How can you best prepare a Fourth of July meal for a large crowd?

Many of these summer side dishes can be prepared ahead of time and placed in the refrigerator, covered, to chill until ready to serve. Most desserts can be prepared ahead of time in a similar way, leaving you only with grilling and roasting when it comes close time to eat. Ask family or friends to provide specific dishes to round out the meal and keep your menu manageable, especially if hosting a potluck.

What are the best things to serve on the Fourth of July?

It's common to fire up the grill for Fourth of July celebrations, so meat dishes like chicken, barbecue, and burgers are always popular. Seasonal fruits and veggies are at their best, so side dishes incorporating ingredients like corn, berries, beans, tomatoes, and peaches are especially popular.

Our Favorite Fourth Of July Menus

sheet pan shrimp boil — Photo:
Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

We've collected our favorite Fourth of July menu ideas, because there's something about food around this holiday that’s impossible to forget and exciting to look forward to. These side salads, slaws, and dips are fresh, bright, and full of flavors that family, friends, and party guests will be raving about all year long.

We’ve written up some 4th of July menus with dishes that are easy to tote, whether to a potluck or to the local park, as well as some others that are better suited for beachside or lakeside bashes. You'll see some some regional favorites with plenty of unique, unexpected ingredients (like Cheese Slaw) together with classics like Pickle Brined Chicken Tenders and sliders.

We've paired recipes with special desserts that are worth pulling out all the stops, from ice cold Frozen Lemonade Pie and Ice Cream Sandwiches to a festive Red, White, and Blueberry Trifle. You'll find a range of menu ideas, whether you're hosting a large gathering or something quick, easy, and sweet for a select few.

01 of 07

Fourth of July at the Park

Red White and Blue Trifle - Southern Living — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Recipe: Pickle Brined Chicken Tenders
Recipe: Cheeseburger Sliders
Recipe: Butter Baked Saltine Crackers
Recipe: Cheese Slaw
Recipe: Cucumber and Vidalia Onion Salad
Recipe: Red White and Blue Trifle

A tangy mixture of buttermilk and pickle brine updates these chicken tenders to make them extra craveable. Kick things off by passing around buttery crackers and Cheese Slaw, a refreshing, creamy, cheesy appetizer dip that rounds things out with a little heat from pepperoncini and jalapeño. Seasonal Vidalia onion and cucumber salad are a favorite in the summer heat.

A red, white, and blue trifle is the showstopper. Not only is it a great way to use an assortment of fresh, festive red and blue berries, but it's easy to tote to and from a parkside bash with minimal clean-up.

02 of 07

Fourth of July at the Lake

Southern LIving Fire Crackers in a bowl to serve — Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Recipe: Firecrackers
Recipe: Grilled Pork Chops
Recipe: Creamed Corn Pasta
Recipe: Broccoli Slaw
Recipe: Heirloom Tomato Cracker Salad
Recipe: Ice Cream Sandwiches

This menu is full of the classics and great for a crowd of all ages. Broccoli slaw is creamy, crunchy, and plays well with a sweet in-season corn pasta that even the kids will love. For the adults and the adventurous eaters, these grilled pork chops are affordable, umami-rich, and beautifully seasoned.

This lakeside meal tops things off with ice cream sandwiches, a classic dessert for scurrying around the dock, deck, and everywhere in between.

03 of 07

Seaside Fourth of July Feast

Recipe: Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil
Recipe: Corn and Tomato Salad
Recipe: Butter Swim Biscuits
Recipe: Frozen Lemonade Pie
Recipe: Watermelon Margaritas

This is a simple yet special menu for Fourth festivities that incorporates fresh shrimp, which is always a hit at the beach. Tossed together on a sheet pan with fresh corn cobs, potatoes, and smoked sausage, it's everything tasty about a classic Shrimp Boil without a ton of extra effort or unnecessary pots and pans. Use leftover fresh corn to whip up a corn and tomato side dish that's tangy, creamy, and perfectly balanced to a seafood-forward meal.

As the sun sets and everyone is gearing up for fireworks, slice into a Frozen Lemonade pie—no fresh lemons required, just one container of frozen lemonade and only 30 minutes of hands-on time.

