Need some food ideas for a fabulous 4th of July celebration? You’ll love this Perfect Pulled Pork with a side of Ultimate Baked Beans. They’re great for holidays, parties with friends, and summer days when you want to have fun with your family and not spend all day in kitchen! :) Like yesterday for example- we hung out by the pool all day and when we got home, the last thing I wanted to do was think about what to fix for dinner. We could’ve stopped for fast food on the way home- but we didn’t have to. :) We had delicious pulled pork sandwiches and hearty, meaty, ultimate baked beans waiting on us. The pulled pork cooked in the crock pot all day and took less than 5 mins to pull apart because it was so tender, juicy and falling off the bone. The baked beans were made ahead and all I had to do was get them out of the fridge and pop ‘em in oven.
You can check out the Ultimate Baked Beans recipe for specifics on how I did the pulled pork in the crock pot. Another reason to check out it out? See that bacon up there? I cooked it in the oven. :D
I’ve been doing it this way for awhile now and it turns out *perfectly* done. Check out the recipe- it tells you exactly how I do it! :)
BTW, have you tried whole wheat hamburger buns? Let me be the first to say, I *hate* whole wheat bread. Okay, hate is a strong word. I really, really dislike whole wheat bread. I love bread, but unfortunately for my bathing suit, I really, really dislike whole wheat bread. :p Maybe it’s the texture, or the color, or the aftertaste, or I don’t know what. But I actually really like whole wheat hamburger buns! I can’t tell the difference! lol. Especially with these pulled pork sandwiches. I got two different kinds the other day, just in case- regular buns and whole wheat buns. I had one of each last night and I couldn’t tell the difference. I’m sold! If you’re a whole wheat bread hater (er, disliker?) like me, give these a try sometime. They might surprise you! :D
We had plenty of leftovers, so I think I’m going to fix myself another sandwich right now. :D
But before I go, I want someone to have this $25 gift certificate to B Johnson Jewelry!
Isn’t it just delightful? So pretty and summery. :) Someone I know should *definitely* have those earrings.
To be entered to win the $25 gift certificate to B Johnson Jewelry, leave a comment on this post- you can…
1. Leave a link to what you’d get! I’d love to see!
2. Tell me about your 4th of July plans- got any great recipes you’re looking forward to making? :)
3. Or you can just say whatever comes to your mind! ;)
One entry per person please! :) The winner will be chosen by his or her comment number, which will be picked by Random.org’s number generator. But hurry! The contest ends MONDAY night, June 29, at 10:00 pm CST.
Thanks so much for looking and GOOD LUCK!!! :)
Congrats to #53 Rachel E.! You won the $25 gift certificate to BJohnsonJewelry! Contact me to claim your prize! :)
My parents will be visiting from out of town for the 4th of July. We always go out to a local golf course to watch the fireworks the night of the 4th.
I think your beans look great, and I’d really like to try making bacon in the oven!
We’ll be spending the 4th of July with our daughter, sil and the grandchildren. I’m sending this recipe on to my daughter in just a few minutes :)
Amanda, you said, “pulled pork cooked in the crock pot all day” but you don’t say what setting you used or how many hours it can be left in the crock pot before it dries out. I think cooking in the crock pot is the only way to go….LOL
Thank you for the recipes and also the chance to win.
hugs,
Shayna
Whole wheat bun are awesome!!! Orowheat has the best ones!! And whole wheat is very good for you! Have you ever tried grinding the wheat fresh and making your own bread. You will never go back!! Fresh ground is WAY better than the crap you buy in the store. IMO of course!!
oh my. all i can say is that recipe looks DELICIOUS!!! Thanks for sharing it!
Perfect timing. I actually JUST got a pork shoulder out of the freezer to let it thaw so I could make pulled pork for the 4th!
I’ll have to check out your recipe!
:)
We don’t have any plans for the 4th. How pathetic is that? We just moved to a new area and don’t know much about it. We thought we would spend the 4th with our little family instead of trying to find some shindig to go to. Hopefully we can find something fun, and maybe a firework show. Oh, and it would be LOVELY if I could get the GC so I could by that bracelet up above!
Girl, from the first time I tried this receipe (the pull-apart pork sandwiches) , I was hooked! :-) I have since referred it to several of my friends who’ve also given it out! A very inexpensive but delicious meal and full of protein! It’s absolutely yummy!
Love ya, Amanda :)
I am amazed at how pretty the bacon turned out. Where’s all the grease?
