This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This amazing Sweet Pork, a copy cat recipe from Cafe Rio has been a family favorite of ours for years. I’ve made a few additions and substitutions to the recipe over the years and have added them to the recipe below. I also have some updated pictures as well (thank goodness!)
The recipe can easily be doubled, and freezes super well. I almost always double it and make along side it these fabulous recipes…
Ingredients
- 1 (12 oz) can coke zero
- 1 1/2 C salsa
- 1 (10 oz) can red enchilada sauce
- ½ C brown sugar
- 2 tsp lime juice (bottled is fine)
- 1 (3 lb) pork loin roast (be sure the roast is completely thawed)
- 3 Tb cornstarch
- 3 Tb cold water
Instructions
- The day before you are planning to serve, place the coke, salsa, enchilada sauce, brown sugar and lime juice in the bottom of a medium sized crock pot. Stir well and nestle the meat inside the sauce. Cover and refrigerate for 12-24 hours.
- In the morning, place the crock pot in the cooking element and turn to low. Cook for 7-8 hours, or until the meat is tender and easy to shred.
- When the meat is done, remove it to a plate and shred it up with two forks.
- Carefully remove about 2 cups of the liquid from the crock pot and place it in a large skillet. Bring it to a boil over medium high heat.
- In a small glass measuring cup whisk together the cornstarch and cold water. Pour it into the skillet and stir as it thickens. Once it has thickened up for you (should only take 2-3 minutes), pour the thickened sauce back into the crock pot. Stir well to combine.
- Add the meat and cook for an additional 1 hour on high.
- Serve with warmed tortillas, cheese, lettuce tomato, sour cream, salsa, Cilantro Lime Rice and Cilantro Lime Dressing.
Notes
This recipe can easily be doubled, and freezes super well.
Recipe adapted from MyHandsomeHusband
Thanks for this pulled pork recipe– oh how I miss Cafe Rio! The first time I went there with my older brother and he happened to get a phone call right as I was ordering.
Apparently, he really wanted me to try the pork barbacoa salad because after his phone call,when he found out I had ordered a chicken salad he was a little bummed out and made me promise to get the pork barbacoa salad next time. And thankfully I kept that promise because it’s now one of my favorites!
I made your recipe the other day (didn’t have green chilies so I didn’t add them), and it turned out delicious! I shredded the meat right in the crock pot to make it a little easier.
You can see my post about it at https://busymomrecipes.com/dinner/slow-cooker-pulled-pork/
How wonderful! A sweet pork recipe that doesn’t call for Coke!!
This sounds delicious — thanks.
That’s an inventive answer to an interesting question
Living in Central Ohio we have no Cafe Rio! I see recipes for their food all the time and frankly wish we had them here. I’ve made many of your recipes and love your site so after researching many a recipe I decided to make yours as there was no coke/pop in the recipe. It’s cooking away in the crockpot and can’t wait to try it! It smells wonderful. Keep the great recipes coming Jamie!
Now that we have 2 of the recipes from Cafe Rio, how about a double for the green sauce. I saw someone posted a version here, but there’s seems to have a creamy ranch texture. Can’t wait to make these!