This easy Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Tostada recipe is a keeper. A copy cat recipe from Cafe Rio is great for tacos, burritos and even a salad. Made with Coke.
Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Barbacoa
Cafe Rio opened up in the Streets at Southglenn last year and we’ve yet to pay them a visit. I don’t know much about this Mexican fast food chain, but I do know about their sweet pork barbacoa because everyone makes such a fuss over it. Cafe Rio serves it in and on burritos, enchiladas, tacos, tostadas and salads and we really must stop in to give it a try.
When I found this copy cat recipe for Cafe Rio Sweet Pork I knew it would on our table pronto. Even though I’ve never paid Cafe Rio a visit, I do know that I adore the Costa Vida Sweet Pork recipe, which from what I understand is made with Dr. Pepper instead of Coke.
I went into this recipe strictly for the sweet pork experience. Much to my surprise I ended up finding a wonderful salad dressing, Heather’s Creamy Tomatilla Dressing. It’s really incredible with flavor and a keeper for other Mexican themed salads.
For Heather’s post, she had just received a mold to make corn tortillas salad bowl molds. She made a Mexican salad by placing a layer of refried beans, a healthy portion of the sweet pork, lettuce greens and then drizzled the whole thing with this tasty dressing.
I didn’t have taco shell molds, so I made tostadas.
So I made my own homemade tostada shells. So easy, and baked not fried, so that means healthier.
But don’t just sit there and look at it, bite into it quickly before all of those wonderful juices from the pork and the dressing break down that shell and it falls apart in your hand.
There was plenty of liquid from the braised meat, so I used it to dip soft corn tortillas, rolled them up with some of the sweet shredded pork, added lots of shredded cheese and baked them into Sweet Pork Enchilada heaven. Don’t forget a drizzle of that creamy Tomatilla Dressing for a great Mexican Dish.
This easy cafe rio sweet pork recipe is a keeper.
Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe
I hope you give this copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe a try, and if you do, please come back and give the recipe a star rating. and leave a comment about your experience with the recipe.
And if you have a pork roast recipe using Coke, let me know, I’d love to give it a try.
More Mexican Pork Recipes
- Beer Braised Pulled Pork Enchiladas A single bottle of beer turns these Beer Braised Pulled Pork Enchiladas Verde into a magical Mexican meal. The slow cooker insures a steamy blend of flavors.
- Tomato Citrus Spiced Pulled Pork Tacos, Pork roast is slow roasted, shredded and then tossed in a flavorful the citrus spiked sauce. So good, all you need is a dollop of sour cream and a slice of avocado to make a great taco.
- Achiote Shredded Pork Tacos, Achiote turns this everyday pork roast into a fiesta. Try this Rick Bayless Slow Roasted Pulled Pork Tacos Recipe, it’s feeds a crowd, so great for your next party.
And if you’re looking for more Mexican food recipes, don’t miss my Mexican Food Category, you’ll find tons of great ideas. Including the most popular on my site for Hatch Green Chili, Colorado Style.
Sweet Pork Tostada
Ingredients
- 2 pounds pork roast
- 1 can cola NOT diet
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 cup diced roasted and peeled Hatch Green Chile
- 1 10 ounce can enchilada sauce
- 1 15 1/2 ounce can refried beans heated
- 1 head romaine lettuce chopped
- Tomatoes fresh and chopped
- 1 avocado sliced or diced
Instructions
- Put the pork in a reclosable bag to marinate, pour in half of the can of cola and 1/2 cup brown sugar. Marinate for 2 hours.
- Drain marinade and put pork, 1/2 can of cola, water, Hatch chile, enchilada sauce and garlic salt in crock pot on low for about 7-8 hours.
- Remove pork from crockpot and let cool until you can shred the meat.
- To build your tostadas, smear the refried beans onto tostada shells. Top with a generous portion of the shredded sweet pork, add lettuce, tomatoes and avocado. Drizzle with Tomatillo dressing.
Nutrition
For the dressing:
Creamy Tomatillo Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 packet of ranch dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 3 tomatillos husked and diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- juice from 1 lime
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until well blended.
Nutrition
Rio Cafe Sweet Pork Tostada with Creamy Tomatillo Dressing…It’s what’s for Dinner.
Why Trust These Recipes? Lea Ann Brown has lived, worked and played in Colorado for 45 years. She has immersed herself in the Colorado Culinary space, is a Culinary School Graduate and publishes her Colorado food Blog, Cooking On The Ranch.
Debra says
Great finds! I am so bummed I spaced and didn’t get signed up for this month. 🙁
danielle says
I love a good slow cooker recipe and this definitely sounds like a good one!
Heather says
Next time you make this, Um, I’d like a dinner invite! YUM! Great pictures too!
Lea Ann Brown says
The door is always open for you and the boys to come over for dinner. Thanks Heather.
