Name: Cafe Rio Sweet Pork
Yield: 12

This Cafe Rio Sweet Pork is a better, cheaper from-scratch version of the classic. It’s sweet, slightly spicy, and reliable for tacos, burritos, or salads!

Authors note

Straight From My Home Town!

If you’re from Utah (or have visited), you know the hype around Cafe Rio. It’s incredible, and my kids say it’s the best restaurant ever. So of course I had to recreate it!

Though Cafe Rio has never officially released its recipe, the ingredients have been shared enough over the years that I’ve nailed the proportions with lots of testing.

This version tastes just as good—and side by side, I’m confident you couldn’t tell the difference!

Process shots of the spice blend being made up and added to a blender along with brown sugar and Dr Pepper

Ingredients In Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe

Ingredient	Why It Matters
Spices	With 7 to 9 lbs of pork, spices add depth and balance so it’ does not taste overly sweet’s not too sweet.
Dr. Pepper®	Tested with several sodas. Dr. Pepper gives the best flavor. Coke works second best. Do not use diet.
Light brown sugar	Add a little at a time so you can adjust the sweetness to your taste.
Enchilada sauce	Heat varies by brand. Old El Paso mild red and green enchilada sauces work best.
Fire-roasted diced green chiles	Adds extra flavor with zero extra prep.

Process shots of Cafe Rio sweet pork recipe-- images of the pork being prepped and spices being rubbed on it

Let’s Chat Pork

I’ve tried various pork cuts and weights in the slow cooker, but for this recipe, It is worth a 7-9-pound bone-in pork shoulder or butt blade roast.

A few notes on the pork:

Choose bone-in: The bone adds flavor and helps the meat pull apart easily.
Fat cap: Leave the fat layer on top; it adds flavor and tenderness. Remove it after.
Cook on low: Slow cooking on low ensures the best texture.
Shredding tips: Use two forks or your hands (once cooled) to shred.
Fatty cut: Expect to remove a lot of fat while shredding, so allow enough time.

Process shots-- images of Dr Pepper, enchilada sauces, brown sugar, onions, and the spiced pork being added to the slow cooker

How To Serve Cafe Rio Sweet Pork

This recipe is satisfying on its own but is reliable in meals like salads, burritos, tacos, tostadas, nachos, enchiladas, or quesadillas.

Salad: In true Cafe Rio fashion layer tortilla with lettuce, black or pinto beans, cilantro-lime rice, pork, and toppings of your choice with Cafe Rio dressing.
Burrito: Layer the sweet pork into a tortilla with rice and beans.
Tacos: Layer flour or corn tortillas with some lettuce, rice, beans, and sweet pork.
Nachos: Layer the meat on top of this nachos recipe.

Variations

How To Make A Smaller Batch

To make a smaller batch of Cafe Rio Sweet Pork that feeds about 6-8 people, use a 3-4 lbs pork shoulder picnic roast instead (bone-in if you can find one).

Halve all the other ingredients and follow the recipe as directed, using halved quantities.

Cook time will be about 1 to 1-1/2 hours shorter (on low).

Storage

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Leftovers

Make ahead: Shred pork, discard fat, and store in an airtight container in the fridge. Blend sauce, then warm it in a slow cooker. Add pork, stir, and heat on low.
Leftovers: Microwave individual portions or heat in a slow cooker on low for 1 to 1-1/2 hours.
Freezing: Cool the pork, move to airtight bags or containers, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and warm in the slow cooker.