Thanks for sharing another FAB looking recipe! Can’t wait to try it. :)
Those baked beans look so yummy , Amanda! I wish I could get the kids to eat them ;)
The jewelry is really beautiful.
i love this necklace, It’s the dragonfly…it’s the love ….It’s so me! It’s perfect!! here’s the link
http://bjohnsonjewelry.com/store/item/206362.xml
No 4th of July, only because we celebrate Canada Day on the 1st of July. Will be spending it with the family, maybe so celebrations in the park!
Sorry this was too long
Shannon
What would I get, oh my goodness, that is a hard question! It all looks so awesome! I would probably pick out something my two teenage daughters would hate so they won’t steal it from me!!!!
I would buy the bird nest necklace if I won. It’s so cute!!
So excited for the 4th of July! Of course the 4th means lots of grilling, but I think I’m most excited for some of bakerella’s cake pops…they are going to be red, white, and blue!
I love getting your newsletter! Thanks!
Just a word of warning about using your crockpot when you are not at home…a friend of mine, a fireman, said to NEVER leave a crockpot on when you are not at home. He has seen to many problems caused by crockpots. When I use mine, I put it on a large oven pan(pizza pan)to minimize any damage from the heat and I check it several times to make sure that it is not over-heating.
Have a great day and give the doggies a hug and these cyber bones! 8=8 8=8 8=8
Hi Amanda,
The pulled pork looks deeeeee-licious! I love the bacon idea. I wonder if there is a grate you could put inside your pan so the bacon grease can drip down. hmmm. Just a thought. I might have to look for something like that. Keep up the great work. We love reading your blog! <3 Christy
Yummm! And I’d love to see a revision or an addition to your pulled pork recipe that includes how to do it in a crock pot. Pretty please??? :)
Your Ultimate Baked Beans look a lot like my Texas Baked Beans, except I use sausage. Always a hit. I’ll have to give yours a try this week. Also, a couple weeks ago, I served my pulled pork rolled in lettuce leaves, just to cut the carbs. And, guess what! Even the guys liked it.
One more thought — years ago, I started putting my crock pot out on the patio with a giant bug screen over it if I was going to be gone all day. I’ve even done my Thanksgiving turkey that way in my Nesco. No problems yet!
Well, if I win, I am going to give the certificate to my good friend, Janice. She just started making jewelry this winter and I know she would love it.
love the fonts and recipes! swr
Mmmmmm! My husband and I can’t wait to try the baked beans and I already love the pulled pork!
Amanda,
Thanks for the great Baked Bean recipe… my family loves all types of Baked Beans, and now I can serve this as a suprise for the holiday weekend!
Thanks for all of your inspiration!
You are the BEST!
~Debra
We’ll be going to my cousin’s house for a HUGE family get together. Lots of good food and lots of good people … can’t beat that!
I am hosting a family barbeque on the 4th. We love cookouts and everyone always brings such delicious food to share. I think I might make the bean recipe – it looks delish!
I’m making buttermilk pie!
We will be with friends for a picnic and fireworks on the 4th of July. I enjoy reading your website especially your decorating and craft ideas!
Amanda,
I really like your give-aways so i hope I win this time!
You know what would go great with your pulled pork and baked beans?! Cole Slaw! Go to allrecipes.com and search for Sweet Restaurant Slaw…it is AMAZING! And I always make it with bbq and baked beans! LOL Go figure! Oh! I’m so going to try the bacon in the oven, btw. Yum!
what beautiful jewelry! i would get these…http://bjohnsonjewelry.com/store/item/206623.xml
you are not the first person i’ve had tell me about the pulled pork BBQ sandwiches – i cant wait to try them myself!
keep up the great work!
Yum I love making pulled pork! Dave and I are heading to Ohio to see his family and I’m in a wedding on the 4th. So I’ll miss most of the fireworks, sparklers, etc that I absolutely love about the 4th but I’m excited for my friend so it will be fun.
Hi Amanda! I can’t wait to try your pulled pork recipe! I don’t think I could pass up the heart lock necklace if I won the certificate. :)
Happy 4th!!
Good Morning Amanda! Im in charge of bringing a dessert to the party on the 4th and I have never failed with this yummy layerd angel food deliciousness http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Strawberry-Angel-Food-Dessert/Detail.aspx Mmmmm! If I won the gift certificate I would for sure get this bird nest necklace. http://bjohnsonjewelry.com/store/item/206526.xml
Heck even if I dont win I might get it anyway. Its beautiful!
hi again,
the recipes look awesome!!! i did make the colorful chicken alfredo and we loved it!!!
we will be hanging out at our friend’s italian restaurant on the 4th! the parade comes right in front of the restaurant and us girls sell food and mimosas. we save the $$ for our GNO (girls night out) fund!
this caught my eye: http://bjohnsonjewelry.com/store/item/206525.xml
the colors are great!!!
have a great 4th of july!
I would get this Bird Nest Necklace:
http://bjohnsonjewelry.com/store/item/206526.xml
I’m going to make your beans, for sure–they sound yummy! Then I’ll include everything that I’ve always made for the Fourth: potato salad, tortellini salad, a rice salad with artichokes, crudite platter, brownies (The Barefoot Contessa’s Outrageous Brownies!), etc., etc. The guys will barbecue. Traditions!
Amanda,
I love your recipes and pictures! I especially love crock pot recipes! My husband and I work full time (I teach 6th grade, so I take a lot of work home with me, too) and I’m working on my doctorate, so it is always great to have a nice homemade meal on a busy weeknight without having to work too hard after a long day!
Thanks for all you do. I love seeing email from you in my in box!
Looks SO good! I know what we are having for dinner! Thanks Amanda!
We are going to the Rodeo for the 4th – I just got married and that is tradition for my new husband’s family. I’m very excited!
Meanwhile, my family tradition involves a lovely “salsa and chips” recipe:
Strawberry Salsa
Box of fresh Strawberries (cubed to look like tomatoes)
Box of fresh blueberries* (sliced to mimic olives)
Chopped Spinach (chopped fine to look like cilantro)
2 Oranges (cubed to look like “yellow” peppers)
2-3 cups marshmallows (dyed green & cubed to look like green onions)
2 tbs sugar
1/4 cup frozen lemonade
1/8 cup tiny ice cubes
Mix first five ingredients together gently.
Set aside.
Mix together sugar, lemonade, and ice cubes – careful not to melt the ice cubes, they should melt into the fruit mixture
Combine two mixtures (gently)
Serve chilled with a dollop of whipped cream (to look like sour cream) on top
Use dried apples for ‘chips’ or Nilla wafers for ‘crackers’
*large blackberries work, too
hi! i’m a relatively new subscriber, and i LOVE your blog! thanks for a chance to win this giveaway! :)
i’m loving this bracelet: http://bjohnsonjewelry.com/store/item/206346.xml
I love being able to cook ANYTHING in the crock pot! I also have been cooking bacon in the oven for a long time now. I love how it eliminates the mess of a greasy stove top. I don’t care what I do, I cannot keep the pan from spattering all over the stove top. :) I use my broiler pan to cook it in so all the excess grease drains down into the bottom. Can’t wait to try these beans, they look so yummy!
The Ruby Biolette earrings are GORGEOUS!
The beans look really yummy! Making them in the crockpot is so easy! MMMM….now I’m hungry for them!
Also, the jewelry is gorgeous too!!
CCT
All the jewelry there is lovely! I like everything hard to pick one.
I made your pasta dish from last post, all the family loved it!!!
I’ve been to bussssssy and have not thought about 4th of July but know you gave me a great idea the pull pork and beans sound very good.
Thanks for all the great tips and ideas.
Love your website,
I will HAVE to try the pulled pork recipe! I’ve tried to find an easy recipe, but everything seems to take too much work. Can’t wait to try this one!
And I would definitely get the dragonfly drop earrings. So cute!
BBQing with my family on the 4th and going to see Heart at Ribfest in Naperville, IL.
How fun! I think I would get this necklace: http://bjohnsonjewelry.com/store/item/206343.xml
And I think I’m going to try your pulled pork for our party on the 4th! Thanks for the fun recipes :)
Thanks for all your great recipe ideas and endless other great tips, your attention to details really helps! thanks again!
alyssa
Mmmm…my mouth is watering! Think I need to make pulled pork and baked beans this week. :D
Oh, the jewelry is beautiful. Would love to win, thanks for the opportunity! Enjoy the 4th!
I checked out their website – and their stuff is beautiful AND affordable. I love these:
http://bjohnsonjewelry.com/store/item/206321.xml
thanks for the give-aways! i love me some good contest entering :)
We are having a neighborhood 4th of July breakfast, bright and early so everyone can go on to their parades, BBQ’s etc. It is so much fun to see what everyone brings to share!
What brand of bacon do you buy? I have tried mine in the oven and it never comes out looking like yours. Boo!
Love the jewelry site, this is what I would be getting if I won:
http://bjohnsonjewelry.com/store/item/206319.xml
I never thought of putting bacon in the oven… I will have to try it out now!! Thanks for all the great ideas!
I’m looking forward to the making the pulled pork recipe this weekend! We have several food allergies in my family so I’m always looking for “safe” recipes and this looks perfect! Thanks for posting it!
Yum!! The baked bean recipes looks so yummy! Thanks for sharing!
Is summer the greatest?! We will be celebrating the 4th at my niece’s 10th birthday party!