Julie says
We have a similar recipe to this with tacos. I will be trying these tostadas soon. Delicious flavors and I have hatch chilie’s in the freezer.
Lea Ann Brown says
Don’t you love having those Hatch Chile in the freezer.
Holly says
I haven’t noticed Cafe Rio but thanks for the recommendation. How nice that I can use your recipe and make this dish at home too! Pinning this so I remember where to find it! Always love a good crock pot recipe. Thanks, Lea Ann!
Lea Ann Brown says
The only one that I know of in Denver is at Streets of Southglenn. Sounds like we need to make a point to visit.
cheri says
Oh my, this looks amazing! can’t wait to try!
Lea Ann Brown says
Thanks Cheri.
Deb @ Cooking on the Front Burner says
This looks fantastic and I may need to try this myself. I’m a fan of mexican food and this has some amazing flavors. It’s my first time with SRC and having been enjoying seeing what everyone is making… looks like a fun group!
Lea Ann Brown says
Thanks for stopping in Deb. And welcome to SRC.
Larry says
Looks delicious LA and I really like the sound of the dressing.
Lea Ann Brown says
Thanks Larry.
SeattleDee says
OMG, this sweet pork recipe sounds and looks heavenly! There’s a basket of tomatillos on hand so I can try the dressing tonight, maybe to dress some poblano/cabbage slaw for SW corned beef Reuben-style sandwiches. My stomach is growling in anticipation.
Lea Ann Brown says
The dressing is delicious SeattleDee. And what’s this about poblano/cabbage slaw????? tell me more!
Karen Harris says
I just got home from eating at Cafe Rio and I’m sad to say that I had the chile roasted beef instead of the pork. Redo! This sounds wonderful. I will have to give it a try .
Lea Ann Brown says
Well, Chile roasted beef sounds pretty darn good. I really must get over there soon.
Daniela says
Ooh, looks so fresh!
Lea Ann Brown says
Thanks Daniela.
Joyti says
Cola in the marinade? That sounds really amazing and interesting. I really have to try making my own tosadas (pretty sure I’ve actually never had a tostada in my life actually, weirdly enough)…these look great!
Lea Ann Brown says
I’ve seen cola in marinades before but have never tried it until now. Who knows what it scientifically to the meat. Thanks for stopping by Joyti.
colleen @ Secrets from the Cookie Princess says
Wow this looks awesome! I need this in my life. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Lea Ann Brown says
Thanks Colleen and I agree that you need these in your life. 🙂 Hope you give them a try.
Pam says
I love pork tostadas – these look terrific!
Lea Ann Brown says
Thanks so much Pam.
Anne-Marie @ This Mama Cooks! On a Diet says
That looks so good Lea Ann. Frankly the meat could be used in anything – eggs, over rice, in a burrito, etc. That’s what’s so great about shredded pork!
Lea Ann Brown says
Thanks Anne-Marie. And I totally agree, I could put this stuff in and on anything.
Kate says
I am so ready to pull up a chair! Who cares that it is breakfast time. We do not have Hatch Chilis in my area and I have been searching for them since I read about them on your blog awhile back….still looking!! The tomatillo dressing sounds like a wonderful addition. We will be sitting down to these, soon. Great SRC selection.
Lea Ann Brown says
Thanks so much Kate. I love our Hatch chiles and you know you can always order them on line. http://www.hatch-green-chile.com
Penny says
Hi Lea Ann! This recipe sounds amazing. What kind of pork roast did you use? Also I know nothing about hatch green chiles. Do they come canned or did you get fresh and roast them? I would love to make this dish. Thanks.
Lea Ann Brown says
Penny, I used a pork shoulder roast. Hatch Green Chiles are from New Mexico and not readily available everywhere. And they’re only fresh in the Fall. I buy them roasted and freeze them. You can order them on line from a couple of good vendors in New Mexico. Or you can use the canned ones. Pretty good but not like the real thing.
Michaela An Affair from the Heart says
These look heavenly! So happy to be a member of your group!
Lea Ann Brown says
Thanks so much, and we’re glad to have you. Thanks for stopping by and the comment.
Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen says
My my that looks good and it’s a little before breakfast time here.
Sam
Lea Ann Brown says
I could most certainly have this for breakfast Sam, but I’ll probably opt for left over corned beef. 🙂
Heather Englund @FitMamaRealFood says
SO glad you enjoyed it! I’ve never been to cafe rio (so I had to make it at home) but I hear so much great stuff about it – jealous there is one near you! Thanks for trying out the recipe! Happy reveal day!
Lea Ann Brown says
We just don’t eat out much Heather, and when we do, it’s usually a local ownership restaurant as opposed to a chain. NOW, with that said, you bet I’m going to stop by Rio soon and give their sweet pork a try. Thanks so much for two great recipes and it was great cooking with you for SRC.