Holidays & Occasions 4th of July 77 Fourth Of July Side Dishes For An All-Star Cookout Celebrate Independence Day with these easy sides you can make and take. 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 27, 2024 Close Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely The Fourth of July is a holiday that brings friends and family together to enjoy the summer weather and a spread of good food—and everyone has a favorite make-and-take dish to bring along to the party. For guys and gals who like to grill, we have some finger-licking rib recipes that will have your guests coming back for seconds. For Southern bakers, a cookout is the perfect time to use seasonal fruits to turn out delightfully melty cobblers or easy-to-transport sheet cakes. For most, however, it's the delicious bounty of Fourth of July side dishes—not only what's on the grill—that makes a paper plate feel like your grandmother's fine china. A July Fourth barbecue or cookout is simply not complete without classics such as potato salad, baked beans, tomato salad, and creamed corn. Check out this lineup of fresh, seasonal Fourth of July potluck ideas—they'll have you feeling patriotic in no time. 50 Easy Appetizers For A Festive And Fabulous Fourth of July 01 of 77 Classic Deviled Eggs Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Sure, we love our good old-fashioned deviled eggs and they are always right for the occasion—especially a potluck. Get The Recipe 02 of 77 Grilled Corn Ribs Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley If the grill is already hot, Grilled Corn Ribs are the ideal 4th of July side. Fresh cilantro adds a pop of fresh flavor to this seasonal dish. Get The Recipe 03 of 77 Classic Baked Beans Antonis Achilleos A dish of baked beans is a welcome addition to any backyard barbecue, and this recipe is classic and effortless to make and take. Get The Recipe 04 of 77 Creamed Corn Mac And Cheese Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley For when you can't decide between corn and mac and cheese, we decided to combine the two. Get The Recipe 05 of 77 Sheet Pan Squash Casserole Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell Making squash casserole on a sheet pan instead of a casserole dish means there's even more surface are to cover with the crispy topping. Get The Recipe 06 of 77 Shout Hallelujah Potato Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox This recipe may remind you of the potato salad your grandmother always served at family reunions. With hard-boiled eggs, sweet salad pickles, mayonnaise and jalapeño peppers, we guarantee your guests will be back for seconds. Get The Recipe 07 of 77 Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer This recipe is simple and delicious enough on its own—but the real stars of the show are the four topping options. From a bacony ranch drizzle to a basil butter with parmesan, these toppings are so good you'll officially make corn on the cob your forever-favorite cookout side. Get The Recipe 08 of 77 Classic Potato Salad Fred Hardy; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood While there are plenty of different ways to make potato salad, this simple, no-fuss recipe is likely similar to the basic one that Grandma always makes. Get The Recipe 09 of 77 Best Homemade Macaroni And Cheese Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley You'll know this homemade mac and cheese is ready to take out of the oven when the cheese is melted and golden brown. Get The Recipe 10 of 77 Creamed Corn Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman This dish is a staple at cookouts and barbecues around the South. For an added wow factor, you can top the creamed corn with a sprinkling of fresh chives if desired. Get The Recipe 11 of 77 Tomato-Mozzarella Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox As much as we love using up our summer tomatoes in a fat-stacked BLT, we make use of 2 pints of fresh cherry tomatoes for this refreshing salad. Get The Recipe 12 of 77 Classic Coleslaw Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Make sure to allow at least 30 minutes for the coleslaw to chill before serving. Get The Recipe 13 of 77 Corn Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This corn salad can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator overnight, just reserve the basil to add until just before serving. Get The Recipe 14 of 77 Best-Ever Succotash Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Packed with some of summer's best produce, including onion, corn, and lima beans, this traditional Southern side makes the perfect potluck dish. Get The Recipe 15 of 77 Deviled Egg Pasta