cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 5-6. In a blender or food processor, blend the remaining 8 ounces Coca-Cola, diced green chilies, enchilada sauce and brown sugar. I have been making various copycat recipes for the past 15 years and this is the best and least fussy. Thank you for such a great recipe!!!! The butt is usually sold without bone and the shoulder almost always is sold with a large bone-in. Mothers Day is coming soon(hint, hint) Heres my question in someones reply: I bought a 9lb pork shoulder. Did you have an update to this recipe? Thanks for asking and for reading ABK! Calista This amount of sauce will work fine for 4.5 lbs. Cover crock pot with lid and cook another 1 to 2 hours on low heat. I love it in a burrito or on a salad. Ive tried it and it still turns out amazing! Hi Anita, Thats cheaper than I got mine. If it looks too thick, add more Coke little by little. Drain the marinade and add the pork to a 5-quart slow cooker. I also love the effect soda has when cooking meat, especially pork. Its in the crockpot right now. How would the cook time change for this? Oh no! Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe From: Leigh Anne Wilkes Delicious sweet pulled pork perfect for your favorite Mexican food dish. One caution, not all cuts of pork work well in this recipe! Some say Dr. Pepper. But I maybe missed this, but when do you put the brown sugar in? We ate on it for 2 days!! Im not sure how much. See our disclosure policy. When purchasing the shoulder cut pork, I ask my grocery butcher to trim it off, along with the thick piece of fat that accompanies it. Its so yummy! Shanna's Jiffy Mix Cornbread Made Better! In fact you can make the quesadilla at home too with our Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Quesadilla recipeyoure welcome! My. cafe rio dressing, copycat recipe, sweet pork, natural pressure release and preparing meat after cooked, butt or boneless pork rib meat*, cut into large chunks, large visible chunks of fat removed, or make your own (see post for instructions). The link for my homemade sauce is on this post under the last paragraph "Tips and Secrets for Perfect Cafe Rio Sweet Pork". Our copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork recipe is the real deal. Now I really have a hankering for a Cafe Rio pork salad. Christine, Fresh cooked tortillas thanks for reading ABK And if so, how did you re-heat it? Its okay, and turned out fantastic all the same! Absolutely delicious!! 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? I made extra sweet sauce, would I be able to freeze the sauce alone to use for my next batch of sweet pork later this month? I ordered a 5 pound one! Thicken your sauce Bring your sauce to a slow boil and let it simmer for about 10 minutes. I couldnt find the old elpaso sauce packets so I ended up using a 10oz can of red enchilada sauce and adding an entire small head of crushed garlic to it. Amazingly easy and so delicious. We have a smaller group, of about 30. The yellow can said hot and I was a little scared hesitant to try it. xo 10/10! This Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe is the real deal. Yes it really is that fast and simple! My family said it tasted just like cafe rio. Krista, I agree the IP version is my favorite and I also love using the shoulder cut. I would totally make this again. Place the pork roast in the slow cooker. Will it make a difference with cooking time at all? Marinade for a few hours or overnight, shaking once or twice during the marinating. 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. If you buy lean cuts of pork, your Instant Pot Cafe Rio Sweet Pork will not taste like Cafe Rios Pork. Have you made this recipe yet? The finished consistency of the frozen recipe was not nearly as good (obviously) as the fresh made night before and day of batches. I cant believe they discontinued that packet on us!! Thanks for your time and talent! Misti. . Throw out fluids. Its THAT good! 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! I do love this recipe. xo Just had to say thank you again! Thank you for this recipe! Chopped pork. haha. Ill have to try chicken next time. Thank you! Hi Sara, the cook time will be the same, but to be safe I would pressure cook it for 60 minutes. Remove pork from crock pot and transfer to cutting board. Im constantly tweaking this recipe too!Tandie, Yes, you can use a beef roast instead of the pork! Thanks for catching that! Pour half of the seasoning mixture over the roast and rub it into the meat. I have another request if possible. You may substitute beef for this recipe. We have used it and it was pretty good but we are working on a new recipe since we cant find that cooking sauce anymore. My husband is leaving in 1.5 hours , But btw i love all of your recipes. No Cafe Rio?!! Thank you!! As far as pork butt/shoulder goes, if its not shred-able, just keep cooking. They have new sauces in the Mexican aisle that will work! -Thicken sauce with cornstarch after cooked. $2.49 is about what I paid 10 minutes ago. Any suggestions for a good replacement? There are a lot of Sweet Pork (Cafe Rio Copycat) Recipes out there. I love that! Thanks so much! Remove the peppers and carrots after cooking. (Roast can be omitted.) Pour the sauce all over the pork and toss to coat. Do you have a good suggestion to replace the sauce packet since they arent sold anymore? Instructions. Carole, I dont go longer than that as each week the flavor seems to fade a little in my opinion. This looks like the perfect dish to prepare for all my hungry helpers. Erica lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, Jared, an attorney, and her three beautiful girls. REMEMBER TO SUBSCRIBE TO our FREEOh Sweet Basil NEWSLETTERAND RECEIVE EASY RECIPES DELIVERED INTO YOUR INBOX EVERY DAY! If it was bigger than 3-4 pounds it just needed more like 8-12 hours. Thanks for the recipe! We will have ovens, or I could bring a crockpot to reheat? Total time: 495 minutes Cook time: 480 minutes Prep time: 15 minutes Yields: 10 servings Cuisine: Mexican/Spanish Number of ingredients: 8 Ingredients: 2 pounds pork ((we use boneless pork ribs)) I made this last night for my family and we had Missionaries over and everybody loved it- the leftovers are amazing too! Thank you. Blend for 20 seconds. I love it! Thanks to todays recipe, I can make the delicious sweet pork at home in mycrock pot. Maybe they will work? I was SO tempted to make a taco at almost midnight because it smelled so good as I was finishing it. Making this recipe in the Instant Pot is so easy and delicious! This process can't be rushed! I so look forward to trying some of your recipes. 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. If you are trying to lose weight, pork is a better choice than beef, because pork is lower in calories. to try out. Jennilyn, Thank you so much for your review! Place the seared pork roast and coke in a 6 quart slow cooker. This recipe looks delicious! I moved out of the area where my local cafe rio was. Hi! 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). Thanks for reading ABK. Use the dro Stevia is a natural sweetener that grows as a plant. The sweet pork also makes a perfect topping for nachos. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours. This is the best sweet pork recipe Ive tried! In a small bowl, mix about a can and a half of coke and about 1/4 cup of the brown sugar. Surprise! We are doing a lot of recipe testing to find one. Help please. xo Well, this one got printed out right after dinner! I love seeing what you made. Hi Angie, And I will link up to the other cola-free Sweet Pork recipe as soon as I get permission! Ive tried a couple other times to make this and this was by far closest to Cafe Rio. I would wait to put the sauce on until you are ready to serve it. 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. 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!)