Last Updated April 25th, 2024 at 01:53 pm by Lisa
100+ July 4th recipes of cookout food including grilling recipes, side dishes, and picnic food ideas with drinks, desserts, and more!
Some of the classic “must-haves” on the 4th of July are more than tradition, they make our Independence Day celebrations into memories with friends and family. Many of these recipe ideas have patriotic red, white, and blue colors, and all are easy.
I also have more than one-hundred red, white, and blue desserts. Your summer party or picnic will be one to remember with a patriotic July 4th dessert.
These recipes are from inspiring Food Blogger friends, and I am also sharing my July 4th menu I made over many years...
When it comes to July 4th, Americans definitely have 4th of July Food Traditions for their backyard barbecues!
How the Fourth of July party traditions started is not exactly known, but there are some great items that most people love to have on our national holiday.
And receive a free Cookout Planner as our thank you!
Table of Contents
- July 4th Tips For Cookouts, Barbeques, Picni cs
- July 4th Food Ideas Party Checklist
- Blueberry Pie ~ Grill Baked
- An All American July 4th Menu
- Party Drinks & Fourth of July Appetizers
- Side Dishes & Salads
- Cookout Menu, Barbeque, and Grilling
- Hamburgers and The Best Cheeseburgers
- Fourth of July Desserts
- July 4th Food FAQ
- More Party Food
July 4th Tips For Cookouts, Barbeques, Picnics
- Use serving pieces you have, red, white, and blue are great but not necessary. Look high and low for the thing you have-trust me you have great pieces to use. Find trays, baskets, and bowls, or buy inexpensive ones.
- Plan an area for all the food. A nice long table in the shade, a dinner table, or a kitchen counter space all work great. Serve out of the heat, cover food, and try to keep any salads or meat items covered.
- For summer pool parties, I make sure to get food back in the fridge after about an hour or so to keep it safe, then take it out later in the day when people get hungry again.
- Plan for your number of guests, space to walk around the table, and chairs, and places to sit in the shade.
- Have containers to send leftovers home with guests, people love it! I use inexpensive Chinese paper takeout containers or grocery store brands.
- If serving outside, plan to keep food protected from flying insects with food tents, chill salads, and keep dishes out of the direct sun if possible.
- Use what you have to create different heights if possible and to keep people moving around trying different dishes. I sometimes use boxes under pretty linens and tablecloths to create high and low places.
- Use American flags, linens, flowers, and patriotic decorations.
- Serve salads in large chilled bowls on ice packs with a pretty towel covering the ice packs. There are also platters that stay chilled for up to two hours, I have a couple and love them.
July 4th Food Ideas Party Checklist
- Trays - regular or ones that stay chilled
- Small Bowls
- Small Serving Spoons
- Salad Tongs
- Napkins
- Utensils
- Plates
- Red Solo Cups
- Ice
- Insect Tents/Covers
- Bottled Water
- Iced Tea or Lemonade
- Chips, Pretzels, Snacks
- Cookout, BBQ, and Grill Items
- Cocktails and Drinks
- Desserts
Blueberry Pie ~ Grill Baked
If you would like to learn how to bake a pie on your grill, take a look at my recipe for Blueberry Pie. There are lots of tips and helpful resources to bake on your grill and get the patriotic flag pie crust. It keeps the house cooler and works so well. Not to mention it is the most fun party trick ever!
An All American July 4th Menu
Each year, I love to celebrate with a traditional July 4th menu. The backyard and pool are all decorated, baby back ribs are put in the smoker early in the morning while the coffee is just brewing, and the ribs are rubbed with my Grill and BBQ rub the night before.
It starts early and goes late until the last fireworks crackle. It is one of my favorite holidays, and I serve more food than people can believe, but somehow it all disappears, here is what is usually on the menu...
- The Best Cheeseburger
- Grilled Hamburger Seasoning
- Easy Limeade Margaritas
- Burger Sauce
- Coleslaw Recipe (No Mayo)
- The Best BBQ Dry Rub
- Oven Roasted Pulled Pork
- Classic Macaroni Salad Recipe
- Watermelon Salad
- Patriotic July 4th M&M Cookies
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
- American Flag Pie
- Ice Cream Cake
- Cheeseburger Sliders
- Grilled Corn On The Cob
- Blueberry Pie Baked Outdoors
- Blueberry Lemonade
- White Wine Sangria
- Cowboy Beans
- Bacon Potato Salad
Party Drinks & Fourth of July Appetizers
Serve light and refreshing drinks like white wine sangria, for July 4th and all summer. Use summer fruits in new ways like crostini with strawberries.
