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–+ servings
A bowl full of Cafe Rio sweet pork copycat.
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5 from 1 vote

Cafe Rio Pulled Pork

Ditch the takeout line and make our Cafe Rio sweet pork copycat recipe for a restaurant-worthy wholesome meal right in your kitchen!
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time10 hours
Total Time10 hours 30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: pulled pork
Servings: 8 people
Author: The Cozy Fork

Equipment

  • measuring cups and spoons
  • Cutting board
  • Chef’s knife
  • Crockpot
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Mixing spoon
  • Large Skillet

Ingredients

PORK ROAST:

  • 3 pounds boneless pork shoulder or butt roast
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 bottle 16.9 oz Dr. Pepper divided
  • 1 cup red enchilada sauce

SAUCE:

  • Dr Pepper remaining
  • 1 cup red enchilada sauce
  • 1 can 4oz green chilies, drained
  • ½ cup brown sugar

SERVING OPTIONS: (all optional)

  • Tortillas
  • Salad
  • Rice
  • Black Beans
  • Dressing
  • Pico de Gallo
  • Guacamole
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

MAKE THE PORK :

  • Combine seasonings in a small bowl.
  • Rub pork with seasonings.
  • Sear the pork in a frying pan for 1-2 minutes on both sides over medium-high heat.
  • Place seared pork in a slow cooker.
  • Add 1 cup Dr. Pepper and 1 cup enchilada sauce.
  • Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 200-205 degrees F.
  • Remove the pork from the shred and return it to the slow cooker.

MAKE THE SAUCE:

  • In a food processor or blender, combine the remaining Dr. Pepper, 1 cup enchilada sauce, green chilies, and brown sugar until well combined.
  • Mix the sauce into the shredded pork.
  • Continue cooking for 1-2 hours in the slow cooker. OR add the pork with sauce to a large-rimmed baking pan and cook in the oven at 350 degrees F for 60-90 minutes. Cooking in the oven will reduce the sauce.

SERVE:

  • Serve and enjoy.

Notes

Serve: Serve in tacos, burritos, quesadillas, salads, and burrito bowls. You can keep the pork out for no more than two hours before it needs to be covered and stored in the refrigerator.
Store: Store the leftover pork in an airtight container for three to four days. 
Freeze: Once cooled, place the sweet pulled pork in freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 6 months.
Thaw: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat: Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat until heated through. Add a couple of tablespoons of water to the meat before reheating it.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.75cup | Calories: 297kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 102mg | Sodium: 1205mg | Potassium: 682mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 515IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 2mg