04 of 07

Fourth of July Grill-Out

Southern Living Grilled Chicken Sandwich on a plate to serve — Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Recipe: Grilled Chicken Sandwiches with Pimiento Cheese
Recipe: Three Pickle Potato Salad
Recipe: Grilled Watermelon
Recipe: Cherry Delight
Recipe: Bourbon Peach Iced Tea

Fire up the grill for buttery spuds that are crisp on the outside and melty on the inside. Serve pimiento cheese as an appetizer and save some extra spoonfuls to update classic grilled chicken sandwiches with some Southern flair. This recipe for grilled watermelon is super simple, but it's impressive—break out Tajin, chile lime powder, or extra lime zest and flaky salt for guests to choose from.

You can't go wrong with a side of creamy potato salad, and this recipe incorporates three different pickles—including okra—for a zesty edge that compliments the smoky umami of grilling flavors. Cherry delight is reminiscent of cherry pie, but easier to prep and serve for a crowd. Everyone will love the nostalgia of cherry pie filling with a creamy cheesecake base and buttery graham cracker crust.

05 of 07

Fourth of July Potluck

Southern Living Smashburgers With Secret Sauce on a plate to serve with chips — Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Recipe: Texas Caviar
Recipe: Smash Burgers
Recipe: Cornbread Salad
Recipe: Blueberry Cobbler
Recipe: Big Batch Spiked Arnold Palmers

Classic smash burgers with a bit of Southern flair anchor the potluck with crispy tender patties and American cheese. Texas caviar—also affectionately known as "cowboy caviar"— is a huge hit at any gathering, plus it's easy to whip up and doesn't require any cooking.

If you're really trying to show off—or even if you're not—this cornbread salad looks gorgeous in a trifle dish: layers of cornbread, veggies, and bacon are tossed and dressed to impress. Buttermilk makes this blueberry cobbler extra special for those with a sweet tooth and spiked Arnold Palmers keep the party going well into the showing of fireworks.

06 of 07

Fourth of July Dinner Party

Southern Living Spice-Rubbed Flank Steak With Corn-Chile Relish on a platter to serve — James Ransom, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Recipe: Spice Rubbed Flank Steak with Corn-Chile Relish
Recipe: Spicy Strawberry-Goat Cheese Crostini
Recipe: Crispy Prosciutto, Strawberry, and Burrata Salad with Maple Vinaigrette
Recipe: Grilled Peaches with Spiced Whipped Cream
Recipe: Paloma

Decorated with sweet fresh corn-chile relish and flavorfully spiced, this flank steak is an elegant summer supper favorite . The menu also incorporates summer produce in new, elevated, and sometimes unexpected ways.

Serve crostini with a macerated strawberries, fresh mint, and jalapeños for a sweet, savory, and slightly spicy twist. Save some strawberries for a crispy prosciutto salad, and finish things off with sweet, ripe grilled peaches and ice cream. Not only are palomas are sophisticated and refreshing, but they're simple to make and have a beautiful blush pink hue.

07 of 07

Vegetarian Fourth of July

Southern Living Cantaloupe Salad with Chile-Lime Dressing on a platter to serve — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

Recipe: Barbecue Jackfruit Sandwiches
Recipe: Cantaloupe Salad with Chile-Lime Dressing
Recipe: Green Bean Almondine
Recipe: Roasted Tomato Mac N Cheese
Recipe: Strawberry and Basil Pavlova
Recipe: Strawberry Lemonade

This menu is festive, colorful, and perfect for veggie lovers. Our jackfruit barbecue is tangy, hearty, and dressed with snappy cabbage slaw. Cantaloupe salad and green bean almondine lend some fresh flavors to seasonal veggies. Roasted tomato mac and cheese puts ripe tomatoes to good use, too.

This strawberry and basil pavlova recipe only requires a sheet pan and minimal kitchen equipment to make a light, pillowy meringue that's the perfect sweet vehicle for syrupy strawberries and fresh basil.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can you best prepare a Fourth of July meal for a large crowd?

Many of these summer side dishes can be prepared ahead of time and placed in the refrigerator, covered, to chill until ready to serve. Most desserts can be prepared ahead of time in a similar way, leaving you only with grilling and roasting when it comes close time to eat. Ask family or friends to provide specific dishes to round out the meal and keep your menu manageable, especially if hosting a potluck.
What are the best things to serve on the Fourth of July?

It's common to fire up the grill for Fourth of July celebrations, so meat dishes like chicken, barbecue, and burgers are always popular. Seasonal fruits and veggies are at their best, so side dishes incorporating ingredients like corn, berries, beans, tomatoes, and peaches are especially popular.