Salad Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley If you can't decide between pasta salad and deviled eggs, serve up the delicious flavors of both in one dish with this 20-minute recipe. Get The Recipe 16 of 77 Summer Orzo Salad Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray The ideal big-batch summer salad to make ahead for any gathering, this dish is packed with fresh veggies, including cucumbers, tomatoes, and spinach. Get The Recipe 17 of 77 Tennessee Onions Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This cheesy onion casserole is guaranteed to become your new favorite side dish. Get The Recipe 18 of 77 7-Layer Salad JEN CAUSEY; FOOD STYLIST: EMILY NABORS HALL; PROP STYLIST: CALEB CLARKE Trifle dishes aren't just for desserts. It's the perfect dish for serving up this layered salad that's not only delicious but pretty. Get The Recipe 19 of 77 Old-School Squash Casserole Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman This is a staple dish that pairs well with just about anything you'll find at a cookout. It takes advantage of summer squash at its peak for a rich and cheesy, yet veggie-heavy dish. Get The Recipe 20 of 77 Smoky-Sweet Baked Beans Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely You'll find less sugar and salt in this recipe than traditional baked beans, but still plenty of flavor thanks to a grated sweet potato, chopped sweet onion, and bacon. Get The Recipe 21 of 77 Corn-And-Tomato Salad VICTOR PROTASIO; FOOD STYLIST: RUTH BLACKBURN; PROP STYLIST: CHRISTINE KEELY Think of this salad as summertime in a bowl. It comes together with just a little bit of stirring. Get The Recipe 22 of 77 Creamy Broccoli Slaw Will Dickey; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee Store-bought broccoli slaw helps this recipe come together with just 15 minutes of hands-on time. Get The Recipe 23 of 77 Loaded Potato Salad Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Kelsey Moylan; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke This recipe serves up everything you love about loaded potatoes in one bowl that's perfect for potlucks. Get The Recipe 24 of 77 Charred-Vegetable Guacamole Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster Grilled corn, onions, and jalapeños make a delicious addition to homemade guacamole. Get The Recipe 25 of 77 Texas Caviar Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This recipe is the quickest way to be everyone's favorite host: 1 bowl, 10 ingredients, 20 minutes. Get The Recipe 26 of 77 Ranch Potato Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Starting the potatoes for this recipe in cold water will help them cook evenly as the water comes to a boil. Get The Recipe 27 of 77 Cucumber-and-Vidalia Onion Salad Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley This simple side dish salad comes together in just 10 minutes with no cooking required. Get The Recipe 28 of 77 Sautéed Squash And Zucchini Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Just a little bit of oil, salt, and pepper are needed to transform fresh summer squash and zucchini into the ideal side dish for any 4th of July gathering. Get The Recipe 29 of 77 Cajun-Style Potato Salad Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Christine Keely We kicked it up a notch with a Louisiana-style spin on traditional potato salad. Get The Recipe 30 of 77 Oven-Roasted Corn on the Cob Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman When you don't have the time or energy to grill it, bake it! This recipe is a keeper. Get The Recipe 31 of 77 Macaroni Corn Casserole Will Dickey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Think of this recipe as the best of both corn casserole and mac and cheese together in one casserole. Get The Recipe 32 of 77 Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham Jen Causey As far as we're concerned, this old-school cold salad pairs well at any cookout. Get The Recipe 33 of 77 Grilled Potato Salad Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Kellie Kelley; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke You'll want to boil the potatoes until they are fork tender and then slice and grill them for this tangy and creamy potato salad. Get The Recipe 34 of 77 Quick Pickled Slaw Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos Coleslaw is a summer side dish that we can't get enough of. This recipe is best served the day-of for maximum freshness. Get The Recipe 35 of 77 Grilled Asparagus Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox If the grill is already fired up for the main dish, toss some fresh asparagus on the grates as well. Get The Recipe 36 of 77 Marinated Cucumber, Tomato, And Onion Salad