59 Fourth of July Recipes for Your Best Cookout Yet

Summer is in full swing, and you need surefire crowd-pleasing Fourth of July recipes for the influx of relatives and friends about to descend on your backyard, patio, rooftop, or park blanket. We can help.

Out of the hundreds of summery recipes strewn across the site, we handpicked the ones we’d build our ideal holiday weekend menus around. If it’s potato salads, pasta salads, or seasonal fruit and vegetable salads; dips for lazy day snacking; critical cookout sides or newfangled ones we think anyone will love; or top-notch Fourth of July desserts you’re looking for, we’ve got you covered.

Or maybe you simply want to try kicking back in a hammock with your new shades and a refreshing pitcher of lemonade or easy sangria. The point is: However you celebrate Independence Day, there’s something here worth gathering friends for.

• Grilled mains
• Cookout favorites
• Sides and salads
• Appetizers and dips
• Drinks
• Desserts

More Fourth of July recipes, right this way →

The Founding Fathers envisioned a world where you’re free to eat these 56 appetizers with your hands.

Celebrate your day off with these summery cocktails and NA drink recipes.

Pies, cakes, and sundaes that are all *fireworks noise.*

This way for staff-selected 4th of July recipe picks →

Pork Spareribs With Jammy Barbecue Sauce

Ribs are always a crowd-pleaser, but glaze them with a sticky, jammy homemade BBQ sauce, and you’ve got the kind of cookout centerpiece people talk about long after the fireworks end.

Honey-Glazed Rib-Eye Steaks

A honey-mayo glaze helps these rib eyes develop an irresistible caramelized crust, while the topping of peppers, onions, and basil gives them a distinctly Italian American feel.

Sprite-Grilled Chicken Skewers

The secret ingredient here might already be chilling in your party cooler. Sprite adds subtle sweetness and helps these chicken skewers caramelize beautifully on the grill.

Grilled Swordfish With Tomatoes

If you’re looking for a seafood option that can hold its own on the grill, swordfish is the answer. Here it’s paired with juicy, vinegary tomatoes and briny olives.

This way for more of our favorite grilled fish recipes →

Chimichurri Grilled Shrimp

These quick-cooking grilled shrimp get a bright, herby boost from chimichurri. Serve them as an appetizer or the main event at your Fourth of July party—just don’t forget the bread or rice for soaking up every last bit of sauce.

Grilled Pork Chops With Plum Mostarda

A juicy grilled pork chop is always welcome, but the sweet-tart plum mostarda is what makes this one memorable. Add a quick arugula salad tossed with leftover mostarda and dinner is done.

Chicken Seekh Kebabs

These chicken kebabs bring plenty of flavor to the party thanks to lots of spices and fresh herbs. Serve with flatbread and mint chutney and let everyone build their own perfect plate.

Best-Ever Barbecue Ribs

These gloriously messy ribs are tender, smoky, and begging to be piled onto a plate with all the potato salad and cornbread it can handle.

Grilled Pork Chops With Soy Glaze

A sweet-and-savory soy glaze gives these juicy grilled pork chops caramelized edges and plenty of flavor. If your Fourth of July crew needs a break from burgers and hot dogs, this is the move.

Hot Honey Wings

We all know that hot honey makes everything taste better, and chicken wings are no exception. Lime juice and fish sauce bring even more oomph to the sticky, spicy-sweet glaze.

Sweet and Tangy Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Pork tenderloin is one of the easiest ways to feed a crowd, and this glossy, sweet-tangy glaze makes it special. Slice it up and serve it alongside all the classic barbecue sides.

Grilled Halibut With Basil-Shallot Butter

This lemony basil-shallot butter comes together with just a few blitzes in the food processor but works wonders, turning simple grilled halibut into an exciting seafood option for guests.

No-Skewer-Needed Kebabs With Onion Salad

All the smoky, well-spiced flavor of grilled kebabs, none of the tedious threading. A bright onion-and-herb salad keeps everything fresh and balanced.

Best-Ever Smash Burgers

Crispy edges, melty cheese, and all the right toppings—these smash burgers are guaranteed to win the popularity contest at your Fourth of July get-together.

