60 Best Fourth of July Recipes to Please Any Crowd
From main courses on the grill to bright side dishes showcasing seasonal ingredients.
Whether you’re hosting a 4th of July party this year, bringing a dish to a festive potluck, or simply serving up your family's favorite grilling recipes, July 4th recipes are a major part of celebrating Independence Day. To help you plan your July 4th menu, we've rounded up the best recipes for some of the most popular 4th of July foods, including barbecue staples such as hamburgers, hot dogs, apple pie, and lemonade. After all, it wouldn’t be America’s birthday without them. In addition to traditional American fare, we’ve also included ideas for easy 4th of July appetizers, kid-friendly recipes, festive desserts, and patriotic drinks.
Regardless of how large or small your gathering, the kitchen equipment available, and how much time you want to spend prepping, you can easily plan a festive meal around your 4th of July activities. Our suggestion: a light picnic lunch before lounging by the pool, a grilled dinner eaten on outdoor furniture, and a late night bonfire while toasting marshmallows under the fireworks. If that’s not an ideal summer day, we’re not sure what is. For the moments in between, we suggest selecting a few dip recipes, stocking up on chips, and serving cool summer drinks to keep you satisfied and refreshed as you run around with the kids under the sun.
Boozy Snow Cones
Get in the spirit of the 4th of July with red, white, and blue boozy snow cones. Achieve shaved ice with a snow cone machine or by adding ice to a blender.
Get the Boozy Snow Cones recipe.
Classic All-American Bacon Cheeseburgers
It doesn't get more American than a hamburger topped with bacon and cheese. It's basically a pre-requisite for any July of 4th celebration.
Fresh Berry Lemonade
Take standard lemonade up a notch with the addition of fresh berries. It looks and tastes great!
Get the Fresh Berry Lemonade recipe.
Skillet Mac and Cheese
While the grill is in use, pull out your cast iron skillet and make a baked mac and cheese. This recipe is especially great for dining with kids.
Get the Skillet Mac and Cheese recipe.
Red-White-and-Blue Berry Pizza
At a 4th of July party, there is no such thing as too much red, white, and blue. Make a delicious fruit "pizza" with cream and berries for a light dessert.
Hot Dogs with Pickle and Parsley Relish
For the non-hamburger lovers, grill up hot dogs or brats and top them off with a homemade parsley relish for an extra tang of flavor.
Summer Melon Slushies
For fun, cool refreshments, make a flight of melon slushies. They are perfect kid-friendly drinks that can be aged up with a shot of vodka or tequila for the 21+ crowd.
Get the Summer Melon Slushies recipe.
Oven-Baked Beans
Invest time in your sides by making homemade baked beans. Make them as sweet or tangy as you'd like with brown sugar and apple cider vinegar.
Get the Oven-Baked Beans recipe.
Speculaas S'mores With Strawberries and White Chocolate
Channel those late summer nights by the bonfire with a fancier version of the beloved s'more. This recipe calls for strawberries, white chocolate, and homemade graham crackers.
Get the Speculaas S'mores With Strawberries and White Chocolate recipe.
Favorite Layered Party Dip
For a booze-filled holiday like the 4th of July, chips and dip are a must-have snack to munch on throughout the day.
Get the Favorite Layered Party Dip recipe.
Slow Cooker Pulled-Pork Sandwiches
Want delicious barbecue flavor but don't own a grill? Opt for slow-cooked pulled pork that can be made in a crockpot.
Rhubarb Lemonade
Rhubarb is an underutilized vegetable that grows wildly in all 50 states. Give it its moment to shine by adding it to lemonade for a natural pink hue.
Get the Rhubarb Lemonade recipe.
Peach Caprese Salad
A staple of summer is the addition of fruit to your salad. Jazz up a traditional caprese salad with peaches that reach peak ripeness in summer.
Get the Peach Caprese Salad recipe.
Red, White, and Blue Potato Salad
While "red, white, and blue" is used loosely here, this mixed potato salad is a fun way to add more color to the table.
Good Old-Fashioned Apple Pie
Though apple pie didn't originate in the U.S., it has certainly been adopted as so. Apple pie has become an essential American dessert, often topped with a dollop of vanilla ice cream, slice of American cheese, or bathed in a bowl of milk.
Get the Good Old-Fashioned Apple Pie recipe.
Chicago-Style Chicken Dogs
No barbecue is complete without hot dogs, and these Chicago-style ones are made with chicken rather than beef.
Get the Chicago-Style Chicken Dogs recipe.
Po Boy Style Shrimp Burgers With Cajun Spiced Tots
Everyone goes wild for tots, so try adding a fun spin to your backyard cookout or party by replacing traditional tots or fries with this spicy recipe paired with shrimp burgers.
Get the Po Boy Style Shrimp Burgers With Cajun Spiced Tots recipe.
Corn on the Cob with Parsley Butter
Jazz up classic corn on the cob with fresh, summery parsley butter.
Hawaiian Pork Pull-Apart Rolls
Use one package of Hawaiian rolls to make pork and pineapple sandwiches that guests can easily pull apart.
Tomatillo Salsa
You need only three ingredients to make this tasty green salsa: dried chiles, tangy tomatillos, and cilantro. Oh, and stock up on chips!
Get the Tomatillo Salsa recipe.
Elizabeth Berry (she/her) is the Updates Editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she optimizes lifestyle content across verticals. Prior to this role, she was an Editorial Assistant for Woman’s Day where she covered everything from gift guides to recipes. She also has experience fact checking commerce articles and holds a B.A. in English and Italian Studies from Connecticut College.
Kate Franke (she/her) is the editorial assistant at Woman’s Day. She loves all things lifestyle, home, and market related. Kate has a BAJMC in Magazine Media and BA in Writing from Drake University. She is a proud ASME alum whose work has appeared in Food Network Magazine, The Pioneer Woman Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Modern Farmhouse Style, Beautiful Kitchens & Baths, and more. Next to writing, Kate’s two favorite things are chai lattes and pumpkin bread!
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