Sweet Pork Salad
This copycat Cafe Rio sweet pork salad is loaded with tender, flavorful shredded pork, crisp greens, rice and beans and all your favorite fresh toppings for a hearty, satisfying meal. Drizzled with a delicious cilantro ranch dressing, it’s the perfect mix of fresh and indulgent in every bite.
Recipe for Sweet Pork Salad
I am going to make a bold statement here. I would eat this meal out of the garbage if I had to. Not even kidding. This sweet pork salad is one my all favorite, top ten recipes that I make. If you are a Costa Vida or Cafe Rio fan, you absolutely have to try this recipe dupe.
This recipe is a slow cooker recipe which is even better in my opinion! Making the sweet pork is incredibly easy. I have made this recipe dozens of times for my family and it’s always a favorite. There are a few things you can make in addition to this pulled pork so make sure to read the full post for tips, tricks and easy sides to go with this sweet pork salad.
The Cowboys’ Rating: 10/10
Every time I make a new recipe, I have my family rate the recipe out of 10. By the time, these recipes make the blog, they’ve been tried and tested by some of my hardest tiny critics!
What Ingredients Are in Sweet Pork Salad?
- Pork Roast – I like to use a large pork roast (4-5 lbs.) for this recipe, because I love having leftovers! I usually choose a boneless pork roast for this recipe, but you can use any type of pork roast.
- Enchilada Sauce – I use red enchilada sauce.
- Coke – Make sure to get regular coke, not diet. This adds a delicious, sweet flavor to your pork.
- Brown Sugar – Brown sugar also adds that savory, sweet flavor to the pork that is so good.
- Diced Green Chilis – Green chilis add a little spice without it being too spicy for the little people you’re feeding.
- Black or Pinto Beans – We like to add beans to our burrito. This is totally optional, however. Black beans or pinto beans are our favorites.
- Spanish Rice – Another favorite we like to add is Spanish Rice just like at Cafe Rio. I have a very easy Spanish Rice recipe here that you can make in addition to this sweet pork. It’s
seasonings
- Cumin
- Kosher Salt
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
toppings
- Cilantro Ranch – I have an easy and delicious recipe for cilantro ranch that you can find here. It’s the perfect topping for this sweet pork salad.
- Pico de Gallo
- Guacamole
- Lettuce
- Cilantro
- Shredded Cheese
- Tortilla Strips
Tools You’ll Need
Sweet Pork Salad Recipe
- In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons brown sugar, cumin, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder together to make a rub.
- Generously rub the seasonings all over the pork roast.
- Place the pork roast in the bottom of a slow cooker.
- Pour half can of coke around the pork roast in the bottom of the slow cooker. Save the remaining half for later.
- Pour half can of enchilada sauce over top of the pork roast. Save the remaining half for later as well.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- 2 hours before serving, remove cover and remove pork from slow cooker.
- Drain the juice from the slow cooker and shred pork.
- Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and add in remaining coke, enchilada sauce and 1/2 cup brown sugar. Cover and cook for 2 hours.
- After 2 hours, remove cover and assemble salads.
- Place sweet pork on the bottom and top with Spanish rice, beans, and all your favorite toppings.
- Drizzle with cilantro ranch and tortilla strips.
- Serve and enjoy!
Gluten Free Sweet Pork Salad
This recipe is gluten free! It is one of my very favorites to make for my family who is also gluten free. I do however always caution to make sure the ingredients YOU are using are indeed gluten free.
Sides for Sweet Pork Salad
This sweet pork is so good, but if you’ve been to Cafe Rio, you know that all the other stuff they put on the burrito makes it even better. I have linked below my recipes for Spanish Rice and Cilantro Ranch.
Storage
Store the leftover sweet pork in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I store everything in it’s own container in the refrigerator and then assemble the salads again when I want leftovers.
Try More of My Easy Recipes
Sweet Pork Salad
Ingredients
- 4 lb. boneless pork roast
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 (12 oz) can coke
- 1 (10 oz) can Old El Paso mild red enchilada sauce
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
Toppings
- lettuce
- Spanish Rice
- Black or Pinto Beans
- guacamole
- pico de gallo
- shredded cheese
- tortilla strips
- cilantro ranch dressing
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons brown sugar, cumin, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder together to make a rub.
- Generously rub the seasonings all over the pork roast.
- Place the pork roast in the bottom of a slow cooker.
- Pour half can of coke around the pork roast in the bottom of the slow cooker. Save the remaining half for later.
- Pour half can of enchilada sauce over top of the pork roast. Save the remaining half for later as well.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- 2 hours before serving, remove cover and remove pork from slow cooker.
- Drain the juice from the slow cooker and shred pork.
- Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and add in remaining coke, enchilada sauce and 1/2 cup brown sugar. Cover and cook for 2 hours.
- After 2 hours, remove cover and assemble salads.
- Place sweet pork on the bottom and top with Spanish rice, beans, and all your favorite toppings.
- Drizzle with cilantro ranch and tortilla strips.
- Serve and enjoy!
