40+ 4th of July Recipes {Main Dishes, Sides, Desserts + Drinks!}

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 Dishes

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.

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

4.92 from 12 votes

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

5 from 11 votes

Carnitas Recipe

Carnitas AKA Mexican Slow Cooker Pulled Pork takes minutes to prep and is great in tacos, bean burritos, quesadillas, chimichangas and more!

5 from 6 votes

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

Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Sandwiches Recipe

Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Sandwiches - simple, delicious and perfect for your next BBQ!

Total Time: 25 minutes

5 from 1 vote

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

4.67 from 3 votes

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

4.8 from 15 votes

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

4.5 from 6 votes

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

4.91 from 11 votes

Mustard Chicken and Pineapple Skewers Recipe

Sweet or Spicy Mustard Chicken & Pineapple Skewers - a simple and delicious recipe perfect for your next BBQ!

Total Time: 25 minutes

5 from 1 vote

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.

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

5 from 6 votes

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

5 from 6 votes

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

5 from 16 votes

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

5 from 10 votes

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!

5 from 8 votes

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

4.93 from 41 votes

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

4.91 from 11 votes

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

5 from 6 votes

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

5 from 6 votes

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

5 from 7 votes

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

4.94 from 32 votes

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.

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

5 from 6 votes

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

5 from 1 vote

Patriotic Trail Mix Recipe

Patriotic Trail Mix - candy coated cereal mixed with mini marshmallows, licorice and M&Ms making it a perfect treat for any patriotic holiday like Fourth of July, Memorial Day or Veteran's Day!

Total Time: 10 minutes

5 from 1 vote

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

5 from 1 vote

4th of July Rice Krispies Treat Recipe

Delicious, simple and quick 4th of July Rice Krispies Treats. These red, white and blue treats are always a hit, and are festive for any patriotic occasion.

Total Time: 10 minutes

5 from 2 votes

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

5 from 1 vote

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

4.91 from 30 votes

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

4.94 from 32 votes

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

4.87 from 36 votes

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

5 from 9 votes

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

5 from 12 votes

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

4.89 from 17 votes

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.

The Best Homemade Lemonade Recipe

Our favorite homemade lemonade recipe - so good! Ingredients include sprite, pineapple juice, and lemonade dry mix.

Total Time: 5 minutes

5 from 1 vote

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

5 from 3 votes

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

4.96 from 49 votes

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

5 from 6 votes

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

5 from 9 votes