Every Single 4th of July Recipe You Could Ever Need (All in One Place)

updated Nov 16, 2023

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Credit: Shelly Westerhausen

Fourth of July is drawing near we’re ready to grab a box of sparklers and this day to once again gather with friends, and we hope you’ll do the same. That might mean firing up the grill, having a low-key summer picnic in the backyard, or packing up your cooler for the beach or lake.

You’ll want to have a refreshing 4th of July drink on hand (think: strawberry lemonade), a good snack or dip for nibbling, a hearty main, like juicy burgers, crispy fried chicken, or grilled pizza, summery salads and buttery corn on the cob are a must, and of course you’ll need festive 4th of July desserts (a flag cake is classic and firecracker Rice Krispies treats are always a hit). We’ve got over 65 recipes to help you plan your best and most delicious July 4th yet.

In This Article

Dip, Salsa, and Snacks
Refreshing Drinks
Grilled Favorites
Meaty Mains
Vegetarian Mains
Fresh Summer Salads and Slaws
Summer Side Dish Favorites
4th of July Desserts

Dip, Salsa, and Snacks

When it comes to summer snacking, you simply can never go wrong with a fresh batch of salsa and chips. Put out a bowl of creamy avocado or 7-layer dip, and you can be sure it will be gobbled up in no time.

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Seven-layer dip is everything you love about a taco, from the beans and guac to sour cream and pico de gallo, served dip-style.

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Creamy Avocado Dip

Take three simple things — ripe avocado, soft goat cheese, and lemon juice — and whirl them together to create the creamiest, dreamiest dip you’ve ever imagined.

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Baked Jalapeño Popper Dip

With just the right amount of heat and a buttery, crunchy Ritz cracker topping, this creamy dip tastes just like a jalapeño popper.

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Black Bean & Corn Salsa

When tossed with lime juice, spicy chipotles, and fresh cilantro, a humble can of black beans and an ear of fresh summer corn are transformed into a bold, full-flavored salsa you’ll want to eat with everything.

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Watermelon Salsa

This five-ingredient dip is everything your summer has been missing.

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Halloumi and Melon Skewers

Forget your regular cheese plate, and go for summery skewers loaded with charred melon and briny halloumi brushed with a honey-lime glaze.

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Grilled BBQ Chicken Wings

Instead of baking or frying, these wings are cooked low and slow then tossed on the grill right before serving.

Refreshing Drinks

Hot summer days demand the most cool and refreshing drinks. There’s never been a better time to pull together a big pitcher of lemonade, sweet tea, or perhaps some sangria or a summery prosecco punch.

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Strawberry Lemonade

This refreshing pitcher drink, made with juicy strawberries and freshly squeezed lemon juice, is great for lemonade stands and family cookouts alike.

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Hibiscus Mezcal Pitcher Cocktail

When the tart, sweet flavor of hibiscus combines with the smokiness of mezcal, you get one irresistible cocktail.

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Homemade Lemonade

Ditch the simple syrup for the easiest homemade lemonade ever.

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It's not summer until there's a pitcher of sweet tea in the fridge. Here's how to make a batch everyone will enjoy.

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4th of July Wine Sparklers

Two ingredients plus a simple fruit garnish make this cool drink easy and festive.

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3-2-1 Pitcher Margaritas

A great margarita isn’t complicated, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. If you have tequila, orange liqueur (such as Cointreau or Triple Sec), and plenty of limes on hand, you have everything you need.

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Watermelon Prosecco Punch

Fresh, juicy cubes of watermelon and cool mint leaves are just the ticket to making bubbly prosecco feel extra summery.

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Sparkling Strawberry Cucumber Sangria

Using prosecco as the base of this sangria instead of still red or white wine automatically makes it fit for any kind of get-together.

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Sparkling White Peach Sangria

White wine and white peaches keep this simple four-ingredient sangria cool and refreshing.

Grilled Favorites

Burgers and hotdogs are always a safe bet, but we also love herby shrimp skewers, jalapeño-lime chicken breast, garlic-butter salmon, or a simple foil packet meal.

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Grilled Chicken Kebabs

What’s my idea of the perfect summer dinner? Bite-sized pieces of herby yogurt-marinated chicken threaded onto skewers, then grilled to perfection.

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Grilled Merguez Sausages and Veggies with Crispy Chickpeas

A mixed grill is a fun way to celebrate, and its customizable nature makes it perfect for guests.

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Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Chimichurri

An herby, garlicky chimichurri sauce doubles as both the marinade and a dipping sauce for these easy shrimp skewers.

