Holiday Planning & Ideas Fourth of July Fourth of July Recipes 40 of Our Best Fourth of July Recipes, From Mains to Sides Plan to grill, fry, or toss your way to Independence Day success. By Kelly Vaughan Kelly Vaughan Kelly is a former associate digital food editor for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines Published on May 10, 2024 Close Photo: Ryan Liebe Celebrate the Fourth of July with a delicious cookout featuring our best main course and side dish recipes for family and friends. It's not a summer get-together without grilled meat, seasonal vegetables, and all-American hot dogs and burgers, so we've included recipes for all these and more. Don't forget to round up your meal with other summertime classics. Go for the foolproof pasta salad or homemade potato chips, which are always a favorite. If you're looking for lighter side dishes, try our delicious leafy salads, grilled corn on the cob topped with savory seasonings, or the ultimate crowd-please: crunchy, tangy coleslaw that pairs well with any summer recipe. With succulent meats and fresh veggies galore, your Fourth of July menu will be one to beat. 19 Fourth of July Desserts That Will Make Your Holiday Sparkle 01 of 40 Chicago Dogs Kelsey Hansen Nothing says American cooking like hot dogs. This juicy, crowd-pleasing bite offers a sharp combination of flavors, rightfully said to be "dragged through the garden" because of the array of colorful vegetables and condiments piled on top. Make it easy for you by building a mini buffet where all guests can mix and match their favorite toppings. View Recipe 02 of 40 Dill, Potato, and Egg Salad Petrina Tinslay No July Fourth soirée is complete without potato salad as a side dish. This version is mayo-free, so it can sit out at room temperature for longer—and the tangy, zesty flavors of cornichons, quick-pickled shallots, and lemon juice really make it pop. View Recipe 03 of 40 Corn-and-Avocado Salad With Goddess Dressing Petrina Tinslay From the thin slices of bright pink radishes to crisp corn kernels, this crowd-friendly salad is the epitome of summer. The best thing about this dish? You can make it up to eight hours in advance, which helps to ease the amount of party prep work—allowing you to enjoy more of your Fourth of July festivities. View Recipe 04 of 40 Classic Burger-Joint Cheeseburger Armando Rafael Take a bite out of this feel-good, classic burger, which is perfect for your cookout's main dish. It has that nostalgic flare from drive-thru joints, except that's built with high-quality ingredients, plus all the juicy, meaty flavor we love from ground beef. View Recipe 05 of 40 Watermelon, Orange, and Feta Salad We love salty-sweet combinations, and this salad is a great play on those flavors. It also has a refreshing crunch. View Recipe 06 of 40 Smoky Grilled Chicken With Sweet Vinegar Sauce Armando Rafael Your guests will line up one by one to grab this juicy grilled chicken main dish on July Fourth. The poultry is rubbed with a spice blend including paprika, dry mustard, light brown sugar, and cayenne pepper, and served alongside a sweet and tangy honey, vinegar, and chile pepper sauce. View Recipe 07 of 40 Pasta Salad With Tomatoes, Mozzarella, and Chickpeas Ren Fuller Give a nod to America's melting pot culture with this Caprese-inspired pasta salad. Gemelli pasta is tossed with chopped fennel, capers, chickpeas, two kinds of cheese, and parsley for an easy and delicious side dish. View Recipe 08 of 40 Perfect Lobster Roll Whether you're hosting or attending an Independence Day party on the beach, enjoy this perfect lobster roll as the event's main course. It has just a touch of mayo, but plenty of lemon and butter to highlight the sweet, succulent meat. View Recipe 09 of 40 Bloody-Mary Tomato Salad Dana Gallagher Heirloom tomatoes are juicy, bright, and picture-perfect, so let them shine like the summer sun in this simple salad inspired by your favorite cocktail. View Recipe 10 of 40 Test Kitchen's Favorite Potato Salad Ren Fuller Looking for a classic potato salad recipe to serve as a side dish for your barbecue? Look no further than this all-star dish. Diced russet potatoes are dressed with mayonnaise, whole grain mustard, vinegar, chopped celery, sliced cornichons, and scallions. View