How patriotic are the layered drinks and watermelon stars?
There are so many fun July food ideas...
Rum Slush
- Summer Sangria - July 4th Sparklers by Delicious Table
- Red, White, and Blue Daiquiri by Kleinworth & Co
- Raspberry Vodka Spritzer by A Communal Table
- Red, White, and Blue Sangria Sparklers by A Fork's Tale
- Frozen Bomb Pop Cooler by Bitz & Giggles
- Easy Homemade Sweet Peach Tea by A Farmgirl's Kitchen
- Frosty Patriotic Punch by Spend with Pennies
- Star-Spangled Fruit Infused Water by The View from Great Island
- Red, White, and Blue Rum Slush for Two by Zona Cooks
- Blueberry Oatmeal Smoothie by Veggie Inspired
- CoronaRita Frozen Margarita Beer Cocktail by Delicious Table
- Raspberry Mint Vodka Spritzer by A Communal Table
- Hibiscus Cocktails by Delicious Table
- Real Cuban Mint Mojitos by Delicious Table
- Hibiscus Margarita by A Communal Table
- Roasted Hatch Chile Spicy Bloody Mary Mix by Delicious Table
- Spicy Mexican Beer Micheladas by Delicious Table
- Marinated Mozzarella Balls by Delicious Table
- Red, White, and Blue Sangria by Certified Pastry Aficionado
- Easy Guacamole by Delicious Table
- Firecracker Shrimp by Delicious Table
- Watermelon Skewers by Debra Klein
- Almond Berry Fruit Dip by Dip Recipe Creations
- Sour Cream Onion Dip by Delicious Table
- Red White and Blue Golden Oreo Cheeseball by Dip Recipe Creations
- Balsamic Strawberry Toasted Crostini by Home & Plate
- Ice Cold Sweet Summertime Blueberry Lemonade by Delicious Table
Side Dishes & Salads
Serving lots of sides and salads Fourth of July recipes make your July celebration a feast. Some are light like Vinegar Coleslaw which has a clean taste. Some are traditional, like Cowboy Baked Beans. Try a variety in your Fourth of July menu so everyone is happy...
- Cowboy Baked Beans by Delicious Table
- Easy Picnic Pasta Salad by Delicious Table
- Fire Grilled Hatch Chile Tomatillo Salsa by Delicious Table
- Country Style Baked Beans by A Farmgirl's Kitchen
- Grilled Corn - Mexican Chile Lime Elotes by Delicious Table
- Macaroni Pasta Salad - Dot's Original Family Recipe by Delicious Table
- Coleslaw by Delicious Table
- Red Onions by Delicious Table
- Red, White, and Bleu Potato Salad by Healthy Seasonal Recipes
- Summer Fruit Salsa by Home. Made. Interest.
- Red, White, and Blue American Potato Salad by Delicious Table
- Garlic Dill Potato Salad by Loaves and Dishes
- 7 Layer Salad by Delicious Table
- Fruity Quinoa Salad by Nutrition to Fit
- Watermelon-Blueberry Salad by Savoring Today
- Strawberry and Blueberry Caprese Farro Salad by The Forked Spoon
- The Summer Berry Salad by The Organic Kitchen
- Watermelon Feta Salad with Blueberries by The Spicy Apron
- Strawberry, Blueberry, and Jicama Salad by The Whole Serving
- Beet and Blueberry Salad by Upstate Ramblings
Cookout Menu, Barbeque, and Grilling
Okay, what else is more All-American than BBQ or Grilled anything? Ribs, barbecue sauce, grilled chicken, or kabobs these recipes will make your party legendary. And if you are grilling burgers take a look at my collection of 42+ Amazing Burger Sides! Make sure to have plenty of condiments like mustard and pickles for the Beef Burgers.
- Smoked Pork Butt (Pulled Pork Sandwiches) by Foodology Geek
- Fall Off The Bone BBQ Ribs Recipe by West Via Midwest
- Honey Balsamic Chipotle Ribs by A Farmgirl's Kitchen
- Grilled Pork Kabobs with Bacon Rub by Foodology Geek
- Chicken Green Chile Sliders by A Communal Table
- Easy BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches by Seannas Kitchen
- Cheeseburgers by Delicious Table
- BBQ Sauce Recipe by A Farmgirls Kitchen
- Sweet and Spicy Barbecue Chicken Sliders by From A Chef's Kitchen
- Grilled Lamb Chops, Peaches, and Parmesan Mint Pesto by Delicious Table
- Grill and BBQ Rub by Delicious Table
- Balsamic Grilled Caprese Chicken by Home & Plate
- Grilled Ribeye Steaks by Seannas Kitchen
- Cuban Pulled Pork Sliders by Delicious Table
- Baked American Cheeseburger Sliders by Delicious Table
- Quick and Flavorful Firecracker Sausage Kebabs by Easy Cooking with Melanie
- Firework Hot Dogs by Hustle. Mom. Repeat.
