Sugar Free Sweet Pork Recipe

I was given Zevia to try. All opinions are 100% my own.

So, all my friends in Utah have me hooked. They always talked Cafe Rio this, Cafe Rio that… and I had no idea what they were talking about. Well, when a Cafe Rio recently opened in Fort Collins, I FLIPPED when I first had the sweet pork burrito. Like, life changing. I could eat that dang burrito every single day!

Unfortunately for my waistline, I can’t eat it everyday. I’d be a zillion pounds! So when I was thinking of an easy summer meal that I could recreate into a lower calorie version, Cafe Rio’s sweet pork was at the top of my list.

I recently was given some Zevia to try, and wanted to work it into the recipe. I was afraid it might not turn out sweet enough (Zevia isn’t an overly sweet soda, and doesn’t have the sickly fake sweet taste that some artificial diet sodas have)- but I was totally pleased with how developed the flavor was.

This pork IS slightly less sweet, since we’re not adding sugar- but it is a delicious version that tastes anything but diet.

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Yield: 15 + Servings

Sugar Free Sweet Pork Recipe

Prep Time: 5 hours

Cook Time: 5 hours

Total Time: 10 hours

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Ingredients

• 3 + pounds pork shoulder
• 1 medium onion, rough chopped
• 1 can Dr. Zevia Soda
• 1 can Zevia Cola
• 3 tbsp honey or agave syrup
• 1 can sugar free enchilada sauce, Las Palamas is a good sugar free bet
• smoked salt, optional but fabulous

Instructions

1. Salt and pepper pork shoulder liberally. If you don't have smoked salt, don't fret- but it is DELICIOUS and I'd check for it next time you're at the store.
2. Place pork in a heavy ziploc bag and add sodas. Let marinate overnight.
3. In a hot cast iron pan with scant olive oil, quickly brown your pork shoulder on all sides.
4. While the pork is browning, pour zevia marinade and honey or agave syrup in crock pot and add medium chopped onion.
5. Cook on high for five hours.
6. When pork falls easily off bone and shreds apart when touched it is done cooking.
7. Drain excess liquid and shred pork.
8. If you have a stand mixer, use the paddle attachment to get perfectly shredded pork in minutes- otherwise, use two forks to pull pork apart into shreds.
9. Add in can of enchilada sauce and stir thoroughly to combine.
10. Serve while warm over a salad, in a taco or burrito, or over a bed of rice.
11. Enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?

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What is your favorite way to eat sweet pork? I love doing tacos and salads, but I need some other great ways to use this stuff- because it is my new go-to!