Cafe Rio Like Pork Copycat
Get ready to bring the beloved flavors of Cafe Rio right into your kitchen with this irresistibly tender and flavorful Copycat Cafe Rio Pork recipe! This slow-cooked masterpiece features juicy boneless pork shoulder rubbed with a savory blend of spices, seared for added depth, and lovingly simmered in a bold sauce made with Coca-Cola, brown sugar, enchilada sauce, and a touch of smoky chipotle peppers. The result? A sweet, tangy, and slightly smoky shredded pork that’s perfect for tacos, burritos, salads, or rice bowls. With just 15 minutes of prep time and the magic of a slow cooker, this crowd-pleasing dish is as easy as it is delicious—ideal for meal prep or feeding a gathering. Give your taste buds the ultimate treat with this restaurant-quality meal made with pantry staples!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless pork shoulder (or pork butt)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1.5 cups Coca-Cola (not diet)
- 3 quarters of a cup brown sugar
- 1 cup red enchilada sauce
- 4 ounces green chiles (diced)
- 1 tablespoon chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
Instructions
Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder and cut it into 3-4 large chunks for even cooking.
In a small bowl, combine the kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika to create a dry rub.
Rub the spice mixture all over the pork chunks, ensuring they are evenly coated.
Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the pork pieces for 2-3 minutes on each side until browned. This step locks in flavor.
Place the seared pork into the slow cooker.
In a medium-sized bowl, mix together Coca-Cola, brown sugar, enchilada sauce, diced green chiles, and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
Pour the mixture over the pork in the slow cooker, ensuring the pork is fully submerged in the liquid.
Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or on high for 4-5 hours, until the pork is fork-tender and easily shredded.
Once the pork is cooked, remove it from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. Discard any excessive fatty pieces.
Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and stir it into the sauce.
Keep warm and serve hot in tacos, burritos, or over a bed of rice or salad.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
579 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 38.0 g | 49% | |
| Saturated Fat | 13.2 g | 66% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 119 mg | 40% | |
| Sodium | 520 mg | 23% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 31.1 g | 11% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.6 g | 2% | |
| Total Sugars | 29.1 g | ||
| Protein | 29.3 g | 59% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.3 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 46 mg | 4% | |
| Iron | 2.6 mg | 14% | |
| Potassium | 566 mg | 12% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