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Easy Jalapeño Grilled Chicken

Flavored with tart lime and the fiery heat of jalapenos, these easy grilled chicken breasts are a summer stunner.

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Easy Grilled Steak

If you’re intimidated by grilling steak this is the recipe for you. It’s smart, it’s easy, and it yields flawlessly grilled steak every single time.

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Juicy Grilled Burgers

Just one ingredient will make your burgers infinitely juicier this summer, and it's already in your kitchen: butter!

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Garlic Butter Salmon in Foil

Ready to go beyond grilled chicken, burgers, and hot dogs? Tender, flaky salmon drenched in garlic butter is, hands-down, the best thing to cook on your grill this summer.

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Sausage, Potato & Green Bean Packets

Combine cooked sausage, chopped potatoes, and green beans; add some butter and a dash of Cajun seasoning; and wrap in foil for a no-mess dinner in minutes.

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Pineapple BBQ Chicken Foil Packets

Pineapple and barbecue sauce are the ultimate smoky-sweet duo, and a natural fit for summer grilling.

Meaty Mains

No grill, no problem! There are plenty of meaty, summery mains that are perfect for the day and don’t require a grill. If you’re up for a little bit of a project, go for a batch of saucy ribs in the oven or some fried chicken. Or if you prefer to keep things as easy as can be, dill pickle chicken or slow cooker pulled pork will be right up your alley.

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Oven-Cooked Ribs

We've cracked the code to making perfectly tender and mouth-watering barbecued ribs in the oven.

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Brown Butter Lobster Rolls

Inspired by Eventide Oyster Co. in Portland, Maine, big chunks of meat are tossed with rich brown butter. It’s a nutty contrast to the lobster meat that’s balanced by a big squeeze of lemon juice and a smattering of chopped fresh chives.

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Crispy, Juicy Fried Chicken (That's Better than KFC)

Using the recently leaked secret spice blend from KFC and best frying practices, we make finger-licking chicken that tastes better than the Colonel.

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Dill Pickle Chicken

Spicy and tangy pickle juice is the one-ingredient brine that makes the most tender and delicious chicken you will eat all summer.

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Slow Cooker Maple-Mustard Pulled Pork

Transform everyday pulled pork with your slow cooker and the sweet and tangy flavors of maple syrup and mustard.

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Instant Pot Pork Carnitas

Thanks to the Instant Pot, you can enjoy flavorful, impossibly tender carnitas in a fraction of the time.

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Slow Cooker Hawaiian Brisket Sandwiches

Pillowy-soft Hawaiian rolls piled high with slices of tender beef brisket and sweet pineapple, all topped with a crunchy, refreshing cabbage slaw.

Vegetarian Mains

If you’d prefer to skip the meat, there are so many options for great summertime vegetarian mains. Grilled pizza is one of our favorites, although fs you want to load up on veggies, spinach and goat cheese-stuffed portobellos, cauliflower steaks, and veggie kebabs are all wins.

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Portobello Mushroom Burger

Not only are they seriously satisfying and packed with flavor, but the mix of color and texture will keep you coming back for more.

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Veggie Burger Recipe

This is the recipe all vegetarians have been searching for. It's a simple vegetable and bean burger recipe that's sturdy enough to hold up on the grill.

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Grilled Open-Faced Cauliflower Banh Mi

Layered with spicy mayo, marinated grilled cauliflower florets, pickled vegetables, and cilantro, this loaded sandwich is a surefire win.

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Grilled Eggplant Burgers with Halloumi Cheese

These "burgers" come with a recipe for homemade herb pesto, but you can certainly stick with a store-bought option to keep things simple.

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Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

Packed with goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and sautéed spinach, these loaded mushrooms are more filling than you might expect. Roasted red peppers also make a nice stand-in for the tomatoes.

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Grilled Yogurt Flatbreads with Israeli Salad

A simple, no-rise flatbread dough is grilled until crispy, then topped with hummus and a fresh cucumber-tomato salad for a light and fresh summer main.

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Grilled Chipotle Lime Cauliflower Steaks

With a generous squeeze of zippy lime juice, a dusting of chili powder, and smoky char from the grill, cauliflower steaks are a main we can all get behind.

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Balsamic Glazed Veggie Kebabs

Any vegetable wins when it’s soaked in a sweet, tangy, and garlic-packed balsamic glaze and grilled on skewers until caramelized and tender.

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This method is not hard, once you get the hang of it, and thanks to the extra-high heat of the grill, it makes some of the best pizza you'll ever eat!

