Cafe Rio Sweet Barbacoa Pork
Cafe Rio Sweet Barbacoa Pork is one of our favorite Mexican meals! We love it in burritos, tacos, and on salads!
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Cafe Rio Sweet Barbacoa Pork
(originally posted 2008)
Living on the east coast I go through major Cafe Rio withdrawls. Cafe Rio is a famous Mexican restaurant in Utah. They’re known for their consistently good food.
Back in our Provo days my husband and I would sometimes do a double header: Cafe Rio then Tracy’s Peanut Butter Cup at Leatherbys.
The double header always sent me into a food induced coma afterwards and I would fall asleep at my computer at school (I was a Computer Science major).
You would make some major money – if not from me alone!!
I have tried a bunch of copycat recipes to get my “fix” but this combo of Cafe Rio dishes is my favorite. You can make a lot of it ahead of time so it’s great for get togethers. In fact, we usually make this ahead of time and bring it to Lake Powell for one of our dinners. It’s always one of our favorite meals.
Now I believe the whisperings say that the real Cafe Rio Pork is made with Coke. Guess what. I’ve tried both and this version is still my favorite.
OTHER CAFE RIO RECIPES:
OTHER MEXICAN RECIPES
- No-Fry Fried Ice Cream
- Churro Cream Puffs
- Mexican Stuffed Shells
- One-Pan Chicken Fajita Rice
- Baked Chicken Chimichangas
- Creamy Caramel Apple Taquitos
- Beef Enchilada Dip
- Horchata
Cafe Rio Sweet Barbacoa Pork
Ingredients
- 7-8 lbs. boneless pork butt or shoulder, (make a 3-4 lb pork roast if you are just doing your family)
- 4 cups root beer
- 5 (8oz) cans tomato sauce
- 4 Tablespoons molasses or honey, (molasses gives a darker color)
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 - 3 cups brown sugar
- pepper to taste
- 4 teaspoons cumin
Instructions
- Salt and pepper the pork and cook in crock pot 8 hours or overnight on low in a little water or extra root beer. In the morning remove the roast from the crockpot and pull apart with fork, removing fat. Drain all the water in the crockpot. Don't overshred the pork or it will turn mushy. This part can be done well in advance.
- Add the rest of the ingredients to the crockpot and add the shredded pork. Stir to combine. Cook another 3-4 hours in crockpot on low. Serve with a slotted spoon.
- Traditionally this meat is served over a salad or in a burrito.
- To make a Cafe Rio salad layer: tortilla (I warm mine in aluminum pans like cafe rio in the oven with cheese), cheese, Cilantro Lime Rice , Black or Pinto Beans, Pork, chopped Romaine or green leaf lettuce, sprinkle tortilla strips on top, and grated Parmesan cheese
- Serve with sides of: Pico de Gallo , Guacamole , fresh cilantro, fresh lime slices, drizzle with Creamy Tomatillo Dressing .
- Instant Pot instructions: Salt and pepper the pork. Add 2 cups of root beer or other liquid. Cook on high pressure for 50-60 minutes. Let pressure release naturally. Shred and remove fat. Continue to step 2 using the slow cooker option or sautee option until pork is warm and flavors have combined.
Notes
Not too sweet, just right. I used a pork tenderloin that I had sus vide and let it simmer in the sauce. Thanks! It was a hit!
Awesome!
What is this “warm the tortillas with cheese”?
Can anyone describe this to me, since I’ve never eaten there…. Is there a quesadilla on the bottom? 🤔 is it soft? Crunchy? Flour tortilla, yes? Help me help my belly! 😂
The salads have a tortilla on the bottom to hold it. You don’t have to have cheese but I like cheese. A big soft flour tortilla
Pregnant and always craving cafe rio but it is an hour away and in the middle of a dare not traffic cluster so it is rare that I go. Thank you so much for not inly the pork recipe but identifying steps through their salad prep.
The creamy tomatillo dressing is essential to the flavor mix…. just the best. <3
Thank you!
I am glad I found this recipe. I need to make it with Diet Root Beer, is this possible or will diet not work?
Diet is not the ideal taste but I have done it before.
Hi Christy!
I like what I think the recipe will make. Looking forward to trying. I’m surprised there are no chili’s?
I’m not connected to Cage Rio in any way, my time in Utah being very limited. So copying that product is somewhat less of a concern to me.
From what I read about barbacoa cooking it with heat from a fire in a pit probably would contribute at least a mild smoky taste?
I didn’t note any smoke component is this or your regular barbacoa recipe.
Do you think that would add anything to the product?
I have hobbies that include smoking things. I make bacon and smoked cheese for examples. So adding some mesquite smoke prior to the crockpot would be easy for me.
