Best 4th Of July Recipes

by Marsha McDougal

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All recipes are rigorously tested in our Nashville test kitchen to ensure they are easy, affordable, and delicious.

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. Sausage Kebabs

Sausage Kebabs

Close up overhead view of BBQ sausage kebabs.
With just a few simple ingredients, Sausage Kebabs are a fast, easy, and delicious way to enjoy summer grilling.
5 from 3 votes
$9.24 recipe / $2.32 serving Get the Recipe

Get ready to make a statement at your next cookout with these super easy Sausage Kebabs! They’re colorful, super tasty, and are the perfect summertime meal.

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!
4.70 from 13 votes
$2.79 recipe / $0.56 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 on a blue napkin
This classic sweet and tangy homemade coleslaw recipe is perfect for piling onto pulled pork sandwiches or serving as a side with dinner.
4.84 from 6 votes
$1.63 recipe / $0.41 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.
5 from 8 votes
$7.04 recipe / $1.76 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!
4.84 from 37 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. Southern Style Potato Salad

Classic Southern Style Potato Salad

overhead view of a a bowl full of potato salad with celery, relish and eggs on the sides
This classic Southern Style Potato Salad uses both mustard and mayonnaise for a super flavorful dressing that is rich, tangy, and creamy.
4.92 from 12 votes
$5.56 recipe / $0.70 serving Get the Recipe

And 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!

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 7 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.
4.88 from 56 votes
$5.30 recipe / $0.53 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!
4.53 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 3 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. Marinated Portobello Mushroom burgers

Marinated Portobello Mushroom Burgers

Close up side view of a marinated portobello mushroom burger topped with a slice of tomato and two red onion rings.
With their deep savory flavor, Marinated Portobello Mushroom Burgers are a fast and easy vegetarian option for summer grilling. 
5 from 20 votes
$5.68 recipe / $2.84 serving Get the Recipe

Vegetarian friends…we didn’t forget about you! These Marinated Portobello Mushroom Burgers are the easiest and tastiest vegetarian burger option, ever!

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.
4.55 from 11 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. Strawberry Shortcake With Homemade Biscuits

Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberry Shortcake is a simple yet impressive dessert that requires nothing but some fresh fruit and a few pantry staples. BudgetBytes.com
Strawberry Shortcake is a simple yet impressive dessert that requires nothing but some fresh fruit and a few pantry staples. 
4.94 from 15 votes
$6.63 recipe / $0.83 serving Get the Recipe

What better way to enjoy the summer season than with a simple Strawberry Shortcake dessert. These strawberry shortcakes are made with a homemade sweet biscuit and a super easy homemade vanilla whipped cream. Add a splash of blue color with some fresh blueberries and you instantly have a red, white and blue dessert perfect for celebrating the 4th!

17. 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.
4.97 from 28 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!

18. 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
$3.68 recipe / $1.84 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 :)

19. Banana Pudding

Banana Pudding

Side shot of three glasses of banana pudding.
This easy, creamy banana pudding recipe has layers of vanilla wafers, bananas & pudding. A Southern classic dessert, perfect for potlucks & gatherings.
5 from 3 votes
$4.91 recipe / $1.23 serving Get the Recipe

I don’t think there is any other classic southern dessert that’s better than Banana Pudding! This super easy dessert is made with creamy vanilla pudding, fresh fruit, crunchy cookies, and sometimes finished with a little whipped cream on top for a little extra pizzazz!

20. Texas Sheet Cake

Texas Sheet Cake

A slice of chocolate cake being lifted out of the sheet pan.
Texas Sheet Cake might be the ultimate chocolate cake. It's incredibly easy to make and has a luscious buttery richness with a pure chocolate punch!
4.20 from 5 votes
$11.27 recipe / $0.75 serving Get the Recipe

This Texas Sheet Cake is the perfect cake to make to feed a crowd. It’s surprisingly simple to make, easy to slice, and you can even get 25 slices from one cake…WIN!

21. 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!
5 from 3 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 ;)

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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Marsha McDougalMarsha is a Nashville native and the food blogger behind MapleJubilee.com where she shares simple, healthy-ish recipes for busy families and home cooks. As a cancer survivor, Marsha’s goal is to share more recipes using whole foods and real ingredients! She enjoys practicing her food photography, spending time with her family and sharing her bubbly personality and food recipes on her YouTube channel.More About Marsha

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  1. 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.

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  2. 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.

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