Holidays & Occasions 4th of July 50 Extra Festive Recipes For Your Fourth Of July Cookout Celebrate the festivities all day long with these dishes. By Patricia S York Patricia S York Patricia was the assistant food editor at Southern Living and worked with the Southern Living food team from 2006-2022. She contributed to articles about food, gardening, and pets. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on June 16, 2024 Close Photo: FRED HARDY, FOOD STYLIST: MARGARET MONROE DICKEY, PROP STYLIST: CALEB CLARKE Call your cousins, neighbors, and grandkids. This year's Fourth of July party is one they won't want to miss. From red, white, and blue desserts to grilled summertime staples, there's something for everyone in our round up of all-American recipes. Grab those red, white, and blue streamers, fire up the grill, and make sure you're fully stocked on berries. It's time to throw a star-spangled party with our best Fourth of July recipes. 77 Fourth Of July Side Dishes For An All-Star Cookout 01 of 50 Classic Macaroni Salad With Ham Jen Causey The old-school cold salad pairs well with any cookout menu, but it looks especially nice on a patriotic picnic table. This version celebrates fresh summer produce with chopped tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. get the recipe 02 of 50 4th Of July Punch Jennifer Causey We've got you covered with a cool cocktail recipe to serve on a steamy hot day. A blend of fresh fruit and bright juices, this big-batch patriotic punch can be made booze-free for the kiddos, too. get the recipe 03 of 50 Memphis Dry-Rubbed Baby Back Ribs Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: MindI Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Put at-home barbecue in action for your backyard celebration with a recipe that would make any Memphian proud. No sauce makes for easier eating, but this spice rub still loads on the flavor. get the recipe 04 of 50 Classic Grilled Corn On The Cob Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer We can all agree that fresh, grilled corn is a hallmark of any Independence Day menu. Everyone loves the simple, sweet flavor of chargrilled corn. If you want to get fancy, dress your ears with one of our spicy, smoky, or herby rubs and glazes. get the recipe 05 of 50 Red, White, And Blue Poke Cake Jennifer Causey Fresh summer berries and homemade frosting combine for a summertime dessert with patriotic pizzazz. The luscious, creamy mascarpone frosting will have guests cleaning their plates. get the recipe 06 of 50 Tomato, Peach, And Corn Salad Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele Three cheers for this summertime trio that pairs well with all things grilled. A zesty vinaigrette, seasonings, and cheese help to marry an unusual but delicious combination of sweet corn, ripe peaches, and juicy beefsteak tomatoes. get the recipe 07 of 50 Texas Ranch Water Getty Images/Lauren King / EyeEm When it comes to light and refreshing cocktails, few compare to Texas-favorite Ranch Water. Just make sure you use Topo Chico—no random sparkling water will do. Add a squirt of simple syrup if you want to sweet your drink. get the recipe 08 of 50 Heirloom Tomato Pie Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Give your heirloom tomatoes the royal treatment. Believe it or not, this Southern classic tastes even better than it looks. It could be the homemade buttermilk pie crust, the cheesy filling, the vine-ripened tomatoes—most likely it's all three. get the recipe 09 of 50 Best-Ever Succotash Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely With timeless flavor that just says "summer," guests will enjoy every forkful of this confetti-like side. Fresh tomatoes, okra, sweet corn, and lima beans are the stars of this dish, but the savory herbs and buttery bacon drippings really pull it together. get the recipe 10 of 50 Slow Cooker Peach Cobbler Jennifer Davick; Food Styling: Vanessa Rocchio; Prop Styling: Missie Crawford Once again, we pull out the slow cooker for an easy and beloved dessert. It's not a Southern summer party without a classic cobbler, and this peach cobbler is sensational. get the recipe 11 of 50 Homemade Baked Beans Antonis Achilleos This bacon-filled baked bean recipe is a backyard party side that's simple to make and take. It starts with canned beans, but you wouldn't guess it thanks to the rich flavor of onions and molasses. get the recipe 12 of 50 Old-School Squash Casserole Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Combine summer squash with cheese, butter, and crushed crackers, and you'll find yourself with an instant winner. Everyone will want a scoop of this dish, which is hearty enough to be a main for the vegetarians at the party. get the recipe 13 of 50 Red, White, And Blue Cheesecake Bars Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox You can prepare these red, white, and blue swirled cheesecake bars up to two days in advance. Give them at least four hours to chill so the blueberry and raspberry swirls have time to set. get the recipe 14 of 50 Macaroni Pie Antonis Achilleos Mac and cheese is that much more decadent when it's in pie form. We recommend using store-bought pie crusts as a time-saver, but of course you can make your own. A trifecta of cheeses and fresh thyme are responsible for a savory depth of flavor that's begging to be sliced in the backyard. get the recipe 15 of 50 Red, White, And Blue Popsicles Jennifer Causey Here's a patriotic treat so tasty the colorful drips are worth the risk. We recreated the nostalgic popsicle with refreshing