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100+ July 4th Recipes

Published: | Last Updated: November 26, 2021 | 2 Comments
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Last Updated November 26th, 2021 at 06:37 pm by Lisa

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.

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...

A collage of recipes to make for July 4th including baked beans, grilled corn, flag pie and more.

⬇ July 4th Recipe Video ⬇

When it comes to July 4th, Americans definitely have 4th of July Food Traditions.

How they started is not exactly known, but there are some great items that most people love to have on our national holiday.

July 4th Tips For Cookouts, Barbeques, Picnics

  • A freshly baked blueberry pie with a flag shaped crust with a food tent over it cooling.
  • 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

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 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!

A blueberry pie with a flag crust baked on a grill.

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 with the ribs 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...

Party Drinks & Appetizers

Serve light and refreshing drinks like white wine sangria, for July 4th and all summer. Use summer fruits in new ways like a strawberry crostini.

How patriotic are the layered drinks and watermelon stars?

  • Two glasses of red white and blue drinks on ice in wine goblets.
    Red White and Blue
    Rum Slush
  • A white platter with strawberry topped crostini appetizer at a party.
    Balsamic Strawberry Crostini
  • Four glasses of red white and blue drinks with straws at a July 4th party.
    Frosted Patriotic Punch
  • A large glass dispenser filled with infused water garnished with blueberries, watermelon stars, and strawberries.
    Star Spangled Infused Water
  • Raspberry Spritzer

Side Dishes & Salads

Serving lots of sides and salads makes your celebration a feast. Some are light and some are traditional, try a variety so everyone is happy...

  • A small white bowl filled with baked beans with a bean pot in the background.
    Country Style Baked Beans
  • A white bowl filled with salad made with strawberries, blueberries and jicama stars.
    Strawberry Blueberry Jicama Salad
  • A white bowl with fruit salsa and a cinnamon cookie on top.
    Summer Fruit Salsa
  • Scooping out a gorgeous scoop on cooked Cowboy Baked Beans from a casseroled dish.
    Cowboy Baked Beans
  • A strawberry, tomato summer salad garnished with little daisies.
    Strawberry and Blueberry Salad

Cookout Menu, Barbeque, and Grillling

Okay, what else is more All-American than BBQ or Grilled anything? Ribs, bbq sauce, grilled chicken, or kabobs these recipes will make your party legendary.

  • Smoked Pork Butt (Pulled Pork Sandwiches)
  • A platter filled with well seasoned BBQ ribs with BBQ sauce.
    Fall Off The Bone Ribs
  • A pulled chicken sandwich on a hamburger bun.
    Sweet and Spicy BBQ Chicken Sliders
  • A silver container filled with bbq sauce, and a brush dripping with the sauce.
    Maple Peach BBQ Sauce
  • A pile of BBQ ribs with corn and sweet tea at a BBQ cookout.
    Honey Balsamic Chipotle Ribs
  • A cutting board with bright colored kebabs with vegetables and sausages at a July 4th party.
    Firecracker Sausage Kebabs
  • A white casserole dish filled with pulled pork.
    Oven Pulled Pork
A lady holding a messy grilled cheeseburger wrapped in paper with baskets of burgers in the background.

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...

  • Patriotic Red Velvet Cake Balls
  • Strawberry Shortcake
  • Firecracker Cake
Patriotic Ice Cream Cake
What Are Traditional July 4th Menu Ideas?


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

Is It July 4th, Fourth of July, or Independence Day?

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)

Small glass trifles filled with candy, whip cream, and July 4th sprinkles.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. nancy says

    5 stars
    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!!!!

    Reply

  2. Jessica Robinson says

    5 stars
    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!)

    Reply

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