Cafe Rio Sweet Pork

This copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork recipe tastes just like the real deal! Juicy, succulent and bursting with sweet flavor, toss this in your slow cooker or Instant Pot and enjoy via burrito, taco, quesadilla, salad or nachos.

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe

As ridiculous as it is to say, there is an almost cult-like following for Cafe Rio Sweet Pork. And it’s justified.   

But before I get ahead of myself, a little background: Cafe Rio is a fast-casual Mexican food restaurant found primarily in the Western United States. And TL:DR; it is dang good. ESPECIALLY the Sweet Pork.  

So I, the world’s biggest fan of creating copycat recipes (I have over 125 copycat recipes on my site!), had to make a Cafe Rio Sweet Pork copycat recipe so I can eat it whenever I want. (Which is often). 

And let me tell you, this recipe for Cafe Rio Sweet Pork is unbelievable! It is every bit as juicy, succulent and perfectly sweet as the restaurant’s acclaimed version. But instead of paying $$ for a single entree you get a whole batch of the deliciousness. Throw the pork in your slow cooker and you are on your way to an easy dinner that you can customize for the pickiest eater. We have served this in burritos, tacos, quesadillas (my kid’s fave), on a salad or on loaded nachos! I typically like to make this with my other Cafe Rio Copycat Recipes: Cilantro Lime Rice and Tomatillo Lime Ranch to really push it over the edge of delectability. 

Ingredients in Sweet Pork Barbacoa

This recipe for Cafe Rio Sweet Pork only requires five ingredients (I know, HUZZAH)!  

• Pork roast  
• Coke – A single can will do! Don’t try to sub Coke Zero, fully-leaded lends the best results. 
• Brown sugar, divided
• Red enchilada sauce – Use your favorite brand! 
• Diced green chilis – I used mild green chilis, but if you’d like a little kick you can use Medium or Hot.

How to Make Cafe Rio Sweet Pork

1. First, you’ll marinate the pork by placing it in a heavy-duty plastic bag with the can of Coke and 1/4 cup of the brown sugar. Marinate in the fridge for 4 to 12 hours.
2. After the marination period, transfer the entire contents of the bag (the pork and liquid) to a slow cooker. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 8 hours. You want the meat to shred very easily. If it is tough, continue to cook and then check again in 30 minutes.
3. When the pork is cooked and shreddable, remove the pork from the slow cooker and discard the liquid. Shred the meat and return to the slow cooker and stir in 3/4 cup brown sugar, the can of enchilada sauce and the diced green chilis.
4. Cover and allow to cook for an additional 30 minutes on high.
5. Serve in a quesadilla, on nachos, in a burrito or as a salad. Enjoy! 

How should I store leftover Cafe Rio Pork?

Place any leftover pork in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days. 

If you’d like, this recipe also freezes really well. Simply place cooled pork in a labeled zip top bag and freeze for up to 3 months. 

Can I make Sweet Pork in the Instant Pot?

Totally! Here’s what you’ll do: 

1. Place the pork roast and broth into the Instant Pot. Cook on Manual HIGH for 90 minutes, allow for a 30 minutes NPR.
2. Remove from pot and shred. Discard the liquid inside of the pot and return the shredded meat to the pot.
3. Turn the Instant Pot onto sauté NORMAL. Add in the coke, taco sauce and brown sugar. Simmer until the brown sugar has dissolved.

More Easy Dinner Ideas:

• Easy Marry Me Chicken Recipe
• Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
• Hot Chicken Salad 

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4.75 from 12 votes

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork

By: Karli Bitner

This copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork recipe tastes just like the real deal! Juicy, succulent and bursting with sweet flavor, toss this in your  slow cooker or Instant Pot and enjoy via burrito, taco, quesadilla, salad or nachos.

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours hours

Total Time: 8 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• ▢ 3 lb pork roast
• ▢ 1 can Coke
• ▢ 1 cup brown sugar, divided
• ▢ 1 (10 oz) can red enchilada sauce
• ▢ 1/2 can diced green chilis

Instructions 

• First, you’ll marinate the pork by placing it in a heavy-duty plastic bag with the can of Coke and 1/4 cup of the brown sugar. Marinate in the fridge for 4 to 12 hours.
• After the marination period, transfer the entire contents of the bag (the pork and liquid) to a slow cooker. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 8 hours. You want the meat to shred very easily. If it is tough, continue to cook and then check again in 30 minutes.
• When the pork is cooked and shreddable, remove the pork from the slow cooker and discard the liquid. Shred the meat and return to the slow cooker and stir in 3/4 cup brown sugar, the can of enchilada sauce and the diced green chilis.
• Cover and allow to cook for an additional 30 minutes on high.
• Serve in a quesadilla, on nachos, in a burrito or as a salad. Enjoy!
• To make in the Instant Pot: Place the pork roast and broth into the Instant Pot. Cook on Manual HIGH for 90 minutes, allow for a 30 minutes NPR. Remove from pot and shred. Discard the liquid inside of the pot and return the shredded meat to the pot.Turn the Instant Pot onto sauté NORMAL. Add in the coke, taco sauce and brown sugar. Simmer until the brown sugar has dissolved.

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