"The Fourth of July is an excuse to throw on a festive outfit, “ooh” and “ahh” at some fireworks, and gorge on delicious food. What more could you ask for in a holiday? Out of all the red, white, and blue extra-ness that goes into Independence Day celebrations, however, the menu might be the most important. Whether you’re heading to a backyard barbecue, hosting your own summer soirée, or keeping it low-key but still patriotic, you’ve gotta serve something that’s equal parts festive and tasty. But that doesn’t mean you need to spend a ton of time on prep work. If you’re looking for something quick and easy, these Fourth of July recipes are the perfect solution. From appetizers to cocktails, these are some of the best Fourth of July recipes to make for this year’s celebration.
Appetizers
1. Baked Jalapeño Poppers
These baked jalapeño poppers are creamy on the inside thanks to the Greek yogurt and crispy on the outside thanks to the panko bread crumbs. With a little bit of spice and cheddar cheese, they are a crowd-pleaser every single time.
2. Pigs in a Blanket
A crowd-pleaser no matter the holiday, pigs in a blanket are the bite-sized appetizer that everyone loves, and the best part is that they are easy to make. All you need is cocktail wieners, crescent roll dough, butter, and a dipping sauce.
3. Buffalo Chicken Dip
There are certain appetizers that everyone expects to be at a party, and buffalo chicken dip is definitely one of those. This party favorite only requires five ingredients and 30 minutes of your time, and you can totally use rotisserie chicken if you’re short on time.
4. Classic Deviled Eggs
A classic recipe and a delicious bite-sized snack, deviled eggs are an easy, reliable appetizer. All you need is hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper, all which you might already have in your kitchen.
5. Firecracker Chicken Meatballs
These chicken meatballs are sweet, savory, and spicy thanks to the zesty firecracker sauce they’re tossed in. Requiring ingredients you probably already have on hand, these are easy to make and come together in no time. Pro tip: Throw them in the air fryer for a minute or two to crisp them up before adding the sauce!
6. Blueberry, Strawberry, and Jicama Salsa
This red, white, and blue salsa makes for the perfect fresh and festive dish. The addition of blueberries and strawberries adds some unexpected sweetness, while chopped jalapeño provides just the right amount of spice.
7. Red, White, and Blue Cheese Chips
These red, white, and blue cheese chips look like they came straight out of a restaurant, but the chips are store-bought (no shame in your appetizer game!) and the sauce takes just 10 minutes to make.
Mains
8. Blue Cheese Burger
You can’t go wrong with grilling burgers on the Fourth. I mean, what says America like a delicious, juicy burger? This recipe’s combination of black bean beef patties, blue cheese, and a caramelized onion marmalade will tempt your guests to return for seconds.
9. Taco Style Veggie Dogs
Who says you need meat to enjoy the mandatory hotdog on the Fourth? These taco-style veggie dogs are great for vegetarians and so tasty that even your meat-eating guests will love them.
10. Zucchini Turkey Burgers
Why settle for store-bought burgers when you could make ones this good so easily? All you need is five simple ingredients and any toppings you want to go with it! The combination of ground turkey and grated zucchini makes these burgers extra juicy and more nutritious than your typical ground beef patty.
11. Blackened Salmon Burger
If you want to mix up your main course this year and serve something other than basic burgers and hot dogs, try this salmon burger recipe. It doesn’t stray too far from the classic Fourth of July menu but adds a fresh twist to your spread.
Sides
12. Blueberry Chicken Chopped Salad
It’s always nice to have a salad option on your menu, and this one is loaded with a zesty mix of ingredients and a lemon dressing that everyone will love—even people who don’t like salads. Plus, the blueberries, red onion, and feta cheese bring the American flag colors to life in this dish.
13. Classic Macaroni Salad
A macaroni salad is a barbeque must, and this one combines all the classic ingredients, including elbow macaroni, colorful veggies, hardboiled eggs, and a creamy dressing.
