Best 4th Of July Recipes

By Marsha McDougal
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Cue the fireworks…it’s officially one of the biggest food and grilling holidays of the season! Fourth of July celebrations are always full of good food, grilling, and outdoor fun. We’ve rounded the best 4th of July recipes to make your Independence Day delicious, including easy recipes, side dishes, main dishes, and desserts.

Collage of six Best 4th of July recipes with title text in the center.
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Easy 4th Of July Recipes

1. Southern Style Potato Salad

Classic Southern Style Potato Salad

Overhead view of a bowl of Southern style potato salad.
This classic Southern Style Potato Salad uses both mustard and mayonnaise for a super flavorful dressing that is rich, tangy, and creamy.
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
4.85 from 13 votes
$5.43 recipe / $0.68 serving Get the Recipe

We all know you can’t have a cookout without a big bowl of Classic Southern Style Potato Salad! This very popular BBQ side dish is creamy, tangy and always a crowd favorite!

2. Classic Three Bean Salad

Classic Three Bean Salad

Overhead view of a bowl of three bean salad
Simple ingredients come together in this Classic Three Bean Salad to make a simple summer side dish, perfect for BBQs and potlucks!
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
4.77 from 17 votes
$3.84 recipe / $0.77 serving Get the Recipe

We’re saving you time and money with this simple Classic Three Bean Salad! It has minimal ingredients, a tangy-sweet dressing, and it’s the perfect side dish for summer BBQs or busy weeknight meals.

3. Easy Creamy Coleslaw

Easy Creamy Coleslaw

Overhead view of a bowl of creamy coleslaw.
This classic sweet and tangy homemade Creamy Coleslaw Recipe is perfect for piling onto pulled pork sandwiches or serving as a side with dinner.
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
4.86 from 7 votes
$3.19 recipe / $0.79 serving Get the Recipe

I absolutely love a good homemade coleslaw like this Easy Creamy Coleslaw recipe. This creamy-crunchy combo tastes great piled on barbecue sandwiches, hotdogs or even as a side by itself.

4. Easy BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Easy BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Front view of a single Easy BBQ Chicken Sandwich on a wooden cutting board
These Easy BBQ Chicken Sandwiches are a fast, easy, and delicious way to satisfy your BBQ craving. No grill needed! Perfect for busy weeknights.
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
5 from 8 votes
$7.97 recipe / $1.99 serving Get the Recipe

Speaking of barbecue sandwiches, this Easy BBQ Chicken Sandwich doesn’t require a grill and helps get dinner on the table fast! And yes we highly recommend topping it with that delicious coleslaw :)

5. Creamy Cucumber Salad

Creamy Cucumber Salad

Close up overhead view of a plate full of creamy cucumber salad.
This simple Creamy Cucumber Salad is the quintessential side dish of summer. It's light, fresh, and so quick to prepare!
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
4.87 from 45 votes
$2.31 recipe / $0.58 serving Get the Recipe

Creamy Cucumber Salad is a classic summer salad made with a simple combination of cucumbers, onions and a quick, creamy dressing. It’s the perfect salad to cool down with on those hot summer days.

July 4th Side Dishes

6. Devilled Eggs

Deviled Eggs

Overhead view of deviled eggs with different toppings on a serving platter.
This easy Deviled Eggs recipe is perfect for parties, potlucks and holidays. They’re guaranteed to disappear fast!
5 from 3 votes
$4.44 recipe / $0.74 serving Get the Recipe

No holiday spread is EVER complete in my house without a big platter of Deviled Eggs. Dress them up with your fave toppings, or leave them plain. Either way, you’ll love them!

7. Baked Beans

Baked Beans

Overhead view of baked beans in the skillet with a wooden spoon.
These baked beans combine the simplicity of canned beans with bacon and a sweet, smoky, and tangy homemade BBQ sauce.
4.86 from 7 votes
$7.56 recipe / $0.76 serving Get the Recipe

Homemade Baked Beans are perfect with burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, chicken, honestly almost any grilled meat. They’re rich, sweet, smoky, and flavored with bacon and a homemade BBQ sauce.

