Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe | Modernmealmakeover.com (2024)

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe | Modernmealmakeover.com (1)

2 commentsBy April KingThis post may contain affiliate links. We may earn money from the companies mentioned in this post.

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This copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Barbacoa Recipe taste just like the real deal! It’s full of delicious, sweet flavor, and can be served in burritos, tacos, enchiladas, or on a salad. If you’re a Cafe Rio fan, you will find this sweet pork recipe to become a family favorite!

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe | Modernmealmakeover.com (2)

If you have ever been to the ever so popular Cafe Rio Mexican Grill, you know what I’m talking about when I say their sweet pork is so delicious. My favorite dish to get is their sweet pork salad with cilantro lime dressing. I could literally eat there at least once a week!

Over the years I have made many different versions of the famous Cafe Rio pork recipe. I have experimented with many different flavor combinations, but I just couldn’t fully nail down the flavor, until today!!

This Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe tastes just like your favorite restaurant. Tender, juicy pork smothered in a sweet, slightly spicy sauce. It’s perfect in burritos, tacos, salads and tastes great. Top it with your favorite creamy tomatillo dressing, homemade guacamole, and don’t forget to add the Sweet Cilantro Rice to all your dishes.

Ingredients for Sweet Pork Barbacoa

  • Pork Butt/Shoulder: This is a classic cut for pulled pork. When it is cooked long and slow the meat becomes tender and the fat melts which givesthe porkits meaty flavor and texture as well as a sweet taste when cooked with adequate moisture.
  • Dr. Pepper: You can substitute co*ke for Dr. Pepper, but NO NOT use diet!!
  • Water: This is needed for the pork to cook in the crock pot.
  • Garlic Powder: I prefer garlic powder over minced garlic in this recipe.
  • Salt: You can add more or less to taste.
  • Pepper: You can add more or less to taste.
  • Diced Green Chili’s: Use diced green chilies in a can for this recipe.
  • Red Enchilada Sauce: Any red enchilada sauce will work. I used Las Palmas.
  • Brown Sugar: Adds the sweet flavor to this sweet pork recipe. You can use light or dark brown sugar.

How to make Cafe Rio Sweet Pork

You will want to cook this Cafe Rio pork recipe long and slow. I like to add it to my slow cooker first thing in the morning, and it’s ready to go by dinner time.

1- Start by spraying the inside of the crock pot with nonstick cooking spray. Add pork shoulder/butt to your crock pot and pour 1 cup of Dr. Pepper and water around pork. It does not need to cover the roast.

2- Sprinkle garlic powder, salt, and pepper evenly over pork roast.

3- Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours.

4- Remove cooked pork from the crock pot and transfer to a cutting board. Drain the liquid from the crock pot. Shred pork and remove any fat. Place shredded pork back into crock pot.

5- In a blender or food processor, blend remaining 1 cup of Dr. Pepper, diced green chilies, enchilada sauce, and brown sugar until smooth.

6- Pour sauce over shredded pork and stir to coat pork well. Cover and cook and additional 2 hours on low.

7- Serve Cafe Rio Sweet Pork in burritos, tacos, or on a salad. Enjoy!

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe | Modernmealmakeover.com (3)

How To Make Sweet Pork In The Instant Pot?

1- Pour 1 cup of Dr. Pepper and 1/4 cup water in the bottom of the Instant Pot.

2- Cut pork roast into quarters and add to the Instant Pot. Add garlic powder, salt, and pepper over pork roast.

3- Cover and secure the lid, and set valve to seal. Set the manual/pressure cook button for 60 minutes. When time is up, let sit for 15 minutes before releasing the pressure.

4- Discard the liquid, shred pork, and add pork back to the instant pot.

5- In a blender or food processor, blend remaining 1 cup of Dr. Pepper, diced green chili’s, enchilada sauce, and brown sugar until smooth.

6- Pour sauce over shredded pork and stir to coat pork well.

7- Cover the pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 5 minutes. When the time is up you can use the quick release. Remove the lid.

8- Serve in in burritos, tacos, or on a salad. Enjoy!

What Kind Of Pork Should I Use For Cafe Rio Sweet Pork?

I prefer to use pork butt/shoulder when making pulled pork recipes. It’s a classic cut and when it is cooked long and slow the meat becomes tender and the fat melts which givesthe porkits meaty flavor and texture as well as a sweet taste when cooked with adequate moisture.