Hannah Zimmerman This vibrant, shareable dish is the ultimate way to put your summer produce to good use. Get The Recipe 37 of 77 Strawberry Spinach Salad Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Nothing says summer like a bucket of fresh strawberries from a roadside farm stand! Get The Recipe 38 of 77 Pineapple-Pepper Slaw Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox A little sweet, a little spicy—this slaw is sure to be a potluck star. Get The Recipe 39 of 77 Cowboy Pasta Salad Photo: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall With taco-inspired ingredients like black beans, corn, cheese, and ground beef, this side dish might be your new summer family cookout go-to. Get The Recipe 40 of 77 Heirloom Tomato Pie Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Summertime is practically synonymous with tomato pie, and this recipe will have you making it all season long! Get The Recipe 41 of 77 Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox When it's too hot to break out the deep-fryer, a quick and lighter pan-fry will do the trick. It lets fresh okra really shine. Get The Recipe 42 of 77 Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Macaroni and cheese...but make it summery. Use your in-season tomatoes to top off this classic comfort side dish. Get The Recipe 43 of 77 Tomato, Peach, and Corn Salad Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele While you'll see plenty of salads that pair tomatoes and watermelon together, we think peaches deserve a little more attention beyond cobbler. This salad tastes like summer. Get The Recipe 44 of 77 Macaroni Pie Antonis Achilleos My, oh my—a macaroni pie?! Mac and cheese that's firm enough to be sliceable, but with an utterly irresistible creaminess that can only be the result of pure magic—we're not sure how, but we made it happen. Get The Recipe 45 of 77 Smashed Oven-Fried Okra Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Part appetizer, part side dish, 100% party-approved. Get The Recipe 46 of 77 Grilled Corn Salad Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Using grilled corn helps this side dish hit all of the flavorful, smoky, and slightly sweet notes in every bite. Get The Recipe 47 of 77 Watermelon, Cucumber, And Feta Salad PHOTO: HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; PROP STYLING: LYDIA PURSELL; FOOD STYLING: TONI BROGAN This isn't your basic watermelon salad. Cucumbers and melon soak up a tangy lime-lemon-shallot vinaigrette and are topped with feta cheese. Get The Recipe 48 of 77 Grilled Okra-and-Pepper Skewers with Dijon Dipping Sauce Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis While this whole dish is a winning combo, it's the okra that will have everyone coming back for seconds. Get the Recipe 49 of 77 Crispy Potatoes Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Katelyn Hardwick Two different kinds of potatoes and the foolproof combo of seasonings will see you through this recipe. Get The Recipe 50 of 77 Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan It doesn't get more crowd-pleasing than a Caprese. Give this salad a fun new look by using a mix of multicolored cherry tomatoes and small fresh mozzarella balls tossed in a simple vinaigrette. Get The Recipe 51 of 77 Permanent Slaw Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan Like a cross between a vinegar-based coleslaw and chowchow, this recipe is just the tangy touch to add to any cookout main. Get The Recipe 52 of 77 Oven-Fried Zucchini Sticks Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Serve these crispy zucchini fries as a fun and fresher alternative to French fries. Get The Recipe 53 of 77 Mac and Cheese with Ham Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayliss Believe it or not, this reader favorite is made on the lighter side. Subtle than most on the butter and cheese, this outdoor party original will still melt in your mouth. Get The Recipe 54 of 77 Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners This gorgeous summer pasta salad showcases peak-season tomatoes, fresh herbs, and field peas. Get The Recipe 55 of 77 Lady Pea Sala Stacy Allen, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle This light and bright salad comes together with just 10 minutes of hands-on time. Get The Recipe 56 of 77 Tee's Corn Pudding Emily Laurae/Southern Living One of our most requested recipes for a summer outdoor event, this classic recipe has a rich, soufflé-like texture without the hassle. Get The Recipe 57 of 77 Corn Fritters Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Rebecca Cummins These fritters are reminiscent of hush puppies, but are much lighter and richer in flavor. Get