These 4th of July recipes are our top fun ideas for the holiday, whether you’re hosting a barbecue, cookout, patio party, or picnic! Pick from salads, grilled foods, fruit desserts, frosty drinks, and more.
Planning or attending a party on the 4th of July? Typically we’re home for 4th of July, and we love to have a big party with friends to celebrate—including shooting off fireworks on our driveway!
Here are some of our favorite 4th of July recipes for any backyard barbecue, patio party, or cookout! These recipes range from:
- Summer salads like potato salads, pasta salads, and more
- Grilled recipes like grilled chicken, shrimp, veggie burgers, grilled vegetables, and more
- Party dips like chip dips and fruit dips
- Appetizer recipes and finger foods like skewers
- Fruit desserts like cobblers, crisps, and shortcakes
- Summer drinks like cocktails, smoothies, slushies, and lemonade
And now, our top 4th of July recipes!
For a fun 4th of July recipe, try Fruit Skewers! Everything tastes better on a stick, right? This is a simple concept that’s more like an idea than a recipe: but it makes everyone go crazy for pure, fresh fruit. You can use red white and blue fruits, or go for rainbow colors. Serve with easy fruit dip.
A fun dip for 4th of July with a party vibe is Texas caviar (aka cowboy caviar)! This Tex Mex combination of black eyed peas, colorful vegetables, and zingy vinaigrette dressing is a total crowd pleaser, as a chip dip or side dish.
Here’s the 4th of July BBQ recipe that holds our hearts: classic American potato salad! You know, the kind that’s creamy and tangy sweet, loaded with crunchy onions and pickles? It’s that pale yellow color that betrays that it’s swirled with mayo and mustard, and it’s destined for stardom at your cookout.
This 4th of July recipe will have all your guests talking: dill pickle pasta salad, done up with fresh herbs and crunchy cucumbers. The creamy dressing has a hint of pickle juice for briny pop, and the Mediterranean combination of feta cheese and fresh dill to bring a sophistication to this down-home dish. It’s a total crowd pleaser!
Instead of burgers, make 4th of July fun with a grilled Chicken Pesto Sandwich! It starts with juicy grilled chicken, seasoned to perfection with a savory mix of spices. Throw it onto grilled ciabatta bread, then top with baby arugula, soft fresh mozzarella cheese and juicy tomato slices.
A perfect 4th of July dessert is strawberry shortcake! Here’s how to make those classic flaky biscuits and homemade whipped cream. For a patriotic twist, add blueberries along with the strawberries to work in the red, white and blue color scheme.
Are you ready for our best veggie burger recipe? This veggie burger is full of satisfying, hearty flavor and doesn’t fall apart on the grill! It’s loaded with plant-based ingredients and smoky flavor.
Photo Credit:
www.wellplated.com
Of course, you’ve got to have a flag cake for 4th of July! This one is by a friend of ours, Erin at Well Plated, and we love how fun and patriotic it looks! It also uses Greek yogurt in the icing, which is right up our alley.
This grilled chicken salad is perfect for 4th of July cookouts! It combines juicy chicken, crunchy vegetables and a tangy Italian vinaigrette, topped with pepperoncini and Parmesan for a zesty, satisfying meal. Substitute grilled tofu for vegetarian and vegan!
Here’s an icy treat that’s absolutely ideal for 4th of July. Who needs ice cream when you can have a Watermelon Slushie? Blend ripe melon, lime juice, and a little sweetener and you’ve got one deliciously refreshing sweet puree to sip.
This cucumber salad with vinegar is everything summer! It’s perfect for everything from summer potlucks to patio barbecues to picnics. It accessorizes perfectly with everything from salmon to a grilled burger.
This tangy chicken pasta salad is packed with Mediterranean flavors and is our family-favorite! It’s a mix of tender chicken, sun dried tomatoes, artichokes, Parmesan cheese, fresh herbs, and a zesty vinaigrette.
Here’s a fun summer appetizer that pleases nearly everyone: Caprese Skewers! This easy recipe is visually stunning and irresistibly tasty, spearing all the components of a Caprese salad onto a skewer. There’s nothing better than basil and tomatoes in summer, and combined with seasoned mozzarella and a balsamic glaze: you won’t be able to eat just one!
Here’s a creamy, irresistibly spiced party dip you need in your life: our perfect taco dip recipe! It comes together in minutes, and we can confidently say almost no one turns this one down. This one is even better than the standard: it’s got a quick homemade seasoning blend, Greek yogurt, and a colorful mix of fresh toppings for the absolute best flavor.
Homemade strawberry daiquiris are perfect for July 4! There’s no need to buy store-bought daiquiri mix. A homemade strawberry daiquiri with real frozen strawberries tastes infinitely better than a mix from the store. You could even top with blueberries and whipped cream to get the red, white and blue.
For non-alcoholic, try a Strawberry Slushie.
This grilled shrimp kabobs recipe is a new family favorite: it’s got a custom seasoning blend that makes this juicy seafood taste irresistible! Thread the shrimp onto skewers and it’s a delicious summer dinner, served with rice or couscous. Take them over the top with our creamy Comeback Sauce.
Introducing Blueberry Pie Bars: all the flavors of blueberry pie in handheld form! These are so simple and satisfying! The same dough makes a thick bottom crust and golden buttery crumbles, and the filling is a bright burst of fresh blueberries and lemon juice. Everyone loves this summer dessert: they’re thick with just the right chewy texture.
