The ultimate guide to 4th of July Recipes! Whether you want apps, snacks, dinner, or desserts, we’ve got you covered!
I absolutely love the 4th of July, because, let’s be honest, we all know 4th of July is alllll about the food. 😉
Burgers, summer salads, desserts, drinks…it doesn’t get better than that!
What should i serve for 4th of july?
Since many 4th of July celebrations take place outside, there are a few things I like to keep in mind when it comes to the types of food served. 4th of July food should:
- Be easy.
- Feed a crowd.
- Be made in advance.
- Be able to sit out for long (ish) periods of time. If it can’t sit out for a long period of time, plan ahead on how you’re going to keep your dish chilled (cooler with ice?) or warm (crockpot?).
With all of those things in mind, I’ve compiled a list of the best 4th of July recipes EVER! They’re easy to make, super fresh, and perfect for a hot day!
Appetizers
Veggie Pizza
This cold Veggie Pizza has a buttery crescent roll crust and is topped with a ranch cream cheese spread, cheddar cheese, and fresh veggies!
Sausage Balls
This Sausage Ball Recipe is the perfect party appetizer! Sausage is rolled with Bisquick baking mix, cheddar cheese, and spices and baked until golden-brown.
Easy Bruschetta
This Easy Bruschetta Recipe is a healthy Summer classic with just 8 ingredients! Juicy tomatoes, tossed with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, balsamic vinegar, and fresh basil.
Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
These Jalapeño Poppers are stuffed with a rich and creamy Ranch cheese mixture, wrapped in salty bacon, and baked until hot and bubbly! The perfect crowd pleasing appetizer.
Easy Deviled Eggs
These Easy Deviled Eggs are a cinch to make thanks to my trick for making the best hard boiled eggs! They're also delicious and loaded with the creamiest filling of mayo, apple cider vinegar, dijon, horseradish, Worcestershire, relish, salt, paprika, and chives!
Strawberry Goat Cheese Bruschetta
This Strawberry Goat Cheese Bruschetta is my new favorite appetizer. Slightly chewy bruschetta is topped with creamy goat cheese, peppery arugula, juicy strawberries, and earthy basil!
Dips
Easy French Onion Dip
This Easy French Onion Dip Recipe is a classic party appetizer! With just 5 minutes of prep, this creamy caramelized onion deliciousness is the perfect, crowd favorite treat.
Easy Guacamole Recipe
This is the BEST Easy Guacamole Recipe. A classic chip dip with fresh ingredients and simple seasonings. The best part? It’s easily customizable!
Easy Pico de Gallo Recipe
This Easy Pico de Gallo Recipe comes together in a matter of minutes! Fresh tomatoes, onion, cilantro, jalapeno, lime, & garlic make this truly delicious.
Cream Cheese Salsa Dip
This Cream Cheese Salsa Dip requires two ingredients and 30 seconds of prep! It's addicting, it's creamy, it's so easy, and the spice level is up to you!
Sides and salads
BBQ Baked Beans
These BBQ Baked Beans are quick, easy, and the perfect side dish for any meal! Loaded with crispy bacon, onions, canned baked beans, mustard, ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and steak seasoning. The canned bean shortcut is easy and still delicious. Promise!
Crab Salad
This Crab Salad is light, yet creamy, and SO easy to make! It's packed with tender imitation crab, crunchy veggies, and is great served on crackers or slider buns.
Mexican Grilled Corn
This Mexican Grilled Corn aka elote is the perfect summer grilling recipe. Fresh corn smothered in creamy mayo, smokey spices, and salty cotija cheese!
Instant Pot Potato Salad
This Instant Pot Potato Salad is a quick and easy take on a classic Summer side. Potatoes and eggs are cooked together in the instant pot then tossed in a creamy, tangy dressing!
Fruit Salad
This Fruit Salad is packed with all your favorite fresh fruits and tossed in a healthy dressing. This quick and easy recipe makes the perfect summer snack, side dish, or dessert!
Easy Strawberry Pretzel Salad
This Strawberry Pretzel Salad has a crunchy pretzel crust, a tangy cream cheese filling, and a sweet topping made with strawberry jello and fresh strawberries. The BEST side dish or dessert for the holidays!
Potato Salad
This Potato Salad is a classic, easy-to-make Summer side dish. Yukon gold potatoes tossed in a creamy, tangy mayonnaise dressing with red onion, celery, and hard-boiled eggs.
Ambrosia
Ambrosia is the perfect 10-minute side dish. It's light and fresh, sweet and creamy, and absolutely packed with sweet fruit, fluffy marshmallows, crunchy pistachios, and chewy coconut.
Broccoli Salad
This Broccoli Salad is a classic summer potluck side! Fresh broccoli, chewy raisins, crunchy pecans, crispy bacon, and more tossed in a creamy and tangy homemade dressing.