8. Macaroni Salad

Macaroni Salad

close up side view of macaroni salad in a bowl.
Macaroni Salad is an easy and inexpensive classic for potlucks, summer BBQs, or an easy side dish for dinner.
5 from 8 votes
$4.89 recipe / $0.61 serving Get the Recipe

You can’t have a 4th of July cookout without this classic Macaroni Salad recipe! It’s cold, creamy, budget-friendly, and absolutely delicious.

9. Oven Roasted Corn with Honey Chili Butter

Oven Roasted Corn with Honey Chili Butter

Oven roasted corn on a tray, partially shucked, with a bowl of honey chili butter
Super sweet and juicy oven-roasted corn slathered with sweet and spicy honey chili butter is a true summer treat.
5 from 6 votes
$1.75 recipe / $0.44 serving Get the Recipe

Grab a few ears of fresh summer sweet corn while they are in season and make this super simple Oven Roasted Corn with Honey Chili Butter. They can easily be roasted in the oven while still in her husks to keep them ultra sweet and juicy.

10. Cowboy Caviar

Cowboy Caviar

Close up overhead view of cowboy caviar in a bowl with chips on the side.
Cowboy Caviar is a deliciously fresh bean salad with a colorful mix of beans and vegetables, plus a zesty lime dressing.
4.52 from 101 votes
$5.54 recipe / $0.55 serving Get the Recipe

You’ll definitely steal the show at this years cookout with this Cowboy Caviar! It’s an easy salsa-type salad that can be served with chips, on top of salads, or as a simple side dish.

July 4th Main Dishes

11. Smash Burger

Smash Burgers

Side shot of a Smash Burger with a toothpick in the bun and french fries in the background.
If you love a meaty, juicy burger patty with loads of crispy edges and tons of smoky crooks and crannies for your favorite sauce or cheese to sink into, this Smash Burger recipe is for you!
4.86 from 21 votes
$11.85 recipe / $2.96 serving Get the Recipe

If you don’t have a grill but you still want a tasty, juicy, burger to enjoy this holiday, then this Smash Burger recipe is for you! It’s made with our simple homemade burger seasoning and an easy technique that leaves you with crispy edges and the perfect burger patty.

12. BBQ Ribs

BBQ Ribs

Platter of BBQ ribs.
You don't need a big fancy grill to get juicy, tender, fall-off-the-bone BBQ ribs. Your oven can produce lip-smackingly delicious ribs too!
4 from 4 votes
$11.76 recipe / $2.94 serving Get the Recipe

If there is one food I love to eat each year at our annual 4th of July cookout, it’s most definitely ribs. These BBQ Ribs can be made in the oven and you still end up with juicy, tender ribs the whole family will love.

13. Turkey Burgers

Turkey Burger

side view of turkey burgers topped with cheese, lettuce, and tomato on buns.
Fire up the grill for a juicy, flavorful Turkey Burger! Made with soy sauce, panko, and parmesan, these burgers are so flavorful!
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
5 from 5 votes
$7.15 recipe / $1.78 serving Get the Recipe

At our 4th of July cookout, Turkey Burgers are the real MVP. Beef gets all the hype, but these are the ones folks keep coming back for. Every year, I think I’ve made enough. Every year, I watch the plate empty in record time. 😉

14. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Three pulled pork sandwiches with pickles on a wooden cutting board.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork is an easy way to cook the most tender and juicy pork ever. It's great on tacos, sandwiches, burritos and more.
4.58 from 14 votes
$9.48 recipe / $1.19 serving Get the Recipe

No grill needed for this mouth-watering, tender, Slow Cooker Pulled Pork. The pulled pork can easily be made in a slow cooker and then served as a sandwich or if you’re like me, just eaten by itself!