Because who doesn’t want more excuses to eat that classic Italian Caprese salad? This salad is a fun combination of juicy cherry tomatoes and fresh peppery basil, tossed together with soft mozzarella and chewy farfalle pasta. It’s ideal for 4th of July cookouts, pitch-ins and outdoor gatherings of all kinds: plus, leftovers work well for lunches.
Here’s a fun 4th of July dinner idea that’s calling your name: Salmon Burgers! These burgers are so deliciously satisfying, we’re kicking ourselves this hasn’t been part of our dinnertime repertoire until now. Each bite is hearty and juicy, topped with a creamy remoulade sauce that takes it to rockstar status.
Grilled corn is the perfect summer side dish! Griling up the cobs makes it smoky, tender, charred, and sweet: a crunchy blast that hits every flavor receptor in your tongue. If you’re not making yours like this: you haven’t lived (yet!).
Spritzes are perfect for 4th of July! The St Germain Spritz is a delightful blend of elderflower liqueur, sparkling wine, and soda water. Try it garnished with strawberries and blueberries for 4th of July!
Try this over-the-top dessert as a 4th of July recipe: Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream! This homemade ice cream is decadent and rich, featuring zingy-sweet fruit against a creamy vanilla base and soft graham cracker chunks. Take one bite and you’ll mumble “wow” before immediately poising your scoop for another. Make it 4th of July themed by swirling in a blueberry jam too!
This peanut butter dip is just 4 ingredients and surprisingly tastes like frosting. How is this so good, yet so simple? It works for any occasion: a quick snack for kids, a family party, or a big snacks table.
Here’s a simple summer dessert that’s easy but impressive: Strawberry Sorbet! The flavor is like taking a bite of 100 strawberries at once: sweet, pure, and tangy. The frosty texture is like an Italian strawberry gelato: cold and creamy, with just the right robust vibrancy to each bite. Top wtih blueberries or blueberry syrup for a red, white and blue theme.
Frozen yogurt is perfect for 4th of July! Our whole family goes crazy for this homemade frozen yogurt! It’s tangy, creamy, and full of bold flavor. Essentially a Greek yogurt ice cream, it works as topping for fruit desserts or with its own with all the fun froyo toppings. Try it with strawberries and blueberries for a red, white and blue theme!
This spinach dip is so easy to make: it’s the kind that’s served cold, perfect for dipping pita chips or serving in a bread bowl. The recipe is a little healthier than most, relying on Greek yogurt for much of the creaminess. And because it’s not baked, it’s quick to put together: just 10 minutes!
Here’s a fun pasta salad recipe for 4th of July that’s ultra versatile for picnics and barbecues: this tortellini salad! The tang of the artichoke, chewy pillowy pasta, zippy tomatoes, and peppery basil come together into a symphony of flavor.
Summer feels a propos for dill pickle everything! Here’s a favorite dill recipe: dill pickle dip! Creamy and tangy, the flavor is like biting into a dill pickle spear. It’s absolutely perfect with potato chips or cucumber slices.
Try this best-ever fresh Strawberry Pie! It highlights the summery ripe berry flavor, perfectly sweet tart with a delicious hint of cinnamon. The flavor is almost beyond words. Our neighbors promptly declared it was “the best pie I’ve ever had.”
This Greek Pasta Salad pair chewy bowtie pasta for a zingy, fresh combination that can’t be beat. Juicy cherry tomatoes contrast cool cucumber, salty olives, and savory feta cheese, with generous handfuls of parsley, dill, and a Greek-style vinaigrette dressing. It’s ultra satisfying and works for just about any occasion: 4th of July cookouts, pitch-ins, and barbecues.
Welcome to your new favorite grilled dinner: juicy grilled chicken thighs! Marinate the thighs in a zingy mixture of Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce and spices, then throw them on the grill and cook until they’re juicy and smoky.
Last up: blueberry cobbler! This one is everything you need in a sweet treat: the fruit layer bursts forth with pure berry juiciness. The topping is cakey and fluffy, just sweet enough and baked to golden perfection. It’s steeped in tradition for our family, with loads of barbecues and cookouts and 4th of July celebrations under its belt.
More 4th of July recipe inspiration
Need more ideas? Here are a few more types of recipes you might enjoy:
Description
Fruit skewers are a fun and festive appetizer or snack! This healthy treat is easy to make and pleases everyone: and it’s a perfect 4th of July recipe! Use a rainbow of fruit or just red and blue.
For the fruit skewers
- 16 strawberries
- 16 watermelon chunks (fresh or pre-cut)
- 16 pineapple chunks (fresh or pre-cut)
- 16 green grapes
- ¾ cup blueberries
For the fruit dip (optional)
- 1 cup Greek yogurt (whole milk or full fat)
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup or honey
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Cut a notch into the strawberries to remove the stems and create a heart shape (see photos). If necessary, cut the pineapple and cut the watermelon into bite-sized chunks (buying pre-cut fruit makes for speedy prep). You can also cut watermelon into star shapes with a cookie cutter.
- Thread the fruit onto 12-inch wooden skewers.
- If desired, make the dip: stir together the Greek yogurt, maple syrup or honey, and vanilla extract. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 3 days before serving.
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian