Jessica Merchant's Blog

These cheddar stuffed soft pretzels are an incredible snack! Melty cheddar is stuffed inside a fluffy soft pretzel then brushed with hot honey. Dip in spicy honey mustard to serve and you’re in heaven!

Doesn’t that just SOUND like October?!

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And fall?! The minute I hear about cheddar stuffed hot pretzels I automatically think of Octoberfest. And it’s probably not even right or close to being traditional, but it sounds like it in my brain! 

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Side bar: whyyyyyy is yeast just so satisfying?!

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If you want to make a snack this weekend that your friends and family will go wild over, you have to try these. They are ridiculously satisfying and taste amazing.

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I rarely make soft pretzels at home because I always *think* that they take forever. I just have it in my head that they are such a process. Aside from letting the dough rise, they are quite easy and simple. Yes, there are multiple steps because they need to take a bath before they bake, but it’s not difficult.

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And the homemade ones are just so so so much better than frozen. I promise! You will not be disappointed. (more…)

The post Cheddar Stuffed Soft Pretzel Bites with Hot Honey Mustard. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

These are 16 of my favorite meals to prep ahead for the week – dishes that hold up well day after day! Soups, pastas, grain bowls and salads, these are my favorite things to eat for lunch or make ahead for busy weeknights!

Let’s make dinner super easy during the crazy fall season!

With a bunch of meals that I adore – ones that still taste fantastic a few days after making them.

I am allll about the easy meals I can prep ahead of time to make sure we have something to delicious to eat on busy nights – or at least eat for lunches. While we can easily fall back on our go-to of something like a grain, grilled chicken or salmon and roasted vegetables, these ones below are more complete dishes that add variety and some excitement to our prepped meals.

That is KEY! I don’t want to eat something boring or something that doesn’t sound good – and I hate any sort of meal prep to go to waste.

Below you’ll find a few of my favorite bowls, soups, pastas and even two kale salads that hold up well for about three days! What are your favorite fall meals to make ahead for the week?

16 Fall Meal Prep Meals For Next Week

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The post 16 Fall Meals You Can Prep Ahead For Lunches or Dinners. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

This maple dijon chicken cobbler is the ultimate fall meal! Cozy and comforting, it’s like a stew and pot pie combined, with delicious cheddar biscuit clouds on top. Make it for someone you love!

I think I’ve found my new favorite comfort food. 

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This maple dijon chicken cobbler has a base of a delicious autumn stew, with bacon, veggies and chicken. It’s topped off with homemade cheddar biscuits that are incredibly flakey and soft. It’s like a pot pie but BETTER.

And packed with a ton of fall flavor. It just tastes like the season! 

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It’s one of those dishes that just tastes like the ultimate comfort food AND makes your whole house smell incredible. Cozy, fall-like, warm. I love it!

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We have a silky chicken stew base with lots of veggies, bacon, some maple syrup and dijon mustard. It just sounds delicious! Then we go and top it with cheesy bread? I mean… give me all of it.

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This is how I make it: 

First up, the bacon. We have to get it crispy and render the fat! 

Once there is enough of the bacon fat in the skillet, I toss in the chicken. This makes it so incredibly flavorful. It browns so well, gets super golden and stays juicy at the same time. Then I transfer both the bacon and chicken to a plate.

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The veggies go in next. Carrots, celery, onions – you could add in mushrooms too. Or even butternut squash. Think of your favorite soup or stew veggies, plus things that sound fabulously ‘fall.” 

Once the veggies are soft, I stir in some flour to create a roux. I pour in chicken stock to help thicken the base and then add the chicken and bacon back into the pot too. This is where our maple and dijon come in too! And it’s going into the oven, so it’s important to use an oven-safe skillet or dutch oven. I love the le creuset braiser. I use all sizes for so many dishes. 

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The filling should be nice and thick, but still a bit liquidy. It’s going to cook more in the oven. Now that it’s done, I make the biscuits real quick!

I used one of my biscuit recipes and modified it down a bit for a small batch. Not that extra biscuits are ever a problem. We’d gladly eat them. But I wanted to make sure that this made just enough to cover the top of a 12 inch skillet. 

