I made this last night for my family and we had missionaries over and everybody loved it- the leftovers are amazing too! The recipe for the spice rub was a bonus, flavoring the pork beautifully. Drain the marinade and add the pork to a 5-quart slow cooker. Si. Have you ever tried adding chipotles in adobo sauce? Hi Indigo! Thanks for asking and for reading ABK, So there you have a couple of the BEST cola-free Sweet Pork Recipes! Its a little scary making a meal for a group when youve never tried the recipe before! The only modifications I made were to add some salt and sliced onions. Remove all liquid from the slow cooker. You might enjoy Cinder. Im having a hard time finding the spice packet. Put pork, 1/2 can of coke, water and garlic salt in slow cooker. 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. I am so excited to use it for years to come. Oh, I already know I am going to love this week over here!! xo I would love to pin this, but there is no image associated with it, so it wont let me pin the recipe. Just made this today and no one in my family could wait a day to let it set. I did 30 pounds of pork and it went so smoothly and quickly! Instructions . 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. Then place the pork in the slow cooker and turn it on high and let the meat cook for 4 hour. Discard liquid from crock pot. Oops! This was a hit in my house! You made my day Rebecca! I love Cafe Rio! I am SO excited to try this recipe. 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. At what point in the recipe do you add these vegetables? Place all other ingredients in a blender and puree until very smooth. Oh it's so good! Si. Served ot with spanish yellow rice and black beans. Marinade pork for at least 2 hours or overnight in can of coke and 1/4 C brown sugar. Cafe Rio sweet pork can be served on a bed of white rice with toppings such as sliced jalapeno, diced tomatoes, and fresh cilantro. Thanks for reading ABK. Their sweet pulled pork was the absolute sizzle and now that Ive found this recipe I can have it whenever I want. For kids, Id recommend 1/3 lb per person if they are young. Sweet pork is my favorite meat at Cafe Rio. Thanks for the recipe! 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! Is the additional 2 hours of cooking (step 4) necessary after the meat has already cooked 8 hours? The sweet pork also makes a perfect topping for nachos. I just asked about the spice mix being the right amount for the recipe or if it makes more. Should I triple the amount of soda while cooking? The process was so easy and the results were amazing. Ive tried it only with the bone and its been great. It is so yummy! Instructions. Then the recipe says 45 to cook and 45 NPR. 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. Can you use Dr. pepper instead of coke? Thank you! I dont like all the sugar in cocoa cola will I be ok using diet coke? mwah! Place 3 tablespoons spice mix in a large gallon size Ziplock bag. haha, at least Im not the only one dealing with a non-sharer. Im guessing when making the sauce? I am a homebody and especially love a night to myself to putter in the kitchen with a glass of wine. Im excited to give this a try! Try our Restaurant Style Salsa on top too! Thanks for reading ABK, Im glad you enjoyed the recipe, the IP makes all the difference. xo, Krista, Its in a yellow liquid sauce packet. I made this for my daughter and I for a twist on regular tacos. Fixed! Thankfully, now I can make this a few more times for my family! 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. If you want a true copycat of Cafe Rio sweet pork, you have to use a bone in pork shoulder/butt with a nice fat pad on top. Remove pork from marinade and place in a slow cooker along with half a can of coke, water, and garlic salt. Make a smooth paste by blending. I think a few are helpful. Maybe we still call it butt because butt is more fun to say than shoulder? Si. So Ive beenexperimenting withdifferent versions and this one is the one we feel tastes closest to the real thing. I followed the recipe exactly and soooo good! $2.49 is about what I paid 10 minutes ago. Mariel, Could I pull this off w/the normal sauce packet and then add garlic powder? Thanks for reading ABK and thanks for your help. Sounds delicious. How would you suggest I heat it up once at camp? Thank you for this easy recipe! Try it and let us know if your Cafe Rio cravings are satisfied! It actually acts as a meat tenderizer in the recipe so dont leave it out. It might be overcooked a little. This time combination allowed the meat to cook for the proper amount of time, breaking down almost all of the fat so it melted back into the meat when using a pork shoulder. Oh no! xo This was super yummy! Remove the lid, turn the heat up to high and cook for about 30 minutes until the sauce is . I cant wait to try this!! Prepare everything the same, but set the pork and bouquet garni (see section below) in a slow cooker for 8-10 hours. Thank you! Shoot. Whisk to combine. My husband and i moved and miss cafe rio/costa vida so much. xo How to make Cafe Rio Sweet Pork in a slow cooker: Place the pork in the pot of your slow cooker. When you try this recipe, please tell me how you like it. that all work together. If you scroll down the IP Cafe Rio post, under the second photo are links to all the Cafe Rio recipes (the words in blue writing). Yay! Erica lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, Jared, an attorney, and her three beautiful girls. That is great to know that using coke zero works! Shred pork with two forks, and remove any fat. The nearest Cafe Rio is 1200 miles away and we miss it as much as we miss The Mandarine.which is a lot!!! 