67 Best Fourth of July Recipes for the Perfect Summer Cookout
Celebrate America's birthday with these patriotic foods!
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Fire up the grill, because it's time to plan your Fourth of July party menu! If you ask us, food is one of the best parts of any Fourth of July celebration. You have all your favorite BBQ dishes, patriotic appetizers, summer salads and maybe even a table of red, white and blue desserts. And you get to enjoy it all with family and friends while listening to a patriotic playlist — what more could you ask for? Luckily, we've rounded up our favorite Fourth of July foods to bring to the potluck this year, from delectable cheese-stuffed burgers to homemade ice cream bars to gorgeous dishes that make the most of the season's produce.
Since it's Fourth of July, we've highlighted plenty of grilling recipes. But if you don't own a grill, that's okay. There are plenty of recipes like Fourth of July cupcakes, healthy salads, no-bake desserts, crockpot dishes and more that require no grilling at all. Whatever you make, it's sure to be enjoyed by the whole crew.
Many of these recipes are easy to make ahead of time, so you have plenty of time to kick back with a drink on Independence Day. But if you wait until the last minute, don't worry — plenty of these dishes come together in 30 minutes or less. So what are you waiting for? Bookmark your favorite recipes and get ready to celebrate this summer holiday!
Red, White and Blue Granitas
It doesn't get more festive than this! These layered red, white and blue granitas are guaranteed to be a showstopper at any Independence Day party.
Get the Red, White and Blue Granitas recipe.
RELATED: 35 Refreshing 4th of July Drinks Perfect for Independence Day
Watermelon Za'atar Salad
Watermelon is a Fourth of July party must-have. With briny olives, tangy lime juice, fresh mint and a shower of za’atar in the mix, this is the unexpected upgrade to your watermelon game you’ve been searching for.
Get the Watermelon Za'atar Salad recipe.
Green Bean Pasta Salad
This crowd-pleasing salad is perfect for a Fourth of July potluck. It brings together crunchy green beans, Peppadew peppers, scallions, mint, parsley and a deliciously bright combo of red wine vinegar and fresh lemon juice.
Get the Green Bean Pasta Salad recipe.
Grilled Reuben Dogs
Go ahead and pile on the toppings with these New-York-deli-inspired hot dogs. Or swap corned beef for wieners for a completely fresh take.
Get the Grilled Reuben Dogs recipe.
Black Bean Burgers
Veggie burgers don't have to be bland and boring! These black bean burgers boast intense savory depth in each bite — and best of all, can be made in advance, frozen then grilled.
Get the Black Bean Burgers recipe.
Grilled Vietnamese-Style Pork Steaks with Cilantro Cucumbers
The marinade for this incredibly flavorful and tender pork dish also doubles as the dressing for a crunchy cucumber side salad.
Get the Grilled Vietnamese-Style Pork Steaks with Cilantro Cucumbers recipe.
Grilled Fruit Salad with Vanilla Yogurt
Juicy pineapple and mangos are tossed on the grill for a few minutes, then placed on a big pile of vanilla Greek yogurt and drizzled with honey. It's delicious as-is, but you can also pair the dish with pound cake for an extra-special summer dessert.
Crab Rolls
Nothing says summer like a roll piled high with seafood! This recipe coats crabmeat in a flavorful mayo-mustard mixture that incorporates lemon zest, hot sauce and fresh herbs.
Get the Crab Rolls recipe.
Hugo Spritz
When it's time to cool off, serve a round of these refreshing beverages. You'll need fresh lime juice, mint leaves, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, chilled prosecco and club soda.
Get the Hugo Spritz recipe.
Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
This recipe is easier than it looks, thanks to store-bought ice cream sandwiches. Swoops of whipped cream and crushed freeze-dried strawberries on top make for a nostalgia-tinged dessert.
Get the Ice Cream Sandwich Cake recipe.
Vegetarian Antipasto Salad
Both vegetarians and meat-eaters will enjoy a heaping serving of this bright, crunchy salad. You'll need mozzarella balls, chickpeas, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, celery, pepperoncini and lettuce.
Get the Vegetarian Antipasto Salad recipe.
Cheddar-Stuffed Cheeseburgers
Burgers are a Fourth of July classic. Burgers stuffed with melty cheddar cheese and served with crispy bacon are an instant upgrade.
Get the Cheddar-Stuffed Cheeseburgers recipe.
Blackberry-Glazed Ribs
We're already drooling at the thought of these tender ribs coated with blackberry jam, barbecue sauce and lime juice. You'll want to have extra napkins handy!
Get the Blackberry-Glazed Ribs recipe.
Grilled Lemon-Lime Corn Salad
This salad is basically summer in a bowl. It's made with grilled corn, cilantro, parsley, scallions, lemon juice and lime juice. Everyone at the Fourth of July party will love it.
Get the Grilled Lemon-Lime Corn Salad recipe.
RELATED: 55 Delicious BBQ Salads for Your Next Summer Outing
Watermelon Pizza
It's not delivery, it's fruit pizza — and you don't even have to cook anything either.
Get the Watermelon Pizza recipe.
Chicago-Style Chicken Dogs
Sweet and spicy pickles and peppers make these grilled dogs a real winner.
Get the Chicago-Style Chicken Dogs recipe.
Cherry Fro-Yo Pops
Nothing says summer like these homemade frozen treats. Kids and adults alike will enjoy these red-and-white popsicles made with vanilla Greek yogurt, cherries and gingersnap cookies.
Get the Cherry Fro-Yo Pops recipe.
Spicy Margarita
Get the Independence Day party started with a round of spicy margaritas! They're made with homemade sriracha syrup, fresh lime juice and sliced Fresno chilies. This recipe creates one drink, but it's easy to scale up if you're making a whole pitcher.
Get the Spicy Margarita recipe.
Crispy Tortilla Bowls with Strawberries and Cream
Make the most of summer strawberries with this unique dessert. Crispy, sugar-coated tortillas are the perfect vessel for fresh strawberries and a gorgeous mascarpone whipped cream.
Get the Crispy Tortilla Bowls with Strawberries and Cream recipe.
RELATED: 40 Strawberry Desserts That Will Absolutely Brighten Your Day
Fourth of July Chocolate Bark
As you can see from our barks of holidays past, chocolate bark is quick, easy and totally versatile. The psychedelic blue and red swirls of this Independence Day version make it particularly mesmerizing.
Get the Fourth of July Chocolate Bark recipe.
Samantha (she/her) is the Senior Editor at Delish, where she edits the most-talked-about food news and features on the internet. In her previous role as Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, she taste-tested hundreds of products and recipes (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.
Kate Merker (she/her) is the Chief Food Director of the Hearst Lifestyle Group, overseeing the team that produces food content for several Hearst titles, including Good Housekeeping, Women’s Health, Prevention, Woman’s Day and Country Living. She has clocked nearly 20 years of experience in food media and before that, worked at some of New York City’s finest restaurants.
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