Looking for the best recipes for the 4th of July? We’ve got you covered with easy recipes to grill, delicious side dishes, and yummy desserts for celebrating Independence Day.
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4th of July likely conjures certain memories for you, perhaps a fun childhood cookout or a college weekend at the lake. It for certain brings special foods to mind, specifically easy grilling, make-ahead salads, and tasty sweets to enjoy while watching the fireworks.
Celebrating Independence Day on a budget isn’t difficult, especially when you’ve got these best recipes for the 4th in your arsenal.
Main Dish Ideas
Serving a variety of hot dog toppings is a great way to elevate the classic summer party meal.
Enjoy the smoky goodness of grilled brats with peppers and onions. With just a handful of veggies, you’ve got the makings of a great brats dinner in less than 30 minutes!
Add an extra layer of flavor to your bratwurst by simmering them in beer or ale and then finishing them on the grill. Caramelized onions make for a luscious topping.
Hot dogs never tasted so good! Make these homemade hot dog buns to wow your guests at your next backyard barbecue.
These Spicy Sausage Burgers are super simple to prepare and come packed with flavor thanks to the spicy sausage and herbed mayo.
Here’s a hamburger that Popeye would be proud of: a beef patty chock full of greens.
A seasoned burger patty topped with melted pepper jack cheese, crispy bacon, carmelized onions, and barbecue sauce, this BBQ Bacon Burger is one you’ll want on repeat.
Turkey burgers are going up in the world. These seasoned turkey burgers flavored with green onion and tarragon are further enhanced with creamy bleu cheese and a spicy chipotle mayonnaise.
This easy Apricot BBQ sauce is a perfect pantry staple to make yourself. It brings great sweet and smoky flavor to burgers, pulled pork, and other grilled meats.
These easy homemade hamburger buns feature a secret ingredient: the same topping as an Everything Bagel! Mix up seeds and spices for a delicious seasoning to your Everything Hamburger Buns.
Homemade Hamburger Buns are something that you must make at least once. Just know that these tastier, healthier, often cheaper alternatives to spongy store-bought buns will have you hooked. You’ll never look back when you see how easy it is to make your own.
Serving a variety of buns, patties, and hamburger toppings is a great way to elevate the classic summer party meal or busy takeout dinner into something extra special. Choose from the list of burger toppings below to add variety to every burger night.
Liven up Chicken Night with this delicious Dijon Mustard Marinade. It mixes up quickly and tastes amazing on grilled chicken breast. Bonus: it’s freezer-friendly.
This Grilled Dijon Basil Chicken recipe screams of summer. Use fresh summer basil and cook it outdoors for a taste that can’t be beat.
Classic Side Dishes for the 4th
Want to make the perfect dill potato salad? This recipe is simple and quick and you can doctor it up however you like.
This Deli Potato Salad is one of those summer dishes that is filling without heating you up. A traditional potato salad recipe that goes great with grilled meats, sandwiches, and salad buffet meals, it’s a great after-anything kind of snack.
Looking for good old fashioned comfort food in the middle of summer? Serve up this Red Potato Salad with Whole Grain Mustard at your next BBQ. It is full of flavor and oh so comforting.
Liven up a simple supper with this easy, Seasoned Corn off the Cob. It comes together in minutes and makes for an ideal side dish without the fuss.
Sweet juicy corn, crunchy pepper, and kicky green onion combine in a delicious corn salad you’ll want to enjoy all year long. Serve it as a side salad or as a topping for tacos or nachos.
Forget that stop at the deli salad counter! Mix up this easy coleslaw made with a homemade creamy dressing.
Want to add something crisp and fresh to the table tonight? Stir up a batch of this super yummy Coleslaw with Apples and Almonds.
Enjoy this filling, yet easy and refreshing white bean salad dotted with sweet peppers this summer. This bean salad recipe is a perfect side dish for all your grilling recipes.
Stir up this quick and easy, old fashioned macaroni salad recipe in minutes. Studded with celery, red onion, and cheddar cheese, wrapped in a creamy mayo dressing, this pasta’s packed with flavor and perfect for picnicking.
Take the French classic Nicoise Salade and tweak it with this Tuna Pasta Salad. Filled with tuna, egg, and vegetables but served in a pasta salad, the traditional salad feels new again.
Festive Desserts for the 4th
This copycat of Jello 123 is easy to make with just three ingredients. It comes together easily and tastes delicious. Customize it to suit whatever color and flavor gelatin you prefer.
Want a most delicious summer dessert without heating the oven? Make these Strawberry and Chocolate Icebox Cakes for one of the easiest treats under the sun.
A trio of berries in the filling and cinnamon and lemon zest in the crust make for a practically perfect Mixed Berry Pie.
Bake someone happy with this easy blueberry pie made with frozen blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and butter.
This easy to prepare slab apple pie takes just minutes. It’s delicious and simple, and a huge hit for fall.
You can make s’mores in rain or shine with this easy recipe. It’s so quick, you’ll have chocolate on your face in less than five minutes.
Simple Vanilla Ice Cream is a delight. Made with only four ingredients, it tastes so much better than store-bought.
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