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. Si. If youve ever been to Utah youve probably had Cafe Rio, specifically Cafe Rio Sweet Pork. If you like a little more spice, try the yellow can. What was the other recipe that called for the elusive sauce packet? Can this be made ahead of time and frozen? 3. If using Boston butt, or pork butt, count on about 1/2 of the total pounds before cooking being discarded (after cooking). Im considering this for dinner but theres not enough time to thaw it today. I love making meals in the crock pot and this is no exception. Thank you for such a great 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. Meanwhile, in a pot, add the enchilada sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder and Coke. Thats because it tastes so similar to the original. Sorry about the confusion. Add the remaining ingredients and reduce the heat to low and continue cooking for 3 hours. Marinade for a few hours or overnight, shaking once or twice during the marinating. We recently moved ro an area where we no longer have quick access to cafe rio (our fave). Combine meat and sauce: Return the shredded pork to the crock pot, along with the sauce mixture. 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. Seriously! sides, Spinach egg white frittata costco heating instructions. Cover and cook on high for 15-20 minutes until heated through. Cilantro Lime Rice read more:If you love this copycat sweet pork recipe, youre bound to love our BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe too! thanks for reading ABK, The pork is marinated and slow-cooked to perfection in some surprising ingredients! ), Hi Tanya! One of my favorite dishes to get there is their sweet pork. Put the pork in a heavy duty ziploc bag to marinate. Muffins, Quick Bread, Coffee Cake & Cinnamon Rolls, https://abountifulkitchen.com/favorite-cafe-rio-copycat-recipes/. Si, Si. Your email address will not be published. Thirty minutes did not give the meat enough time to tenderize while 75 was too long. 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. 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! I have a very happy husband! Thank you! to try out. I have tried a lot of different sweet pork recipes. Im a total homebody. Cook again. Shred pork with two forks, and remove any fat. Cook on high for 3-4 hours (or until the meat shreds easily) or on low for 8 hours. Drain marinade and discard. Give them a try and let me know what YOU think! Becky, If you are short on time, you can skip the marinating step. Oh nothe recipe says the total time is 10 min. I make everything ahead and then we simply chop up lettuce and tomatoes and grill fresh tortillas for a homemade Cafe Rio style feast! 2 cups brown sugar Hence, 4 out of 5 stars. Required fields are marked *. Let me know how this recipe turned out for you. We dont have Caf Rio where I am, so I have nothing to compare to, but it sounds like a great combo. Si. Hello All, I'm looking to smoke a Pork Butt for sweet pulled pork using the Caf Rio Pulled Pork recipe using Coke or Dr Pepper as the flavor. boneless pork carnitas, shoulder etc 12 oz Coke 1 can 1/4 cup brown sugar 10 oz. ), then just shred up the meat and add in the sauce. 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. 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. We feel like the Cafeo Rio pork, at least the one by us, tastes totally different than it did years ago which is a bummer too. Use it to top a salad, a burrito, or a taco. Be sure to check out all our other tasty Mexican Recipes! I have not done so, but would use a pot roast or a chuck roast in place of the pork. I missed this because I was doing all the other recipes as well. I actually found a sauce packet at Walmart that I made it with, and it was AMAZING!!! This pork look so saucy and delicious! We especially like it in quesidillas. This sounds so yummy! First its so easy, and second its delicious! {recipe to follow} This was, in my opinion, the easiest of the recipes. Weve fed 8 just fine with it but you could always double it and have leftovers! We are still working on it, but we still havent found quite the right replacement. Please check back and let us know how long it took you to cook your 7 lb roast. Place shredded pork back in crock pot. serving of pork contains 4.5 g of fat, with 1.5 g of saturated fat. Add apple cider vinegar and chicken broth. xo Add about a can and a half of coke and about cup of brown sugar. Thank you, Si! Thank you so much for your review! I have had pork butt get tough before, and good results other times even cooking around the same amount of time with about the same size butt! I hope the store doesnt stop carrying them! Hi Judene! Im glad you can make sweet pork any time you need a Cafe Rio fix. 