Black Bean Smash Burger

What’s the vegetarian answer to a smash burger? This one. A black bean patty gets extra crispy—not gummy—thanks to the increased surface area.

Cheesy Brats With Celery-Pickle Relish

Melty cheese and a bright, crunchy celery-pickle relish turn grilled bratwurst into the sleeper-hit cookout recipe nobody saw coming.

Carne Asada Tacos

Citrusy grilled steak tucked into warm tortillas could never be a bad idea. Set out the fixings family-style and let everyone assemble their own perfect taco.

Buttermilk Fried Chicken

This isn’t just any fried chicken recipe. A brown sugar brine, buttermilk dredge, and extra craggy coating team up to create the crispiest, juiciest fried chicken.

Crispy Golden Shrimp Burgers

Not in the mood for beef but still craving a burger? These crispy shrimp patties, topped with a creamy egg salad situation, absolutely deliver.

Coney Island Hot Dogs

Loaded with chili, onions, and mustard, these hot dogs bring all the nostalgic boardwalk energy straight to your backyard barbecue.

Easiest-Ever Grilled Veggie Burgers

A veggie burger recipe that actually takes to the grill? It’s a miracle! These hearty patties are flavorful, satisfying, and sturdy enough to hold their own on the grill grates.

Spicy Korean-Style Grilled Corn

Sweet summer corn gets the full treatment here: grilled until charred and smoky, then slathered with a creamy, zesty gochujang sauce. Don’t skip the lime wedges for squeezing over the top.

Classic Coleslaw

Crunchy, cool, and always dependable, this classic coleslaw belongs next to every rib, burger, and pulled pork sandwich.

Boston Baked Beans

Sweet, smoky, and oh-so-nostalgic, these baked beans are the make-ahead side your party needs. Every plate deserves a generous scoop.

Classic Potato Salad

Potato salad has rightfully earned a permanent spot on the cookout table, and this version is a classic, with a creamy mayo-based dressing, crunchy diced vegetables, and all the nostalgic appeal.

Watermelon and Snap Pea Salad

Watermelon salad is a summer classic, and this one is as refreshing as they come, with crunchy snap peas and a fish sauce dressing that keeps things firmly out of fruit-salad territory.

Blistered Corn and Scallion Salad

Everything tastes better after a little time on the grill, and this salad is proof. Blistered corn and scallions bring smoky depth to an otherwise simple side dish.

Broccoli Confetti Rice

Packed with broccoli, scallions, golden raisins, and almonds, this colorful fried rice is just as delicious at room temperature as it is warm, making it an ideal cookout side dish.

Creamy Sesame Pasta Slaw

Part pasta salad, part coleslaw, this creamy, crunchy side deserves a permanent spot in your Fourth of July recipe rotation. The nutty sesame dressing does all the heavy lifting.

Tomato Salad With Jalapeño Ranch

With no shade to caprese, let’s get a little more creative with our tomato salads this year. Take this tomato salad with jalapeño ranch: The fresh herbs and chile in the creamy dressing make peak-season tomatoes taste even better.

Blistered Asparagus With Labneh and Harissa

Charred asparagus, cool labneh, and spicy harissa make this vegetarian recipe feel far more exciting than the usual summer side dishes. It’s made for dinner parties and Fourth of July spreads alike.

Grilled Sweet Potatoes With Charred Scallion Mayo

Sweet potatoes and scallions both love a little smoke, and this recipe lets them both shine. Drizzle grilled rounds of sweet potato with tangy charred-scallion mayo that you’ll want to slather on everything from now on.

Spicy Caesar Potato Salad

If classic potato salad and Caesar salad had a summer fling, this would be the result: creamy, garlicky, cheesy, and packed with just the right amount of spice.

Cucumber, Tomato, and Green Bean Salad

This riff on Thai som tam brings together three star summer ingredients for a flavor-packed cucumber salad. You won’t need the traditional mortar and pestle; instead, you’ll “smash” the ingredients by squeezing them with your hands.

Summer Squash and Basil Pasta

When zucchini season hits, this is what we’re making. Packed with sautéed summer squash and fresh basil, this easy pasta dish is right at home next to anything coming off the grill.

BA’s Best Caprese Salad

When tomatoes are this good, your job is mostly to stay out of their way. This classic caprese lets ripe tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil do exactly what they do best.