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For the biscuits, I cut in some sharp white cheddar with the butter. It doesn’t look like much, but it tastes like everything. (more…)

The post Maple Dijon Chicken Cobbler with Cheddar Biscuits. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

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1. I had dental work last week (nightmare) and let me tell you that there is only so much ice cream one can eat when it comes to a soft foods diet. All I want is a giant sandwich on super crusty toasted bread with tons of chips stuffed inside of it.

2. Chewy pumpkin oatmeal cookies?! I need these in my life!

3. OMG, I saw a tiktok for this holiday tea (sometimes called russian tea??) and it’s a mix of iced tea mix and tang and sugar and cinnamon and it sounds wild but also – I can’t stop thinking about it and I want to make it and have it be my new holiday thing?!

4. Have you been duped by an AI recipe?! Ugh. The worst.

5. As much as I do hate AI, I asked it what my color season was and it told me soft autumn. May be a little life changing.

6. TV things!! I watched the new Monster series on netflix… it was crazy.

7. How to make the holiday season easier by doing things now.

8. The fall prime day starts today and for the past few years, this is when I’ve done the majority of my christmas shopping for the kids. It’s been life changing! I made my amazon gift guides early in case you want to do the same!

The post Tuesday Things! appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

The best of the best amazon prime day deals! Everything I have, love and personally recommend.

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I love the fall prime day, because it’s when I officially start my holiday shopping. I’ve done this for the last few years and it’s an incredible savior because the months get so packed and busy for us. Because of this, I already put together some of my gift guides! Of course, you can find all of my prime day picks here, but I also have a men’s gift guide, women’s gift guide, parents/in laws gift guide, hostess gifts, kids stocking stuffers, tween boys, girls and little boys. There are SO many incredible deals on things that I’ve talked about for years. I’ve found a ton of new stuff that is also in my cart!

You can also find my recent purchases here, as well as my must have kitchen essentials!

Top Amazon Prime Day Deals For Fall 2026

Easy Everyday! You can grab my newest cookbook as well as all my others on sale today!

Tineco Vaccuum Mop. I use it daily – at least once, often twice. I have two of them! One upstairs and one down. It cleans my floors like nothing else. I can’t live without it.

Oura Ring. The oura ring has been life changing for me – I’ve talked about this at length. Having the data at my fingertips about just how poor my sleep habits were has totally changed my life! My sleep is SO much better now. I bought the gen 5 (the newest) at the summer prime sale. I love it!

Ninja Fireside 360. We bought this months ago in the summer and it’s SO good. The combo of heating + firepit + s’mores maker is right up my alley, and I love that it’s portable so I can move it from the pool area to our deck. I’ve always wanted a fancy fire table and have just never bit the bullet. This is solving that desire!

Parchment Paper Sheets. I buy these over and over again. Can’t live in my kitchen without them!

Kindle Paperwhite. I can’t live without my kindle these days. Max also has one and uses it constantly when we’re on the go. I take mine everywhere. I actually get anxious if I forget it at home! I also have the tiny kindle which I love to take in small bags or leave in my car so I always have it!

Dyson Airwrap. To this day, I still use my dyson almost every single time I dry my hair. The volume is gives me is unlike anything else.

LG Stand By Me TV. We use this all the time in our house – it lives in my room but we can wheel it everywhere! It’s been great when the kids are sick for their rooms or if I’m doing a big clean out and want to watch something.

Magnatiles. Possibly the most versatile toy ever – my kids (ages 10 to 3) all still adore magnatiles. They keep them busy and are easy transportable. They have built some really cool things with them! In fact, every Thursday or Friday, Emilia and Jordan build a giant zoo in our living room and keep it up for an entire week. They have been doing this for months!

Toniebox. Jordan absolutely loved his Toniebox. He listens to it every night at bedtime and if he wakes in the middle of the night, he actually puts it back on to sooth himself to sleep. It’s great. It is incredible and I wish these existed when Max was his age!

Yoto Mini. This is what Emilia has and listens to EVERY DAY – it’s like the toniebox but mostly for older kids. Emilia has used hers every single day for YEARS. She listens to it at night, we take it in the car, on vacation, everything. This is a new version and I already ordered it for Christmas. She is going to be pumped!

Nutribullet blender. I don’t use this for smoothies, but I use it for salad dressings and sauces almost daily.  It makes combining vinaigrette dressings SO easy. I use it for my ranch and caesar dressings too!

Le Creuset Dutch Oven. I use mine constantly, for sourdough, soups, even tacos. The best.

Eureka Rapidpro Vacuum. I use this nonstop, daily, as my crumb vacuum in the kitchen. I would not survive having little kids if I didn’t have this. It saves my sanity.

Shark Bossblast. Oh this is my new favorite thing. I’ve been using it to clean off my decks and front porch and OMG. It makes life SO easy. It’s great.

Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine. This is the most used item in our house, along with the vacuum mop above. I use this every day, twice a day. When we have parties, everyone uses it and loves it. I bought it on prime day two years ago and have never looked back. It’s my favorite kitchen item!

Bose Quiet Comfort Headphones. These are my ultimate headphones. Better than my apple ones, better than all earbuds – they are so, so comfortable.

Levi’s rib cage jean. Oh my gosh – I LOVE these and can’t even believe the price. Best jeans ever!

Levi’s vegan leather puffer vest. I am completely obsessed. The colors! I bought it in black and brown. Puffer vests are everything and this tie waist is so good.

Wernies No Show Socks. My most favorite socks – they NEVER slip down ever. The best! Almost 100K reviews don’t lie.

CRZ yoga leggings. They are almost a 100% copy of lulu – and I actually prefer working out in these ones. They never slip or stretch out.

Henly collar sweatshirt. I have this one and the mockneck and love both!! Especially since they don’t have logos or words on them.

Beckham Pillows. These are the only pillows we have in our house now, in every single room. They are so comfortable and we love them. Including the kids.

Rotary Cheese Grater. It’s definitely mac and cheese, casserole and cheesy potato season! This makes grating cheese to perfection SO much easier. I don’t know why I haven’t always used one. I love it. And use it multiple times a week! It’s very easy to clean and I put the parts in the dishwasher too.

Bose Soundlink Bluetooth Speaker. We use this every single day, inside and out! We have a few of these and have had multiple iterations. I’ve also gifted this to both of my parents. It’s great and so sleek.

Pro Belgian Waffle Maker. I love this waffle maker. Last year I started doing waffle bar parties and I have two of these going during the parties. They are super simple to use! And make delish waffles too.

Pavoi Tiny Gold Huggie Earrings. I have two pairs of these and barely take them out. I live in them! They don’t irritate my ears at all – I wear them showering, swimming, etc. I only take them out to clean my earrings every week! I actually adore all the pavoi jewelry. I like to change my jewelry a lot and mix in fun pieces with my classics – and this is perfect for that. I have the oura ring cover too!

Tatcha Milky Sunscreen. My favorite sunscreen all year – I’m on bottle number 4. I can’t even explain how incredible it makes my skin look. Works like a dream under makeup too!

Pantene Pro Vitamin Essence. I use this after every hair wash and have for months. It’s an excellent product and I buy a few at a time so I don’t run out. I definitely think it has helped my hair, which has just never been the same since having kids.

Cordless Dust Buster. We have three of these! They live in all corners of the house and garage and are so easy to prop up on the charger. We also use them for our cars.

Kasa Outdoor Smart Plugs. The indoor kasa plugs are what I’ve used for christmas decor for many years. They hook up to alex and you can use voice commands. Having an outdoor one is brilliant!

K18 Hair Mask. Another item I can’t live without. I use it once every week or two and it’s definitely helped the integrity of my hair.

Erborian CC Cream. This looks incredible on the skin – coming out white but almost instantly matching the skintone – and it looks super natural. It oxidizes the least on me out of any tinted moisturizer or foundation. And it looks SO pretty after hours of wear! Can’t live without it.

The post My Top Amazon Prime Day Favorites! appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

This autumn cobb salad is packed with tons of fall produce and flavor! Roasted veggies, chicken, hard boiled eggs, pepitas and a delicious maple dijon dressing over hearty kale make for an incredibly satisfying bowl.

Who wants a giant plate of fall!?

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This roasted autumn cobb salad is packed with all of the best fall produce, juicy chicken, salty pepitas and a delish maple dijon vinaigrette. There’s a bite of everything here and I can’t wait for you to make it! 

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I clearly remember my first cobb salad, which I ordered when I was out to dinner with my mom after a dance competition. And I still didn’t really like salads at the time, but the idea of bacon and eggs and blue cheese and chicken and avocado in a salad?! I loved all of those things so I figured, why not! 

