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25 Recipes for the Best 4th of July Menu

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If you are in search of some stellar recipes to put on a festive 4th of July menu, here are 25 of my favorite traditional 4th of July foods that I make year after year!

A white platter with a red, white, and blue watermelon flag salad on top on a blue stone background.

What makes a good 4th of July menu? This is something I'm thinking about every summer, as 4th of July is my 2nd favorite holiday!

I'm always looking for easy and simple summer recipes with minimal prep work that will allow me to have fun with family and friends. A good collection of red, white, and blue recipes are a must, as well as options that use the freshest summer produce and can be grilled while chilling outside.

Jump to:

Breakfast

4th of July breakfast recipes should always include a mix of red and blue berries, in my opinion! I love to do something classic and simple, like a big stack of pancakes or a coffee cake that I can whip up quickly.

My Favorite Wild Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes
This Wild Blueberry Buttermilk Pancake recipe is the ultimate weekend comfort food! They are light, fluffy, and cooked to golden brown perfection. Make a big batch and freeze some for breakfast during the week!
See the recipe
Overhead picture of a stack of blueberry pancakes with butter on them.
Strawberry Buttermilk Cake
If you are looking for a simple breakfast recipe to whip up on the weekend, look no further than this strawberry buttermilk cake! It's a one-bowl cake that you can have ready in under an hour that takes full advantage of fresh summer strawberries. Adapted from the Back in the Day Bakery cookbook by Cheryl Day.
See the recipe
A strawberry buttermilk cake on a floral plate with a knife and bowl of strawberries on the side.
A bake strawberry buttermilk cake sprinkled with powdered sugar on a floral plate.

Appetizers

I have a few delicious options for 4th of July finger foods that you and your friends can nosh on while grilling burgers and hot dogs. These are some of my best appetizer recipes that are always a hit!

Oven-Fried Green Tomatoes
This recipe for fried green tomatoes is my healthier take on a traditional Southern favorite - but fried in the oven! They are so yummy, crispy, and flavorful that you honestly won't know that they were only baked when you taste them!
See the recipe
A slate platter lined with parchement paper and topped with oven-fried green tomatoes and a bowl of hot sauce aioli on the side.
Strawberry Tomato Bruschetta
This Strawberry Tomato Bruschetta is a sweet and juicy twist on a summer classic - served on my Dutch Oven Rosemary Raisin bread that is toasted to perfection!
 
See the recipe
An overhead shot of strawberry bruschetta on parchment paper and a cutting board.
Surprise Inside Pimento Cheese Tartlets
This recipe for Surprise Inside Pimento Cheese Tartlets is a charming, Southern recipe that bakes pimento cheese in a crispy phyllo shell with an oozing strawberry jam center. Make them for a brunch, appetizer, or a shower and your guests will love them!
See the recipe
Angled overhead view of a single pimento cheese tartlet
Oven-fried green tomatoes stacked on a slate platter with a bowl of hot sauce aioli on the side.

Beverages

Company's Coming Cold Brew Iced Tea
This simple recipe for cold brew iced tea utilizes plain black tea bags and filtered water to create a smooth, refreshing iced tea.
See the recipe
Two glasses of iced tea garnished with mint on a rattan wicker serving tray.
Fresh Mint Simple Syrup
This fresh mint simple syrup is a dark syrup made with raw sugar. It's perfect for sweetening your favorite cold beverages!
See the recipe
A bunch of fresh chopped mint in a saucepan filled with simple syrup.
Watermelon Agua Fresca
Fresh watermelon gets blended into a refreshing, colorful agua fresca and is garnished with blueberry ice cubes. A great drink to have for an Independence Day picnic!
See the recipe
Two glasses of iced tea garnished with mint on a rattan wicker serving tray.

Main Dish

When it comes to a good 4th of July menu, you've got to have some easy options for the grill! My favorites include a classic burger, creative kabobs, or an easy clean-up foil pack.

Grilled Shrimp Boil Foil Packs
These summery grilled shrimp boil foil packs are an easy, mess-free way to enjoy the flavors of a shrimp boil in a convenient foil pack on the grill. This is perfect for one to a few people and can be customized according to your taste!
See the recipe
Two bowls with foil packs of grilled shrimp, corn, and potatoes.
The Best Homemade Hamburger (with a secret ingredient!)
Learn the no-fail, secret ingredient for the BEST homemade hamburger recipe and all my tips for grilling burgers on a kamado grill!
See the recipe
A burger topped with spinach and tomato with a bite taken out of it and an ear of corn on the side.
Mushroom Swiss Smash Burgers
This Mushroom Swiss Smash Burger recipe is a blended burger you can make in a cast-iron skillet. It's perfect for when you want a burger that you don't have to cook on a grill!
See the recipe
Sausage, Zucchini and Corn Kabobs
This easy kabobs are filled with some of my favorite summer flavors and could not be easier to put together. They are fun to eat and perfect to serve with a big platter of watermelon!
See the recipe
Grilled sausage, corn, and zucchini kabobs on a bamboo cutting board.
Peach BBQ Chicken Kabobs
These easy Peach BBQ Chicken Kabobs have been one of my favorite meals this summer - they are easy to marinate & are the perfect recipe for grilled chicken.
See the recipe
These easy Peach BBQ Chicken Kabobs have been one of my favorite meals this summer - they are easy to marinate in Rubbermaid Brilliance containers!
Two bowls of shrimp boil in foil on a wood cutting board with forks on the side.

