Best Instant Pot Café Rio sweet pork recipe! This copycat sweet pork recipe makes a great filling for tacos or burritos. Also great in a salad, on a tostada, or in nachos!
I’ve been making copycat versions of Café Rio’s sweet pork in the crock pot for years. When the Instant Pot came along, it was the perfect way to make a faster copycat version of Café Rio’s sweet pork.
This recipe is really simple, and everything cooks right in one pot. The sweet pork is super tender and flavorful, and it makes a great filling for tacos, burritos, and more!
HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT CAFÉ RIO SWEET PORK
Cut the pork into 6 large chunks. Place the pork into the inner pot.
Stir together the spice rub ingredients. Rub the spices over the pork.
Pour water into the bottom of the Instant Pot inner pot. Close and lock the lid.
Turn the pressure release valve to SEALING. Press MANUAL high pressure and adjust the time to 50 minutes.
When the cooking time has finished, let the pressure release naturally for 20 minutes. Carefully turn the pressure release valve to VENTING to release any remaining pressure.
Discard the cooking liquid.
Shred the pork. Return to the empty inner pot.
Add the brown sugar, Dr Pepper, chiles, and enchilada sauce to the inner pot. Stir together.
Return the shredded pork to the pot, and stir to coat in sauce.
TIPS
- Pork butt: A similar cut of pork, like boneless pork shoulder, will also work.
- Spice rub: The spice rub gives the pork flavor but doesn’t add heat.
- Brown sugar: The sauce is meant to be sweet. However, feel free to adjust the amount of sugar to taste.
- Dr Pepper: I like to use Dr Pepper in this recipe, but you could substitute Coca Cola if you prefer.
- Green chiles: I use mild green chiles.
- Enchilada sauce: I use a mild red enchilada sauce.
- Make it spicy: The original sweet pork isn’t spicy. However, if you would like to add some heat, you can increase the amount of chili powder, use a hot green chile, use a medium or hot enchilada sauce, or do all three!
- Serving suggestions: I have several serving ideas just below.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH CAFÉ RIO PORK
This pork makes a great filling for tacos and burritos. It also makes a great topping for tostadas, nachos, or burrito salad.
My favorite way to serve it is in a burrito salad. To make a burrito salad, layer cilantro lime rice and black beans, sweet pork, and lots of lettuce. I top the salad with pico de gallo, guacamole, and queso fresco, and I serve it with a lime dressing.
Make it a freezer meal
To freeze
To make this pork as a freezer meal, cut the pork into chunks as-directed. Mix together the spice rub ingredients.
Rub the spice mixture onto the pork pieces. Place the coated pork pieces into a resealable freezer-safe container. Seal and freeze.
To use
Thaw the pork in the refrigerator. Add the thawed pork to the inner pot. Continue with the recipe as-written beginning with step 5.
STORAGE
Fridge
This pork will keep for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
Freezer
It also freezes well. If you would like to freeze it, cook it as directed.
Cool to room temperature. Portion the shredded pork and sauce in a freezer-safe container.
Instant Pot Café Rio Sweet Pork
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups water
- 4 ½ pounds boneless pork butt
Spice Rub
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Sauce
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 12 ounces Dr Pepper
- 4 ounces canned green chiles
- 16 ounces red enchilada sauce
Instructions
- Cut the pork into 6 large chunks.
- Place the pork into the inner pot.
- Stir together the spice rub ingredients.
- Rub the spices over the pork.
- Pour water around the pork into the bottom of the Instant Pot inner pot.
- Close and lock the lid.
- Turn the pressure release valve to SEALING.
- Press MANUAL high pressure and adjust the time to 50 minutes.
- When the cooking time has finished, let the pressure release naturally for 20 minutes.
- Carefully turn the pressure release valve to VENTING to release any remaining pressure.
- Discard the cooking liquid.
- Shred the pork. Return to the empty inner pot.
- Add the brown sugar, Dr Pepper, chiles, and enchilada sauce to the inner pot.
- Stir together.
- Return the shredded pork to the pot, and stir to coat in sauce.
Notes
- Pork butt: A similar cut of pork, like boneless pork shoulder, will also work.
- Spice rub: The spice rub gives the pork flavor but doesn’t add heat.
- Brown sugar: The sauce is meant to be sweet. However, feel free to adjust the amount of sugar to taste.
- Dr Pepper: I like to use Dr Pepper in this recipe, but you could substitute Coca Cola if you prefer.
- Green chiles: I use mild green chiles.
- Enchilada sauce: I use a mild red enchilada sauce.
- Make it spicy: The original sweet pork isn’t spicy. However, if you would like to add some heat, you can increase the amount of chili powder, use a hot green chile, use a medium or hot enchilada sauce, or do all three!
- Serving suggestions: I have several serving ideas above the recipe.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Nutritional values were calculated using a third-party tool and are provided as an estimation only.
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Did You Make This?
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I’m another Cafe Rio fan. Love this pork and it’s so much faster with the instant pot. 🎉
Thank you! I’m so glad that you liked it!
Love this! It’s a new favorite.
Thank you!