Ready to fire up the grill and celebrate the 4th in delicious style? These 38 easy 4th of July recipes are your go-to guide for a red, white, and yum celebration. From backyard BBQ favorites and no-cook appetizers to make-ahead sides and festive desserts, these recipes are perfect for potlucks, cookouts, or beachside parties.
After years of sharing tried-and-true Southern recipes here on Grits and Pinecones—and hosting more than a few star-spangled shindigs of my own, I’ve rounded up a collection of dishes that are guaranteed crowd-pleasers.
Whether you’re planning a big backyard bash or just bringing a side dish to the neighbor’s cookout, these easy, make-ahead-friendly recipes are designed to keep things stress-free and full of flavor.
You’ll find a mix of my personal favorites (yes, my famous Southern potato salad makes an appearance!), plus top-rated recipes from fellow food bloggers I know and trust.
Most use simple pantry staples and can be prepped ahead, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time watching fireworks with a glass of sweet tea in hand. 🇺🇸
1 The Best and Easiest Grilled Chicken – Grits and Pinecones
Nothing brings out the flavor of chicken like grilling, and this recipe for The Best and Easiest Grilled Chicken is finger-lickin’ good. It’s the perfect 4th of July recipe for your cookout or BBQ.
2 Red White and Blue No-Bake Ice Box Cake – Grits and Pinecones
This Red, White, and Blue No-Bake Icebox Cake is a dream to make and just as dreamy to eat. And, it’s the perfect dessert to take to a 4th of July celebration.
3 Southern Broccoli Salad with Craisins – Grits and Pinecones
Easy old-fashioned Southern Broccoli Salad is a crowd favorite and always a hit at potlucks and cookouts. It’s irresistibly delicious, can be made ahead, is a low-carb wonder, and is the vegetable side dish of your dreams.
4 Blackberry Pie – Grits and Pinecones
This quick and easy recipe for homemade, Old-Fashioned Blackberry Pie features the perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors with a filling of fresh or frozen, juicy, sweet blackberries or dewberries wrapped in a flaky, buttery pie crust.
5 Smoked Burgers – Grits and Pinecones
Smoked Burgers, which are prized for their rich meaty flavor, feature ground chuck patties that are smoked low and slow in a grill or smoker. Then they are reverse-seared in a cast-iron skillet to give them a great crust on the outside and juicy, tender beef on the inside.
6 Southern Potato Salad – Grits and Pinecones
The 4th of July or summer picnics wouldn’t be the same without a tasty helping of potato salad. Like Grandma used to make, this old-fashioned potato salad recipe is easy and loaded with dill pickles and hard-boiled eggs!
7 Cucumber and Tomato Salad – Grits and Pinecones
Southern Cucumber and Tomato Salad features a lovely combination of fresh flavors with crisp, cool cucumbers, sweet, ripe tomatoes, and just a touch of zesty red onions. These vegetables are marinated in a simple but tasty, sweet and tangy salad dressing made with apple cider vinegar.
8 Smoked Spatchcock Chicken – Grits and Pinecones
Say goodbye to dry, overcooked grilled chicken and hello to moist, succulent, and flavorful Smoked Patchcock Chicken. Smoking a chicken slowly at a low temperature gives it a smoky flavor. Spatchcocking also helps flatten it, allowing it to cook evenly and perfectly every time.
9 Easy Southern Tomato Pie – Grits and Pinecones
Easy Southern Tomato Pie is a savory classic full of fresh sweet ripe tomatoes, with melted cheddar cheese, and blanketed with a tangy mixture of mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and parmesan cheese.
All of this cheesy, tomatoey deliciousness is baked in a rich buttery crust, made with Ritz crackers and even more parmesan cheese.
10 5-Minute 4th of July Appetizer-Stars Spangled Skewers – Stacy Homemaker
Star-Spangled skewers are the easiest 4th of July recipe that you’ll ever make! They only take 5 minutes to assemble, and you can store them in the fridge until party time! Vegetarian and gluten-free.
11 Watermelon Feta Salad with Basil and Blueberries – Grits and Pinecones
Every bite of this make-ahead, cold, and refreshing Watermelon Feta Salad with Basil and Blueberries tastes like a party in your mouth! It features a winning combination of sweet, ripe watermelon, tangy feta cheese, juicy blueberries, fresh basil, and an optional tangy homemade vinegarette dressing.
12 Amazing Grilled Vegetable Kabobs – Grits and Pinecones
Amazing Grilled Vegetable Kabobs are just that, amazing! Sweet, smoky, caramelized grilled veggies packed with flavor and cooked on a skewer are the ultimate BBQ side dish.
Quick and easy to prepare, vegetable kabobs aka veggie skewers are quick to disappear too. Even your pickiest eaters will love these grilled vegetables!