14. Watermelon Feta Salad
Sure, you could set out watermelon in a bowl all on its own, but why not dress it up a bit by serving this watermelon salad with feta cheese? It’s easy, refreshing, and totally delicious.
15. Triple Berry Spinach Salad
This unique triple-berry spinach salad will surprise you with how flavorful its creamy (no mayonnaise!) dressing is. With the addition of sliced almonds, poppy seeds, and red onion, this will be one of the best side dishes at the party.
16. Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
You can’t go wrong with any kind of pasta salad in the summer—especially one with pesto in it. This easy pesto tortellini pasta salad comes together with just five ingredients in 10 minutes.
Desserts
17. Angel Food Flag Cake
Is it even the Fourth of July if someone doesn’t show up with a cake shaped like the American flag? This classic recipe will make the perfect centerpiece for your spread, and the design is super easy to pull off even if your cake decorating skills are sub-par.
18. Easy Blueberry Crisp
A gooey blueberry filling and a cinnamon oat topping? You can find us going for seconds and thirds of this delicious dessert. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and you’ll have people drooling.
19. Fruit Pizza
A brown sugar cookie crust, cream cheese frosting, and fresh berries make up this patriotic dessert that is equally as delicious as it is easy. You might want to make two of them because this fruit pizza will go fast!
20. Fourth of July Fruit Kabobs
These fruit kabobs are super easy to throw together the morning of your celebration. All you need is strawberries, blueberries, angel food cake (that you could totally get store-bought), and marshmallows.
21. Red, White, and Blue Red Velvet Cookies
This is the perfect holiday to make red velvet cookies! And thanks to a generous helping of red, white, and blue M&Ms, they look just as delicious as they taste.
22. Strawberry Cheesecake Crescent Rolls
With only a few ingredients and 25 minutes, you can turn a simple tube of crescent rolls into an indulgent Fourth of July recipe your guests are sure to love. Add these to your brunch spread, or serve them as a dessert to finish off your menu. Either way, they will be gone in mere minutes.
23. Red, White, and Blue Popsicles
Made with strawberries, blueberries, and dairy-free coconut milk, these popsicles make for the best Fourth of July dessert. We love that they are dairy-free, dye-free, and naturally sweetened.
24. 4th of July Mix
Baking doesn’t get any easier than this Fourth of July dessert mix. It’s an elevated version of trail mix, where there is no need to pick out just the M&Ms because all the ingredients taste equally amazing. Plus, the red, white, and blue color scheme makes the dish just the right amount of festive.
25. Red White and Blue Brownie Pizza
If you love brownies and pizza but thought never the two shall meet, boy do we have news for you. This brownie pizza turns a delivery classic into the sweet treat of your dreams. Plus, cutting up and serving to a big group is easy.
Drinks
26. Spiked Blueberry Lemonade
This blueberry lemonade is the perfect cocktail for Independence Day because it is tart, refreshing, and totally festive. You can serve it with or without alcohol, too!
27. Raspberry Moscow Mule
This fruity and refreshing twist on a traditional Moscow mule is full of raspberries and fresh mint, and it’s easier to make than you would think. All you need is raspberries, mint, lime, ginger beer, and vodka (unless you want to leave alcohol out!).
28. Red Sangria
Every good holiday cocktail must be equal parts festive and delicious, and this sangria checks both boxes. Sangria is the best sipper to cool you down in the summer, and the cute red cocktail will be the perfect complement to your red, white, and blue outfit.
Jessica Friedhoff, Senior Lifestyle Editor
Jessica has been at The Everygirl since 2022, covering all things home, travel, food, hobbies, and more. She edits all lifestyle content, writes in-depth features, and curates the direction of the living section. Jessica’s true passion—and much of her expertise—lies in interior design and decorating. Before joining The Everygirl, she worked as the digital assistant home editor for Better Homes & Gardens.