One of the most popular requests from my blog survey was more quick and easy dinner ideas. So I am making a commitment to you – right here and now! I will post at least one new quick and easy dinner idea each week. Promise. Or rather I will really, really try hard.
Today’s quick and easy dinner idea is a bit of a cheat as it is a recipe I shared back in November of 2007, just a few months after I started my blog. Since this recipe is buried deep in the archives of the blog and the fact that it has no photos qualified it for a recipe redo. Also, the fact that is delicious and one of my favorite dinners is another reason!
Cafe Rio is a Utah based restaurant which has now spread into California and Arizona (you lucky people, you!) but sadly has not come to Oregon yet. So each time I visit Utah, which is quite often as the result of all four of my children currently residing in the state, a visit to Cafe Rio is required at least once.
One of my favorite dishes to get there is their sweet pork. I love it in a burrito or in a salad.
We had friends for dinner this week and I needed something that was easy and delicious and could be done ahead of time or in the crock pot. Cafe Rio Sweet Pork qualifies on all four counts! It was so fun to share their first “Cafe Rio experience” with them. They loved it!!
I purchased pork carnitas from the store but you could use pork roast or shoulder. Just get the least expensive cut of pork you can find.
There are lots of different sweet pork recipes out there in the blogosphere and I have experimented with a lot of them. In fact the original sweet pork recipe I posted back in 2007 is different than the one I am posting today. I have found a new favorite.
I marinaded the pork for a couple of hours in a can of coke (can use caffeine free if you’d like but don’t use diet!) along with some brown sugar. After it marinades pour all of it into the crock pot and let it cook away for hours.
About an hour before serving pull it out of the crockpot and shred it. Put the meat back into the crock pot (discard the liquid) and add in enchilada sauce,
Allow it to cook in the crockpot for another 30 -60 minutes. If there is too much sauce drain some off. You don’t want it too soupy. I like to serve it along with lime cilantro rice and black beans (recipe coming soon.) Top it with a little Monterey Jack or cotija cheese and wrap it up in a tortilla for a delicious quick and easy meal.
It is also great in a taco or a quesadilla. I’ll be back on Monday to show you my most favorite way of eating it!
One of my favorite ways to use the sweet pork is in a Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Salad.
Check out my favorite crock pot here.
- 2-3 lbs. boneless pork carnitas, shoulder etc
- 1 12 ox. can Coke
- 1/4 c brown sugar
- 1 10 oz. can enchilada sauce
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 small can diced greenchileis
- 3/4 C brown sugar
- Marinade pork for at least 2 hours or overnight in can of coke and 1/4 C brown sugar.
- Pour pork and liquid into crock pot and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
- Remove meat and shred. Discard liquid
- Put meat back in crock pot and add enchilada sauce, garlic, green chilies and brown sugar.
- Cook for 30-60 more minutes. If there is excess liquid drain some off.
Adapted from Real Mom Kitchen
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Looks like a great recipe, I’ll add pork to my Costco shopping list and make it this weekend!
I LOVE EASY !!! Trying this recipe this weekend for sure ! Need more recipies like this one! 🙂
Thank you!!
More quick and easy coming! Enjoy!
And Idaho Falls too! It’s spreading, it’s spreading. More incentive for you to come pay us a visit!!
Can’t believe it. I remember the days when the only place to eat was McDonald’s!!
Oh and I’ll even take you to lunch! Love Cafe Rio!!
I may just take you up on that!!
We have one in Denver now too…the lines are so long you have to show up an hour before you want to eat! Thanks for the recipe! It’s one of my favorite dishes!
Can you use diet coke in this instead of regular?
I have been told diet coke doesn’t work as well but haven’t tried it myself
The sweeteners in diet drinks go bitter when they get cooked. It would ruin the dish. I’ve been researching sweet pork recipes lately. 🙂
thanks for the info!
When my friends drive from Portland, they stop in Boise and sometimes Twin Falls just to get their fix because its such a long drive to Utah! Its amazing how addicting it can be!! I’l have to try your new updated version. That’s how I found your blog in the first place years ago….!!!!
Your “old” recipe was a definitely a crowd favorite and used on many occassions. I cannot wait to try the new and improved. Thanks for sharing!
what size can sauce and what brand do you like?
I used a 12 oz. size can and I like the La Victoria brand.
Red or green enchilada sauce?
good question – red!
Not to be nitpicky, but I was checking La Victoria’s website and it seems that they only make enchilada sauce in 10z, 19oz, and 28oz cans. Are you sure it wasn’t a 10oz can? – I only ask because i wasn’t able to find 12oz at my store, but 10oz was very common.
It must have been a 10 oz. can. The smaller size. Thanks for letting me know!
Glad you like it Leigh Anne! I love me some Cafe Rio and it is so much cheaper to make it at home.
Its in Nevada too!
Does it have to be Coke or could it be Pepsi? Pepsi is sweeter than Coke and the preferred drink in our home. But, if it has to be Coke, I can get a can of Coke!
I think you would be fine with either.
Thank you!! We moved from Utah to AZ, but the nearest Cafe Rio to us is 40 minutes away! It makes me so sad 🙁 We try to go there whenever we can, but it’s such a long drive
I would be sad too Rachel!!Now you can make it at home.
I need to re do some of my early posts also! This looks amazingly Tasty!
Thanks Chandra. Yeah, can’t believe I actually use to post a recipe with a picture – shameful!!
This is amazing!!! Made it tonight for dinner and the hubby said it is Food Network quality! We loved it, including our little kiddos, thanks for posting this, it’ll be a regular around our table for sure!
Karen, So glad it was a hit for the family. We love it at our house.
Woot! You have been featured this week at Recipe Sharing Monday! The new link party is up and I’d love to see you back. Have a great week. 🙂
I’m making this tomorrow for Cinco de Mayo! I’m from AZ but currently living in NY and we don’t have Cafe Rio. 🙁 So sad! Can’t wait to try this out!
Hugs, Mallory
Happy Cinco de Mayo – wish we had a Cafe Rio in Portland, Oregon too!
Could you use pork tenderloins for this?
You can but it is shame to waste a more expensive cut of meat on this. Because it cooks so long and gets so tender I always use a less expensive cut of meat but tenderloin would work. It may not have to cook quite as long.
Made this recipe for Sunday lunch. It was a huge hit!! Thanks.
Has anyone tried making it without the marinating part, just found the recipe wanted to throw it in at lunch while I’m home for dinner
I actually made it this week without marinading and it turned out great!
How many people does this recipe serve? We want to make this for a big family get together and need to know how many recipes of this we need to make for about 30 people.
Probably serves about 6-8 so I would triple it for 30 people. Just depends on how big of eaters people are 🙂
What does a can of cola do in the marinating? Better half is leery of using soda pop and brown sugar together. Is there a replacement item?
you could just use water I guess but I have never left it out or substituted something for it. The sugar in the soda does add to the flavor and the acid in the soda helps tenderize the meat. Can’t vouch for the recipe without the soda.
I like to make the main dish for my bunco party ahead of time, freeze it, and warm it up on the day of the party. Is the Cafe Rio Pork a good one to freeze? What about the Slow cooker Greek Chicken? How does that one freeze? Thanks.
The Cafe Rio Pork freezes really well. I have not frozen the Slow Cooker Greek Chicken but I think it should freeze well.
Hi Leigh Anne,
Is the small can of green chili’s “fire roasted”? That is all I have been able to find in my grocery store. I am worried that there may be a non fire roasted version.
Thanks. Looking forward to trying this recipe!
Darby
The fire roasted is fine – enjoy!
my mouth is watering! about how many people would you say this recipe will feed?