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe | Modernmealmakeover.com (4)

How To Serve Cafe Rio Sweet pork?

Sweet pork can be served in many different ways. Here are a few of our favorites.

  • Salad: Flour tortilla warmed on a skillet, layered with black or pinto beans, cilantro-lime rice, sweet pork, chopped lettuce, Pico de Gallo, cotija cheese, and guacamole. Serve with a side of creamy tomatillo ranch.
  • Burrito: Flour tortilla warmed on a skillet, black or pinto beans, cilantro-lime rice, sweet pork. If you like it smothered add green enchilada sauce and shredded cheese. Place it in the oven at 350F for 5 minutes or until cheese has melted and is warm throughout. Serve with a side of lettuce and Pico de Galo.
  • Quesadilla: Place a flour tortilla on a warm skillet, add sweet pork, and sprinkle shredded cheese on top of sweet pork. Fold tortilla in half and flip halfway through cooking until the tortilla becomes slightly crispy, Serve with a side of cilantro lime rice and beans.
  • Enchiladas: Fresh corn or flour tortillas, stuffed with green enchilada sauce, cheese, and sweet pork. Rolled up and topped with more enchilada sauce and shredded cheese. Place in the oven at 350F for 5 minutes or until cheese has melted and filling is warm throughout. Serve with a side of lettuce, and Pico de Gallo.

How To Store Leftover Sweet Pork?

Storing Leftovers: Store leftovers in an airtight container or large Ziplock back in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave, or on the stovetop until warm throughout.

Freezing Leftovers: I love to make a double batch of sweet pork and freeze some for later. Allow pork to completely cool, and place sweet pork in freezer safe bags. Store flat in the freezer for 2-3 months. When you are ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stove until warm throughout.

Other Favorite Mexican Recipes

  • Mexican Taco Bake
  • Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
  • Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
  • Ground Beef Tacos
  • Grilled Chicken Street Tacos
  • Chicken Enchiladas
  • Sweet Cilantro Rice
  • Sheet Pan Beef Quesadillas

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe | Modernmealmakeover.com (5)

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe

April King

This copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe is perfect for family dinner any night of the week. It's full of delicious sweet flavor, and can be served in burritos, tacos, enchiladas, or on a salad. If your a Cafe Rio fan, you will find this sweet pork recipe tastes just like the real thing!

4.87 from 45 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 hours hrs

Total Time 8 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 6

Calories 438 kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs. boneless pork shoulder/butt
  • 16 oz. Dr. Pepper, not diet
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 1 4 oz. can diced green chili's
  • 8 oz. red enchilada sauce
  • 1 cup brown sugar

Instructions

  • Spray inside of the crock pot with non stick cooking spray. Add pork shoulder/butt to your crock pot, and pour 1 cup of Dr. Pepper and water around pork. It does not need to cover the roast.

  • Sprinkle garlic powder, salt, and pepper evenly over pork roast.

  • Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours.

  • Remove cooked pork from the crock pot and transfer to a cutting board. Drain the liquid from the crock pot. Shred pork and remove any fat. Place shredded pork back into crock pot.

  • In a blender or food processor, blend remaining 1 cup of Dr. Pepper, diced green chili's, enchilada sauce, and brown sugar until smooth.

  • Pour sauce over shredded pork and stir to coat pork well. Cover and cook and additional 2 hours on low.

  • Serve in in burritos, tacos, or on a salad. Enjoy!

Notes

*Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on Modernmealmakeover.com should only be used as a general guideline.

Nutrition

Calories: 438kcalCarbohydrates: 34.8gProtein: 42.1gFat: 12.3gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 130mgSodium: 379mgPotassium: 42.1mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 32.6gVitamin A: 3.1IUCalcium: 21.8mgIron: 17.2mg

Keyword Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe

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April King

Hi I'm April! I've been married to my husband, Brent for 17 years, and we have 3 kids who keeps us on our toes. I love to create easy, simple, yet delicious family friendly recipes. If I'm not in the kitchen you can find me in the carpool lane, dance recitals, sitting on the football field, or chasing our busy toddler.