It was still one of the best salads I’ve ever had, and maybe it’s because it was the first cobb. It was at a restaurant in Myrtle Beach, by the way. A trip that took my mom and aunt 17 hours to drive us there because this was before GPS and we got lost… but that’s neither here nor there. 

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The point is that I’ve loved a cobb ever since!

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And sure, this is a very different cobb. In fact, it doesn’t have any of the ingredients I mentioned above, except for the egg. But it has so many incredible fall flavors. Squash and brussels sprouts, some pepitas, a very autumn-inspired dressing. 

It also packs quite a punch. This is incredibly filling and is more of a bowl-like meal than a salad for me. If you want to make it even more satisfying, throw some quinoa or your favorite grain in too. Maybe some dried cherries!

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There is so much goodness packed in this salad! 

First, a base layer of kale. It’s heartier and can hold all the heavier fall vegetables. I prefer this over romaine, iceberg or butter lettuce for an autumn dish because the veggies we are using have more density. 

For the protein, I like to use rotisserie chicken for this salad. It’s just EASY. Since we’re already roasting veggies, making eggs and a dressing, it’s simpler to just grab a rotisserie and go. However, you can use any kind of chicken you’d like. If you would prefer to roast or grill it, do so!  (more…)

The post Roasted Autumn Cobb Salad. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

40 weeks into the year!!

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Fall is in full swing!

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We’re having the most gorgeous autumn skies.

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Trying to perfect this chocolate chip cake.

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Emilia gives me these everyday – she makes them in school. I love it so much.

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Cross country pratice!

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The little cheer squad.

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I love this pic.

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Tennis in the dark! It’s getting dark so early now.

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I made the kids boo baskets and halloween cookie bars to kick off October!

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We’ve been working on this puzzle too.

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He’s still goofy!

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Hockey this weekend.

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With siblings in tow.

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Love.

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Opening weekend!

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Then to grab pumpkins for our porch in the bright sun!

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How do we ever choose?!

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My favorites.

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Love this color palette.

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So proud!

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He was so excited to help. This is all Eddie’s project and has been for years.

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Same walk!

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The fun ones.

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Funy faces.

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Trying to make this work, haha.

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Love those little honeynut squash!

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I made Eddie a cake and this is how he ate it. Monster?

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More hockey!

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And cross country today!

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Those are MY sunglasses!

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Love her so much.

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And gorgeous sunsets with finish the week.

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October is the best!

The post A Week In The Life, Vol 40. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

We have the best week of seasonal meals!

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What’s on your menu this week?!

What To Eat This Week

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One pot fall veggie orzo 

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Cider chicken with cheddar mashed potatoes

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Sweet potato chicken chili 

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Fuji apple chicken salad

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Pumpkin burrata baked ziti

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Maple dijon pulled pork sliders

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Pistachio chicken salad

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Pumpkin baked oatmeal cups

The post What To Eat This Week: 10/4/26. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

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Hello October!

This week on the blog, I shared this sticky apple cider chicken with cheddar mashed potatoes! I also shared this spinach artichoke orzo, 31 recipes for October and these maple dijon pulled pork sliders! My September favorites are here too.

My substack newsletter is here! You can find my shopmy page, amazon storefront and LTK shop here too.

And here’s a new weekly menu along with a peek into our life.

You can find all of my cookbooks here… let me know what you make from them!

What I’m Loving This Week

This stuffed butternut squash looks incredible.

Pear bread sounds delish.

Craving pumpkin tamales. Yum.

Pumpkin biscuits forever!

Same with pumpkin pancakes.

Cinnamon bundt cake. It’s fall!!!!

The most fabulous chicken cheesesteaks.

Cilantro lime tofu looks and sounds amazing.

Loving these pumpkin brownies. Yesssss.

Maple mustard chicken is going on my list.

These scrambled egg turnovers have to be made!

French onion chicken. OMG.

Adding sweet potato cheesecake to the menu.

Apple dumplings are the best classic.

The post Currently Crushing On. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

We all love these maple dijon pulled pork sliders! Sharp cheddar, lots of pickles, maple dijon pulled pork and buttery buns with everything season – they are incredible. Packed with flavor and a party favorite!

Friday food! That’s what I call this. 

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Maple dijon pulled pork sliders, served with lots of pickled and potato chips and a side of the weekend. Just give me a big crispy diet coke and I will be thrilled.

We adore pulled pork and I’m always looking for new and exciting dishes to make. One of the reasons is because it freezes so well and you can easily make a lot – which leaves tons of room for leftovers and a variety of dishes. 

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Our go-tos range from sandwiches to tacos to pizza and more, but sometimes I just want a fun snacky food thrown into the mix. Like a slider that I can grab and go! One that can be piled on a plate with other fun party foods. 

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If you’re entertaining or just putting dinner together for a crowd, making sliders like this is the BEST. It is SO easy. Nothing is more exciting than a slab of sandwiches, and these can be an appetizer or even the main dish if you’d like. 

My uncle brought something similar to our Labor Day party this year and I’ve been thinking about them ever since. They were so packed with flavor and just absolutely delicious.

I’ve made pork sliders before, even topped them with a super crunchy slaw.

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But I wanted this version to be less high maintenance. Maybe a little cozier and comforting for the cool season we’re heading into. The ultimate football food! 

Not that my other pork sliders aren’t cozy. But they have a very crisp refreshing slaw. Usually as delicious, just different.

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For this pork, I wanted a savory sweet flavor. Heavy on the maple mustard, which is just such an incredible combo. Tangy but rich and sweet. 

So, not only are we making pork with the maple dijon sauce, we’re also saving some sauce and drizzling it right in the sliders. Yes yes yes. 

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And then topping that whole thing with PICKLES.

I repeat: pickles. This combination will live rent free in your head forever now. 

I would live in a pickle jar if I could. 

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Oh and the best part: CHEESE. Some sharp cheddar, as a bottom blankety layer. Tastes amazing. 

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Another little thing that makes a huge difference: the everything seasoning! Brushing the tops of the buns with some melted butter and topping with that salty everything bagel seasoning? Makes these taste extra special. 

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My favorite way for making pork is right in the slow cooker. I sear it first and then let it cook low and slow. This is foolproof and works every time. It never ends up tough or difficult to shred!

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Maple Dijon Pulled Pork Sliders [image error] PrintMaple Dijon Pulled Pork Sliders#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-full svg * { fill: #343434; }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-33 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-33); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-50 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-50); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-66 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-66); }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-33 stop { stop-color: #343434; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-50 stop { stop-color: #343434; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-66 stop { stop-color: #343434; }We all love these maple dijon pulled pork sliders! Sharp cheddar, lots of pickles, maple dijon pulled pork and buttery buns with everything season - they are incredible. Packed with flavor and a party favorite!Course Main CourseCuisine AmericanPrep Time 8 hours hoursCook Time 20 minutes minutesTotal Time 8 hours hours 20 minutes minutesServings 4 to 6Author How Sweet EatsIngredientspork4 pounds pork shoulder roastkosher salt and pepper2 teaspoons smoked paprika2 teaspoons garlic powder1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil⅓ cup ginger ale or ginger beermaple dijon sauce¼ cup dijon3 tablespoons maple syrup3 tablespoons mayonnaise1 tablespoon chivessliders1 loaf of 12-count slider buns, such as brioche buns or hawaiian rolls6 to 8 slices sharp cheddar cheesea bunch of your favorite pickle slices - dill or sweet2 tablespoons butter, melted1 tablespoon everything seasoningInstructionsWhisk together the dijon, syrup, mayo and chives. Stir until combined - this can be stored in the fridge until ready to use.I find the flavor is best when the pork is seared first. My slow cooker sears the meat, but if yours does not, heat a large pot over medium to high heat and add the oil. Sprinkle the pork roast all over with salt and pepper and the smoked paprika and garlic powder. Add it to the pot or slow cooker and sear on all sides until deeply golden brown. If necessary, transfer it to the slow cooker. Pour in the ginger beer.Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours. After 8 to 10 hours, the pork will easily shred with a fork. Shred it and mix with the juice in the slow cooker. I like to turn my slow cooker on high and let it sit with the lid off for 15 minutes or so – I find that if it’s extra liquidy, some of the liquid will be absorbed. Stir in ¼ cup of the maple dijon sauce.Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.To make the sliders, slice the slab of slider rolls in half horizontally, keeping them attached as much as you can. Place the bottom of the rolls on a baking sheet. Top with the sliced cheddar. Top that with the pulled pork. Drizzle with the maple dijon sauce. Top with the pickles. Top with the top of the buns. Brush the buns with melted butter and sprinkle with everything seasoning.Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the buns are golden.Serve immediately.

 

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Cozy October food!

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