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The Complete Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Salad Copycat Recipe, right at your fingertips! So easy to make at home, and tastes exactly like the popular restaurant version.
Featured with this Recipe
- Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Salad
- Ingredients in a Sweet Pork Salad
- What is the Difference Between the Creamy Tomatillo Dressing and the Cilantro Lime Dressing?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How to Make the Sweet Pork
- More Cafe Rio Recipes
- How to Make Cafe Rio’s Sweet Pork Salad
- Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Salad Copycat Recipe
Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Salad
Thank you to all you die hard Cafe Rio and Costa Vida fans for making us the number one site for Cafe Rio copycat recipes! If you haven’t tried this easy recipe for the famous Sweet Pork Salad yet, you are in for a treat! We LOVE Cafe Rio and Costa Vida – and we’re very picky about our Cafe Rio sweet pork.
This recipe tastes exactly like the restaurant version, but so easy because you can make it right at home! We also played around with the rice, the beans, and the house ranch dressing. Finally, we nailed it! This recipe tastes exactly like having Cafe Rio take-out. You can even use a lot of these ingredients to try and imitate Cafe Rio’s tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, or nachos. Try it for yourself and you will see what we mean! Be sure to check out all our other tasty Mexican Recipes! We have all kinds of yummy Mexican dishes to round out your meals and celebrations!
Ingredients in a Sweet Pork Salad
This recipe has a lot of ingredients and a lot of separate recipes within the recipe. Don’t be intimidated! If you are wanting to simplify, you can just make the sweet pork and the dressing and get everything else store-bought. You can also make the beans, rice, pork, and dressing all a day or two before hand to make assembly quicker.
- flour tortilla < click the link for our homemade recipe
- shredded cheese (Mexican blend)
- cilantro lime rice < click the link for our homemade recipe
- black beans < click the link for our homemade recipe
- Cafe Rio sweet pork < click the link for our homemade recipe
- leafy green or Romaine lettuce (not iceberg)
- pico de gallo < click the link for our homemade recipe
- guacamole < click the link for our homemade recipe
- tortilla strips < click the link for our homemade recipe
- Cotija cheese (crumbled)
- fresh cilantro (they usually do sprigs but I like fresh chopped cilantro)
Cafe Rio’s Dressings
- creamy tomatillo ranch dressing < click the link for our homemade recipe (aka cilantro ranch dressing)
- OR cilantro lime dressing < click the link for our homemade recipe
Ingredient Variations
If you have some picky eaters who don’t like guac or pico de gallo but don’t want the salad too plain or want to try some different ingredients to make your salad your own; here are some great options that will compliment your salad.
- green chilies
- onions
- lime juice
- refried beans
- sliced avocado
What is the Difference Between the Creamy Tomatillo Dressing and the Cilantro Lime Dressing?
We love both of these dressings so much – it is always hard to choose! They are both made with tomatillos, cilantro, and lime so the basic flavor is the same. The difference is that the Ranch Dressing is thick and creamy like a traditional ranch dressing. The Cilantro Lime Dressing is more of a vinaigrette. It really just comes down to preference!
Frequently Asked Questions
The tins Cafe Rio uses are 9″ round disposable foil pans. You can find them at most restaurant supply stores or on Amazon: Disposable Foil Pans (just like what Cafe Rio uses)
The recipe below is the proportions for one salad. However, if you make up all the recipes (rice, beans, pork, etc.) it can make 4-6 salads, depending on how hungry people are.
When you are ordering your salad at Cafe Rio, you have several different options as far as the meat goes. Not just pork. You can get it with grilled chicken, shredded chicken, shredded beef, or steak. Any of these work well with the salad!
As far as preparing the chicken the same way as the pork, I wouldn’t recommend it. They are two totally different types of meat and it really won’t taste the same. If you are going to use chicken, my favorite way is grilled and sliced.
How to Make the Sweet Pork
Read Next: Easy Dinner Ideas
More Cafe Rio Recipes
We have some of the best recipe copycats of our favorite menu items at Cafe Rio. You will want to try them all!
- Our Version of Cafe Rio’s Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Salsa Fresca (Pico de Gallo)
- Our Version of Cafe Rio’s Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette
- Our Version of Cafe Rio’s Sweet Pork Burrito
- Homemade Flour Tortillas
- Homemade Tortilla Strips
- The BEST Guacamole EVER
How to Make Cafe Rio’s Sweet Pork Salad
Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Salad Copycat
Ingredients
- 1 large flour tortilla < click the link for our homemade recipe
- 1/3 cup shredded cheese (Mexican blend)
- 1/3 cup cilantro lime rice < click the link for our homemade recipe
- 1/3 cup black beans < click the link for our homemade recipe
- 1/2 cup Cafe Rio sweet pork < click the link for our homemade recipe
- 2 cups leafy green or Romaine lettuce (not iceberg)
- 1/4 cup pico de gallo < click the link for our homemade recipe
- 1/4 cup guacamole < click the link for our homemade recipe
- 1/4 cup tortilla strips < click the link for our homemade recipe
- 1 tablespoon Cotija cheese (crumbled)
- 1/4 cup creamy tomatillo ranch dressing < click the link for our homemade recipe
- OR cilantro lime dressing < click the link for our homemade recipe
Instructions
- Lay a tortilla in the bottom of an aluminum tin, a bowl, or plate. Sprinkle cheese on it, and put in the oven at 375 for about 5 min or until the cheese is melted.
