36 Recipes That Deserve A Spot On Your Fourth Of July Menu

By

Patricia S York

Updated on May 4, 2024

Southern Living Bourbon- and Cola-Glazed Steak Kebabs on a platter to serve with smashed cucumber salad beside — Photo:
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Whether you're celebrating with a day at the lake, spending time by the pool, or attending a backyard barbecue, these Fourth of July recipes make for a simple yet extraordinary Independence Day with friends and family. These easy recipes will make hosting a breeze, and many of these dishes, from potato salad to Texas Caviar, work as transportable potluck favorites. For an all-day celebration that will last into the evening, you'll need plenty of refreshing drinks, festive appetizers, hearty mains, fresh sides, and patriotic desserts.

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Strawberry Lemonade

Southern Living Strawberry Lemonade in a glass to serve with ice and strawberry slices — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Strawberries are at their sweetest in the summer, which means it's a great time to make a refreshing homemade strawberry lemonade. The vibrant red color of the drink makes it extra festive for the holiday.

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Three-Pickle Potato Salad

Southern Living Three Pickle Potato Salad — Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray

This is a potato salad for the pickle lovers. It contains bread-and-butter pickle chips, relish, and pickled okra in the mix.

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Pepper Sauce Watermelon Wedges

Southern Living Pepper Sauce Watermelon Wedges on a blue platter to serve — Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray

Dress up wedges of sweet watermelon with the tang and heat of pepper sauce. The effortless appetizer will wow guests, but comes together in only 10 minutes.

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BLT Pasta Salad

Southern Living BLT Pasta Salad in a bowl to serve with extra bacon on the side — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

BLTs are one of our go-to summer dishes when tomatoes are in season. We took all the fresh flavors of that sandwich and turned it into a large format pasta salad in this recipe that is perfect for a Fourth of July cookout.

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Spice-Rubbed Flank Steak With Corn-Chile Relish

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

Sweet summer corn is mixed with poblanos and fresh lime juice in this recipe to create a refreshing relish for a perfectly grilled flank steak. It will be the stunning centerpiece of your holiday menu.

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Cheeseburger Sliders

Southern Living Cheeseburger Sliders on a plate to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Burgers are a classic Fourth of July meal, but we suggest going mini. Not only are these Cheeseburger Sliders adorable, but their smaller size is perfect for a potluck spread where everyone will want to grab bites of everything on the buffet table.

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Watermelon, Mint, Feta, And Fried Peanut Salad

Southern Living Watermelon, Mint, Feta, And Fried Peanut Salad in a bowl to serve — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

Watermelon is synonymous with summer, and this savory salad is a great new way to serve it. Fresh mint, crunchy peanuts, and feta creates a bite full of flavor and texture.

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Bourbon- And Cola-Glazed Steak Kebabs

Southern Living Bourbon- and Cola-Glazed Steak Kebabs on a platter to serve with smashed cucumber salad beside — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Cola is already a cookout staple, and this recipe uses it as more than just a refreshment, but as a gorgeous glaze on steak kebabs.

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Strawberry-Ginger Poke Cake With Toasted Vanilla Meringue

Southern Living Strawberry-Ginger Poke Cake with Toasted Vanilla Meringue on a serving plate — Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Sheet cakes are great large format desserts for holiday gatherings, and we love this one loaded with seasonal strawberry flavor and a beautiful toasted, sweet meringue on top.

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Peel And Eat Shrimp

Southern Living Peel 'N' Eat Shrimp on a platter to serve with dipping sauce and lemon halves — Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Transport friends and family to the beach with this recipe. We pair the shrimp with an easy homemade cocktail sauce, but feel free to serve them with your favorite condiments, like tartar sauce or Thousand Island dressing.

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Grilled Peaches with Spiced Whipped Cream

Grilled Peaches with Spiced Whipped Cream — Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

When fruit is as good and delicious as it is in the summer, sometimes a simple preparation is best. A quick kiss of the grill and soft, homemade whipped cream on top is all summer peaches really need.

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Basic Pimiento Cheese

Southern Living Basic Pimento Cheese in a bowl to serve with crackers and vegetables — Fred Hardy; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke

Is there a Southern gathering where pimiento cheese isn't welcomed? This is our go-to recipe, which you can pair with your favorite crackers, crudités, or other small bites.

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Mexican Corn (Elotes)

Southern Living Mexican Corn on a platter to serve with lime wedges and beer — Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke

Mayo, sour cream, cotija cheese, and fresh lime juice takes summer corn to new flavor levels.

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Frozen Margarita

Frozen Margarita — Antonis Achilleos

July is notoriously hot in the South. A Frozen Margarita is exactly the kind of cool treat that we crave when temperatures soar.

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Cherry-Lime Hand Pies

Southern Living Cherry-Lime Hand Pies — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Matthew Gleason; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

These flaky hand pies stuffed with sweet-tart cherries are the perfect two-bite desserts for topping off a full Fourth of July spread.

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Pepper Jelly-Glazed Chicken Wings

Southern Living Pepper Jelly-Glazed Chicken Wings — Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Get the party started with these sweet and spicy chicken wings. Serve with a side ranch and ice cold beers.

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Cherries-and-Cream Icebox Cake

Cherries-and-Cream Icebox Cake — Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

No-bake desserts are a summer staple. This icebox cake looks as impressive as a classic Southern layer cake, but doesn't require turning on the oven.

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Afterburners

Afterburners — Stacy k. Allen, Props: Josh Hoggle, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray

This spicy, three-ingredient appetizer will win over the heat seekers at your Fourth of July cookout. Salty bacon, savory shrimp, and spicy jalapeños pack tons of flavor into a single bite.