Recipe 11 of 40 Sirloin Steak With Spinach and Onions Chris Simpson If you're hosting a smaller group for the Fourth of July, make this delicious recipe for sirloin steak, perfect to grill al fresco or in an indoor summer gathering, as you could make it as a one-skillet dish as well. Pair it with spinach and onions for crunch and extra flavor. View Recipe 12 of 40 Grilled-Vegetable Agrodolce Ryan Liebe Think of this as a seasonal antipasto for your Fourth of July celebration. Guests can pick and choose what they want to have as a side dish, such as cured meat, creamy burrata cheese, grilled eggplant, squash, and zucchini. View Recipe 13 of 40 Grilled Corn With Chile-Lime Salt Lauren Ross Let freedom ring with this grilled corn side dish adorned with melted butter, grated Parmesan, chipotle-chile powder, and lime juice. View Recipe 14 of 40 Cincinnati Chili Dogs Photo Courtesy of Armando Rafael It's a party in the USA with this main course—a Cincinnati-inspired hot dog complete with chili, sharp cheddar cheese, and onions. The flavors will explode just like the anticipated fireworks display. View Recipe 15 of 40 Grilled Zucchini With Miso Dana Gallagher Zucchini is at its best and brightest around July Fourth, so why not serve it as a delicious side dish for your cookout? It gets plenty of flavor from a miso and soy sauce glaze, plus toasted sesame seeds for serving. View Recipe 16 of 40 Green-Chile Chicken Burgers Bryan Gardner This leaner main course for Independence Day is just as flavorful as all-beef burgers. Chicken gets a boost of extra flavor, from ground cumin, diced green chiles, and cilantro leaves. View Recipe 17 of 40 Zucchini-and-Squash Salad Linda Pugliese Thin slices of zucchini and squash, tossed in a tangy vinaigrette and topped up with an unexpected crunchiness, simply take your side dish game to another level. A no-cook salad you can serve immediately, and keeps well outdoors without becoming limp or mushy. View Recipe 18 of 40 Grilled Pork Cutlets With Watermelon-Cucumber Salad Watch your guests' eyes light up, not from the fireworks display, but from this stunning main course. The colorful combination of sweet watermelon with grilled pork is absolutely delicious, while the cucumber adds a touch of freshness all around. View Recipe 19 of 40 Grilled Garlic Bread With Herb Butter Lauren Ross Everyone will love grabbing a slice of this scrumptious garlic bread. It's particularly apt for July Fourth because it's cooked on the grill, which infuses it with charred flavor in addition to the delicious garlic butter smeared on top. View Recipe 20 of 40 Curry-Yogurt Marinated Lamb Kebabs Tender lamb meat is an upgrade from traditional beef, and the spices will add a different flare to your July Fourth cookout. After grilling, you can serve these kebabs with homemade tzatziki sauce for extra tanginess. View Recipe 21 of 40 Greek-Taverna Salad Petrina Tinslay Instead of making one big salad, arrange a bevy of beautiful chopped vegetables on a cutting board along with cheese (we chose a block of crumbled feta for this Greek-inspired board), plus a simple vinaigrette. View Recipe 22 of 40 Black Bean, Cucumber, and Feta Salad Marcus Nilsson Whip up a big batch of black beans in your pressure cooker or multi-cooker, then top with a fresh and fragrant combination of diced cucumbers, scallions, feta, dill or cilantro, and lime juice. View Recipe 23 of 40 Pulled Pork Sandwiches With Pickled Vegetables It's not a backyard barbecue without this main dish. Get your party started with these smoky sliders topped with tangy red cabbage. View Recipe 24 of 40 Deviled Egg Potato Salad Mike Krautter This mash-up recipe is just the side to serve at your Fourth of July party. Two summertime classics come together in a salad full of creamy, tangy flavor, and yummy textures everyone will love. View Recipe 25 of 40 Pasta Salad With Peas and Summer Beans Bryan Gardner This fresh, citrusy pasta salad will be gone in a flash, so you'd be wise to double the recipe. Packed with cilantro and lime, we guarantee your guests will love how light and flavorful it is, and how well it goes with any kind of lean meat, like chicken breasts or pork chops. View Recipe 26 of 40 Tuscan Ribs Ryan Liebe These crowd-friendly ribs are flavored with an earthy blend of sage, thyme, rosemary, fennel, and paprika. You can marinate them overnight and roast them a couple of hours before guests arrive. View Recipe 27 of 40 Buttered Corn With Chives Grilling corn in foil packets seals in moisture for tasty, tender bites (not to mention it makes cleaning a breeze!). Before doing so, top your grilled corn with butter and fresh chives to add a subtle fresh flavor, perfect to complement any main dish. View Recipe 28 of 40 Barbecue Chicken Armando Rafael Rub chicken pieces with a finger-licking combination of ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. It's a main dish that's sure to hit a home run. View Recipe 29 of 40 Shredded Cabbage Slaw with Ginger Vinaigrette Marcus Nilsson Skip the deli counter version and make your own fresh take on coleslaw with lime juice, fresh ginger, rice wine vinegar, and toasted sesame seeds. The bright colors and crunchy texture is exactly what your Fourth of July menu needs. View Recipe 30 of 40 Grilled Cowboy Steak Bryan Gardner This impressive (and pricey, so plan accordingly!) cut of meat is bound to become the masterpiece of your summer cookout. A cowboy steak is a statement and one that offers tender juicy bites. Simply season with salt and pepper, and serve alongside fresh, light side dishes to really appreciate its size, flavor, and texture. View Recipe 31 of 40 Roasted Peppers With Garlic and Herbs Roland Bello Keep your Fourth of July side dish simple with this light and bright mix of roasted peppers, boosted with olive oil, garlic, fresh herbs, and charred to perfection. View Recipe 32 of 40 Grilled Scallops With Blistered-Yellow-Pepper Relish GENTL & HYERS Scallops cook in a flash when skewered and grilled, which makes this recipe so easy. It's just a touch elegant, so it's a particularly great dish to make for a smaller group. View Recipe 33 of 40 Red, White, and Blue Potato Chips Noe Dewitt Surprise the crowd with your homemade patriotic salted potato chips this Fourth of July, as delicious as any store-bought option. Use a mandoline to achieve a super thin spud that crisps up perfectly in hot oil. View Recipe 34 of 40 Hawaiian Turkey Burgers CHRISTOPHER TESTANI A slice of grilled pineapple, Havarti cheese, and spices galore will give these turkey burgers an incredible tropical flavor. A perfect option if you want to switch things up and forego classic burger patties for once. View Recipe 35 of 40 Baked Beans with Bacon Bryan Gardner Smoky, sweet, salty, and all-around satisfying, baked beans are the perfect accessory to burgers, hot dogs, pulled pork, and more. This version gets extra flavor from strips of bacon, which are baked on top of the bean mixture. View Recipe 36 of 40 Classic Sloppy Joes Give guests a taste of this nostalgic bite on the Fourth of July. This recipe only requires 15 minutes of prep work, but it tastes as if you've been building the flavor since 1776. View Recipe 37 of 40 Quick Pickled Cucumber Salad Elevate this easy salad dish by quickly pickling sliced cucumbers and red onions. A recipe that will surely become a summer staple because of its simplicity and boosted, cooling flavor. View Recipe 38 of 40 Lemon-Herb Sardine Salad Bryan Gardner You may not think of sardines as a summer staple, but the truth is that this simple, make-ahead side is just right for a big cookout on July Fourth. Rich in fat and flavor, tinned sardines elevate any salad, even more so when paired with lemon, mustard, and tarragon-based dressing. View Recipe 39 of 40 Barbecue Pulled Mushroom Sandwiches Yuki Sugiura For those who prefer a vegetarian meal, these delicious pulled mushroom sandwiches will hit the spot. Here, mushrooms are grilled until they're browned all over, then you'll shred them with two forks and stir in a simple, speedy barbecue sauce. Perhaps quite messy to eat, yet filled with unforgettable flavors and textures. View Recipe 40 of 40 Simple Coleslaw Jason Donnelly Classics exist for a reason. This creamy, dreamy, simple coleslaw is a summertime staple that never goes out of style. Cabbage and shredded carrots are the basic ingredients, but you can elevate it by adding green peas, eggs, and even pineapple or jalapeños for a touch of sweetness and heat. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit