This post may contain references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Oh Sweet Basil may receive compensation when you click on links to such products.
If you’ve ever been to Utah you’ve probably had Cafe Rio, specifically Cafe Rio Sweet Pork. We’ve perfected the Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe! It’s a tender pulled pork recipe with a Coke or Dr Pepper sauce that Utah loves!
Table of Contents
- Ingredients for Cafe Rio Sweet Pork
- What Kind of Pork Should I Use for Cafe Rio Sweet Pork?
- Pot Herbs or a Bouquet Garni
- Is Pork Better for You Than Beef?
- Can You Make Sweet Pulled Pork in a Slow Cooker?
- Make It Authentic!
- Best Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat
- More of our Favorite Mexican Recipes:
- Watch How This Cafe Rio Pork is Made…
- Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe
I know I’ve posted about a few copycat recipes from Cafe Rio like the cilantro lime rice, Creamy tomatillo Cilantro Ranch and slow cooker Cafe Rio chicken, but this recipe is so dead on I had no choice but to post. I’m letting you in on all the secrets!
This recipe is clearly a little different because it uses Coke, but trust me it’s the way it’s prepared that is key. Doing a slow roast on the pork with a spice mixture, those root veggies and preparing the sauce separate makes for an identical result.
When we go to Cafe Rio, I pretty much always get the salad to split (this is quite rare as the hubs DOES NOT split anything. EVER.), but occasionally I’ll get the quesadilla because it’s gooey. That’s the only reason, it’s just gooey. In fact you can make the quesadilla at home too with our Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Quesadilla recipe…you’re welcome! Go goo goo for gooey with that one!
read more: If you love this copycat sweet pork recipe, you’re bound to love our BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe too!
Ingredients for Cafe Rio Sweet Pork
I’m going to give you two versions of this recipe, one is a quick version and the other is a more authentic version. You can choose the version that best fits your needs. Here are the ingredients you’ll need for each version:
Authentic Version
- Seasonings and Herbs: Garlic Powder, Chili Powder, Cumin, Smoked Paprika, Kosher Salt, Black Pepper, Onion Powder and Dried Oregano
- Pork Shoulder or Pork Butt: bone-in with a nice fat pad on top
- Bouquet Garni: Carrots, Celery, Onion and Bay Leaves
- Sauce: Cornstarch, Water, Enchilada Sauce, Brown Sugar, Garlic Powder, Coke or Dr Pepper
Quick Version
- Red Enchilada Sauce: grab a can of store-bought enchilada sauce or a sauce packet to make at home
- Brown Sugar: adds sweetness
- Root Beer, Dr Pepper, or Coke: My preference is Coke, but any of these sodas will work fine. Just make sure they are the fully loaded sugar soda, no diet or zero sugar.
- Garlic Powder: adds flavor
The details and measurements of each ingredient for both versions of the recipe can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.
What Kind of Pork Should I Use for Cafe Rio Sweet Pork?
If you want a true copycat of the Cafe Rio sweet pork recipe, you have to use a bone in pork shoulder/butt with a nice fat pad on top. Cuts of pork are not created equal! A pork roast or pork tenderloin is going to be too lean and won’t turn out exactly like Cafe Rio. The pork shoulder/butt has the fat and flavor you need!
Pot Herbs or a Bouquet Garni
Have you ever seen a chef create a bundle of herbs and place it in a pot or with a roast to cook then it gets discarded? That’s one of the secrets to this Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat Recipe. The aromatics totally make a difference, but you throw them out after it’s done cooking.
So What is Pot Herbs or a Bouquet Garni?
First off, “bouquet garni” is pronounced exactly how it looks, so don’t get hung up on that! 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. It is discarded after cooking and can be made with either fresh or dried herbs, root veggies etc.
These items are bundled up in cheesecloth, tied off with string and throw into the dish with the food.
If you don’t have cheesecloth, don’t stress! Merely arrange everything in the dish with the pork and get rid of it after baking. Yes, the onions will get quite dark, but it’s ok.
What to Add to the Bouquet Garni:
- carrots
- celery
- onions
- bay leaves
This will add the perfect flavor to this pork!
Is Pork Better for You Than Beef?
If you are trying to lose weight, pork is a better choice than beef, because pork is lower in calories. But both have a good side, for example the protein and iron is awesome in beef.
