70 Best Fourth of July Recipes That'll Be Popular With Any Crowd
From traditional desserts to popular BBQ sides, everyone will love these easy-to-make patriotic food ideas.
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Nothing says summer like a 4th of July party. Whether you fire up the grill for a backyard BBQ, have everyone over for a potluck, or just relax with some patriotic cocktails, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Independence Day. If you're planning your 4th of July menu, we've got plenty of ideas for easy 4th of July appetizers, festive desserts, summer drinks, and kid-friendly favorites. These 4th of July recipes are perfect whether you're hosting the whole crew or just making something special for the family.
No matter what your other 4th of July activities are, you can find recipes that work for your day. If you want to pack a picnic lunch for the parade, we've got plenty of dip recipes that travel well. If you're lounging by the pool, we've got grill recipes that mean you can keep the party going without running back and forth to the kitchen. If you can't stand the idea of turning on the oven in July, check out some of our recipes that come together in the slow cooker or Instant Pot, or opt for a big summer salad.
If you want to keep the summertime fun going even after the 4th, check out our roundups of family summer activities, outdoor furniture that makes your backyard party central, funny memes about summer and summer Instagram captions.
Stone Fruit and Berry Galette
This star-spangled galette is almost too pretty to eat. It brings together some of the summer's best produce, all atop a flaky crust and topped with a hearty scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Get the Stone Fruit and Berry Galette recipe.
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.
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.
Fresh Corn and Chickpea Salad
This hearty salad won't wilt, even on the hottest summer day. It's made with corn, chickpeas, and cucumber, making it vegan-friendly.
Get the Fresh Corn and Chickpea Salad recipe.
Apricot-Glazed Chicken and Corn
A sweet and savory glaze made with apricot jam, lime juice, and red pepper flakes is sure to be a crowd pleaser at any 4th of July BBQ this year.
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.
3-in-1 Agua Fresca
This refreshing Mexican drink is the perfect way to cool off. It can be made with watermelon, honeydew, or pineapple, plus sugar and lime juice.
Get the 3-in-1 Agua Fresca recipe.
Texas Brisket Burger
In this recipe, smoky brisket burgers are topped with a hearty scoop of potato salad for the ultimate summer dish. The recipe as written yields eight burgers, but you can adjust as needed.
Get the Texas Brisket Burger recipe.
Lentil Hummus
This creamy homemade hummus is way better than anything you'll get at the store. You'll need lentils, tahini, and lemons to make it.
Get the Lentil Hummus recipe.
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.
Mini Frozen Key Lime Pies
It's hard to decide what the best part of this dessert is. Is it the buttery, crumbly graham cracker crust? The tart, sweet pie filling? The homemade whipped cream? Better try another one to be sure.
Get the Mini Frozen Key Lime Pies recipe.
Fresh and Fiery Watermelon Salad
This summer salad brings together juicy watermelon, spicy serrano pepper, and refreshing mint for a dish that's sure to delight. You could also easily prep this one ahead of time.
Grilled Chicken Souvlaki
Fire up the grill for these simple grilled chicken skewers. They're simple, and it's always easy to throw a few more on the grill if you have unexpected guests.
Get the Grilled Chicken Souvlaki 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.
Grilled Green Bean Salad
This simple, crunchy salad is great at any summer BBQ. It brings together grilled green beans, creamy white beans, and a flavorful lemon dressing.
Get the Grilled Green Bean Salad recipe.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Jamie Ballard (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor who covers news, lifestyle, and entertainment topics, including sex and relationships, TV, movies, books, health, pets, food and drinks, pop culture, shopping, and personal finance. She regularly contributes to Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, and YouGov, among other publications. When she’s not working, you can find her running, traveling, or scrolling TikTok. Follow her on Twitter.
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