Cornbread Recipe
This is the BEST Cornbread Recipe! Made with cornmeal, creamed corn, and sweet corn – it's gluten free, perfectly sweet, and PACKED with corn flavor.
Pasta salads
Macaroni Salad
This Macaroni Salad is packed with tender noodles and a super creamy, yet tangy dressing. Full of mayonnaise, relish, dijon mustard, spices, onion, celery, bell pepper, and hard-boiled eggs. It's loaded with flavor and makes the perfect side dish for a grill-out or potluck.
Greek Orzo Salad
This easy Greek orzo salad recipe is SO delicious! This super quick and easy make ahead recipe is loaded with orzo pasta, a tangy homemade greek salad dressing, crumbly feta, fresh, crunchy, summer veggies, and more!
Vegan Pasta Salad
This Vegan Pasta Salad is loaded with pasta shells, chickpeas, kalamata olives, and veggies all tossed in tangy homemade red wine vinaigrette. It's fresh, easy to make, and healthy!
Broccoli Pasta Salad
This Broccoli Pasta Salad is a 10-Minute, super yummy Summer side dish. Fresh broccoli, bowtie pasta, and crispy bacon tossed in a tangy mayonnaise dressing.
Easy Italian Pasta Salad
This easy Italian pasta salad recipe is sure to be a summer favorite! This super quick and easy make ahead recipe is loaded with perfectly cooked noodles, a tangy homemade italian dressing, creamy mozzarella, salty salami, and more!
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
A twist on classic elotes, this Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad is full of all the traditional flavors with a few fun twists! It's sweet from the corn, smoky from the spices, and loaded with amazing textures and flavors thanks to bow tie pasta, black beans, peppers, and fresh herbs! The perfect summer side dish.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
This healthy chicken caesar pasta salad is super quick, easy, healthy, and delicious! Loaded with whole wheat penne, rotisserie chicken, hard boiled eggs, onion, pepper, romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, croutons, and my secret ingredient: store-bought greek yogurt caesar salad dressing!
Asian Pasta Salad
This Asian Pasta Salad Recipe is loaded with a homemade dressing: sesame oil, vinegar, lime juice, honey, soy sauce, spices, etc. - fresh crunchy veggies: carrots, bell pepper, cucumbers - and other great mix-ins: noodles, peanuts, and cilantro! Light, fresh, quick and easy!
Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe
This simple Pesto Pasta Salad is loaded with pasta shells, fresh pesto, salty bacon, crumbly feta, juicy tomatoes, and crunchy cashews!
Main dishes
Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
This Instant Pot BBQ Chicken is made with only 5 ingredients! This easy dinner recipe is kid friendly and so versatile — serve on tacos, over nachos, as sandwiches, you name it!
Pulled Pork Recipe
This Pulled Pork Recipe is made in the crockpot for a super moist and tender meat. Serve it in sandwiches, as tacos or nachos, or with pasta!
Smash Burgers
This Smash Burger Recipe is a homemade version of a fast food restaurant classic! These burgers are ultra juicy with crisp edges and cook extremely quickly!
Hot Dog Chili
This bean-less Hot Dog Chili Recipe is loaded with crispy bacon and ground beef. It's perfect served on hot dogs or hamburgers, over nachos or fries, or even mixed into mac and cheese!
Instant Pot Sloppy Joes
This Instant Pot Sloppy Joes Recipe is a classic American comfort food made easier! It's sweet, saucy, and oh-so-flavorful!
Crockpot Crack Chicken
This Crockpot Crack Chicken is seriously addicting! Chicken thighs are slow cooked to tender perfection in a rich, tangy cream sauce and topped with bacon. Serve it on sandwiches, in wraps, over mashed potatoes, you name it!
Seattle Hot Dog Recipe
A lightly toasted hot dog bun piled with an all beef hot dog, slowly caramelized onions, smokey cream cheese, spicy jalapeños, and don't forget about those salty kettle chips for some crunch!
Black Bean Burger Recipe
This Black Bean Burger Recipe is PACKED with vegetables and flavor and is super quick and easy to make. All you need is 10 minutes and a food processor! Vegan. Gluten Free.
Greek Kebabs Recipe
Paired with tzatziki and full of tender chicken, veggies, and an herb-y garlic marinade, these Greek Kebabs are the perfect, quick & easy, healthy summer dinner!
Grilled BBQ Chicken Tacos Recipe
Juicy grilled chicken smothered in BBQ sauce plus crunchy, fresh, healthy coleslaw makes these the easiest & tastiest Grilled BBQ Chicken Tacos ever!
Desserts
Lemon Bars
This Lemon Bars Recipe is the perfect Summer dessert! A buttery shortbread crust is topped with a sweet, citrusy, and perfectly gooey lemon curd filling.
S’Mores Cookies
These S'mores Cookies have puddles of melted chocolate, crispy graham crackers, and ooey-gooey perfectly toasted marshmallows. The BEST way to eat s'mores without a campfire.
