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!

Nutriscore Rating: 63/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:480 mins

Total Time:495 mins

Servings: 8

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

Directions

Step 1

Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder and cut it into 3-4 large chunks for even cooking.

Step 2

In a small bowl, combine the kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika to create a dry rub.

Step 3

Rub the spice mixture all over the pork chunks, ensuring they are evenly coated.

Step 4

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.

Step 5

Place the seared pork into the slow cooker.

Step 6

In a medium-sized bowl, mix together Coca-Cola, brown sugar, enchilada sauce, diced green chiles, and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.

Step 7

Pour the mixture over the pork in the slow cooker, ensuring the pork is fully submerged in the liquid.

Step 8

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or on high for 4-5 hours, until the pork is fork-tender and easily shredded.

Step 9

Once the pork is cooked, remove it from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. Discard any excessive fatty pieces.

Step 10

Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and stir it into the sauce.

Step 11

Keep warm and serve hot in tacos, burritos, or over a bed of rice or salad.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2232.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	4376.9

Total Fat 303.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 106.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 16.8g
Cholesterol 952.5mg	0%
Sodium 4173.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 177.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 5.4g	0%
Total Sugars 158.4g
Protein 234.3g	0%

Vitamin D 95.3IU	0%
Calcium 272.3mg	0%
Iron 16.5mg	0%
Potassium 4194.3mg	0%

*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.

Source of Calories

Fat: 62.4%

Protein: 21.4%

Carbs: 16.2%