- Easy Cowboy Butter Sauce by Seannas Kitchen
- Shish Kabobs by Delicious Table
- Chili Dogs by Delicious Table
- Picnic Basket Pressed Sandwiches by Delicious Table
- Pork Loin Pulled Pork by Delicious Table
Hamburgers and The Best Cheeseburgers
Grilled Hamburgers (Cheeseburgers) with burger sauce plus all my tips to make the perfect hamburger patties with easy toppings for summer grilling, BBQs, and cookouts.
Burger Seasoning makes the flavor-filled juicy hamburgers. Mix up a batch of hamburger seasoning for your next cookout, grill, or BBQ party.
Fourth of July Desserts
Celebrating the Fourth of July with our national flag colors is an American tradition. And what could be better than pies, tarts, cookies, no-bake desserts, cakes, cupcakes, trifles, cheesecakes, ice cream sandwiches, popsicles, and more for your party?
I put together a full collection of 100 Patriotic July 4th Dessert Recipes from my food blogger friends, here are a few to inspire you...
- American Flag Cake by Delicious Table
- A Red, White, and Blue Tart by The Simple Sweet Life
- Red, White, and Blue Cookie Tarts by Foodtastic Mom
- Best Ever Homemade Apple Pie by A Farmgirl’s Kitchen
- Dutch Apple Pie by Delicious Table
- Red, White, and Blue Bites by Chic and Savvy
- Homemade Cherry Pie Filling by A Farmgirls Kitchen
- American Flag Strawberry Blueberry Pie by Delicious Table
- Southern Fried Apple Hand Pies by A Farmgirls Kitchen
- Deconstructed Patriotic Pie by An Affair from the Heart
- Red, White, and Blue Berry Fruit Tart by What a Girl Eats
- Grill-Baked Blueberry Pie by Delicious Table
- Star-Spangled Berry Sheet Pan Pie by Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
- American Flag Fruit Tart by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Star-Spangled Cookies by Sugar Spun Run
- Cherry Cobbler by A Farmgirls Kitchen
- Red, White, and Blue Swirl Cookies by The Decorated Cookie
- Patriotic Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie by Kleinworth & Co
- Patriotic M&M Pudding Cookies by An Affair from the Heart
- Patriotic Cookies – Stars n’ Stripes USA Cookies by Delicious Table
- Easy Patriotic Bark by What the Fork
- Patriotic White Chocolate Pretzels by Beyond the Chicken Coop
- 4th of July Donuts by The Simple Sweet Life
- Firecracker Cake by Love Bakes Good Cakes
- Yogurt Parfaits by Delicious Table
- Old Fashioned Strawberry Shortcake by A Farmgirl’s Kitchen
- Patriotic Mini Trifles by Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
- Wave Your Flag Cheesecakes by Grumpy’s Honeybunch
- Angel Cake Berry Trifle Sundae by A Farmgirl’s Kitchen
- Red, White, and Blueberry Smoothie Popsicles by The Suburban Soapbox
- Berrylicious Ice Pops by Joy Filled Eats
- Berries and Cream Ice Cream Pie by Joy Filled Eats
- Red, White, and Blue Patriotic Fruit Popsicles by Delicious Table
- Firecracker Popsicles by Fried Dandelions
- Berry Cheesecake Bomb Pops by Lively Table
- Patriotic Ice Cream Sandwiches by Cooking on the Front Burner
- Cherry Pie Ice Cream Sandwiches by Delicious Table
July 4th Food FAQ
Here are some traditional 4th of July foods for cookouts, picnics, and potluck sides.
Grilled Cheeseburgers/Hamburgers
BBQ Ribs
Grilled Hot Dogs, Sausages & Hamburgers
Beer and Soda
Corn on the Cob
S'mores
Lemonade
Strawberry Shortcake
7 Layer Salad
Red Solo Cups
Red, White, and Blue Drinks and Cocktails
Apple, Cherry, or Strawberry Pie
Ice Cream Sandwiches
Popsicles
Potato Salad
Macaroni Salad
Watermelon Salad
Pasta Salad
Coleslaw
Red, White, and Blue Desserts
Independence Day, also referred to as the Fourth of July or July Fourth, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as a new nation, the United States of America, and were no longer part of the British Empire. The Congress actually voted to declare independence two days earlier, on July 2.
Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, cookouts, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the National Day of the United States. (source: Wikipedia)
More Party Food
Celebrate with July 4th Recipes on Independence Day at your Grill and BBQ party, Cookout, or Picnic. Make it one to remember with these Summer recipes...🇺🇸
100+ July 4th Recipes for your cookout menu including grilling recipes, side dishes, and picnic food ideas with drinks, desserts, and more! Some of the classic “must-haves” on the 4th of July are more than tradition, they make our celebrations into memories with friends and family! Many of these recipe ideas have patriotic red, white, and blue colors, and all are easy.
This complete guide has over fifty Bridal Shower Food Ideas to host an elegant party for the bride-to-be. Choose from creative, delicious recipes with planning tips for a beautiful wedding shower for the bride.
Celebrate with over 50+ high school and college Graduation Party Food Ideas. Throw an awesome 2023 grad party full of delicious food and drinks!
These are the best side dishes to make during cookout season! This ultimate list has 30+ Cookout Side Dish Recipes that will inspire you to create the yummiest food for family gatherings, summer picnics, outdoor cookouts, backyard barbecues, or church potlucks.
Look through 42 of the Best Burger Sides! These recipes will help you throw a legendary backyard cookout or July 4th BBQ with clever Summer party food ideas.
A complete Cookout Menu with over 60 recipes for grilling, sides, drinks, desserts, potluck sides, and more for your outdoor BBQ party. Plus inspiring ideas, tips, and hacks to make your cookout spectacular.
Gather your party guests and throw a legendary football party with spectacular, delicious Super Bowl foods for the biggest game of the year. And tailgate in style with all your fan favorites with some of these amazing Football Food Ideas.
Boo! Take a peek through 200+ of the Best Halloween Recipes from inspiring Food Blogger friends!
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Did you love this recipe? We would love to hear from you! If you make this recipe and love it, give it a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ with a comment. THANK YOU!! Follow Delicious Table with my free newsletter and share this recipe with your friends on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
100+ July 4th Dessert Recipes + American Flag Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
9 X 13 rectangle cake
- 1 boxed white vanilla cake mix 16 cups cake batter for pans than 3”
- water vegetable oil eggs called for on cake mix box
- red food color or gel
- blue food color or gel
- fresh raspberries
- fresh blueberries
cake frosting
- 2 cups salted butter - room temperature (2 sticks)
- 1 cup vegetable shortening
- 10 cups powder sugar (confectioners sugar)
- 4 tablespoons hot water
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional but great!)
Instructions
cake pan
- Put a few drops of vegetable oil in bottom of your cake pan. Next, line with parchment paper cut to fit the bottom of the pan.
- This will help release the cake from the pan and makes clean up much easier. If you are serving the cake right from the pan and not removing the cake to decorate, don’t line the pan of course!
make frosting
- Beat soft butter and shortening in a mixer on high until creamy for 5 minutes.
- At low speed, add powder sugar 1 cup at a time until smooth.
- On high speed, mix in vanilla, almond extract, and hot water for 5 minutes until fluffy and smooth.
bake cake
- Mix your cake batter in a large mixing bowl or stand mixer according to the box directions. (Deeper pans might need more cake batter - I used a deeper pan (3 inches deep, most pan are 2 inches deep) so I mixed up 2 boxes of cake batter).
- In a small bowl place 1-2 cups of batter, stir in red food color until it’s the red you like. In another small bowl, place 1-2 cups of the batter; stir in blue food color until it’s the blue you like.
- Now, pour dollops of the batter into the pan alternating from red, white and blue. Try to place the batter on top of each area, it will begin to spread out.
- When all the batter is in the cake pan, use a skewer to pull lines from the center outward, and then do some slight swirls around the pan. This helps create the marble design. Rap the pan down on the counter to help level the batter and pop any bubbles in the batter that would make the cake bake uneven.
- Bake according to your cake box directions, most classic cake mixes require a 350-degree oven for 28 minutes for a regular 9x13 cake pan. (If you use a cake pan deeper than 2 inches, reduce baking temperature to 325 degrees and bake longer for 55 minutes). Check with a toothpick, if it comes out clean the cake is done.
decorate cake
- Cool cake for 10 minutes in the cake pan, then remove it to a wire rack to finish cooling. Cool the cake in the refrigerator for at least two hours or preferably overnight before decorating. I like to bake cakes one day, then decorate them the next. This helps release the steam in the cake and the frosting holds on the cake when chilled, otherwise, it melts.