layers of strawberry, blueberry, and vanilla yogurt. The dessert comes together faster than you'd think—each layer freezes in about 30 minutes. get the recipe 16 of 50 Instant Pot Ribs Antonis Achilleos If you have a parade to attend and can't babysit the smoker all day, these fast, fall-off-the-bone ribs may be your saving grace. After soaking up the sauce under high pressure, the ribs get finished under the broiler. get the recipe 17 of 50 Flag Cake Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Salute our nation's independence in the most delicious way possible. This iconic flag sheet cake will have every guest coming back for a second slice, and it's undeniably eye-catching. get the recipe 18 of 50 Old-Fashioned Southern Chicken Salad Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Here's proof that old-school is still cool when it comes to cookouts. A favorite outdoor side of generations past, this cold salad uses chopped chicken, mayo, celery, and a splash of lemon juice. get the recipe 19 of 50 Pitcher Mojitos Caitlin Bensel Hosting a crowd all day? These big-batch mojitos are up for the challenge and easy to refill again and again. Get yourself a bag of limes and a bushel of mint and you're in business. get the recipe 20 of 50 Basic Pimiento Cheese Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Whether you serve it as a dip, spread, or all by itself, this recipe belongs on every outdoor picnic table. Hand-shred the cheese on both sides of your box grater, and stir gently if you like your pimiento cheese to have lots of texture. get the recipe 21 of 50 Peach-Bourbon Upside-Down Bundt Cake Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Light up the party long before the fireworks begin with this bright and boozy Bundt. After all, summer peaches deserve celebrating too. get the recipe 22 of 50 Watermelon Margaritas Southern Living We've yet to taste a more popular cookout cocktail than this refreshingly colorful margarita. Our recipe uses both watermelon simple syrup and fresh watermelon juice to pack more of a punch. For a fun variation, buy a yellow watermelon to create a golden cocktail. get the recipe 23 of 50 Salmon Burgers With Creamy Tartar Sauce Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Dress up your burger offerings with this flavorful salmon version. Dill, tarragon, and lemon zest make these the freshest patties around. The caper and tarragon tartar sauce is not to be missed. get the recipe 24 of 50 Root Beer Float Popsicles Photography and Prop Styling: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Forget pre-made popsicles. These treats inspired by ice cream floats will be the talk of the party. Pro tip: Letting the root beer go flat before freezing achieves the perfect texture. get the recipe 25 of 50 Oven-Roasted Corn On The Cob Caitlin Bensel Too much on the grill? Put the oven to good use for your corn on the cob. With this recipe, the cobs baste in butter and herbs to absorb all that flavor before they hit your plate. get the recipe 26 of 50 Green Tomato Skillet Pie Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Green tomatoes will be grandfathered into your Independence Day spread after one bite of this skillet pie. Don't think green tomatoes are dessert worthy? When baked with cinnamon and cloves, the unripe tomatoes take on fruity notes reminiscent of Granny Smith apples or rhubarb. get the recipe 27 of 50 Cherries-And-Cream Icebox Cake Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner When it comes to the Fourth of July, there's no such thing as too many cooled-down desserts. A springform pan is the secret to creating this stunning looking cake made of layers of graham cracker, cherry preserves, and cream cheese-whipped cream icing. get the recipe 28 of 50 Peach Fried Pies Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox This holiday-worthy recipe is portable and packed with colorful peaches. You can make them in advance and then dust with powdered sugar when it's time to serve. get the recipe 29 of 50 Mac And Cheese With Ham Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine Chopped, smoked ham rounds out this melt-in-your-mouth, cheesy dish that's made for outdoor dining. We've also included variations for Pepper Jack Macaroni and Cheese, Sweet Pea-and-Prosciutto Macaroni and Cheese, Pimiento Macaroni and Cheese, and Ham-and-Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese. get the recipe 30 of 50 Baked Zucchini Fries Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey Forget French fries. Serve these crispy zucchini sticks and put that farmers' market haul to good use. Panko breadcrumbs and a wire rack help crisp them up. get the recipe 31 of 50 Fresh Fruit Salad Jen Causey With all of the rich and indulgent foods in your party lineup, a simple fruit salad can be easy to overlook but a wonderful break. This recipe is endlessly customizable and brightened with orange juice and mint. get the recipe 32 of 50 Classic Potato Salad Fred Hardy; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood If Grandma never gave you her long-cherished family recipe, this one is bound to come close. Loaded with hard-boiled eggs, celery, sweet pickle relish, and just a touch of Dijon mustard, this potato salad will be a familiar reminder of picnics past. get the recipe 33 of 50 Beet Pickled Deviled Eggs Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch We're pulling out all the stops with these gorgeous, pink-tinged eggs for the Fourth. Dye the eggs for just 12 to 24 hours so they absorb the color without a dramatic change in flavor. A tablespoon of horseradish in the filling adds spice. get the recipe 34 of 50 Southern-Style Potato Salad Dotdash Meredith It's an unspoken rule to serve potato salad on the 4th of July, and this recipe tops our list on best way to serve it. get the recipe 35 of 50 Grilled Chicken Legs Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox It's best not to overcomplicate the cooking when you're expecting a crowd. For this recipe, you'll marinate the chicken in advance and then throw it on the grill at the appropriate time. Provide a bowl of tangy white barbecue sauce for drizzling over the chicken. get the recipe 36 of 50 Grilled Watermelon Caitlin Bensel We promise this isn't just some crazy science experiment. Grilling watermelon softens the texture and brings out a sweet smokiness. Each side gets sprinkled with salt and sugar to enhance the flavor. get the recipe 37 of 50 Charred-Vegetable Guacamole Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster Grilling the corn, onions, and jalapeños makes this special-occasion dip slightly sweet and smoky. Cilantro and queso fresco add additional texture and flavor to be scooped up in every bite. get the recipe 38 of 50 Split-Top Mini Barbecue Sandwiches Photographer: Alison Miksch / Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn / Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman Pick up a couple of pounds of pulled pork and a package of Hawaiian rolls, and you've got all you need to feed a crowd. But these become more than basic barbecue sandwiches with the addition of unique touches like homemade adobo-flavored sauce and sweet pickle relish. get the recipe 39 of 50 Blueberry Pie Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke This classic pie is as all-American as it gets. Fresh sage and lime zest add an unexpected touch that complements the sugary sweetness of the berries. Allow the pie to cool completely so it will hold its shape when cutting. get the recipe 40 of 50 Berry Tiramisu Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This summery twist on the decadent Italian dessert swaps out espresso and marsala for homemade berry syrup and fruit liqueur. It gets a double dose of berries from those buried underneath the mascarpone cream and more sprinkled on top. Chill for at least eight hours. get the recipe 41 of 50 Pork Chops With Carolina Barbecue Sauce, Smoked Butter, And Braised Onions Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Forgo the ribs for a different kind of pork this year. Marinated in a mixture of sorghum syrup, apple cider vinegar, and toasted peppercorns, the tangy Carolina barbecue sauce in this recipe fully penetrates juicy bone-in pork chops. Even the butter in this recipe gets special treatment, as it absorbs the perfume of smoking hickory chips on the grill. get the recipe 42 of 50 South Carolina Slaw Will Dickey; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn This sweet and tangy slaw is tasty on top of pulled pork, alongside smoked brisket, or even on tacos. There's no mayo in the recipe, but you will find apple cider vinegar, mustard, celery seed, and just the right amount of sugar to balance it out. get the recipe 43 of 50 Spiked Arnold Palmer VICTOR PROTASIO; PROP STYLING: HEATHER CHADDUCK HILLEGAS; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL Put out a pitcher of this crowd-pleasing cocktail alongside the sweet tea. There's nothing fancy here: just refreshing lemon slices, a classic Arnold Palmer mixture, and the best bourbon you've got in the house. get the recipe 44 of 50 Grilled Corn Salad Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Corn on the cob is always welcome at picnics and potlucks but don't overlook the sweet juicy gems for giving salads a fresh and flavrorful punch. get the recipe 45 of 50 7-Layer Salad Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke Surprise family with this layered salad at this summer's celebration. Bacon, lettuce, eggs, tomatoes, onions, and more make this dish impossible to resist. get the recipe 46 of 50 Barbecue Pork Pizza Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Move over burgers and dogs, there's pizza on our 4th of July menu. Pulled pork is the can't-be-beat topper for this summer's celebration. get the recipe 47 of 50 Zucchini Casserole Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Squash casserole? Check. Now make room on the spread for two: this creamy, extra cheesy casserole stars zucchini. Perfectly paired with burgers, chicken, and hot dogs. get the recipe 48 of 50 Watermelon Gazpacho Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Watermelon stars in this chilled summertime recipe. With just six ingredients and 15 minutes of hands-on time, you'll want to make plenty for the party and day after. get the recipe 49 of 50 Summer Vegetable Tart Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Of course we love quiches and tomato pie, but this year we're bringing a new tart to the table. This tasty recipe This easy recipe lets the bounty of summer vegetables shine–zucchini, yellow crookneck squash, corn, onions – and then pairs with pimiento cheese and a store-bought crust, get the recipe 50 of 50 Cheese Slaw Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox A recipe with deep Appalachian roots, this slaw is a distant cousin to pimiento cheese and does not include any cabbage at all. The main ingredients are shredded cheese, mayo, and banana peppers to pull together this simple and crunchy salad. get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit