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Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe (Slow Cooker Meal)
Master this incredible Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe at home! Our slow-cooker copycat version delivers that perfect sweet-savory balance with minimal effort for restaurant-quality results.
Servings: 12
Calories: 257kcal
Ingredients
- 3 ½ - 4 pound pork butt, shoulder, or picnic roast
- 4-5 tablespoons taco seasoning or 2 packets divided
- 1 can diced tomatoes undrained
- 2 cans diced green chiles
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ½ -2 cups brown sugar
- ½ bunch cilantro chopped
- 1 bunch green onions chopped
Instructions
- Rub the pork with half the taco seasoning. Place it in the crock of your slow cooker.
- Add the tomatoes, green chiles, and garlic.
- Cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours, or on high for 4 to 6 hours. (It depends on your slow-cooker, but you can't really overcook this; the pork should fall apart. Slow and low is better here.)
- When the pork is cooked and tender, shred with a fork and remove any extra fat or bones.
- Add the other half of the taco seasoning and brown sugar. Taste it and add more of either if needed. It should be sweet and still taste "mexican-y."
- Let the pork cook on high heat with the lid off the slow-cooker for at least 30 minutes to reduce the liquid. Add cilantro and green onions just before serving.
Notes
- Don't discard all the cooking liquid after reducing. Reserve some to moisten leftovers when reheating, as the pork can dry out slightly in storage.
- This recipe is great to store in the freezer for easy meals. Use some of the reserved cooking liquid to put in with the frozen portion! The cooked pork keeps well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. It also freezes beautifully for up to 3 months when stored in airtight containers or freezer bags.
- The most popular ways to serve it are in burritos, on top of salads with Cafe Rio's creamy tomatillo dressing, or in tacos with all the fixings. It's also delicious on nachos, in enchiladas, or stuffed into quesadillas.
- Easily adjust the sweetness and spice levels to suit your preferences. Want it spicier? Add more taco seasoning. Prefer it less sweet? Reduce the brown sugar.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 of 12 servings | Calories: 257kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 237mg | Potassium: 568mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 184IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 2mg