- Remove from oven and add rice, beans, and pork.
- Next add the lettuce. Top with pico de gallo, guacamole, tortilla strips, cilantro, and Cotija cheese.
- Serve with the cilantro ranch or vinaigrette dressing and enjoy!
Notes
Recipe Tips:
- Get 9″ round Disposable Foil Pans for your burritos for the full restaurant effect:(just like what Cafe Rio uses)
- The Ranch Dressing is thick and creamy like a traditional ranch dressing.
- The Cilantro Lime Dressing is more of a vinaigrette dressing.
- If you are wanting to use a different dressing I would recommend a chipotle ranch or a balsamic vinaigrette.
- The recipe below is the proportions for one salad. However, if you make up all the recipes (rice, beans, pork, etc.) it can make 4-6 salads, depending on how hungry people are.
- We prefer to store the leftovers in separate airtight containers in the fridge. Leftover sweet pork can also be stored in the freezer, thaw in the refrigerator when ready to use.
Nutrition Information
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Allie- sometimes it is a little runny. I don't think it is too cilantro-y though. I think it has a nice balance. Try it and let me know your opinion! Thanks for the comment!
Tortilla Strips: I have a friend who owns a Costa Vida. When I asked her about how they do their tortilla strips, she said they use a paper shredder and shred regular corn tortillas. Then they fry them up in hot oil, let them drain on paper towel and then give them a light spray with a lime spritzer (that you can buy in the salad dressing isle.)
We used a pasta cutter instead of paper shredder to slice them, but they worked perfectly and are exactly like the real McCoy!
Thanks for the recipe! I've tried others & this was right on! Thanks for doing all the work so we can enjoy Cafe Rio at home!
This was so delicious. I've made it 3 times in the past month! Thanks for the great recipe and I'm glad I came across your blog.
Thanks so much for this yummy recipe. We live overseas and it's nice to have a taste of home! However, I used the Mild sauce, not really paying attention. I will def. need to get the Medium next time. Oh well, still delicious.
I can’t wait to try this out! Last year for my husband’s birthday I called Cafe Rio and begged them to overnight an order to us since we no longer live in UT. They said they couldn’t because of liability reasons.. He will be shocked when I surprise him with this on Sunday!!! Thanks for all your work!
I have lived in Utah all my life up until this past Nov. I am expecting a child and have been CRAVING the Sweet Pork Burritos so bad! I am so excited to make this recipe after reading the reviews!Do you happen to know the recipe for the mild green sauce?
I don’t have a recipe for the mild sauce.. To be honest I don’t think I have ever tried that sauce. I usually get the medium… and I haven’t tried to make that one either. I will have to buy jut a little cup of it and see what I can do!
Thank you SOOOO Much for these recipes. I have already tried it and we LOVE it. My husband was shocked at the pork, so thanks for making me look good. I have a party coming up tomorrow 🙂 and I will be making this for about 25 adults, do you think doubling the recipe be enough. Please email me at warlat@yahoo.comTHANKS SOOOO MUCH!!!!
Hey! Thanks for posting these recipes. We’ve made this salad and it is so good. I’m making it for a large crowd this weekend. (17 adults and 7 kids) and I’m wondering how much you think I need to make. Also, does it matter what kind of pork I use? If you could email me I’d really appreciate it. I love your blog! hutchyhutch87@yahoo.com
THIS IS AWESOME!!! WE LOVE IT! Thank you! I don’t even know how I came across your blog but I love everything I’ve tried!
Thanks so much! I live in California now with NO CAFE RIO and have been MISSING it! This came so close that my craving was cured! Ive tried other recipies for the pork and they don’t hold a candle next to this one! Thanks!
I am so happy to hear it! Thanks for your comments!!
I just tried this recipe but with a few modifications based upon what I had in the cupboard. It still turned out AMAZING! Instead of pork I used chicken tenderloins with Caff-Free/Diet Coke. I figured that it was just chicken and if it was bad then I would have bean burritos! The only thing that I had to do was add a few tsp. of white sugar with the diet coke. The chicken shredded perfectly after 2 hours. It tasted fabulous! I am even more excited to try this with the pork and real Coke! Thanks for the recipe!
Danielle-
I use the 12 or 14 oz can.. not the big 20oz. or whatever it is can. I think there is something in the diet soda that will break down the meat funny. I haven’t TRIED it yet, but that is just what I have heard.. it’s not worth wasting a good roast to see what exactly will happen.
What is the size of enchilada sauce? Also, what happens if you use diet soda? Just wondering!
RED.
Does anyone know whether the enchilada sauce is green or red?
Thank you for posting this!!! We live in CA but travel to UT periodically, and we always have to go to Cafe Rio at least once to get the sweet pork salad. I made your pork the other night and we ate it as burritos…it was perfect! I’m so excited to try the whole salad!
I like how you have all of the recipes combines. Great Job!!