- Place a dollup of frosting on a small piece of cardboard or a tray, and set the cake on top. This keeps the cake from sliding around while decorating.
- Frost the cake with frosting using a small offset spatula. Smooth out the frosting as best you can all over the top and sides of the cake.
- Using a knife, draw a line about 5 inches long and 4 inches tall for the blue part of the flag in the upper left corner. Place blueberries in that box, pick the best larger ones and place them with the smooth side up.
- Starting at the top of the cake, use large raspberries pointed up and make long rows of red, leaving 1" white stripe in between each row of raspberries.
- Fill a large piping bag with a large 1M star tip and frosting. PRO TIP: rest the piping bag in a tall sturdy jar or glass and pull the piping bag down, it really helps to fill it up. Pipe stars on blueberries for the stars of the flag working in slightly offset rows like the flag.
- Pipe stars in between rows of raspberries, and decorate the sides of the cake if you wish. You will have some frosting leftover, it freezes great in a zip-top bag, and can be used for another dessert.
- The cake will hold well overnight in the refrigerator for 1 day, and possibly 2 days if your berries are really fresh. I would decorate the cake either the day of your party or the night before. I have also had guests decorate it during the party which was SO much fun!
Notes
cake storage
The flag cake will last up to 2 days chilled in the fridge. The frosting will firm up, so remove the cake at least one hour before serving to let the frosting soften up before serving.frosting
This frosting recipe is SOOO fluffy and easy to spread at room temperature. But it firms up nicely when chilled in the fridge, so decorate your cake with room temperature frosting. You can freeze any leftover frosting, and use it for another dessert.baking pans
You can bake this in a sheet pan, glass 9 x 13 dish, or metal cake pan. If you use a pan deeper than 3 inches, you will want to lower the temperature from 350 down to 325 degrees and bake it longer, about 50 minutes. Also, be sure to line the pan with parchment, it makes taking the cake out so much easier, and in one piece. 🍰batter
Coloring the batter is really easy, be sure to use bowls that won't stain with the dye, and just work to put big dollops on top of each other, with lots of white batter all over. Then use a chopstick to pull outward from the center and then in a circle, this makes the swirls you want! 🥣baking
You can bake the cake a day ahead, and keep it chilled in the fridge until it's time to decorate it. You will want the cake very cool before you frost it!decorating
A small offset spatula makes it really easy, but you can use a butter knife too. I had fun piping stars on the cake, totally optional but looks so patriotic. 🇺🇸 Use a large piping bag and 1M tip to create the stars. I used regular food coloring, just mix until it's a dark enough shade. Red took the whole little bottle.berries
I used blueberries and raspberries, but you could use strawberries for the red stripes. You could also use colored sugar or sprinkles for the stripes. 🫐❤️July 4th Recipes
I have a collection of over 100+ July 4th Desserts with treats from my food blogger friends plus a few of mine, with something for everyone. Happy July 4th 🇺🇸, you can also get over 100+ July 4th Recipes and food ideas for your party.July 4th Cookouts, BBQs, and Picnic Tips!
- Use serving pieces you have, red, white, and blue are great but not necessary. Look high and low for the thing you have-trust me you have great pieces to use. Find trays, baskets, bowls, or buy inexpensive ones.
- Plan an area for all the food. A nice long table in the shade, the dinner table, or a kitchen counter space all work great. Serve out of the heat, cover food, and try to keep any salads or meat items covered.
- For summer pool parties, I make sure to get food back in the fridge after about an hour or so to keep it safe, then take it out later in the day when people get hungry again.
- Plan for your number of guests, and space to walk around the table, and chairs, and places to sit in the shade.
- Have containers to send leftovers home with guests, people love it! I use inexpensive Chinese paper takeout containers or grocery store brands.
- If serving outside, plan out to keep food protected from flying insects with food tents, chill salads, and keep dishes out of the direct sun if possible.
- Use what you have to create different heights if possible and to keep people moving around trying different dishes. I sometimes use boxes under pretty linens and tablecloths to create high and low places.
- Use American flags, linens, flowers, and patriotic decorations.
- Serve salads in large chilled bowls on ice packs with a pretty towel covering the ice packs. There are also platters that stay chilled for up to two hours, I have a couple and love them.