The Recipe 58 of 77 Roasted Pepper-Tomato Salad With Crispy Black-Eyed Peas Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Make a light and bright summer salad with your seasonal bounty. Get The Recipe 59 of 77 Spicy Pineapple Slaw Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Kellie Kelley; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke No mayo required for this summertime slaw that gets a little kick from minced jalapeño pepper and a Fresno chile. Get The Recipe 60 of 77 Grilled Peach-and-Arugula Salad with Feta Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Kellie Kelley; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Throw some peaches on the grill with your hamburgers and hot dogs. The sweet slices pair perfectly with feta and arugula for a side salad. Get The Recipe 61 of 77 Broccoli and Grape Pasta Salad Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall A light and refreshing pasta salad for any potluck. Get The Recipe 62 of 77 Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Karen Ranking; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless It's the creamy, cheesy potato bake that belongs at every barbecue. Get The Recipe 63 of 77 Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole Hector Sanchez; Stylist: Buffy Hargett Yellow squash and zucchini are quite prolific in the South. This recipe, a popular choice for cookouts and outdoor parties, makes delicious use of summer's bounty. Get The Recipe 64 of 77 Rum Baked Beans Hector Sanchez Baked beans belong at a Fourth of July cookout like hotdogs belong at the ballpark. Loaded with bacon and four types of beans, this side is so hearty some might mistake it for the main course. Get The Recipe 65 of 77 Street Corn Salad Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham This quick and effortless Street Corn Salad comes together in a quick 20 minutes. Combine the ingredients with a dash of olive oil and sprinkle with cheese and you have a delicious summer side or dip. Now that's summer siding made simple! Get The Recipe 66 of 77 Picnic Egg Salad Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele No picnic or potluck is complete with one of the most nostalgic spreads—egg salad. Get The Recipe 67 of 77 Ham Salad Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox We are bringing old-fashioned ham salad back to the spotlight with this recipe. It's fit for any occasion: Keep it simple with crackers or dress it up as a tea sandwich. Get The Recipe 68 of 77 Fried Green Tomatoes Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Rebecca Cummins The ultimate side dish: Serve them shining on their own, with a dip, or on an iconic Fried Green Tomato BLT. Get The Recipe 69 of 77 Whipped-Cream Corn Salad Southern Living This recipe elevates classic cream corn and makes it extra light and fluffy. Get The Recipe 70 of 77 Garlic Parmesan Green Beans Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Even the vegetable averse will go crazy for these green beans made with bacon, crispy Parm, and plenty of garlic. Get The Recipe 71 of 77 BLT Salad with Buttermilk-Parmesan Dressing and Buttery Croutons Photo: Alison Miksch This deconstructed version of summer's most beloved sandwich (the BLT) makes for an incredibly satisfying side. Get The Recipe 72 of 77 Deviled Egg-Potato Salad Antonis Achilleos You can't go wrong when you combine two of the South's most popular picnic dishes: deviled eggs and potato salad. Get The Recipe 73 of 77 South Carolina Slaw Will Dickey A traditional Carolina slaw uses vinegar, not mayo. This one also pairs up with two types of mustard for a truly tangy slaw option. Get The Recipe 74 of 77 Grandma Gwen's Beans Jennifer Davick; Prop Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham This top-rated reader favorite won our 2012 'Cue Awards for Best Baked Beans. One bite and you will understand why. Get The Recipe 75 of 77 Two-Cheese Squash Casserole Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Amy Burke This cheesy summertime favorite calls for yellow squash, but feel free to sub in some zucchini for an added burst of color. Get The Recipe 76 of 77 Tomato-and-Watermelon Salad Oxmoor House If you like salt on your watermelon, you'll love the flavors of this salad. When Chef Bill Smith at Crook's Corner Café and Bar in Chapel Hill, NC put this dish on his menu, it was an instant hit. Who knew tomatoes and watermelons play so well together? Get The Recipe 77 of 77 Three-Cheese Pasta Bake This delicious variation on traditional macaroni and cheese is easy to prepare and ideal for both weeknight family dinners and weekend entertaining. Get The Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit