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Classic Southern 4th of July Spread

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A family-approved lineup of classic Southern comfort foods perfect for 4th of July gatherings, featuring pulled pork, potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, and sweet tea.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 lbs pork shoulder (boneless, well-marbled)
  • 1 cup barbecue sauce (Sweet Baby Ray’s preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 3 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes (peeled and cubed)
  • 1 cup mayonnaise (Hellmann’s preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup sweet pickle relish
  • 3 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 4 cups canned navy beans (drained and rinsed)
  • 6 slices bacon, diced
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Coleslaw mix (about 4 cups)
  • Black tea bags (6)
  • Sugar (1 cup)
  • Lemon slices
  • Hamburger buns or slider rolls (for serving pulled pork)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Pulled Pork: Combine brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Rub this spice mix all over the pork shoulder. Place pork in a slow cooker and pour apple cider vinegar around it (not directly on the rub). Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4–5 hours until the meat is tender and falls apart easily. Once done, shred the pork with two forks and stir in barbecue sauce. Keep warm.
  2. Make the Potato Salad: Place cubed potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Add a pinch of salt and bring to a boil. Cook for 12–15 minutes until tender but not mushy. Drain and let cool slightly. In a bowl, mix mayonnaise, yellow mustard, celery, sweet pickle relish, salt, and pepper. Add chopped eggs and potatoes, folding gently to avoid breaking the potatoes. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving for best flavor.
  3. Prepare the Baked Beans: Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). In a skillet, cook diced bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon, leaving fat in the pan. Sauté onions in bacon fat until translucent. In a baking dish, combine navy beans, cooked bacon, sautéed onions, ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Stir well. Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour, stirring halfway through. Remove foil and bake another 15 minutes to thicken sauce.
  4. Mix the Coleslaw: Toss coleslaw mix with your favorite dressing—classic buttermilk ranch or a tangy vinegar-based dressing works great. Chill until ready to serve.
  5. Brew Sweet Tea: Boil 8 cups of water and steep 6 black tea bags for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags and stir in 1 cup sugar until dissolved. Add lemon slices and chill. Serve over ice.
  6. Assemble and Serve: Lay out pulled pork with buns or rolls, potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, and sweet tea. Don’t forget extra napkins—this meal is deliciously messy!

Notes

[‘Use two forks to shred pork quickly while still hot for easier shredding.’, ‘Taste baked beans midway to adjust sweetness or tanginess; extra molasses can enhance flavor.’, ‘Don’t overcook potatoes for potato salad; they should be fork-tender but hold shape.’, ‘Add dressing gradually to potato salad to avoid it becoming too wet.’, ‘Cover baked beans with foil while baking to prevent burning and retain moisture.’, ‘Slow cooking the pork low and slow yields the best tenderness.’, ‘For gluten-free, use gluten-free buns or serve pork over salad.’, ‘Reheat pulled pork gently with a splash of water or barbecue sauce to keep moist.’, ‘Potato salad and coleslaw are best served cold and should not be frozen.’, ‘Baked beans flavor improves when reheated the next day.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: Southern, 4th of July, pulled pork, potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, sweet tea, barbecue, family gathering, comfort food

Find it online: https://ariaappetite.com/classic-southern-4th-of-july-spread-easy-recipes-for-family-gatherings/