Nutrition
CRAVING MORE?
Did you love this recipe? We would love to hear from you! If you make this recipe and love it, give it a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ with a comment. THANK YOU!! Follow Delicious Table with my free newsletter and share this recipe with your friends on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
100+ July 4th Recipes ~ Cheeseburger Sliders with Burger Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
Cheese Stuffed Hamburgers
- 3 lb ground hamburger
- 24 ½" cubes cheddar cheese use a block of cheese
- 3 tablespoons BBQ Grill Rub your favorite or try mine!
- 1 cup Worcestershire
Burger Sauce
- 4 tablespoons ketchup
- 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 4 tablespoons dill or sweet relish
Baked Hamburgers
- 24 mini hamburger buns
- 1 cup burger sauce
- 24 cheese stuffed cooked hamburger patties
- 24 tomato slices
- ruffled bib lettuce
- 6 slices Colby cheese slices cut into quarters
Instructions
Make the Burger Sauce
- Measure equal portions of ketchup, mayo, and relish (either dill or sweet).
- Mix in a small container, and chill until ready to use. This sauce is SO easy and really makes burgers amazing!
Oven Bake the Hamburgers
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Cut 24 cheddar cheese 1" cubes from a large block of cheese.
- In a large bowl, mix hamburger meat, grill rub, and Worcestershire sauce until well combined. Use a 2” ice cream scoop to get cheeseburgers even sized, place a ½" cube of cheddar cheese inside, and form into a ball. Place on the parchment-lined sheet pan.
- BAKE 400 degrees 20 minutes until well done, an internal temperature of 160 degrees.
Assemble Hamburgers
- Slice buns open, spread burger sauce on each side of the bun.
- Stack lettuce, tomato, burger, ¼ of a Colby cheese slice, and serve on a patriotic tray (or in cupcake wrappers) and stick a flag toothpick on top. Serve with burger sauce.
Notes
July 4th Cookout, Barbeque, Picnic Tips
- Use serving pieces you have, red, white, and blue are great but not necessary. Look high and low for the thing you have-trust me you have great pieces to use. Find trays, baskets, bowls, or buy inexpensive ones.
- Plan an area for all the food. A nice long table in the shade, the dinner table, or a kitchen counter space all work great. Serve out of the heat, cover food, and try to keep any salads or meat items covered.
- For summer pool parties, I make sure to get food back in the fridge after about an hour or so to keep it safe, then take it out later in the day when people get hungry again.
- Plan for your number of guests, and space to walk around the table, and chairs, and places to sit in the shade.
- Have containers to send leftovers home with guests, people love it! I use inexpensive Chinese paper takeout containers or grocery store brands.
- If serving outside, plan out to keep food protected from flying insects with food tents, chill salads, and keep dishes out of the direct sun if possible.
- Use what you have to create different heights if possible and to keep people moving around trying different dishes. I sometimes use boxes under pretty linens and tablecloths to create high and low places.
- Use American flags, linens, flowers, and patriotic decorations.
- Serve salads in large chilled bowls on ice packs with a pretty towel covering the ice packs. There are also platters that stay chilled for up to two hours, I have a couple and love them.
Party Checklist
- Trays - regular or ones that stay chilled
- Small Bowls
- Small Serving Spoons
- Salad Tongs
- Napkins
- Utensils
- Plates
- Red Solo Cups
- Ice
- Insect Tents/Covers
- Bottled Water
- Iced Tea or Lemonade
- Chips, Pretzels, Snacks
- Cookout, BBQ, and Grill Items
- Cocktails and Drinks
- Desserts
Burger Serving Ideas
Try serving the cheeseburger sliders on patriotic cupcake wrappers on a tray, easier to eat and hold at a party.Party Planning Portions
These are small hamburgers, plan on at least two per person.Burger Sauce
Is SO GOOD! Serve extra so people can add more if they like. What Kind of Bread Buns Work for Small Burgers?- Small Dinner Rolls
- Parker House Rolls
- King's Hawaiian Bread Rolls
- Martin's Potato Rolls
- Petite Brioche Buns
Great recipes for the 4th, awesome collection of inspiring recipes.
Excellent post
Thanks
This is an amazing collection of 4th of July recipes - a total "one stop shop!!" I LOVE the idea of serving salads on an ice pack with a pretty napkin to cover it - brilliant!!!!
Oh my goodness! This has SO many incredible recipes to make for Fourth of July!!! LOVE that you have them all in one place for me to find. (And LOVE your cheeseburger sliders!)