Key Lime Pie
This Key Lime Pie Recipe has a shortbread cookie and pistachio crust and a bright, yet creamy filling made with sour cream and condensed milk!
Vegan Sugar Cookies
These Vegan Sugar Cookies are soft, chewy, SO flavorful, and topped with the creamiest homemade vegan buttercream frosting!
Apple Pie Cookies
These Apple Pie Cookies are like miniature hand pies. Ooey-gooey apple pie filling is sandwiched between two pieces of buttery, flaky refrigerated pie crust and then baked until golden-brown.
Coconut Custard Pie
This Coconut Custard Pie is thick, creamy and absolutely packed with coconut flavor! Bonus: it's insanely easy to make!
Vegan Lemon Bars
These Vegan Lemon Bars are tart, creamy, and extra lemon-y! This plant based dessert is gluten free, naturally sweetened, and so easy to make.
Banana Bars
These Banana Bars are the best way to use overripe bananas! They're moist, fluffy, and slathered in a sweet and tangy cream cheese frosting.
Kitchen Sink Cookies
These Kitchen Sink Cookies are sweet, salty, and chewy. They're packed with semi-sweet chocolate, milk chocolate, chopped pretzels, and toffee!
Crockpot Peach Cobbler
This Crockpot Peach Cobbler is a classic dessert made in the slow cooker. Frozen peaches are topped with a spice cake mix then slow cooked to ooey-gooey perfection. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Strawberry Brownies
These Strawberry Brownies are made with strawberry cake mix AND strawberry jello mix to form this fruity, ooey-gooey dessert.
Apple Cobbler
This Apple Cobbler couldn't be easier. A tart, gooey Granny Smith apple filling with a fluffy, yet crisp topping; this is the perfect Fall dessert. Don't forget the vanilla ice cream!
How to Make Box Brownies Better
How to Make Box Brownies Better: a few simple ways to make your boxed brownies taste like they're made from scratch. Moist, fudgy, chocolate-y, and so easy!
Lemon Cookies
These Lemon Cookies are perfect for lemon lovers! These fluffy cookies are made with lemon cake mix, lemon pudding mix, and topped with a sweet and tangy lemon glaze.
Banana Pudding
This is the BEST Banana Pudding recipe and bonus: it's made in 20 minutes! Crunchy cookies (vanilla wafers or Chessmen cookies) are layered with fresh banana slices and creamy pudding.
Peach Crisp
This Peach Crisp is a classic summer comfort food! Frozen peaches are baked into a gooey filling and topped with a crispy oat, pecan, and brown sugar streusel.
Mini Apple Pies
These Mini Apple Pies are like individual, perfectly portioned deep-dish pies! This twist on a classic is brimming with gooey apple filling, topped with a crumb topping, and wrapped in a flaky pie crust.
Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
This Rice Krispie Treats Recipe uses double the marshmallows for an extra gooey and buttery treat! Just FOUR ingredients, TEN minutes, and ONE pot.
Scotcheroos
These scotcheroos are a classic no bake peanut butter chocolate dessert bar! A WHOLE box of rice krispies is mixed with corn syrup, brown sugar, peanut butter, vanilla, and salt, then smothered with a creamy chocolate and butterscotch topping.
Magic Cookie Bars
These 5 ingredient Magic Cookie Bars are a classic ooey gooey treat loaded with chocolate and coconut. They are mouth watering delicious and couldn’t be easier to make!
Best Puppy Chow Recipe
This is the best puppy chow recipe! Why? More chocolate, more peanut butter, more powdered sugar! This childhood classic aka muddy buddies just got better. 🙂 Plus, it uses the WHOLE box of cereal and the WHOLE bag of chocolate chips, so less measuring required!
Roasted S'Mores Ice Cream Recipe
This no churn Roasted S'mores Ice Cream Recipe is light, fluffy, and creamy. It's loaded with gooey roasted marshmallows, hot fudge, and crunchy graham crackers. No ice cream machine required!
Drinks
Mojito
This refreshing Mojito takes just 5 minutes and 5 ingredients to make! Made with fresh mint and lime juice, it's the perfect cool, summer cocktail. Make a pitcher for a crowd or a single serving for yourself!
Easy Margarita Recipe
A classic, Easy Margarita Recipe. 5 ingredients: tequila, simple syrup (or agave), lime, lemon, and orange juice! A simply perfect and refreshing cocktail!
Honey Strawberry Lemonade
This honey strawberry lemonade only has four ingredients and is naturally sweetened! Perfect for kids! Add a shot of gin for an adults only cocktail!
Watermelon Sangria
This Watermelon Sangria is Summer in a cup! Fresh watermelon and strawberry puree, crisp Pinot Grigio, strawberry vodka, triple sec, and tangy lemon juice! This homemade cocktail is so refreshing!
– Jennifer