I love hosting a backyard party to celebrate America on the 4th of July, with lots of water activities to cool us down!
I prefer to provide the main dish when I host and love it when guests bring sides and desserts.
Why we love these ideas:
We have it all. With a wide range of main dishes, side dishes, desserts, and drinks, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at the 4th of July celebration.
Grilling tips. The post also provides valuable grilling tips for those hosting a BBQ, ensuring your main dishes are cooked to perfection!
For hosting or attending. When I am the guest, I bring dishes that are easy to transport, serve without much fuss, and will feed 12-15 people like our Macaroni Salad or Homemade Potato Salad.
Tips for hosting a 4th of July BBQ
As always, we suggest making assignments so you don’t have to make EVERYTHING. Most are willing to help out with the food.
Grill meats, fruits, and veggies. The char marks add a unique grilled flavor.
Utilize the crock pot. You can still get delicious main dishes and side dishes without spending time in an oven-hot kitchen.
Keeping food cool outside. Put the food table in the shade, don’t put everything out at once, put dishes on ice, and keep food covered.
Take the party outside and end the night with fireworks.
Grilling tips
Whether you want to grill up a delicious piece of meat or add some extra flavor to your fruits and veggies, grilling lets you do both!
Grill size. A larger grill allows you to adjust the temperature on different sections.
Map it out. Create a chart that lays out what item will be grilled in what section, as well as how long each piece of meat or vegetable will need to cook. Don’t overlap the different types of food before or during grilling.
Clean it. Clean the grates and apply a thin layer of oil to help keep food from sticking to the grill grates.
Prepping meat. Take the meat out of the fridge 20-30 minutes before grilling.
Flipping. Flip it once. By doing so you allow each side to heat up enough to start forming a nice caramelized crust.
Sauce. Allow your meat to cook almost completely before coating it with the sauce.
Let it rest. Allow meat to rest for a few minutes before cutting.
Grillingvegetables and fruit takes a fraction of the time as the meat. Since meat needs to rest once it is done cooking, this is a perfect time to reduce the heat and grill up your veggies. Lay your vegetables across the grates so they don’t fall through, or use a Grilling Basket.
Safety. Have a box of baking soda on hand in case of a grill fire.
Favorite 4th of July Recipes
Use any of our favorites to plan your Independence Day menu. All are crowd-pleasers that will be a hit for celebrating America’s birthday!
Be sure to include plenty of sides to pair with the star of your party. Stick to chips and dips, or try any of our scrumptious recommendations. Seasonal produce like fresh berries and Watermelon salad are always a welcome addition!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
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Fabulous 4TH Of July Recipes
Your holiday celebration is sure to be a booming success with so many delicious and easy 4th of July recipes to choose from! From main dishes and sides to desserts and drinks, let us know which recipes were a hit at your get-together!
My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!
I personally love the kalua pork recipe in this list! We’ve been having it yearly for our 4th of July celebration. And I’m excited to try the other recipes on the list.
Love the patriotic poke cake. It’s chilled and perfect for a hot July day.
I personally love the kalua pork recipe in this list! We’ve been having it yearly for our 4th of July celebration. And I’m excited to try the other recipes on the list.
Great recipes for the 4th! Such a variety for the best tried and true recipes. You will enjoy them all!
I will never run out of recipes with this list! Thanks Kristyn for these 4th of July recipes, such a big help!
What a great list of recipes! Can’t wait to make some of these for my 4th of July party, thank you!!