13 Red, White, and Blue Sangria Sparklers – A Fork’s Tail
These Red, White, and Blue Sangria Sparklers would be a perfect way to kick off the 4th of July festivities. They taste just as good as they look and are super easy to make.
14 Grilled Marinated London Broil – Grits and Pinecones
Whether you’re hosting a backyard cookout or simply craving a memorable meal, this tender, juicy grilled London Broil is sure to impress and satisfy. So fire up the grill and enjoy a culinary experience that’s as quick and easy as it is unforgettable
15 Oven Baked Boneless Country Style Pork Ribs – Grits and Pinecones
16 Ultimate Layered Cornbread Salad – Grits and Pinecones
Easy make-ahead Southern Cornbread Salad is layer after layer of pure old-fashioned goodness with chunks of cornbread surrounded by romaine lettuce, fresh tomatoes, ham, bell pepper, onion, celery, and, of course, shredded cheese.
17 Old-Fashioned American Coleslaw – Grits and Pinecones
This American classic southern-style coleslaw has it all: fresh, crunchy green cabbage, shredded carrots, and a homemade coleslaw dressing with mayonnaise and apple cider vinegar.
18 Smoked Baked Beans – Grits and Pinecones
A quintessential BBQ side dish, Smoked Baked Beans made with brown sugar and bacon are smoked low and slow in a cast-iron skillet for a rich smoky flavor. Absolutely delicious and supremely easy to prepare, this foolproof recipe always gets rave reviews.
19 Southern Deviled Eggs – Grits and Pinecones
Quick and easy Southern Deviled Eggs are devilishly delicious. The tasty filling is full of rich egg flavor and loaded with creamy mayonnaise, spicy yellow mustard, dill pickles, and my secret ingredient, dill pickle juice.
20 Patriotic Snack Mix Cones – Pudge Factor
Patriotic Snack Mix Cones are a perfect treat for your summer patriotic festivities. They’re simple to make and impressive enough for your pickiest eater. Store-bought waffle cones are topped with white chocolate and red, white, and blue sprinkles and filled with an awesome snack mix.
21 Spicy Coleslaw – Practical Southern Kitchen
This Spicy Coleslaw is the fiery little sidekick you didn’t know your pulled pork was missing. Creamy, crunchy, tangy, and just the right amount of kick from jalapeños, it’s the perfect contrast to rich BBQ pork or grilled meats.
22 Skinny Berry Cheesecake Bars – A Healthy Cusine
Skinny Berry Cheesecake Bars are creamy, dreamy lemony cheesecake no-bake filling on top of a gluten-free nutty almond crust and topped with healthy berries. The perfect 4th of July recipe!
23 Grilled Beer Can Chicken – Grits and Pinecones
Grilled Beer Can Chicken is a fun and different way to achieve perfect grilled chicken that will have your friends and family thinking you are a prize-winning BBQ Pit Master!
24 Corn Salad – Grits and Pinecones
Easy Southern Corn Salad is a flavorful and colorful summer side dish that is kid-friendly and perfect for casual backyard barbecues and potlucks.
Full of fresh-picked sweet corn, this make-ahead wonder only takes minutes to prepare and pairs beautifully with grilled or smoked entrees.
25 Tomato Avocado Feta Salad with Corn – Grits and Pinecones
This delicious and healthy Tomato Avocado Feta Salad with Corn is the essence of summer eating! You know those days when the temperature is soaring, and all you want is something light, cool, and refreshing to eat.
26 Strawberry Cheesecake Bars – The Seaside Baker
These strawberry cheesecake bars will be the hit at your next summer picnic! Creamy, rich, and piled high with fresh glazed strawberries.
27 Lemony Lentil Asparagus and Tomato Salad with Feta Cheese – From a Chef’s Kitchen
Lemony Lentil, Asparagus, and Tomato Salad with Feta Cheese is light, healthful, and will go with just about anything!
28 Best Oven-Baked Baby Back Ribs and Dry Rub – Grits and Pinecones
This recipe for the Best Oven-Baked Baby Back Ribs and Dry Rub is for you if you love BBQ ribs but don’t have a grill, it’s raining, or you are looking for an easy way to cook them in the oven!
29 Old-Fashioned Southern Peach Cobbler – Grits and Pinecones
Easy Old-Fashioned Southern Peach Cobbler is a simple cobbler recipe baked in a cast-iron skillet, featuring fresh, frozen, or canned, sweet, juicy peaches and a perfect homemade crust. One bite of this luscious, made-from-scratch cobbler, and you will understand the true meaning of comfort food.
30 Purple Cabbage Coleslaw – Grits and Pinecones
If you’re looking for a colorful, crunchy, and downright craveable side dish, this purple cabbage coleslaw might just steal the show at your 4th of July bash. It’s quick to whip up, easy to customize, and makes a bold and beautiful statement on any plate.
31 Strawberry Lemonade Vodka Cocktail – Lemon Blossoms
Strawberry Lemonade Vodka Cocktail combines the flavors of fresh strawberries, lemon sorbet, and vodka into one amazing mixed drink! This simple and refreshing vodka lemonade is one of our favorite party cocktails!
32 No-Bake Coconut Strawberry Jars – The Flavor Bender
No-bake coconut cheesecake + fresh strawberry pie filling make for the PERFECT summer and Fourth of July dessert! There’s no artificial coloring or flavoring in these No-Bake Coconut Strawberry Cheesecake Jars, and they can be made gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan too!
33 Summer Pasta Salad – Grits and Pinecones
Summer Pasta Salad is a delicious, garden-fresh veggie-filled salad loaded with summer squash, zucchini, carrots, scallions, edamame, broccoli, and cherry tomatoes! It’s topped with a simple light and fresh dressing.
34 Southern Mac and Cheese – Grits and Pinecones
You would be hard-pressed to find any holiday or celebration involving food in the South without a homemade, baked mac ‘n cheese casserole, full of creamy melted cheese front and center on the table.
35 Frozen Lemonade Pie – Grits and Pinecones
Easy Frozen Lemonade Pie is the perfect combination of sweet and tart flavors, all wrapped up in a crunchy graham cracker crust. Light and refreshing with a sublime lemony flavor, it’s a perfect no-fuss dessert that will quickly become a family favorite.
36 Easy Watermelon Lemonade Ice Pops – Grits and Pinecones
Easy Watermelon Lemonade Ice Pops has to be the easiest recipe ever! With only two ingredients, fresh yummy watermelon and frozen lemonade concentrate, and two steps, you can have a delicious, light, and refreshing 4th of July dessert that both kids and adults will love.
37 Seven Layer Flag Dip – Pudge Factor
A great 4th of July appetizer, the 7-Layer Flag Dip is a traditional Mexican-inspired dip with layers of refried beans, guacamole, salsa, and sour cream mixed with taco seasoning. It’s topped with grape tomatoes for the red stripes, shredded Monterey Jack cheese for the white strips, and crushed blue tortillas with sour cream for the stars.
38 Red, White and Blue Yogurt Popsicles – The View from the Great Island
Show your colors this summer with these healthy patriotic Red White and Blueberry Yogurt Popsicles! Kids of all ages love these berry-licious frozen treats, so layer up a batch this Memorial Day or 4th of July!
Tips for Hosting the Ultimate 4th of July Cookout
- Prep as much as you can the day before (think marinades, side salads, and desserts).
- Offer a mix of grilled mains, cool sides, and grab-and-go snacks.
- Keep guests cool with big-batch cocktails, mocktails, and a patriotic punch.
- Create a shaded area with umbrellas or pop-up tents.
- Set up a red, white, and blue dessert table to wow your guests.
People Also Ask: Easy 4th of July Recipes, Cookout Tips and Time-Saving Ideas
The 4th of July celebrates American Independence Day, marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Families celebrate with cookouts, BBQs, beach days, and fireworks to honor the occasion.
Popular 4th of July foods include grilled burgers, hot dogs, steaks, BBQ chicken, potato salad, and baked beans. These crowd-pleasers are perfect for outdoor cookouts and casual summer get-togethers.
A traditional 4th of July menu often features grilled chicken, burgers, or fish, with classic sides like potato salad, mac and cheese, corn on the cob, and cucumber tomato salad. Popular desserts include flag cakes and homemade peach ice cream.
Choose make-ahead recipes that travel well and don’t need to be served hot. Great options include Southern potato salad, deviled eggs, pasta salad, or fruit-based desserts that can be chilled.
Easy 4th of July recipes for beginners include no-cook sides like Broccoli Salad, Watermelon Feta Salad, or Southern Corn Salad. These dishes use simple ingredients, require minimal prep, and can be made ahead of time.
More 4th of July recipes:
I’d love to know what’s on your menu this Fourth of July! Did any of these dishes make your must-make list? Let me know in the comments—and if you need more inspiration, check out these other holiday-ready recipes:
Do you need even more menu ideas or inspiration? Check out all of my 4th of July recipes at this link.
Have a happy and safe 4th of July!
Thank you so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones. I hope you’ll come back soon!
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats
Thanks for including me! Pinned, yummed and tweeted.
Mark, CompassandFork
There is something for everyone here. Great round-up of recipes for July 4th. Better get the grill all cleaned up in preparation.
Gritsandpinecones
Hey Mark, thanks so much! I think I like the 4th of July better than Christmas and love nothing better than grilled anything!
Diane Williams
Beautiful Round up! Thanks for including our Hamburger bean casserole. Shared on all my social networks.
Gritsandpinecones
Thanks Diane! And, thanks so much for sharing!