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Cafe Rio Pork Barbacoa

Slow-cooked shredded pork marinated in Coca Cola and finished in a green chili and enchilada sauce, served with cilantro ranch dressing.

Added September 29, 2026

Prep
~20 min
Cook
~5 hr to 6 hr
Wait
~4 hr
Total
~9 hr 20 min

~ Times are estimates where the original recipe did not say.

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Steps

  1. Put the pork in a heavy ziploc bag to marinade. Add 1 1/2 cans of Coca Cola and 1/4 cup of brown sugar.

  2. Marinade at least a few hours or overnight in the refrigerator.

  3. Drain the marinade and put the pork, 1/2 can of Coca Cola, the water, and garlic salt in a crockpot.

  4. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 8 hours.

  5. Remove the pork from the crockpot and drain the liquid left in the pot, then shred the pork.

  6. In a food processor or blender, blend 1/2 can of Coca Cola, the chilies, enchilada sauce, and the remaining brown sugar.

  7. If it looks too thick, add more Coca Cola little by little.

  8. Put the shredded pork and sauce back into the crockpot and cook on low for 2 hours.

Cilantro Ranch Dressing

  1. Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth.

  2. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

You'll need

heavy ziploc bagfood processor or blender

From the family table

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