If you’re hosting a 4th of July BBQ, look no further than this post for all the best 4th of July Recipes! This collections features all the best main dishes, sides, desserts, and drinks for a summer holiday party.
More Collections: 4th of July Appetizers, 4th of July Desserts, 4th of July Drinks, 4th of July Side Dishes
Tips for hosting a 4th of July BBQ
Are you hosting friends and/or family for Independence Day? If so, we wanted to share some of our top tops for hosting a holiday BBQ this year. 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, keep food covered.
- Take the party outside and end the night with fireworks. Check out this post about firework safety.
- See the individual recipe posts for more tips and tricks to cooking these yummy dishes.
MAIN DISH IDEAS
4th of july Grilling RECIPES + main dishes
Grilling is the way to go for the 4th of July food, but there are some other options too!
But first, plan for ½ lb of meat per person. If you know certain guests have bigger appetites or you want to be sure there are leftovers, plan for ¾ lb per person. For burgers plan 1-2 per adult and 1 per child. Hot dogs plan 1-2 per child and 2-3 per adult.
Main Course
Pulled Pork Recipe
This Delicious and Easy Pulled Pork Recipe is one that is made in the slow cooker and takes just minutes to prep. Use the pork for any recipe, including Pulled Pork sandwiches, and you’ll love just how simple and tasty it is.
Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes
Check out this recipe
Main Course
Kalua Pork Recipe
This Slow Cooker Kalua Pork is a classic Hawaiian favorite made easily in your slow cooker with just a few ingredients. Eat it on it’s own, or in tacos or sliders.
Total Time: 9 hours 5 minutes
Check out this recipe
Main Course
Carnitas Recipe
Carnitas AKA Mexican Slow Cooker Pulled Pork takes minutes to prep and is great in tacos, bean burritos, quesadillas, chimichangas and more!
Check out this recipe
Main Course
How to Cook Hot Dogs in Crock Pot
The easiest way to make hot dogs for a crowd! Cook hot dogs in the crock pot for all of your summer potluck needs.
Total Time: 2 hours 2 minutes
Check out this recipe
Main Course
Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Sandwiches Recipe
Loaded with juicy grilled pineapple, red onion and crisp lettuce, this Hawaiian BBQ Chicken sandwich is perfect for summer entertaining!
Total Time: 25 minutes
Check out this recipe
Main Course
Ranch Burger Recipe
These Ranch Burgers make the BEST homemade hamburgers!! This easy burger recipe is complete with the most delicious secret sauce that compliments the ranch burger perfectly!
Total Time: 20 minutes
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Main Course
Easy Steak Marinade Recipe
This is Our All-Time Favorite Steak marinade! It requires only four ingredients, and makes our steak taste SO amazing! Everyone always asks for this Easy Steak Marinade recipe because it’s just that good!!
Total Time: 5 minutes
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Main Course
Dr. Pepper Ribs Recipe
Pork ribs cooked in Dr. Pepper, grilled to perfection, and smothered in BBQ Sauce. These Dr. Pepper ribs are fall off the bone delicious!
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
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Main Course
Huli Huli Chicken Recipe
This Grilled Huli Huli Chicken is the juiciest and most delicious Hawaiian chicken you’ll ever try! Great alone or served on rice or noodles!!
Total Time: 21 minutes
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Main Course
Mustard Chicken and Pineapple Skewers Recipe
Sweet or Spicy Mustard Chicken and Pineapple Skewers are tender and juicy. They are a simple and flavorful recipe perfect for your next BBQ!
Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes
SIDE DISHES
Side Dishes
Assigning sides is the easiest thing to do, especially since most are so simple. Whether it’s a veggie, fruit, slow cooker side or salad, guests will be happy to help out.
Just note that most adults will have about 3-4 total servings of sides. Children will have 2-3 servings.
Be sure to check out our complete collection of 4th of July Side Dishes.
Side Dish
Fruit Kabobs Recipe
Colorful fruit kabobs are the best appetizer or side for any occasion! Load up your favorite fruits and get snacking.
Total Time: 20 minutes
Check out this recipe
Side Dish
How to Boil Corn on the Cob
Boiling corn on the cob is a cinch! You will love this juicy corn on the cob to put on the side of any summer meal.
Total Time: 15 minutes
Check out this recipe
Salad
Potato Salad Recipe
Our all-time favorite Potato Salad – it’s simple, flavorful and filled with chunks of potatoes, eggs and olives! It’s the perfect addition to any BBQ or picnic and is so creamy and tasty, it will wow everyone who tries it.
Total Time: 55 minutes
Check out this recipe
Salad, Side Dish
Macaroni Salad Recipe
A simple, creamy macaroni salad loaded with pasta, peas and ham. It's perfect for parties, family dinners, and potlucks!
Total Time: 18 minutes
Check out this recipe
Side Dish
How to Cut a Watermelon
Is there anything better than a ripe juicy watermelon? Learn how to cut a watermelon into cubes efficiently and easily with our tips!
Check out this recipe
Salad
Corn Salad Recipe
This Summer Corn Salad is a light, flavorful salad filled with corn, tomatoes, feta, basil and cucumber. It’s so simple and quick that it’s perfect for get togethers and BBQs.
Total Time: 7 minutes
Check out this recipe
Side Dish
Homemade Baked Beans Recipe
This Homemade Baked Beans recipe is a must-have at all of our BBQ’s. It’s such a simple and easy recipe, requires only FIVE ingredients, and cooks in the crock pot.
Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
Check out this recipe
Side Dish
Grilled Asparagus Recipe
Grilled asparagus is the best side dish alongside almost any dinner recipe! Sprinkled with salt, pepper, and a little parmesan cheese—this recipe is incredible!
Total Time: 8 minutes
Check out this recipe
Side Dish
Coleslaw Recipe
This quick and Easy Coleslaw makes the perfect side dish for any picnic or BBQ. It takes just minutes to put this classic coleslaw recipe together, and it can easily be customized with the spices and flavors you love most.
Total Time: 10 minutes
Check out this recipe
Appetizer
Grilled Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Recipe
This Recipe Is Inspired By One Of Our Favorite Disneyland Foods – Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Skewers From Bengal Barbecue! These Skewers Only Require 4 Ingredients And Take Less Than 10 Minutes On The Grill!
Total Time: 20 minutes
Check out this recipe
Salad
Broccoli Salad Recipe
This Sunny Broccoli Salad is a simple, tasty and hearty broccoli salad served with bacon, cranberries, sunflower seeds, and mixed with a delicious, homemade mayonnaise-vinegar based dressing that is perfect for BBQs and get togethers.
Total Time: 10 minutes
Check out this recipe
Patriotic desserts
Desserts
No one can forget dessert for a holiday function! We try to sticky with fruity or cool treats because they’re especially delicious when it’s warm.
Plan for each guest to be able to have two servings of dessert. The more dessert options there are, the less of each dessert you’ll have to make.
Check out our full collection of 4th of July Desserts.
Dessert
Fruit Pizza Recipe
The BEST Fruit Pizza recipe ever! A super soft cookie dough with a pineapple cream cheese frosting topped with your favorite fruit!
Total Time: 20 minutes
Check out this recipe
Dessert
Red, White and Blue Trifle Recipe
The perfect dessert for the Layered Fourth – Red, White and Blue Trifle. Recipe includes white cake mix, red and blue food coloring, white chocolate pudding, cool whip, and strawberries.
Total Time: 40 minutes
Dessert
Patriotic Trail Mix Recipe
Sweet and crunchy Patriotic Trail Mix is filled with candy coated cereal mixed with mini marshmallows, licorice and M&Ms.
Total Time: 10 minutes
Check out this recipe
Dessert
Patriotic Pudding Cups Recipe
Make a fun and festive treat for your 4th of July party with this Patriotic Pudding Cups recipe! Layers of smooth and creamy red, white, and blue pudding, topped with summertime Oreos. The kids love making these pudding cups as much as they love eating them!
Total Time: 25 minutes
Dessert
4th of July Rice Krispies Treat Recipe
Delicious, simple and quick 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats are always a hit, and are festive for any patriotic occasion.
Total Time: 10 minutes
Check out this recipe
Dessert
Red White and Blueberry Cupcakes Recipe
Red, White and Blueberry Cupcakes – the perfect patriotic treat for your next BBQ or picnic!
