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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
- 1ย 1/2 C salsa
- 1 (10 oz) can red enchilada sauce
- ยฝ C brown sugar
- 2 tsp lime juice (bottled is fine)
- 1ย (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
My kind of recipe. I love my slowcooker and I am always up for new pork recipes.
I love crockpot recipes! This would be great for Sundays since we go to church for three hours! And dinner will be ready when I come home. ๐
I wish I had read this earlier so I could make it tonight!
Yummy! I have a pork roast in my freezer just waiting to be cooked. I can't wait to try this one out.
OH it was so YUMMY!!! Like Cafe Rio, my friend gave me a recipe for green sauce we rolled up our tortillas and poured it over top, and added some sauteed onions and green peppers. For the green sauce: boil up 4-5 tomatillos (little green tomatoes, peal off the skin first) then when boiled (in water as high as the tomitllos, small sauce pan recommended) then put in a few leaves of fresh cilantro, let cool or add a little cold water and put in food processor,or blender, puree..and enjoy. I had to share its so yummy. Thanks Jamie I made them for Todd's birthday dinner, they are his favorite.
Heather,
Wow! A yummy green sauce! That sounds fabulous. I just planted 4 tomatillo plants in my garden and am hoping to make some great green enchilada sauce with them. Can't wait to try your idea out! Thanks for letting me know.
Have a great night!
~Jamie
OMG I found your blog through a fellow Babycenter.com mommy but my hubby was on a health kick then, and your food was a bit too… YUMMY for him then LOL but he's off it and OMG I LOVE this blog it's amazing!!! I'm SO going to try this (and the green sauce : )) and I'm not going to tell hubby what he's in store for HA HA HA BUT… Do you season the pork at all B4 putting it in the crock pot We always do but I don't want to ruin this recipe TIA
Lisa,
Seasoning it with a bit of salt and pepper would be fine. I wouldn't imagine it would hurt a thing. Good luck, hope it turns out well for you and your hubby!
~Jamie
Oh my goodness, so happy I stumbled upon this. I live in Japan and my husband and I miss Cafe Rio SO MUCH! Will try this soon, and please post the Cafe Rio like cilantro dressing when you can!!
Just wanted to let you know today I'm buying the ingredients to make this AGAIN… I LOVE the recipe very very much