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Grilled Wedge Salad with Buttermilk-Blue Cheese Dressing

Grilled Wedge Salad with Buttermilk-Blue Cheese Dressing — Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

Give a classic wedge salad a summer spin with our grilled version. It has the same creamy dressing, with added smoke from the grill.

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Grilled Chicken Legs

Southern Living Grilled Chicken Legs on a platter to serve with white barbecue sauce — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Take grilled chicken to the next level with our Alabama white sauce. Pickle brine is the key ingredient that adds flavor but also tenderizes the chicken.

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No-Bake Cheesecake

Southern Living No Bake Cheesecake sliced on a plate to serve — Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

While we top this cheesecake with fresh berries, you can use the recipe as a base for your favorite flavors. Add a chocolate drizzle, crunchy pecans, or even toasted coconut.

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Tangy Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder

Tangy Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder — Hector Manuel Sanchez

Bone-in pork shoulder roast stews in a sweet and tangy soy-and-vinegar sauce for 8 hours in the slow cooker in this easy recipe. Enjoy between buns or Southern style with grits. Serve with plenty of homemade sauce made from the slow-cooked juices.

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Cherry Flag Pie

Cherry Flag Pie — Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Wow your guests with the presentation—and taste—of this patriotic pie. This made-from-scratch pie uses homemade crust and fresh Bing cherries (use frozen if fresh cherries aren’t available). Included are step-by-step instructions for the stars-and-stripes-designed pie crust.

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Classic Deviled Eggs

Classic Deviled Eggs — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Easy, classic, and mama-approved. Bringing these to a party? Transport the egg yolk filling and the white halves separately, and assemble at your destination before serving. Sprinkle the eggs with traditional paprika, or try cayenne for some heat.

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Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad in a white bowl with golden spoon — Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

This light and fresh pasta salad is easy to toss together and even easier to enjoy. Toasted chopped pecans, fresh broccoli, diced red onion, halved grapes, and crispy-crumbled bacon mixed with pasta creates a crunchy, sweet, and savory combo. A sweet-and-tangy dressing pulls all the favors together in this potluck-perfect salad.

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Red, White, and Blue Popsicles

Red, White, and Blue Popsicles — Jennifer Causey

This refreshing treat will be enjoyed by everyone on a hot summer afternoon. These are a healthier version of the nostalgic Bomb Pops and Firecrackers right off the the ice cream truck. We use a mix of berries, yogurt, and lemon and lime juices for a fresh take on this classic treat.

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Grilled Corn on the Cob

Grilled Corn On The Cob — Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

If you're already firing up the grill for hamburgers, you'll want to throw your corn on there as well. Keep the husks on and use them as handles for easy eating. Just soak the husks in water for 10 minutes before going on the grill to prevent burning. As a bonus, this recipe includes four options for butters and toppings to raise your grilled corn game.

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4th of July Punch

4th of July Punch — Jennifer Causey

Make two batches of this patriotic punch if you'll have kiddos attending your July 4th party, one with alcohol and one without. Strain the ingredients, which includes watermelon, lime, and pineapple juices, and let them meld for two hours or up to two days for the most flavorful batch. Add club soda, and alcohol if using, just before serving for a refreshing Fourth of July drink.

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Heirloom Tomato Pie with Parmesan-Buttermilk Crust

Southern Living Heirloom Tomato Pie finished in the pan and ready to serve — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

If you make and take this tomato pie to your Independence Day celebration, we guarantee you'll get an invite next year. To avoid a soggy crust from watery tomatoes, roast most of the tomatoes, which evaporates the moisture and caramelizes them, before baking the pie. This step can be done a day ahead for easier prep.

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Texas Caviar

texas caviar in a bowl — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Because every party needs a dip, or two. There’s many versions of this popular dip, but using bright, citrusy green tomatoes and white hominy, instead of corn, creates our unique spin. After combining the ingredients, cover, chill for 2 hours, and drain before serving.

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Sour Cream Flag Cake

Flag Cake — Southern Living

We don't think you'll find a more patriotic dessert. Vanilla sour cream frosting and berries create the American flag design on top of a moist sour cream base. Don’t be surprised if there’s nothing left but an empty cake pan by the time the fireworks are over.

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Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Southern Living Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese in the dish to serve with a serving scooped out — Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman

It's not a Southern get-together without this classic dish that both kids and adults love. This three-step recipe creates a classic, made-from-scratch batch using fresh, extra sharp cheddar cheese. This dish comes together in under an hour, even with grating your own cheese, which melts beautifully.

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Homemade Baked Beans

Southern Living Homemade Baked Beans in the dish ready to serve — Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman

Dress up canned beans with this 13x9 recipe. Mix the beans with bacon, onion, and pantry staples and bake for 45 minutes. You can use dried beans, just allow time for cooking the beans in advance, whether soaking and cooking them on the stove or in the pressure cooker.

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Baby Back Ribs With Coffee-Bourbon Barbecue Sauce

Baby Back Ribs with Coffee Bourbon Barbecue Sauce — Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Did you know coffee is the secret to the best ribs? If you don't believe us, give this recipe a try and we think you'll be instantly convinced.

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Cherry Delight

Cherry Delight — Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

This potluck staple is perfect for the Fourth of July. Not only does the cherry pie filling lend a beautiful red color to your cookout spread, but the practically no-bake treat requires only 20 minutes of hands-on cooking, so you can prep it in advance and focus on the grilling.

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Slow-Roasted Cherry Tomato Bruschetta

Slow-Roasted Cherry Tomato Bruschetta — Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch

This beautiful appetizer celebrates one of our favorite parts of summer: tomatoes. Tangy goat cheese and sweet basil round out the bite.

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