), 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!) Shred and toss well in sauce. At what point in the recipe do you add these vegetables? Karis Garden Salsa Im starting to wonder about the pork being cooked different. Cafe Rio is a Utah based restaurant which has now spread into other states. Make a smooth paste by blending. I have an 8 quart instant pot. Your email address will not be published. You can just turn it on and walk away! - Pork recipe is made with pork shoulder (Boston pork butt), pantry Becky, xo Pork is best served the day after it is cooked completely and sauce is made. I love the recommendation of using Pork Shoulder or Boneless Pork Rib meat the meat is perfect every time! Hi Jill, Wow!!!! 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. Let marinate for 3 hours or overnight. Has anyone tried it? Remove the peppers and carrots after cooking. Remove Chipotle chilies and shred meat. My husband and i moved and miss cafe rio/costa vida so much. Ann. This pulled pork was amazing! So happy you enjoyed it! Tips and Secrets for perfect Cafe Rio Sweet Pork! My neighborhood would go crazy without one. Ill see what I can find. Im glad you can make sweet pork any time you need a Cafe Rio fix. Thank you for such a great recipe!!!! Receive recipes straight to your inbox and be the first for new content! Let it marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour, up to overnight. About 2 years ago I started making the sweet pork at home, and it just never tasted right. Si. I like my endings all wrapped up. Let us know! And the other 50% of the judges liked my moms recipe! The IP tends to release a higher volume of liquid from ingredient in the pot, which can dilute sauces. Thats because it tastes so similar to the original. Si. Cover and cook on high 3 hours. Thanks so much for sharing and for reading ABK! Thank you so much for this recipe!! Cafe Rio Sweet Pork {Copycat} Recipe [+ Video]. Cilantro Lime Rice 1 packet sauce (no longer made) -I made it the night before so it could sit in the sauce overnight. It often turned out dry tasting no matter how little the cook time. Cook, covered, on high for 6 hours OR on low for 8 hours. Si. You just mix together all four ingredients (yes, only four ingredients! Hi! It takes about 5 minutes to make.-As stated in the post, I did not marinate the pork in the sauce before cooking. Just curious if it would make the flavor different. xo Si, Hi there! Its okay, and turned out fantastic all the same! it is super yummy. I am planning a large event and want to make sure I have enough. Check us out on Instagram and be sure to tag us @ohsweetbasil #ohsweetbasil for a chance to be featured! 3. Definitely a new go to!! The pork is marinated and slow-cooked to perfection in some surprising ingredients! Hey Holly! You could do the same cooking time if you have 4-6 pieces in there or less you should be able to do low for 4 hours. Easy recipes for quick and delicious homemade meals! xo Notes Freezing: this cooked pork freezes amazing well. We have all kinds of yummy Mexican dishes to round out your meals and celebrations! Oh it's so good! I knew there was a reason we get along. When we boiled it down (no pun intended) I found they used a cut of meat OTHER THAN the cuts I recommend. YESSS! I cant believe it either. Thanks for reading ABK. I missed this because I was doing all the other recipes as well. I would also place the trivet at the bottom of the instant pot before you put the roast in. This applies to braising or smoking or an oven roast. Shred pork with two forks, and remove any fat. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker. Thanks so much! Let me know how this recipe turned out for you. Make sure the lid is set to the Sealing position. The process was so easy and the results were amazing. Again, it will be different, but at least it will still be delicious! (Roast can be omitted.) Perfect for burritos, salads and tacos! How much of the mix do I add for this recipe if it makes more than I need? If you like a little more spice, try the yellow can. 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. Stir to combine. Could you put soda in the instant pot instead of water? We love to place a tortilla on a plate, then top it with black beans, rice and the sweetpork, just like Caf Rio does. No matter how it was cooked, it was too lean to achieve the fall apart texture I was looking for. Put shredded pork and sauce in crockpot and cook on low for 2 hours. Carole, The Dr pepper moistens the pork incredibly. Can you tell me what I maybe did wrong? 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. Spring is right around the corner! Or throw it in some enchiladas. Hi Kate, it should be the same cooking time even with the bone in. Erica lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, Jared, an attorney, and her three beautiful girls. Instructions . Place the shredded meat back into the Instant Pot and turn the setting to Saute. . But heres the deal. Not sure if tripling it will fit in one crock pot, so I would just use two separate crock pots/ slow cookers. enchilada sauce (can) Thanks for sharing, Where did you get yours and what part of the grocery store is it in? I think these homemade salads are SO delicious! I love it! A 4 oz. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Salad Copycat Recipe - Food Fun Family So so good and so easy. We originally shared this recipe back in 2007, and it has been the most popular Cafe Rio copycat recipe on the internet! They crave Cafe Rio! Looks incredible, Carrian! And yes, youll use ground oregano. Can I sub beef for this or do you have the cafe rio shredded beef recipe? Its perfect in burritos, tacos and salads. Im going to have to try and find that sauce packet!! This looks so delicious!! How to make Caf Rio sweet pork in 15 minutes! Prepare everything the same, but set the pork and bouquet garni (see section below) in a slow cooker for 8-10 hours. Can this be made ahead of time and frozen? I dont go longer than that as each week the flavor seems to fade a little in my opinion. Peach Mango Salsa Cafe Rio Sweet Pork - Real Life Dinner If you are in a hurry, skip this step and omit the oil in the 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! Place the seared pork roast and coke in a 6 quart slow cooker. I usually do not have to increase the cook time much for a larger roast, but I would allow for an extra hour to be safe! Its so yummy! Hello! Thanks to todays recipe, I can make the delicious sweet pork at home in mycrock pot. The best imitation of the caf rio pork recipe Ive tried! You can also use Boneless Pork Rib meat, which is basically the same thing as the shoulder, without the bone. Do you by chance have a copycat recipe for the Cafe Rio spicy green chile pork? Si, This may seem like a dumb question, but could you also use this recipe with chicken? Marinade for a few hours or overnight, shaking once or twice during the marinating. Let marinate for 3 hours or overnight. Yum! 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. Add about a can and a half of coke and about cup of brown sugar. Using a slow cooker is an easy way to make pulled pork. I am so excited to use it for years to come. The butt is usually sold without bone and the shoulder almost always is sold with a large bone-in. Instant Pot Cafe Rio Sweet Pork | A Bountiful Kitchen The pork is tender and juicy, with the perfect amount of sweetness. 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! Yes, I do. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork - Garnish & Glaze Have you made this recipe yet? Recipe for Cafe Rio Sweet Pork | Made It. Ate It. Loved It. Help please. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe | by Leigh Anne Wilkes - Your Homebased Mom 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. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork - Life In The Lofthouse Delicious! Heat just until sauce boils and the meat is heated through, then turn the setting to keep warm mode. Ours always appears to be done at 6 as well but I like how the flavor builds when going to 8 hours. If there is excess liquid drain some off. I made it exactly per the directions. Required fields are marked *. Las Palmas brand used at Cafe Rio. Ive tried it only with the bone and its been great. Hi! Ive tried many sweet pork copycats and this one is just spot on. 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. Dump all the liquid in the crockpot. The result was excellent! The great thing about these recipes is: you put all the ingredients in the crock pot to cook all day (easy! i didnt continue to cook with sauce mixture but Im sure it would make the flavor more deep and perhaps a little thicker maybe? This sounds so yummy! Are you marinating it in the Coke before you add the spices and brown in the Instant Pot? Now those are some lucky judges! Thanks for reading ABK, In general, 1 lb of pulled pork will feed 3 people, so you will probably want 30-35 lbs to feed 100 people. thanks! , Hi Crystal, I havent tried it with chicken yet, but it should turn out just as well. Krista, Does anyone have a suggestion for recreating the Old El Paso sauce. Pour mixture into bag. Ive tried it and it still turns out amazing! Doing a slow roast on the pork with a spice mixture, those root veggies and preparing the sauce separate makes for an identical result. Spray inside of a large crock pot with cooking spray. I better run over today! Be sure and follow me over on You Tube for weekly cooking demos, Your email address will not be published. xo, Cook on low for at least 6-7 hours. This pork look so saucy and delicious! Is there any particular sauce you recommend? We have moved to a state that doesnt have Cafe Rios and needed to recreate it! Please check back and let us know how long it took you to cook your 7 lb roast. Si. I worked at cafe rio and they boil the pork roasts in the coke unthen put the sugar and enchilada sauce in a bag until it is served on the line ..yours looks good but not the same. But for adults, 1/2 lb perversion (before adding the sauce). It was a TIE. I did try the sauce and it is tasty. and it was a huge hit! Everyone at my family gathering loved it. Pour pork and liquid into crock pot and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. You might enjoy Cinder. Filed under: Dinner, Family Reunion Food, Mexican, Pork, Slow Cooker and Instant Pot, Videos. Copyright 2013-2019 Sunshine In My Pocket. haha, at least Im not the only one dealing with a non-sharer. Si. Many pressure cooking experts agree that releasing the pressure manually (turning the pressure valve to release) will cause the meat to be tough. Thanks! Im hoping to serve 8 people. Just finished eating this for dinner and I raced to my computer to say: Oh. xo Its in the crockpot right now. (Old El Paso brand is gluten free, I like medium spiciness but any will work). Altenew 8th Anniversary Blog Hop Day 5 + Giveaway (over $2,000 in Total Prizes). Cafe Rio Sweet Pork | Wanderzest Sorry Christine, but thanks for trying it. Christine, Im eating leftovers for lunch with my 5yo and 2yo and they also approve. {Plus, I sorta have an aversion to cooking with soda pop.}. Ive seen some other recipes use Coke and I think it would definitely add to the flavor. Im wanting to make this this weekend and put it on Rumbi-style rice. Not only that this pork sounds deeelicious, I absolutely LOVE that serving bowl! Maybe closer to 35lbs if you are feeding hungry lacrosse players! I get it. Thanks for asking! Thanks again! I love it in a burrito or on a salad. Cut pork loin into three to four large chunks and add to crockpot. Hi Megan, Or just the last 2 hours add the mixture? Perfect! Oh no! 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. Put meat back in crock pot and add enchilada sauce, garlic, green chilies and brown sugar. Si. Join our family as we cook, bake, and enjoy time together in the kitchen. Permission granted! Is the additional 2 hours of cooking (step 4) necessary after the meat has already cooked 8 hours? Hi Jeri, yes you can freeze it. I will update that ASAP, thank you for letting me know. When prepared correctly, it practically melts in your mouth. xo Put in the marinade for at least a few hours and up to a full day. Hope this helps! You may substitute beef for this recipe. Hope this helps. serving of pork contains 4.5 g of fat, with 1.5 g of saturated fat. Cook on low for another 1.5 hours. And also Im loving your post about cooking for a crowd, girls camp and such! I think if I double it there should be enough. I am likely the only person in the world that couldnt get this to work for me. Pour half of the seasoning mixture over the roast and rub it into the meat. Hi Ginger, thats so sweet of you to help out your sister! Cafe Rio Pork | PelletSmoking.com You are awesome Im glad I read this! 3 lbs. 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. It really is the saddest thing! Try our Restaurant Style Salsa on top too! If the chicken is fresh or thawed it takes about 6 minutes both of these times are on high or manual pressure. I would love to pin this, but there is no image associated with it, so it wont let me pin the recipe. Its in a yellow liquid sauce packet. Being a mother of 5, I love the simplicity and still great taste of it! The meat cooks for a long time in the crock pot in its own juices which allows it to absorb a lot of flavor. I love Cafe Rio! Ive never heard of this old el paso sauce packet. Thirty minutes did not give the meat enough time to tenderize while 75 was too long. Ive added brown sugar to step 11. Thanks Lori. Carefully remove the lid from the pot when all of the pressure is released. A big fat huge YES because this Cafe Rio Sweet Pork recipe is phenomenal, and I dont throw that word around too much. Add the shredded pork back to the slow cooker. Would timing and measurements be different? . In the Instant Pot It took me years to jump on the pressure cooker bandwagon. All of the recipes are linked below. So delicious! Question: I am making this for girls camp. He, Cinnamon Swirl Bread with Sweet Cinnamon Butter! Wow Bonnie, how lucky are you! TfRecipes. FOLLOW OH, SWEET BASIL ONFACEBOOK|INSTAGRAM|PINTEREST|TWITTERFOR ALL OF OUR LATEST CONTENT, RECIPES AND STORIES. Take the pork out of the crock pot once it's finished cooking and place it on a cutting board. When do you add it back? Years ago, I posted a slow cooker or oven version of Cafe Rio Sweet Pork, along with a complete menu of recipes. Should cook time stay the same or would you suggest longer? Chopped pork. Ive made this recipe now as its written, and with keto substitutes, and they were both divine!! I cook all the vegetables with the pork because it adds a really nice flavor, but I only use the onions in the sauce. 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. Si. I am getting windy, but the Instant Pot version of CRP is amazing. Thank you so much. 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. Marinade pork for at least 2 hours or overnight in can of coke and 1/4 C brown sugar. 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? Basically, thats asking for an actual recipe. Yes, I made it last night for our Relief Society activity. Thanks for reading ABK and thanks for your help. Hope this helps . Shake until meat is coated. i use a boston butt cut and found it works perfectly. Thanks what flavor is the el paso liquid ? I used pork butt and my meat was thought at 6 hrs and I cant even shred. 1 packet sauce (no longer made) 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. 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. Hi Melissa, Tastes great! Put the pork in a heavy duty ziploc bag to marinate. that all work together. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe (Copycat) - Favorite Family Recipes I just want to make sure Im using correct measurements. It makes me feel so good to hear how much you love this recipe. Thank you so much for posting this! I figured some butts/shoulders were just tougher. I am doing a frozen 7 lb roast should I increase the cooking time? Arrange the carrots, celery, onions, and bay leaves around the pork, or place in a square of cheesecloth (the traditional way), pull up the corners and tie it shut with a string. We just tried this and it was AMAZING! I think you need the sweetness of regular soda for this recipe. Merely arrange everything in the dish with the pork and get rid of it after baking. Hope that helps! Thank you!! 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. That is an awesome idea! Amazingly easy and so delicious. Place shredded pork back in crock pot. xo All rights reserved. Will it make a difference with cooking time at all? OHHH, that can be tricky. -Use a canned red enchilada sauce. 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. I hate that stores dont carry the same flavors. Allow to cool for a few minutes. The extra two hours gives the shredded meat a chance to soak up more of the marinade. Step 1: Place pork in a zip lock bag. As far as pork butt/shoulder goes, if its not shred-able, just keep cooking. xo Add garlic, salt, and pepper. Lets treat others how wed like to be treated . Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe From: Leigh Anne Wilkes Delicious sweet pulled pork perfect for your favorite Mexican food dish. There are many different cuts of pork sold in the grocery store and at big box stores, such as Costco. Make sure to marinate for at least a few hours, preferably overnight. 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. Whether its from scratch or not, its a recipe. In a small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, onion powder, and oregano. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork {Copycat} recipes - Main course And this recipe is perfect for a crowd! (sorry for the late reply, just now seeing this). . 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. The meat cooks for a long time in the crock pot in its own juices which allows it to absorb a lot of flavor. It actually acts as a meat tenderizer in the recipe so dont leave it out. Or would you recommend using your older recipe? Ive had readers tell me they didnt get the desired finished product when making Cafe Rio Sweet Pork. I havent tried the old elpaso version, but this is very close to the cafe rio flavor. yay!) When cool enough, pull any remaining visible fat off of meat and set aside. * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Chill at least 1 hour or overnight. Yes, thank you for your observant eyes! xo How do you make the dressing/sauce that is on top? Im a total homebody. 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. If you turn the crock pot on high and heat it for another 30 to 45 minutes it should be good to go! Ingredients 3 pounds Pork Shoulder/Butt Bone in with a nice fat pad on top 1 Tablespoons Garlic Powder 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder Heaping 1 Tablespoon Cumin 1 Tablespoon Smoked Paprika 1 Tablespoon Kosher Salt Heaping 2 teaspoons Black Pepper 2 teaspoons Onion Powder 3 teaspoons Dried Oregano Cafe Rio does marinade the meat but you will still have a delicious meal if you dont. Required fields are marked *. This Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe is the real deal. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our family doesnt like pork, but we love the beef. I experimented with pork loin, Boston butt and pork shoulder for Instant Pot Cafe Rio Sweet Pork. Hey Mindy! It really is better the next day as it sits in the juice or from the freezer. Do I have to thaw my meat? My preference is Pork Shoulder or Boneless Pork Rib meat! Oh nothe recipe says the total time is 10 min. This is my go to sweet pork recipe. This pulled pork is perfect over salad, rice, tacos, burritos, quesadillas or on a toasted bun. I was just freaking out wondering where my sweet pork recipe went! Im going to try this recipe tonight but I mistakenly got a bone-in shoulder butt pork roast. Hi Anna, its actually a sauce pouch, so its liquid but not in a can. However, in my experience coke zero and light brown sugar work really well in this recipe. Sorry about the confusion. I cook a recipe from your blog at least 3x a week , Oh no Sara, Im sorry! Put pork, 1/2 can of coke, water and garlic salt in slow cooker. Cheese Combine meat and sauce: Return the shredded pork to the crock pot, along with the sauce mixture. Si. My family loves it! SO, Ive been searching for a good recipe for sweet pork that didnt have cola in the ingredient list. Its up to you. Weve perfected the Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe! Youre probably going to want 12-14 hours in the oven. You can use a bone in but it is harder to shred. I love all your copy cat recipes but cant seem to find one for the spicy pork! No Cafe Rio?!! I cant find that sauce packet. I found a sauce packet by Frontera. 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. I make everything ahead and then we simply chop up lettuce and tomatoes and grill fresh tortillas for a homemade Cafe Rio style feast! Living in Midwest we have to make our own Cafe Rio and I have made versions often. Hi I'm Kari. Thanks for this amazing recipe! Boston butt and pork shoulder, technically from the same part of the pig or hog, are from the top portion of the shoulder area. 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. Turned out fabulous. Hi Truann, the homemade spice mix is the amount you need for the recipe, so you should use all of it. We've perfected the Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe! Cover with lid and cook on high heat for 6 hours. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Barbacoa Recipe - Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes We have a whole section. We are doing a lot of recipe testing to find one. Si. Thank you so much for your review! My hubby is the biggest sweet pork fan. Here is the link to the cilantro-tomatillo dressing, but there are also links to my guacamole, black beans, rice and pico. Marinate in the fridge for several hours or overnight. Si. It also makes the house smell SO good! An even coating of garlic powder, salt, and pepper should be spread across the pork roast. That is how yummy it is! I used this recipe to make about 40 pounds of the sweet pork for a graduation party and it was a hit. LOVED this cafe rio pork recipe and got multiple compliments on it- I always tell everyone you are my recipe hero. Try it and let us know if your Cafe Rio cravings are satisfied! Or do you with 2 hours remaining add in the remaining ingredients? Looks like Ill have to make me one using your yummy recipe! In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water. 2c packed is too sweet so I used 1.5c. Once pork is completely cooked, shred up the pork with two forks. This was a hit in my house! I just love a good Sweet Pork Salad. The cook time was perfect. 15 Minute Caf Rio Sweet Pork Recipe - Oh So Delicioso I am so sad the Old El Paso sauce is no longer available. Its a little scary making a meal for a group when youve never tried the recipe before! Thank you for your kind comments! Add the pork roast to the hot skillet and sear on both sides. I make this so often and it is now the ONLY way i make sweet pork! Thanks for asking! 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. Rub with garlic salt and pour 2 cups of coke and cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 5-6. Id love your suggestions. Hi Cristi, Hi Faith! It looks so delicious! Pour half of the Coke and water around pork. well be making it all the time for my family hope to find more good recipes with you. If your slow cooker is big enough you should be ok with the same time. Lucky! Absolutely! Its red chile enchilada sauce with roasted tomato and garlic.