A 4 oz. serving of beef provides 11 g of fat, with 4.5 g of saturated fat, while a 4 oz. serving of pork contains 4.5 g of fat, with 1.5 g of saturated fat.
Pork and beef have about the same amount of protein, with beef being slightly higher, so really, it just depends on what you’re looking for.
Can You Make Sweet Pulled Pork in a Slow Cooker?
Using a slow cooker is an easy way to make pulled pork. This Copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork recipe does much better in the oven as it really brings out the flavor, but a crock pot will work just fine. Sometimes making a slow cooker sweet pork just fits into your schedule better, I totally get that! Set it and forget it…that’s why we love that slow cooker!
Prepare everything the same, but set the pork and bouquet garni (see section below) in a slow cooker for 8-10 hours. Shred as normal, preparing the sauce separate and toss to combine.
Make It Authentic!
Want to make it authentic? 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. You can put this sweet pork into a salad, in a burrito, in enchiladas, on top of nachos, in a rice bowl, or in a quesadilla like we already discussed above. It’s is good any way, shape or form!
My favorite way to eat it this sweet pork is in a salad. Place a freshly cooked tortilla down in a large shallow bowl, add some cilantro lime rice and black or pinto beans, top with a generous serving of the sweet porn then some chopped romaine lettuce, fresh pico de gallo, a scoop of guacamole and sprinkle of cotija cheese. Lastly, drizzle the tomatillo dressing all over the top. Heaven!
I really am not exaggerating when I say that we have tried pretty much every single Cafe Rio Pork recipe that’s out there and while many are quite delicious, they just aren’t close enough to the real version. 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. While we don’t have the actual recipe, we literally cannot taste a difference.
We should set up a taste test for the neighbors and see if people can tell which is which. I’m liking this idea!
Best Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Copycat
Through the years we’ve had many friends who have moved on to new adventures in places other than Utah (though Cafe Rio is spreading like crazy across the country…now in CA, AZ, CO, FL, ID, MD, MT, NV, VA, WA, and WY!) They crave Cafe Rio! It is on their must-eat list when they come back to visit every single time. I get it! It’s THAT good! Crave no longer my friends! You can now make Cafe Rio Sweet Pork at home! Try it and let us know if your Cafe Rio cravings are satisfied!
Indulge in the savory goodness of a homemade Café Rio Sweet Pork that rivals the restaurant’s famous recipe! This copycat version is a perfect balance of tender, slow-cooked pork that melts in your mouth, infused with a tantalizing blend of brown sugar, tangy enchilada sauce, and a perfect blend of seasonings and herbs.
More of our Favorite Mexican Recipes:
- Homemade Flour Tortillas
- Mexican Street Corn Elote
- Best Pinto Beans
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Chicken Taco Salad
- Bean and Cheese Enchiladas
- Best Quesadilla
- Pico de Gallo
- Best Black Beans
Watch How This Cafe Rio Pork is Made…
Cafe Rio Sweet Pork
Ingredients
- 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
- 3 Pounds Pork Shoulder/Butt , Bone in with a nice fat pad on top
- 2 Carrots, Large cut in half
- 2 Stalks Celery, Halved
- 1 Onion, Large Halved
- 2 Bay Leaves
Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon Water
- 10 ounce Enchilada Sauce
- 2 ⅓ Cups Light Brown Sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 Cup Coke, Or Dr Pepper is great too
Quick Version
- 10 ounce Red Enchilada Sauce, or a sauce packet
- 1 ½ Cups Brown Sugar
- 2 Cans Rootbeer, Dr Pepper, or Coke
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 225°
- In a small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, onion powder, and oregano.1 Tablespoons Garlic Powder, 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder, 1 Tablespoon Cumin, 1 Tablespoon Smoked Paprika, 1 Tablespoon Kosher Salt, 2 teaspoons Black Pepper, 2 teaspoons Onion Powder, 3 teaspoons Dried Oregano
- Rub the seasoning mixture all over the pork and place in a 9×13″ pan, fat pad facing up.3 Pounds Pork Shoulder/Butt
- 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. Wedge the bundle next to an end of the pork.2 Carrots, 2 Stalks Celery, 1 Onion, 2 Bay Leaves
- Set the uncovered pork butt in the oven and bake for 12 hours.
- Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 1-2 hours.
- Pour the juices into a fat separator.
- Shred the meat well, discarding large pieces of the fat pad.
- Pour 1/3 cup of the juices back onto the pork and toss to combine well.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water.1 teaspoon Cornstarch, 1 teaspoon Water
- Meanwhile, in a pot, add the enchilada sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder and Coke. Whisk to combine.10 ounce Enchilada Sauce, 2 ⅓ Cups Light Brown Sugar, 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder, 1 Cup Coke
- Bring to a boil and whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Turn to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
- Pour the sauce all over the pork and toss to coat.
- Place the meat in a warming oven with tin foil over it until ready to use or for at least 20 minutes to let the meat soak up the sauce a bit.
For the Slow Cooker
- Prepare everything the same, but set the pork and bouquet garni in a slow cooker for 8-10 hours.
- Shred as normal, preparing the sauce separate and toss to combine.
For the Quick Version
- Sprinkle the pork with the garlic powder and roast in a slow cooker on low for 8 hours.1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- Shred the meat.
- Mix the Sauce packet, brown sugar and pop and bring to a simmer over medium high heat until thickened a little. Toss with the shredded meat and cook an additional 30 minutes.10 ounce Red Enchilada Sauce, 1 ½ Cups Brown Sugar, 2 Cans Rootbeer
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This was absolutely perfect! The best imitation of the café rio pork recipe I’ve tried! I would love to pin this, but there is no image associated with it, so it won’t let me pin the recipe. Is there any way to fix that? Thank you!
That’s so odd. All of those pics should be pinnable. In fact, I pinned it to make sure. Here, you can pin off of this link, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/157555686939072946/
I’ve gone to three grocery stores and can’t find el paso sauce packet WITH roasted garlic. Could I pull this off w/the normal sauce packet and then add garlic powder? I’m not sure how much…
Thank you!
Oh darnit! I don’t think garlic powder would give the same flavor but you could roast a bulb of garlic and add 2-3 minced cloves into the sauce and that would be closer. I hate that stores don’t carry the same flavors.
Thank you. I’m excited to give this a try!
Hope you like it!
This was super yummy! I added a teaspoon or two of Cumin. We ate on it for 2 days!! Thanks for posting the recipe.
~Angie
Angie, We do that too sometimes!
This is the best sweet pork recipe I’ve tried! Love your blog:)
Awww!! Thank you so, so much!!! XOXO!
So…this recipe is sugar, pre-packaged sauce, and meat. Being critical is mean, but this is not what I’d expect on a food blog. In the comments,someone asks for a substitute for the sauce package. Basically, that’s asking for an actual recipe.
Calm down now. Let’s all be nice. Here’s the definition of recipe:
rec·i·pe [res-uh-pee]
—noun
a set of instructions for making or preparing something, especially a food dish: a recipe for a cake.
Whether it’s from scratch or not, it’s a recipe. Don’t like the one she posted? Move along. Let’s treat others how we’d like to be treated 🙂
I’ve read those books and enjoyed them – except for the ending of the Giver. I like my endings all wrapped up. You might enjoy ‘Cinder’. It’s a fun series of futuristic ‘fairy tale’ stories with a twist
that all work together. It’s really quite fun.
Ohhh, I’ll have to check it out! Thank you!
Hi what kind of old el paso like an envelope or bottle?
Hi Anna, it’s actually a sauce pouch, so it’s liquid but not in a can. Hope that helps! They have pics on their website so you can see it there.
Thanks what flavor is the el paso liquid ?
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.
I’m wanting to make this this weekend and put it on Rumbi-style rice. I’m hoping to serve 8 people. Do you think it will be enough?
We’ve fed 8 just fine with it but you could always double it and have leftovers!
Thank you so much for posting this! I didn’t have root beer so I used Dr. Pepper, also I added a little more brown sugar but I like things very sweet. I’ve tried a couple other times to make this and this was by far closest to Cafe Rio. I have a very happy husband! Thanks!
yahoo!! Thanks! We are still working on it too. I’m starting to wonder about the pork being cooked different. Maybe they will give me a hint.
The packet is at walmart in the “Mexican food” area. $2.49 is about what I paid 10 minutes ago
Lucky! That’s cheaper than I got mine. I better run over today!