Side Dish

A good collection of 4th of July side dishes should include recipes that can be made ahead with minimal to no time at a hot stove! That's why I love hearty salads that include fruits AND vegetables, plus something indulgent like a gooey mac and cheese!

Watermelon Flag Salad
This Red, White, and Blue Watermelon Salad looks like an American flag and is dressed with a fresh mint vinaigrette. It’s perfect to serve for Memorial Day or the 4th of July!
See the recipe
A white platter with a red, white, and blue watermelon flag salad on top on a blue stone background.
Purple Hull Pea and Pickled Okra Salad
This Purple Hull Pea and Pickled Okra Salad is a tangy, simple side dish that uses fresh peas, tomatoes, and spicy pickled okra. It is bursting with fresh summer flavor and is a new favorite side dish of mine!
See the recipe
A gray plate with purple hull pea salad and a jar of vinaigrette, tomatoes, and peas in the shell on the side.
Easy Baked Mac and Cheese
This easy baked mac and cheese is made in a cast iron skillet and does not require making a bechamel sauce! It's so simple to make and is the perfect balance of creaminess and cheesy goodness.
See the recipe
An overhead shot of a cast iron skillet of baked mac and cheese with dried pasta and cubes of cheese around it.
An overhead shot of a cast iron skillet of baked mac and cheese with dried pasta and cubes of cheese around it.
BLT Panzanella Salad with Pickled Cherry Tomatoes
This BLT Panzanella Salad recipe puts a summery, Southern twist on the classic Tuscan bread salad with the addition of crispy salty bacon and zesty pickled cherry tomatoes!
See the recipe
A demonstration of hands tossing a BLT Panzanella Salad in a white ceramic serving bowl.
Chow Mein Chopped Salad
This Chow Mein Chopped Salad is packed with Asian flavor, a variety of colors, and myriad textures. It's great to pack for a picnic or back to school lunch!
 
See the recipe
This light, summer salad is packed with Asian flavor, lots of color, and fun textures. It's great to pack for a picnic or back to school lunch!
Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad
This Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad is a hearty and flavorful pasta salad made with chickpea pasta, turkey pepperoni, all your favorite pizza toppings, and a zesty Italian vinaigrette. It's perfect for summer cookouts and picnics!
See the recipe
A white bowl filled with pizza pasta salad garnished with fresh basil leaves.
Roasted Corn and Summer Tomato Salad
This salad is everything you'd want in a summer side dish - crisp and juicy vegetables fresh from the garden are tossed with a tangy citrus dressing with hints of sweet and spicy flavors. Perfect to serve at a picnic or cookout!
Roaste
A grey ceramic plate with purple hull pea and pickled okra salad with a jar of vinaigrette on the side.

Desserts

The best 4th of July Desserts feature gorgeous hues of red, white and blue! I've got several fun options here for festive summer desserts - it's hard to choose just one!

Chocolate Mini Fruit Tarts
This recipe for a mini chocolate tart features a chocolate cookie topped with a light cream cheese frosting, fresh fruit, apricot glaze, and edible flowers. I love to make these in the summertime when fresh fruit and flowers are abundant!
See the recipe
A blue plate with three mini chocolate fruit tarts on a white marble counter.
Fresh Berry Flag Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
This fresh berry flag cake is made from scratch and is moist, flavorful, and perfect to serve for the 4th of July or Memorial Day! It's decorated with loads of berries and cream cheese frosting!
See the recipe
This fresh berry flag cake is made from scratch and is moist, flavorful, and perfect to serve for the 4th of July or Memorial Day! It's decorated with loads of berries and cream cheese frosting!
Easy as Pie Blueberry Cobbler
This easy blueberry cobbler recipe has a pillowy cloud of buttery cobbler topping with the most delicate, shiny sugar crust. Top with red berries and make it a perfect patriotic addition to your summertime table! Recipe adapted from Screen Doors and Sweet Tea by Martha Hall Foose.
See the recipe
This easy blueberry cobbler recipe can be made with fresh or frozen blueberries and is the perfect patriotic dessert to serve for the 4th of July!
Side shot of a chocolate mini fruit tart on a blue plate.
Fresh Strawberry Balsamic Pie
This Strawberry Balsamic Pie is one of my all-time FAVORITE pies that is bursting with peak season berries and laced with sweet balsamic vinegar. It's a double-crust pie made with an all-butter, buttermilk pie dough that is flaky and tender!
See the recipe
A double crust strawberry balsamic pie on a grey tea towel.
Mixed Berry Crumble Pie
This Mixed Berry Crumble Pie is the summer dessert of my dreams - it's eye-rolling, lip-smacking good! This pie includes blackberries and blueberries, but feel free to substitute raspberries or any other berry you like.
See the recipe
A double crust slice of strawberry pie topped with ice cream.

Are you ready to make your best 4th of July menu yet? I’m so excited to see what you come up with.

If you make any of these recipes, I'd love to know how they turn out for you! Leave a comment and rate the recipe below. This will help me with the creation of future recipes! 

I’d also love to feature your creation in my monthly newsletter, so you can upload a photo to Instagram or Twitter with the tag @sweetcayenne5 to be featured!

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