Appreciate your thoughts!
Ted
Yes I think you could add some adobe for smokiness although cafe rio’s does not taste smoky at all. Some swear there are chiles in it but I don’t know for sure.Might be good to add them
It’s funny that I found this because my mom is a general manager for Cafe Rio here in Palmdale California. Personally I’m not a fan of the pork but my mom said a lot of people love it and it’s a big seller there.
Ha she could probably give us the real recipe!
As I was scrolling through your comments, Lake Powell caught my eye! Since I live in Page and am looking at the lake as I type this, I will definitely give this a try. It looks delicious and I will report back!
What a beautiful place. We go every year!
I need to only make for family. Hoe do I amend the cooling times.
You can reduce the amount of pork but you will have to cook it for the same amount of time.
I believe that the barbacoa is actually made with dr. Pepper the shredded beef is made from Coke.
I’ve never heard that theory. Hmm
This is SO yummy! I actually really love the root beer flavor in it, which surprised me. Oh, and if you can get your hands on cotija cheese, that’s the crumbly cheese they top the salads with… it’s very Parmesan-like.
Yes, I love Cotija and adds great flavor.
Hey! So we take a vacation once a year to SLC. Cafe Rio’s has been a staple on our visits. I dream about their pork. I found your recipe and have been thrilled with the results. It is SO great! The last time I made it, I forgot to buy regular ginger ale. I did have a local ginger ale (Buffalo Rock) and I decided to use it instead. It was absolutely SPOT ON. It is a must try!!
Really? Ooh I will have to try that!
I love your recipe blog! Can’t wait to try this recipe. When you prepare this ahead of time to take to Lake Powell, do you freeze it or refrigerate it? How do you reheat it? I’m cooking for a crowd next weekend and would like to do as much as possible ahead of time. Thanks!
You should freeze it in freezer bags. Then you can thaw in the fridge the day before and reheat in the crockpot. You might need to add some more liquid.
I’m so glad I came across your blog. I’m an Idahoin living on the eastcoast now and missed cafe rio barbacoa burrito. Now I came make them at home.
Awesome. I miss Cafe Rio too!
If you only use a 3-4 lb (or even 1-2 lb. – it’s just my husband and I ☺️), do you half all of the other ingredients – like the root beer and sugar?
Yes, you definitely could half it.
I do a 7-8 lbs. boneless pork butt or shoulder
one package of brown sugar
one can of Pace Salsa
Slow cook all day & shred after 6 hours
It is not the same 100% but it is sweet and tender, I notice that when I use soda it gets tough.
(I have a recipe for the spicy ranch if you want it)
Hi Christy – I’ve made your Cafe Rio’s Sweet Barbacoa Pork 4 times now, in maybe 6 months, along with all the other dishes you suggested. Dressing (to-die-for!), rice, beans, salsa, guacamole (what am I forgetting??). The entire meal became an instant-favorite with DIL/son. So – I have a question … do you have any suggestions on the possibility of cooking the pork in the Instant Pot? And if so, suggested times? Seems like this would save lots of time. And yet, I do understand that some things definitely need to cook slow and long to be tender and juicy. Thanks! 🙂
PS: Used to get your postings to my email. One day they stopped. Guess I need to re-sucscribe.
Shoot! Judy, I have no idea how to use an Instant Pot but I’m sure you can use it as I’ve seen others do so.
I just made it in the InstantPot tonight, and it turned out great! Cut the pork up into squares, as suggested above, season with salt and pepper, and place with 3/4 cup water in the InstantPot. Cook for 47 minutes and let it natural release. Then drain all the liquid and lightly shred the pork, and add in the rest of the ingredients (root beer-cumin) and cook for an additional 10 minutes under pressure.
Glad you liked it!
I missing my Cafe Rio!! The one in Spanish Fork is my favorite!! I’ve tried other copy cat recipes but not yours! I’m definitely going to give it a try!!
Oh I am so excited to make this! I live in Tallahassee but I am a Utah girl and crave Cafe Rio on a regular basis! I am having some Sister Missionaries, who are from Utah, over for dinner and I think this will be the perfect dish to make! The only thing is that I don’t have a blender (crazy, I know). Is there any other way to make the dressing or do I have to nix it and just have plain old ranch (which I would hate to do because the house dressing MAKES the salad!).
Thanks!!
Carol
Carol,
Do you have a food processor? The blender just makes the tomatillo and cilantro disappear in the dressing.
Thank you for your reply, Christy.
I ended up going and purchasing a blender that day because the dressing was THAT necessary. It turned out delicious!! Next time I think I will use a little less buttermilk to make it thicker but the flavor was SPOT ON!
