Cafe Rio Sweet Pork is a delicious and tender Pulled Pork that is sweet and tangy. We personally love to use Sweet Pork to make Tacos, Burritos, Nachos and Salads. My mouth waters when I think of Sweet Pork Nachos or a Sweet Pork Salad. With this Copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe you can make your Favorites too!
I must admit that Cafe Rio Sweet Pork is one of my favorites. But I do love my meats sweet and savory. Now that I can make it easily at home, I'm having so much fun putting together my own combination and my family loves it too.
Choosing a cut of pork makes a difference too. Of course in a pinch almost any cut will do, I personally prefer using a Pork Roast. Costco sells a 4 pack of these 2 lb roasts that are ideal for this recipe and my favorite. Plus they are very affordable too.
Sweet Pork Ingredients
- 2-3 lb Pork Roast
- 2 4oz Cans Tomato Sauce
- ¾ Cup Brown Sugar
- 1 Cup Dr. Pepper
- 2 Tbs Molasses
- 1 Tbl Cumin
- Chili Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 2 teaspoon Garlic
- Pepper to taste
How to make Cafe Rio Sweet Pork
Directions Instant Pot:
- In a bowl Combine Tomato Sauce, Brown Sugar, Molasses, and Dr. Pepper.
- Season your roast with Cumin, Chili Powder, Salt, and Garlic.
- Place the Pork Roast or Pork Tenderloin in Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker (do not use a trivet)
- Pour the mixture over the roast making sure the sauce has covered the roast
- Close the Lid and then seal the valve
- Set it to Manual / Pressure Cook for 90 minutes.
- Allow a 30 minute Natural Pressure Release.
- Open the Lid and then using forks, shred the pork.
- Allow the shredded pork to marinate in sweet juices.
- Serve it over Nachos, on Salad, in Tacos, or Burrito.
- Optional - To thicken sauce use saute to reduce liquid for a few minutes.
Crock Pot / Slow Cooker:
- In a bowl Combine the Tomato Sauce, Brown Sugar, Molasses, and Dr. Pepper.
- Season the roast with Cumin, Chili Powder, Salt, and Garlic.
- Place the Pork Roast or Pork Tenderloin in the Slow Cooker / Crock Pot.
- Pour the mixture over the roast.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on High for 3-4 hours or until roast shreds easily.
- Remove the roast and shred.
- Reduce the excess liquid over medium/high heat until a thick sauce is reached. Add the sauce to the shredded pork to serve.
What is Cafe Rio?
Cafe Rio is a fast casual chain of restaurants based in Salt Lake City, Utah. With locations in west coast and east coast states (and several others). They focus on Mexican cuisine and serve on the rails, meaning as a customer you walk through the line and watch your meal being put together made to order. I personally love this as I can have them hold the Pico, or add extra Guacamole if I want and anything else in between.They specialize in Mexican cuisine and are delicious. A favorite of course is the Sweet Pork
What kind of Pork Roast is Best?
I personally like using a pork sirloin roast. I buy them in a 4 pack from Costco and they’re the perfect size for this recipe to feed my family.
Can I freeze Sweet Pork?
Yes! Freezing this shredded Sweet Pork is a great idea (it gives the flavors longer to develop). So if after you make the dish, you want to freeze it for later, don’t be afraid too.
Just keep it stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to a few months.
How to reheat Sweet Pork
You can place your frozen pork in the crockpot on low and have it slowly reheat all day so that it’s ready by dinner. You can also let it thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stove.
What can I serve with Sweet Pork?
Sweet pork goes with so many great foods it’s hard to choose. If I had to name a few suggestions though I’d choose cilantro lime rice, Spanish rice, or sweet corn cakes.
How Sweet is Sweet Pork?
Sweet Pork is the PERFECT amount of Sweetness. How is that possible? Well, you can adjust the sweetness to your personal preference. Use a little brown sugar or use the full amount the recipe calls for to achieve the level of sweet you most prefer.
If you have ever experienced a Cafe Rio Resturant, then you know how popular this recipe is. But I'll assume you have never been to Cafe Rio or other similar restaurants. Sweet Pork is just one of the many protein options available but also the most popular and can be used to make a variety of meal choices.
As a family when I make Sweet Pulled Pork, I make sure I have an abundance of chips, green salad, large tortillas, cheese, salsa, pico, sour cream and of course avocado so the entire family can pick and choose how to make their meal from a delicious Salad, to Nachos, and even a burrito.
Other Recipes you will Want to make too!
Don't forget to make some Cilantro Lime Rice which is good on any of these meals or our favorite Homemade Refried Beans which are delicious too. Adding Rice and beans to Nachos, Burritos, and Salads just make them oh so good!
Looking for even more recipes!
- Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas
- Sweet Salsa Chicken Salad
- Navajo Tacos
- Spanish Rice
- Honey Lime Enchiladas
- Pork Street Tacos
- Ground Turkey Tacos
- Cilantro Lime Shrimp Tacos
- Ground Turkey Taco Lettuce Wrap
- Chicken Taquitos
- BBQ Chicken Tostada
- Fiesta Chicken Casserole
Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe
Ingredients
- 2-3 lb Pork Roast
- 2 4oz Cans Tomato Sauce
- ¾ cup Brown Sugar
- 1 cup Dr. Pepper
- 2 tablespoon Molasses
- 1 tablespoon Cumin
- 1 tablespoon Chili Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 2 teaspoon Garlic
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
Directions Instant Pot:
- Combine Tomato Sauce, Brown Sugar, Molasses, and Dr. Pepper.
- Season roast with Cumin, Chili Powder, Salt, and Garlic
- Place Pork Roast or Pork Tenderloin in Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker
- Pour mixture over roast
- Close Lid and seal valve and set to Manual / Pressure Cook for 90 minutes
- Allow a 30 minute Natural Pressure Release
- Open Lid and using forks shred pork
- Allow shredded pork to marinate in sweet juices
- Serve over Nachos, on Salad, in Tacos, or Burrito
Crock Pot / Slow Cooker:
- Combine Tomato Sauce, Brown Sugar, Molasses, and Dr. Pepper.
- Season roast with Cumin, Chili Powder, Salt, and Garlic
- Place Pork Roast or Pork Tenderloin in Slow Cooker / Crock Pot
- Pour mixture over roast
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours or High 3-4 hours or until roast shreds easily.
- Remove roast and shred
- Reduce excess liquid over medium/high heat until a thick sauce is reached. Add sauce to shredded pork to serve
Nutrition Disclaimer
All nutrition values are approximate and calculated by a plugin and are provided as a courtesy. Adding or subtracting ingredients will change the nutritional value.
Amy M.
I made this tonight (as promised in your live on Sunday). It was FABULOUS! I added some elements from another recipe because I like green chiles. This is going on a regular rotation!
Devour Dinner
I love that you made this Amy! It's a favorite recipe of ours. Try using the pork to make tacos, burritos, nachos and so much more!
Tammy Wright
I really enjoyed making this dish as I love café rio. I thought it made a lot, was wondering if it froze well? Actually need to make this again along with the cilantro rice yum!
Devour Dinner
Hi Tammy, I freeze leftovers of the Sweet Pork all the time. It's fantastic. Make sure to include some of the juices when you do freeze it. Enjoy!