Happy 4th of July! Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays because I just love an outdoor summer celebration. And also the food! Planning a cookout menu feels a lot more fun and relaxed than a whole big Thanksgiving or Christmas feast. For a country that likes to EAT, there’s no better way to celebrate summer and celebrate America than with these summer recipes.
I've come up with my 4th of July Menu including an appetizer, a side, a main, and a dessert that I'm sharing with you AND with an associated grocery list to make sure you've got everything you need. You can download and save the photos below, print them out, take your grocery list to the store, and post the menu up as decoration on your fridge for the party! It's going to be a Patriotic Palooza!
Not looking to plan an entire menu? Keep scrolling and find any recipe from salads to snacks, to burgers and drinks, that you can make so you don't have to show up to a party empty handed.
Table of Contents
4th of July Menu
Print out this 4th of July Menu to post at your party and print the grocery list to take to the store! Either screen shot the photos below or you can click find a downloadable PDF version here.
Use these links to see the full recipes:
And if you're just looking for a single recipe for your 4th of July cook out, check out the recipes below for a crowd pleasing dish!
Salad Recipes for the Fourth of July
Whether you're grilling up burgers, hot dogs, sausage, or chicken a lovely salad is always welcomed at a backyard cookout. These are my favorite summer salads to serve up to a crowd before the fireworks go off.
Chickpea Pasta Salad - This is great if you’ve picky eaters. No beans, no olives, just goodness!
Strawberry Quinoa Salad - This gets better as it sits because the quinoa soaks up the dressing
Chickpea Mediterranean Chopped Salad - Plenty of whole foods in this one that’ll make your taste buds and your stomach happy.
Watermelon Feta Mint Salad - Nothing says summer like a juicy ol’ watermelon.
Healthy Broccoli Salad - This Healthy Broccoli Salad is full of fun textures, fresh veggies and protein, is a great balance of sweet and earthy, and smoky flavors.
Orzo Pasta Salad - The texture of orzo makes this salad a delicious one. A small but mighty pasta variety the whole family will love.
Healthy Lemon Dill Potato Salad - A fan favorite side dish at any barbecue. And this one is lightened up!
Snacks for the Fourth
Avocado Crack Dip - Not quite feta dip, not quite guac, but somewhere in the middle.
Food Processor Salsa - Flavors of juicy, salty tomatoes, sharp red onion, hot jalapeños, and citrusy cilantro all combine into a perfectly fresh and crisp appetizer.
Goldfish Ranch Snack Mix - This Goldfish Ranch Snack Mix recipe includes all of your favorite snacks in ONE recipe! Goldfish, chips, pretzels, oh my! And everything is covered in buttery ranch flavor.
Cowboy Caviar - Lots of fresh Tex Mex veggies like corn, tomatoes, onions, and peppers combined with a hearty bean and a zesty vinaigrette.
Peach Jalapeno Salsa - Take advantage of juicy summer peaches! With a heated kick, of course.
Mini Burgers Skewers - These feature a combination of juicy ground turkey with zesty Italian seasoning and tangy condiments all loaded onto a skewer for easy serving.
4th of July Main Dishes
Rotisserie Chicken Hawaiian Sliders - Hawaiian rolls meet rotisserie chicken and melted havarti with spicy mayo... I mean 🤤 This is a sandwich you don’t want to miss out on.
Roasted Garlic Chicken Burgers - So juicy and grilled to absolute perfection.
The Best Grilled Chicken - If you’re looking for the most flavorful grilled chicken. This. Is. It. Pair it one of the salads above for the perfect barbecue meal.
Roasted Vegetable and Sausage Kabobs - Quick and simple to make and easy to serve too!
Cucumber Dill Chicken Salad - This chicken salad is packed full of veggies and herbs. It is so refreshing. Serve alongside rolls, pita, crackers, and chopped veggies, and let your guests choose how they’d like to enjoy it.
Spinach Feta Turkey Burger - An APOP reader favorite. So juicy and flavorful thanks to ranch seasoning. A seriously GOOD burger.
Oklahoma Onion Burger - The sweetness from juicy caramelized onions paired with a juicy, savory ground beef is just unbeatable when you sink your teeth in.
Pulled BBQ Chicken Sliders - These are great for grab and go! Wrap in tin foil and take on the boat or to the beach!
Fourth of July Desserts
4th of July Cookie Cake - Decorated with red, white, and blue frosting, it's so festive!
Gluten Free Fruit Pizza - Fresh berries spread on a shortbread crust with a creamy vanilla frosting make this fruit pizza a dream.
Cherry Blueberry Cobbler - Red cherries, blue berries, and a white biscuit topping. So America!
Summer Peach Galette - Combines two summer juicy summer fruits with an easy pre-made dough. Enjoy it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Blondies - So tender, soft, and decadent—and the addition of some chocolate chips and fresh buttercream makes them even more delicious!
Healthy Peach Crisp - Warm, caramelized peaches pair so perfectly with crumbly, toasted oats and nuts and delicious hints of cinnamon.
Triple Berry Cheesecake Milkshake - Fresh berries combined with real cheesecake and ice cream. This is a decadent recipe, so rich, and even better than the Dairy Queen version.
S’mores Puppy Chow - Summer and s’mores go hand and hand. Make this for something sweet to enjoy at your Memorial Day gathering.
Blueberry Banana Bread - Soft, moist, and perfectly sweet. You may want to make two loaves!
Strawberry Apple Crisp - Take advantage of those fresh summer strawberries. Adding two fruits to a fruit crisp is a must try!
Eclair Ice Box Cake - A no bake recipe with eclair inspired flavors.
Nutter Butter Pie - Calling all peanut butter lovers!
Summer Party Drink Recipes
Bahama Mama Cocktail - Bring on the sunshine with these fruity and coconut vibes.
Skinny Lemonade Mojito - Lemon, lime, and mint? The most refreshing flavors of the summer!
Pineapple Jalapeño Moscow Mule - Fruity summer flavors with a little heat in this cocktail.
Blood Orange Moscow Mule - Citrusy flavors like orange, peach, and lime—all topped off with some ice cold ginger beer!
Caribbean Rum Punch Spritz - Use an InBooze cocktail kit to make this drink easy and delish.
Spicy Orange Jalapeño Moscow Mule - A refreshing drink but with quite the kick.
Spicy Mezcal Paloma - A heated twist on a classic using Mezcal instead of Tequila with some jalapeño for spice.
Blueberry Texas Ranch Water - A simple tequila cocktail that's light, refreshing, and slightly citrusy.
Blueberry Vodka Lemonade - Sweet and tart, it’s the perfect summer cocktail to quench your thirst.
Tips for a successful Summer Cook Out
- Prep what you can ahead of time! Make the salad the day before or the morning of and just leave the dressing off until you're ready to serve.
- Make sure your grill has propane! For many, Memorial Day may be the first time you're using your grill this season. Check the propane tank ahead of time to avoid issues when you're ready to get grilling! Or use the Ninja Indoor Foodi Grill (my favorite option) as a no-fuss option.
- Use plastic utensils and paper plates for easy clean up! I also love serving in these disposable pans to avoid tons of dishes after the barbecue.
- Prep snacks and appetizers to avoid a hangry crowd! This will give you time to prepare whatever else you need without guests breathing down your neck.
- Know how many people you're having! Make sure you prep the correct amount and buy enough ingredients for your crowd.
I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. It's my passion to create dishes that can be shared with others. Tell me something you loved, something that you think it might need, or just say hi!
Please leave a review on the individual recipe if you choose to make it. Every 5-star review allows me to provide free recipes to y'all. Thank you SO much!!
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