Fresh Summer Salads and Slaws

No 4th of July meal is complete without some kind of summery salad. If you’re going for a classic cookout vibe, creamy potato salad or tomato salad is a good bet. If you’ve already got the grill fired up for your meal, our grilled zucchini salad is a great side dish choice. And if your goal is to keep it simple, cucumber salad or a crunchy salad are what you need.

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The Ultimate Grilled Zucchini Salad

Zucchini is grilled until smoky, then tossed with a lemon vinaigrette, feta, and mint for a fresh salad you'll want to eat on repeat all summer.

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As a salad base, julienned broccoli stems and other crunchy vegetables stand up to creamy dressings like a dream and stay firm for days.

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Italian Potato Salad

This mayo-free potato salad is made extra colorful thanks to green beans, cherry tomatoes, and lots of fresh herbs.

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Classic Potato Salad

If you're looking for the most classic, old-fashioned potato salad around, here's the recipe for you.

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Salt and Pepper Smashed Cucumber Salad

The easiest cucumber salad, made with just salt, pepper, and a homemade vinaigrette.

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Buttermilk Cucumber Salad

This refreshing rendition of the classic creamy cucumber salad still has all the zip and crunch, but incorporates elements from raita and tzatziki, other cooling cucumber-and-dairy dishes.

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Tomato Salad with Red Onion, Dill and Feta

This is the full-on maximalist tomato salad: tossed gloriously with red pepper, feta, dill, cucumber, and olives.

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Tri-Color Slaw with Lime Dressing

A tangy lime vinaigrette keeps this crunchy slaw feeling light, fresh, and summery.

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Sesame Ginger Slaw

If you want a potluck dish that's a total crowd-pleaser, there is no better choice than this sesame ginger slaw.

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Easiest Summer Fruit Salad

A simple honey-lemon dressing spiked with cinnamon gives this basic fruit salad a fun twist.

Summer Side Dish Favorites

It doesn’t matter whether you go for buttery corn on the cob, a loaded pasta salad, or baked beans, these side dishes are summertime essentials.

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Grilled Corn on the Cob

This simple method for grilling corn on the cob leaves you with juicy, smoky cobs you can happily serve on a weeknight or for a big summer bash.

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Instant Pot Corn on the Cob

This method for making corn on the cob in the Instant Pot cooks 8 cobs in under 20 minutes. Plus there's a tip for melting butter in the same pot!

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Easy Pasta Salad

This mayo-free pasta salad is based on a formula that you can easily adapt to your favorite mix-ins.

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Pesto Pasta Salad

Nothing says summer like tendrils of pasta, fresh mozzarella pearls, juicy tomatoes, and crunchy cucumber dressed in a basil pesto sauce.

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Broccoli and Feta Pasta Salad

This is a simple pasta salad that’s easy to love. Broccoli adds wholesome crunch, olives lend a briny bite, and crumbled feta contributes plenty of salty goodness.

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A big platter of succotash is a celebration of all the vibrant vegetables coming into season: sweet corn, baby lima beans, ripe red tomatoes, and tender okra. Here's how to make it throughout the spring and summer months.

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Instant Pot Baked Beans

These 5-ingredient Instant Pot baked beans are just the thing you need to have for summer potlucks and backyard barbecues.

4th of July Desserts

Every 4th of July meal needs something sweet to round it out. If you’re game to turn on the oven, cherry pie bars are well worth it. And for something cool and nostalgic, a Friendly’s-inspired watermelon roll is guaranteed to be a surefire hit.

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Red White and Blue Popsicles

Rather than food coloring, these popsicles rely on fresh fruit to achieve their colorful layers.

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Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bars

Rich and creamy cheesecake bars kissed with lemon and studded with sweet, juicy berries are the answer to what to serve to your favorite people this 4th of July.

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Very Berry 4th of July Cupcakes

These cupcakes are as celebratory as ever: Red raspberries, white cake and buttercream, and blueberries ensure the color scheme is taken care of.

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Firecracker Rice Krispies Treats

Red and blue Pop Rocks not only make these Rice Krispies treats look festive, but they also make these treats seriously fun to eat.

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This stately, whipped cream-gilded cake has a colorful surprise inside that makes this vanilla-cake-meets-berry-shortcake recipe stand out from the rest.

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Red, White, and Blue Trifle

This celebratory dessert is packed with a medley of red and blue fruits and fit for a crowd.

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Red, White, and Blue Jello Mold

This red, white, and blue gelatin mold is full of real fruit juice and fresh fruit, and there's not a single box of flavored gelatin in sight.

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