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. Help!!! In a small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, onion powder, and oregano. And thank you! How do you serve this pork? 2. i made this yesterday! Heat just until sauce boils and the meat is heated through, then turn the setting to keep warm mode. Ive tried it and it still turns out amazing! It goes perfectly in burritos, tacos, salads and so much more. Looks like Ill have to make me one using your yummy recipe! So glad you like! Hi what kind of old el paso like an envelope or bottle? It is safer not to risk a reaction. Pour over the pork in the crock pot and cook for 5-6 hours, or until tender and shreds easily with a fork. . To the slow cooker, add in the garlic, onion, chili powder, water and cola. 1 packet sauce (no longer made) While it isnt spot on (I think it would be very hard to get it right), it is very tasty. Years ago, I posted a slow cooker or oven version of Cafe Rio Sweet Pork, along with a complete menu of recipes. In the Instant Pot It took me years to jump on the pressure cooker bandwagon. xo, Thanks Lori. It is so tricky to recreate! So sorry, I asked my comment in a reply on accident. Im eating leftovers for lunch with my 5yo and 2yo and they also approve. Blend until smooth. xo Si. This recipe is the most spot on i have ever found. No matter how it was cooked, it was too lean to achieve the fall apart texture I was looking for. We moved from Utah to Mississippi and its nowhere around! Oh, I wish you did! Hi Truann, the homemade spice mix is the amount you need for the recipe, so you should use all of it. Wouldnt you know it, this is now my familys favorite. Ive tried another Cafe Rio sweet pork recipe, and yours definitely tastes more like the real deal!! He just loves it. In fact you can make the quesadilla at home too with our Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Quesadilla recipeyoure welcome! Im going to try this recipe tonight but I mistakenly got a bone-in shoulder butt pork roast. In factI find these recipes to be actually BETTER than the real versions. I just added that to step 11 (where it should have been!). My slow cooked method posted previously recommends marinating, but this recipe does not. Required fields are marked *. Cafe Rio Sweet Shredded Pork for Burritos 4.93 from 13 votes Prep: 5 mins Cook: 8 hrs Total: 8 hrs 5 mins Servings: 10 This sweet shredded pork tastes even BETTER than Cafe Rio, I promise! Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker. Im missing the step where you add the Coke. Thanks for ALL of your great Cafe Rio copycat recipes, Si! You can just turn it on and walk away! 4 Ways to Make Dr. Pepper - wikiHow . Lucky! 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. xo, I also love the effect soda has when cooking meat, especially pork. Its a great alternative to eating out! Cook for 30-60 more minutes. -I only cooked 2 pounds since its just us and a 2 year old. thank you si!!! 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. The extra two hours gives the shredded meat a chance to soak up more of the marinade. 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. You may substitute beef for this recipe. Si. Each time I visit Utah, a visit to Cafe Rio is required at least once. Have you made this and froze it for use later? Hi! Si. EVER. After the timer goes off, allow the pot to naturally release the pressure for at least 45 minutes. 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). If I use a 7-8lb shoulder, how long do you think I should cook it? Looks incredible, Carrian! Is there a reason it says prep 10 mins and cook time 10 mins? My husband is leaving in 1.5 hours , But btw i love all of your recipes. Thank you so much for posting this! I have another request if possible. And then, when they picked their favorite, they got to make an entire sweet pork salad (or burrito). We've perfected the Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe! Thanks for reading ABK, xo It wont taste as close but you could use Mels recipe, http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2011/09/red-chile-sauce-chicken-enchiladas.html . My. Hope this helps! I love the recommendation of using Pork Shoulder or Boneless Pork Rib meat the meat is perfect every time! Does thefood blogworldreally need another Caf Rio recipe? Hoping to take it on a trip we are going on next week. Youll have to try ours and see how it compares in taste! Add the pork to a gallon-sized ziplock bag and add cup brown sugar and 2 cups Coca-Cola. Still used 2 cups of water, kept the time the same. . 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? Now those are some lucky judges! 