This post is your ultimate guide to a show-stopping menu for the 4th of July, whether you’re firing up the grill or keeping cool in the kitchen. Dive into a collection of recipes designed to make your summer festivities unforgettable, from sizzling grilled meats and creative sides to refreshing drinks and classic American desserts. (Need some decor too? Julia rounded up everything we’ve put up at the lake house here.)
You can jump to specific sections that pique your interest or browse through the entire delicious lineup. No matter what you choose, get ready to be the hero of your Fourth of July party!
Don’t forget to have all of your grilling tools ready to go too. This is what we keep on hand.
6 Types of Foods You Should Have at a July 4th Party
- Grilled Meats: Crowd-Pleasing Favorites
- Berry Best Bites: Fresh Takes on Summer Fruit
- Spud-tacular Sides: Perfect Potato Dishes
- Crunchy Veggies: Fresh Bites for a Zesty Celebration
- Sparkling Sips: Chilled Drinks that Add Pizzazz
- All-American Desserts: Creamy and Sweet Classics
Grilled Meats | Crowd-Pleasing Favorites
The Tastiest Smash Burgers – You can make these outdoors on a flat-top griddle or inside on a cast-iron griddle and either way, you’ll be the hero of the party.
Grilled Lemongrass Beef – These are refreshingly different from your standard bbq fare, but they’ll still garner accolades.
Unforgettable BBQ Pork Ribs – Enjoy the hands-off time while these slow-cook in the smoker, and then serve them up to an eager crowd.
The Ultimate Hot Dog Bar – For me, one of the best party foods is something everyone likes that they can customize themselves. This post gives you all the details on what toppings to buy (and some you should make) for everyone’s favorite cook-out meal.
Salt & Vinegar Chicken – This recipe couldn’t be easier or more cost-effective. It tastes like the absolute best chicken you find at a small-town fundraiser—just super juicy and so simple.
Barbecue Baked Chicken Wings – Don’t want to grill outdoors or the weather’s looking iffy? Give these flavorful Barbecue Baked Wings a go.
Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Macadamia Nut Pesto – If you’re having a smaller gathering and want to impress, you can’t go wrong with this grilled pork tenderloin with a bit of a tropical flair.
Mango Coconut Chicken Wings – These make use of the seasonal and oh-so-delicious yellow mangoes for a great appetizer that tastes like summer—through and through.
Berry Best Bites | Fresh Takes on Summer Fruit
Easy Grilled Fruit Skewers – When everyone is expecting a tray of fruit, you’re going to set off fireworks with these quick and delicious Grilled Fruit Skewers with berries and apricots.
Caramelized Apricots over Whipped Ricotta – Anything caramelized reminds me of the Fourth of July. Must be that burnt sugar joy that just evokes childhood summers. This is a dessert fit for guests that can be dairy-free for food restrictions!
My Most Requested Fruit Salad – If you’re tired of the same old fruit salad, give this one a try. It features way more kiwi than you’re used to seeing (and none of the melon filler), and everyone will remember it forever.
Mixed Berry Dump Cake – Running short on time? This “dump cake” makes the most of a boxed mix that’s grain-free and turns it into a delight.
Spud-tacular Sides | Perfect Potato Dishes
Honey Dill Steam-Roasted Potatoes – This dish roasts whole baby potatoes in their skin while garlic simmers in olive oil to turn into a confit. Really, is there anything else that needs to be said?
Panzanella Potato Salad – For those who love the flavors of a panzanella but can’t have it due to grain allergies, I created this version that uses potatoes in place of bread cubes. It’s a revelation—you may never go back.
Roasted Potato Salad – If you’re grilling any steak or fish for the Fourth of July, this dish should be on your menu. Featuring tarragon and capers, it’s just a bit more elevated. (Plus it’s vegan-friendly.)
Grilled Potato Salad with Honey Mustard and Dill Dressing – When you’ve already got the grill going, why not give your potatoes a little char too? This warm potato salad is so flavorful and mayo-free.
Lemon & Dill Roasted Potatoes – These couldn’t be more appealing and easy with the use of everyone’s favorite kitchen appliance, the air fryer.
The Best Potato Salad Recipe for People Who Don’t Like Potato Salad – Another potato salad you say? Indeed, but only because it is a better take on the classic potato salad you find on any picnic menu.
Seasonal Vegetables | Fresh Bites for a Zesty Celebration
Grilled Corn Salad with Pineapple & Cilantro – The key to this corn salad is that it’s full of different textures and flavors: it’s smoky, savory, and a little bit sweet. In a word, it’s addictive.
My Favorite Broccoli Salad – Another potluck classic, my version is pretty close to the one you grew up with, but with a little more zip.
8-Layer Salad – Why stop at a 7-layer salad when you can go bigger? This one subs out the pork for turkey bacon and sunflower seeds for eggs!
Cucumber Crunch Salad – This dish comes together in about 10 minutes, and it was one of my most popular recipes last year. Make it once, and you’ll be making it again all summer.
Italian Summer Pasta Salad – Don’t let the “pasta” in the title fool you: This dish is packed with produce (the zucchini! the tomatoes! the figs! the bell peppers!). It’s a real people-pleaser.
Carrot Slaw with Honey & Dill – If you’re having barbecue anywhere on the menu, you just have to have a slaw. This one is so fast and stays crunchy even when you make it a day or so in advance.
Shredded Veggie Salad with Sweet Vinegar & Orange – This is such a bright and “alive” dish, and goes great with any protein you pair it with.
Grilled Sugar Snap Peas & Mushrooms – I love sugar snap peas on a veggie platter, but if I can grill something, I’m even more on board.
Sparkling Sips | Chilled Drinks That Add Pizzazz
Kiwi Cucumber Spritzer – This mocktail is so fresh and hydrating on a hot day. Add a little honey to it if it’s not sweet enough for the kids!
Honey Mint Lemonade – Everyone’s favorite from childhood, with a little extra flavor to make it even more refreshing for adults.
Strawberry Rhubarb Soda – Make the base of this the day before so all you have to do is add the club soda and ice the next day! You can also make a double batch of it and put it in the Ninja Slushi machine for all-day frozen treats.
Cucumber Honey Mojito – If the weather is hot (and oh, is it ever hot in NC right now), then this drink will bring you back from the brink with its refreshing blend of cucumber and mint.
All-American Desserts | Creamy & Sweet Classics
Blackberry Campfire S’mores – When it comes to dessert, I tend to go for fruity options. I decided to add a juicy berry flavor to one of the all-time classics, campfire s’mores. Make the blackberry jam ahead of time and save the extra to swirl into yogurt!
Peach Cobbler – Peaches = summer to me, and there’s nothing like a good ol’-fashioned cobbler. Except this one is grain free and dairy free so even those with food restrictions can enjoy.
Pineapple Dole Whip-Style Soft Serve – Based on a dessert I loved at Disney World, you can whip this up in the Ninja Swirl machine and impress all the kids—and evoke nostalgia in the adults!
Piña Colada Italian Ice in the Ninja CREAMi – This is a great make-ahead dessert when you just need a few portions to enjoy while you’re watching the fireworks over the city.
7 S’mores Combinations You Have to Try – And finally, if you just want to open a few boxes and assemble a dessert (no shade, I love doing that), then I’ve got some fun variations on the campfire classic in this post.
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