This was wonderful! Was looking for something different to make for a family get together and this hit the spot! Everyone loved it! Made the Cilantro Lime Rice and Creamy Tomatillo Dressing as well.
I have never been to cafe rio, but your recipes look amazing! My type of food for sure! Thanks for sharing!
Hi I can’t wait to try this recipe this weekend! Thank you. Since I’m halfing the recipe, do you suggest I reduce the time in the crockpot as well?
Thanks
Yes, you’ll probably only need it to cook for about 6 hours.
Thank you Christy!
Do you mean 6 hours total or 6 hours then the 3 hours after you’ve added the sauce?
I would probably do 4-6 hours for the pork and then at least another 2 for the sauce.
Actually the term is not barbacoa….what you actually are cooking are carnitas. Barbacoa is something different. Does sound like a tasty recipe though.
My daughter and I absolutly love Cafe Rio’s Sweet Barbacoa Pork….but since we live in Cleveland, Utah (close to Price, Utah) which is about an hour and a half from the nearest Cafe Rio… we are going to try this recipe out. Glad I ran across your blog 🙂
@Amy,
I emailed it to you but here it is for anyone else that wants it.
Cafe Rio CHICKEN
5 lbs chicken breast, boneless, skinless
1 small bottle zesty italian dressing
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1 Tablespoon cumin
3 cloves garlic, minced
Mix all ingredients together in a large crock pot. Cook on high for 5-7 hours. Remove chicken and shred. Reserve a small amount of juice and pour over shredded chicken. Keep warm.
wonderful! my email address is amynoel at gmail dot com
i just remembered to check back on this. whenever you get a chance, that would be great. thanks!
My sister just introduced me to your blog. Thank you, thank you, thank you… Love your recipes!
@Amy,
Oh no. Shoot! I pulled it because I wasn’t in love with it. I’m not home for another week but when I get home I can look for it in my recipe box and send it to you.
ahhh! i’ve had this link posted on pinterest for awhile. i made the chicken and we loved it so i came back to make it again but the chicken recipe is gone! what happened to it? any chance i could still get it? thanks.
You’re kinda awesome ( :
We have costa vida and chipoltles here in AZ. My son luuuvvvss the Barbacoa. This will save me $$.
Thank you sweet girl who eats everything : D
Joni
@Allie,
I figured it out! Sometimes I used the .4 ounce package and sometimes I used the 1 ounce dressing packet. Use the 2 ounce and it will be perfectly thick!
I moved from Salt Lake about a year ago and I’m CONSTANTLY craving Cafe Rio! Thanks for the recipes!!
They have a cafe rio in Virginia and Maryland.
Caferio.com/locations
@Allie,
I totally remember you. Just saw this comment sorry…years later. The dressing is runnier than cafe rios but it depends how much water your tomatillos have in them I think.
We made this tonight and it was amazing!
Cafe Rio has been rumored to be starting a small chain in the VA and DC areas!!! I am super excited!
Very nice blog and I think this’ll be my next recipe… seriously, I will do my best effort to make it alone but I guess it’s going to be difficult because this is my first time in this culinary blog. 23jj
Hello. I just wanted to let you know that I made this recipe today and blogged it. But not to worry because I gave you the credit. You can check it out here, http://sweetteaandporchswings.blogspot.com/2010/11/brown-sugar-pork-roast.html.
I love your blog by the way and haven’t even had a chance to save all the yummy recipes yet. Yum!
Hey Christy! I dont know if you remember me from our old ward in Provo? Anyways Nicole Goggins told me about your amazing food blog. I love it! your such an awesome cook! I make the cafe rio salad all the time but the only problem I have is that whenever I make the dressing its really runny not as thick as the actual cafe rio dressing. Is yours the same way? just curious if Im doing it wrong or if thats just how it is? Tastes great though! Thanks! And hope everything is going well with you and your family!
I am so excited! The recipe I have takes coke, and I love the idea of using root beer instead. Thanks for these recipes!
Question: For your pork recipe, how many oz of tomato sauce do I need?
We too have had to resort to making our own Cafe Rio Pork Salads. They have been so yummy and always a hit when we invite people who have lived in Provo before. Bob loves to make this!
I love it to! Me and Royce have missed it so much we want to open a costa vida I know not as goo but they franchise! I going to try these reciepes for sure! Thanks You are great!
Can I tell you how much I love your recipe blog. I have a friend who saw it from my blog and she made your chicken tortilla soup last night for enrichment. I will try these recipes, they are similar to what I use but I see some differences. Do you get the tortillas from Costco? They are the best!