15. BBQ Chicken Kebabs

BBQ Chicken Kebabs

Overhead view of BBQ Chicken Kebabs on a tray surrounded by side dishes.
These easy and delicious BBQ Chicken Kebabs combine chicken, pineapple, onion, and BBQ sauce for a fresh and easy summer BBQ main dish.
5 from 6 votes
$11.66 recipe / $2.33 serving Get the Recipe

BBQ Chicken Kebabs with a tropical pineapple twist! These chicken kebabs are sweet, savory, tangy, and of course super easy to make. They’re perfect for the summer and they’ll look stunning on your table at the family cookout!

4th of July Desserts

16. Easy Lemon Cream Pie

Easy Lemon Cream Pie

Overhead view of a sliced lemon cream pie with lemons on the sides
This sweet and creamy cloud-like lemon cream pie is an easy summer dessert that can be made completely no-bake, if needed.
4.94 from 30 votes
$4.26 recipe / $0.53 per slice Get the Recipe

Lemon Cream Pie is an easy summer dessert that’s made with just a few simple ingredients for the most irresistible, creamy, dessert that’s perfect for any occasion!

17. No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake

No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake for Two

Two jars of no bake strawberry cheesecake side by side with whole strawberries on the side
This No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake is the perfect small batch dessert for Valentine's Day, Galentine's Day, or any day the cheesecake craving hits!
5 from 9 votes
$4.94 recipe / $2.47 serving Get the Recipe

No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake for two…or three! Honestly, you can scale this delicious dessert to feed as may as people as you want. And if you’re going for the classic patriotic red, white and blue colors feel free to add some fresh blueberries too :)

18. Red, White and Blue Trifle

Red, White and Blue Trifle

Side view of a homemade red white and blue trifle in a trifle dish.
This easy and festive Red, White, and Blue Trifle is made with vanilla cake, whipped cheesecake filling, fresh berries, and homemade blueberry sauce.
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
4.67 from 3 votes
$12.97 recipe / $1.08 serving Get the Recipe

I don’t think there’s a more festive summer dessert than a Red, White, and Blue Trifle. You’ve got soft vanilla cake, a tangy whipped cheesecake filling, juicy strawberries, and a sweet blueberry sauce all layered up into one showstopper of a dish. YUM.

19. Jello Salad

Jello Salad

Overhead photo of a whole full of jello salad topped with sliced strawberries.
Jello salad is a sweet, creamy, popular dessert that’s easy to make and always a crowd favorite for potlucks, picnics, and holidays!
4.80 from 5 votes
$7.87 recipe / $1.12 serving Get the Recipe

Well hello, my favorite dessert from childhood! Jello Salad is a classic potluck dessert that’s always fun to share at family gatherings. It’s simple, sweet, and definitely a crowd favorite😉

20. “Do Nothing” Cake

Do Nothing Cake Recipe

Side view of a fluffy cake with icing on a plate.
Do Nothing Cake is a one-bowl, one-pan dessert perfect for any occasion. It's a simple, delicious, and budget-friendly treat anyone can make!
4.91 from 11 votes
$9.31 recipe / $0.62 serving Get the Recipe

You’ve already got enough going on with 4th of July prep, so don’t let dessert add to the chaos. This Do Nothing Cake lives up to its name: no fancy steps, no fuss, just a ridiculously moist, pineapple-packed cake topped with a coconut-pecan frosting that soaks right in.

Let us know which recipe is your favorite and what you plan on bringing to the cookout this year in the comments below! Have a great 4th of July!

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Rose
07.11.23 2:51 pm

The cucumber salad and potato salad have both been huge hits for me in the past – the cucumber salad in particular is so cool and refreshing! The 4th is past, but I can’t wait to try the rest of these for other summer bbqs/potlucks.

Julie Wood
07.03.23 8:58 pm

The cucumber salad and macaroni salad are always a hit with the family. Especially, the cumin lime slaw that I serve that along side the sweet potato enchiladas I make for my colleagues at work.