Total Time: 28 minutes
Dessert
Jello Poke Cake Recipe
I Love Jello Poke Cake! I Went With Raspberry Here, But You Can Easily Make A Cherry Or A Strawberry Poke Cake.
Total Time: 35 minutes
Check out this recipe
Dessert
Oreo Ice Cream Cake Recipe
This Oreo Ice Cream Cake makes for the perfect no bake dessert during warm summer months. Best of all, it only takes 5 simple store bought ingredients! No one can resist the layers of crushed Oreos, Cookies and Cream Ice Cream, Hot Fudge, Cool Whip, and MORE Oreos!
Total Time: 5 hours 10 minutes
Check out this recipe
Dessert
Cream Puff Cake Recipe
The BEST Cream Puff Cake ever!! A cake version of the popular cream puff, it has a puffy crust, pudding and whipped cream layers and often drizzled in chocolate.
Total Time: 35 minutes
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Dessert
Angel Food Ice Cream Cake Recipe
Angel Food Ice Cream Cake is creamy, light, & refreshing, made from layers of angel food cake and your favorite ice cream flavor. A scrumptious treat, chilled to frozen dessert perfection!
Total Time: 8 hours 45 minutes
Check out this recipe
Dessert
Ice Cream Sandwich Cake Recipe
Prep this ice cream sandwich cake in 5 minutes! It’s perfect for hot summer days and your kids will LOVE it. Chocolate ice cream sandwiches topped with whipped cream and crushed Oreos!
Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
Check out this recipe
Dessert
Strawberry Shortcake Bars Recipe
A soft vanilla cake-like crust perfectly combines with a light layer of whipped cream cheese frosting. Top it off with fresh strawberries for delicious strawberry shortcake bars!
Total Time: 3 hours 25 minutes
Check out this recipe
lemonade
Drinks
And don’t forget drinks!
Plan to have enough drink mixed up for guests to have 1 serving for every hour of the party. Be sure to have water along with punch.
Be sure to also check out our full collection of 4th of July Drinks.
Drinks
The Best Homemade Lemonade Recipe
The best homemade lemonade recipe includes sprite and pineapple juice for an extra punch of flavor. It is deliciously refreshing!!
Total Time: 5 minutes
Check out this recipe
Drinks
Best Strawberry Lemonade
The BEST Strawberry Lemonade filled with chunks of your favorite fruit including strawberries, pineapple, mangos, cantaloupe and watermelon!
Total Time: 5 minutes
Check out this recipe
Drinks
Pink Punch Recipe
All-time Favorite Party Drink – this Pink Drink recipe (aka Baby Shower Punch) takes a minute to make and is made with 3 ingredients including – pink lemonade dry mix, sprite, & pineapple juice!
Total Time: 3 minutes
Check out this recipe
Drinks
Sonic Ocean Water Recipe
Copycat Sonic Ocean Water – so easy to make and so refreshing! It’s perfect for parties or a hot, summer day!
Total Time: 5 minutes
Check out this recipe
Drinks
Mint Julep Recipe (Non-Alcoholic)
Disneyland’s Copycat Mint Julep recipe – a non-alcoholic drink that is refreshing and DELICIOUS!! Made with lemonade concentrate, creme de menthe syrup, lime juice, sugar, and club soda – topped with mint leaves and cherries!
Total Time: 10 minutes
Check out this recipe
Drinks
Sonic Cherry Limeade Recipe
Delicious recipe for Sonic’s Cherry Limeade – tastes just like it! Ingredients include 7-Up, cherries, a lime, and maraschino syrup!
Total Time: 5 minutes
Check out this recipe
Dessert, Drinks
Frozen Hot Chocolate Recipe
Frozen Hot Chocolate only takes 3 ingredients and a few minutes to make! Top it off with whipped cream and chocolate curls for a real treat.
Total Time: 5 minutes
Check out this recipe
Drinks
Patriotic Drink Recipe
This layered Patriotic drink is pure magic! It's not difficult to make, all it takes is Hawaiian Punch, blue Gatorade, and sprite zero.
Total Time: 5 minutes
Check out this recipe