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! Remove the peppers and carrots after cooking. Add the pork to your slow cooker, and discard the marinade. This recipe is clearly a little different because it uses Coke, but trust me its the way its prepared that is key. I like Old El Paso! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our family doesnt like pork, but we love the beef. Once its shredded and ready to go, use it as a topping or filling in any of the following ways. just a thought for those trying to watch their sugar intake. Turn to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. We have received many rave reviews on this sweet pork recipe. Thanks to todays recipe, I can make the delicious sweet pork at home in mycrock pot. Continue to heat up until thickened. Altenew 8th Anniversary Blog Hop Day 5 + Giveaway (over $2,000 in Total Prizes). -Shred pork after cooked and let sit in a ziplock bag overnight with sauce made fresh after pork is cooked. Turned out fabulous. Don't drink the crock pot liquid. The only problem is the other six people who live with me hated it. Let us know how it turns out! Stir to combine. So if you are cooking a 7 lb roast, about 3.5-4 lbs of meat left if using a pork butt or shoulder. Lets all be nice. When prepared correctly, it practically melts in your mouth. Would not recommend. I made this 2 weeks ago and my 9 year old who loves Cafe rio said it was way better then the restaurant!!! We are thrilled that so many of you have enjoyed this recipe as much as we have. Place meat in pot when hot and brown on both sides. How can i SUBSTITUTE the pork for chicken? Si. And the other 50% of the judges liked my moms recipe! Ill have to try chicken next time. Hi I'm Kari. How many will this serve. Also, should I double the sauce? That is how yummy it is! Si, This may seem like a dumb question, but could you also use this recipe with chicken? 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. yay!) Ive added brown sugar to step 11. Yes, I have a slow cooker or oven version of this recipe as well! Now I really have a hankering for a Cafe Rio pork salad. Thanks for asking and for reading ABK! Surprise! Im not sure how much. ), but occasionally Ill get the quesadilla because its gooey. Cook, covered, for 6 to 7 hours on low heat. Bring to a boil and whisk in the cornstarch mixture. The butt is usually sold without bone and the shoulder almost always is sold with a large bone-in. This applies to braising or smoking or an oven roast. Thanks! Definitely a new go to! REMEMBER TO SUBSCRIBE TO our FREEOh Sweet Basil NEWSLETTERAND RECEIVE EASY RECIPES DELIVERED INTO YOUR INBOX EVERY DAY! It also makes the house smell SO good! I tried several different cook times, from 30-75 minutes. Well, my answer is YES. The slow cooker makes this recipe so easy to make. Remove the remaining juice from the pan and place in a small bowl. How long would you recommend I cook the meat for in my 8qt IP? Thanks. When you make it, please let me know how you like it. Discard the liquid from the slow cooker. Lauren, So delicious! Or throw it in some enchiladas. Use this pork to make giant burritos smothered with Cilantro-Tomatillo Dressing, or an amazing pork salad. Its really quite fun. How long did you pressure cook it for? xo 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. Im wanting to make this for a group of 20-25 people. Will it make a difference with cooking time at all? The difference was, they would warm theirs up for dinner the next night. Filed under: Dinner, Family Reunion Food, Mexican, Pork, Slow Cooker and Instant Pot, Videos. Is there any way to fix that? The pork is marinated and slow-cooked to perfection in some surprising ingredients! When cool enough, pull any remaining visible fat off of meat and set aside. This looks like the perfect dish to prepare for all my hungry helpers. -Pork is marinated in Coke, full strength, not Diet Coke. Hi Tara! It is great as a salad, burrito, or nachos. Spring is right around the corner! Toss into your preferred salad or burrito! We have spent YEARS, much like we did for the perfect Melt in Your Mouth Buttermilk Pancakes and The Very Best Banana Bread, searching out exactly how this pork is made. 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. This updated recipe allows cooking of the sweet pork in a fraction of the original 5-12 hour time. I am anxious to try this recipe since we love their pork : ). Add coke, water, garlic salt, onion salt, and chili powder. This looks so delicious!! Recognizing the Sunshine and Living Happy. Usually, after cooking, you will have approx a little over half of the meat left in weight. Definitely a new go to!! You do not need to change the cooking time. Maybe they will give me a hint. Wonder what the Coke does? Jennilyn, Here is the old recipe: This was absolutely perfect! This looks so good! Drain the marinade and add the pork to a 5-quart slow cooker. Cook on low for 8-9 hours or on high for 5-6 hours. I ordered a 5 pound one! [Note to judges: this was recipe 2 for all of you that preferred this one]. Make sure the lid is set to the Sealing position. Cook for the 6 hours, then an additional 2! I think that is one of the most valuable benefits of the IP, not having to plan dinner early in the morning anymore! I am Lucky in love to a supportive husband, blessed to raise 3 kids (all moved away now! 2- Cut pork roast into quarters and add to the Instant Pot. Pour half of the seasoning mixture over the roast and rub it into the meat. Im so glad it turned out well for you and thanks for sharing. The packet is at walmart in the Mexican food area. Thank you! ), 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!) Im trying to cook this now but only have 3 lbs of meat. I cant believe they discontinued that packet on us!! You just mix together all four ingredients (yes, only four ingredients! Hope this helps . Or do you with 2 hours remaining add in the remaining ingredients? Total time: 410 minutes Cook time: 400 minutes Prep time: 10 minutes Yields: 12 servings Cuisine: Mexican Number of ingredients: 7 Ingredients: 3 lbs. Pull apart pork with two forks and discard the fat. In a small bowl, mix about a can and a half of coke and about 1/4 cup of the brown sugar. This pork is the real deal! 16 ounces Coca-Cola soda, divided (( do not use diet soda. Crave no longer my friends! Thanks for making this recipe possible in the instant pot! 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. Put the lid on and cook on high for 4 hours (or low for 8). Cover with lid and cook on high heat for 6 hours. xo Si, Hi there! Here is the Sweet Pork Recipe that was a favorite among 50% of the judges! 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. Cheese Let marinate for 3 hours or overnight. Remove the peppers and carrots after cooking. 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. 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)) A 4 oz. Notes Freezing: this cooked pork freezes amazing well. I moved out of the area where my local cafe rio was. I figured some butts/shoulders were just tougher. Cook a pork roast and tuck it inside. 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! So I moved to Texas a little over a year ago and to my despair there isnt a Cafe Rio for 500 miles. I would totally make this again. 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 skipped out on doing it this time, and I could not tell a difference at all. Im going to have to try and find that sauce packet!! I made this after reading all of the reviews and it was a hit. 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. This new IP recipe takes about two hours start to finish, with most of the time spent in the Instant Pot, cooking the meat! This Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe is the real deal. Si. Thanks again! , Hi Crystal, I havent tried it with chicken yet, but it should turn out just as well. -Make red enchilada sauce from scratch. Sarah, Im with you Natalie! Ive tried many sweet pork copycats and this one is just spot on. Its a hit at any gathering! 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. No words can describe how happy my family is. [Note to judges: this was recipe 1 for all of you that picked the first sweet pork sample as the winner]. Add the full can of coke, brown sugar and green salsa. -I made it the night before so it could sit in the sauce overnight. I strained the meat, but it looks nothing like yours!! The link for my homemade sauce is on this post under the last paragraph "Tips and Secrets for Perfect Cafe Rio Sweet Pork". I used to work at a Costa Vida and the sweet pork is very similar to Cafe Rios. Pork is best served the day after it is cooked completely and sauce is made. It is removed after cooking and can be made with either fresh or dried herbs, root veggies etc. It is SO helpful to read about your experiences making this a few different ways and also your opinion about the best cut of meat and making ahead vs fresh! My. yahoo!! ), 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!) Try this Creamy Cilantro Dressing to pour over the top. xo The meat cooks for a long time in the crock pot in its own juices which allows it to absorb a lot of flavor. . took the tip to let it sit overnight, so i am excited to try it tonight for dinner! When time is up, let sit for 15 minutes before releasing the pressure. Any progress on a new recipe? Also, just received your cookbook and cant wait to flip through it at lunch! Sprinkle the pork with the garlic powder and roast in a slow cooker on low for 8 hours. . Try Walmart or Smiths for Old El Paso sauce packets. xo Heather, -Only use pork butt or shoulder. Would timing and measurements be different? TfRecipes. He, Cinnamon Swirl Bread with Sweet Cinnamon Butter! i didnt continue to cook with sauce mixture but Im sure it would make the flavor more deep and perhaps a little thicker maybe? 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. Enjoy using your Instant Pot! Its that good! ). My family LOVES your Caf Rio Chicken. 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. Hi Brenda, I would use about 8-10 pounds of meat.