2 Comments

  1. Chloe

    October 10, 2023 at 11:07 am ·Reply

    Hi! 🙂 could this be made with chicken breast instead of pork?? Thanks!

    • April King

      October 11, 2023 at 8:56 am ·Reply

      Yes it can!

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Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe | Modernmealmakeover.com (2024)

FAQs

What is sweet pork made of? ›

There are a few sweet pork recipes out there but I've found the best one to be this near-perfect imitation of Cafe Rio's sweet pork. The key ingredients are (besides pork, of course) Coca-Cola, brown sugar, chilis, enchilada sauce, and spices. Accept no substitutions!

How many carbs are in Cafe Rio sweet pork? ›

Cafe Rio Tacos, Sweet Pork Barbacoa (1 serving) contains 8g total carbs, 8g net carbs, 7g fat, 5g protein, and 120 calories.

Is Sweet pork a red meat? ›

Pork is classified a red meat because it contains more myoglobin than chicken or fish. When fresh pork is cooked, it becomes lighter in color, but it is still a red meat. Pork is classed as "livestock" along with veal, lamb, and beef. All livestock are considered red meat.

What is the healthiest pork to eat? ›

If you're looking for the healthiest pork options, you want lean cuts -- tenderloin, loin chops and sirloin roast. Bacon and other fatty cuts are very high in artery-clogging saturated fat and cholesterol and not for everyday eating.

How much sugar is in Cafe Rio sweet pork? ›

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Burrito
Nutrition Facts
How much sugar is in Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Burrito? Amount of sugar in Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Burrito: Sugar 29g-
How much fiber is in Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Burrito? Amount of fiber in Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Burrito: Fiber 13g52%
13 more rows

How much protein is in Cafe Rio sweet pork salad? ›

Cafe Rio Salad, Sweet Pork Barbacoa (1 serving) contains 13g total carbs, 13g net carbs, 10g fat, 8g protein, and 180 calories.

How much nutrition is in Cafe Rio sweet pork barbacoa? ›

Tacos, Sweet Pork Barbacoa
  • Total Fat 7g 9%
  • Saturated Fat 2g 10%
  • Cholesterol 20mg 7%
  • Sodium 150mg 7%
  • Total Carbohydrates 8g 3%
  • Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
  • Sugars 8g.
  • Protein 5g.
Oct 25, 2018

What is the secret to pulled pork? ›

Top 3 Secrets to Award-Winning Pulled Pork
  • 1) You don't need to brine, season a day ahead of time, or inject the pork to create award-winning results.
  • 2) Don't get wrapped up in wrapping.
  • 3) Pull at 190-205 and let rest for ONLY 15-30 minutes.
Oct 5, 2023

How do you get pulled pork to fall apart? ›

Place the roast in the oven and immediately turn the heat down to 200°F (95°C). Roast without opening the oven door for about 5 hours, until the meat is so tender that it pulls apart easily. If the meat does not pull apart easily, cover, and return to the oven and roast 30 minutes more.

Is pork butt the same as pork shoulder? ›

Both come from the shoulder of the pig, but pork butt is higher on the foreleg, while pork shoulder is farther down. As relatively tough and fatty cuts, both benefit from long, slow cooking methods such as roasting, stewing, and braising. But the cuts are different enough that we generally prefer pork butt.

What is Chinese sweet and sour pork made of? ›

A Chinese stir-fry dish made with juicy pieces of pork tenderloin, bell peppers, onion, and pineapple. Battered pork gets fried until crispy then tossed in a sweet and tangy sauce.

Which part of pork is the sweetest? ›

Baby-Back Ribs

Small and meaty, these curved slabs come from the pig's rib cage near the backbone. Prized for their sweet juicy meat, these baby-back ribs—as they're often called—cook quickly.

What is sweet and sour pork in China? ›

The sweet and sour pork in China is quite different from the American version, though. The takeout style is usually heavily battered, deep fried, and swamped in a pool of very sugary sauce. On the other hand, in the Chinese version the pork is cut into thin strips, lightly coated with a batter and fried until crispy.

What is the tastiest piece of pork? ›

Rib Chop: Cut from the rib section of the loin, these chops have a relatively high fat content, rendering them flavorful and unlikely to dry out during cooking. They are a favorite in the test kitchen. These chops are easily identified by the bone that runs along one side and the one large eye of loin muscle.

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