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.

All recipes are rigorously tested in our Nashville Test Kitchen to ensure they are easy, affordable, and delicious.
Easy 4th Of July Recipes
1. Southern Style Potato Salad
Classic Southern Style Potato Salad
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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!
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.
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.