Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe
Cafe Rio (or Costa Vida) Sweet Pork is super flavorful and easy to make at home in either the slow cooker or instant pot. It's perfect for eating out at home and recreating our favorite pork salads, burritos, tacos, and quesadillas since we don't live anywhere near a Cafe Rio or Costa Vida anymore!
Ingredients
- 3-5 pounds pork shoulder butt roast
- 1 can regular Coca-Cola or Dr. Pepper, ((not diet), divided)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 Tablespoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 can regular Coca-Cola or Dr. Pepper ((not diet))
- 10 ounces red enchilada sauce
- 4 ounces diced green chiles
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Flour tortillas
- Chopped romaine lettuce
- Pico de gallo
- Guacamole
- Fresh cilantro
- Crumbled cotija or feta cheese
- Crunchy tortilla strips
- Cilantro lime rice
- Black beans
- Cilantro lime dressing
Directions
- 1
In a large, heavy duty Ziploc bag, combine the pork roast with one can of Coke and 1/4 cup of the brown sugar. Seal tightly and marinade in the refrigerator anywhere from 2 hours to overnight. (UPDATE: I usually skip this step and go straight to cooking the meat these days. It seems not to make a substantial difference and the recipe is easier without marinading, but the choice is up to you!)
- 2
You can skip marinating ingredients and instead just combine the rub ingredients in a bowl. Cut the pork roast into large pieces and sprinkle with the spices, rubbing it all over the meat.