BA's Best Guacamole

There are few party snacks more universally beloved than guacamole. This one is creamy, zippy, and built for scooping.

Extra-Creamy Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs are a celebratory classic, and this version has a clever trick up its sleeve. Blending whole hard-boiled eggs into the filling makes it especially smooth, creamy, and easy to pipe.

Fried Green Tomatoes

Golden and crispy on the outside, with a tangy, juicy tomato center, these fried green tomatoes are a welcome addition to any appetizer spread.

French Onion Dip

Nothing gets a party started quite like chips and dip, and this homemade French onion dip is the real deal, with deeply caramelized onions and lots of finely chopped chives. Serve with ruffled potato chips if you know what you’re doing.

Hot Pink Punch

Blend fresh watermelon with gin and Campari for a visually stunning big-batch cocktail built for summer entertaining.

Beergarita

The ideal cookout drink exists, and it’s this mash-up of a margarita and a crisp lager. If you really want to impress your friends, serve each glass with a salted rim and a lime wheel.

Mai Tai

Mai Tais are a little retro, and that’s exactly why we love them. This version is rum-forward, citrusy, and not aggressively sweet.

One-Bottle Vermouth Sangria

Starting with a good vermouth, such as Carpano Antica, rather than distinct bottles of wine and spirits, makes this streamlined summer cocktail easy-peasy. Add a splash of seltzer, a little citrus juice, and your favorite summer fruit, and it’s done.

BA’s Best Lemonade

On a hot summer day, an ice-cold glass of lemonade is a lifesaver, and this one gets the sweet-tart balance exactly right.

Chile-Cucumber Agua Fresca

Cool cucumber, a gentle chile kick, and just enough sweetness make this agua fresca one of the most refreshing drinks on the table.

Dark Chocolate-Espresso Ice Pops

Part coffee break, part frozen treat, these chocolate-espresso ice pops are tailor-made for sweaty summer days.

Lush Vanilla Berry Pudding

Layers of creamy vanilla pudding, juicy summer berries, and crunchy vanilla wafers make this chilled dessert the kind of showstopper everyone’s happy to see emerge from the fridge. Make it a day ahead and thank yourself later.

Strawberry Galette

Want pie without the pressure? This strawberry galette recipe has all the flaky-crust, juicy-fruit appeal of a classic fruit pie, but with considerably less fuss.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Two chewy chocolate chip cookies filled with a thick layer of ice cream: summer desserts don’t get better than that.

Grandma Weesie’s Fried Peach Pies

These half-moon fried peach pies have everything going for them: a buttery shell, a sweet peach filling, and a handheld format perfect for mingling at a cookout.

Blueberry Cobbler

This cobbler is easier than pie and every bit as comforting—one of those July desserts that practically begs for a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats With Brown Butter

Give your favorite childhood dessert an upgrade with nutty brown butter, flaky salt, and just enough sweetened condensed milk to keep them extra gooey and soft.

Raspberry Trifle With Custard and Whipped Cream

A trifle should be a little dramatic, and this one fits the bill. Layers of raspberries, vanilla bean custard, sponge cake, and whipped cream make it a true dessert-table centerpiece.

Any-Berry Lemon Ricotta Cake

Need a showstopping Fourth of July cake? Smash your favorite berries with sugar, then spoon them over the batter before baking to create a vibrant, photo-ready swirl.

Almond and Raspberry Swirl Ice Cream

You don’t need an ice cream machine to make this recipe—just a loaf pan, a freezer, and a dream. With a raspberry ripple and creamy almond base, it’s exactly the kind of nostalgic, berries-and-cream vibe we want from Fourth of July desserts.

Simple Strawberry Shortcakes

Some summer desserts try to improve upon strawberries and cream. This one wisely keeps things simple with tender shortcakes, softly whipped cream, and lightly macerated strawberries.

S’mores Sandwich Cookies

Everything you love about s’mores, no campfire required. These sandwich cookies bring together chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker flavors in a portable package.

Ginger-Lime No-Bake Cheesecake Bars

No-bake desserts were made for hot summer weekends. These cheesecake bars get a bright, zingy lift from ginger and lime.