Best Recipes for the 4th of July

Published: Jun 27, 2026 by Jessica Fisher

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Looking for the best recipes for the 4th of July? We’ve got you covered with easy recipes to grill, delicious side dishes, and yummy desserts for celebrating Independence Day.

berry pie with star pastry cut outs next to a red striped cloth.

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4th of July likely conjures certain memories for you, perhaps a fun childhood cookout or a college weekend at the lake. It for certain brings special foods to mind, specifically easy grilling, make-ahead salads, and tasty sweets to enjoy while watching the fireworks.

Celebrating Independence Day on a budget isn’t difficult, especially when you’ve got these best recipes for the 4th in your arsenal.

array of burgers and sides with patriotic tableware.

Main Dish Ideas

hot dog in whole wheat bun topped with sauteed peppers and onions.

Hot Dog Toppings Bar

Serving a variety of hot dog toppings is a great way to elevate the classic summer party meal.

ten grilled brats ready on the grill.

Grilled Brats with Peppers and Onions

Enjoy the smoky goodness of grilled brats with peppers and onions. With just a handful of veggies, you've got the makings of a great brats dinner in less than 30 minutes!

hot dog with onions on a plate with sides

Drunken Brats and Caramelized Onions

Add an extra layer of flavor to your bratwurst by simmering them in beer or ale and then finishing them on the grill. Caramelized onions make for a luscious topping.

hot dog in homemade hot dog bun on plate with veggie dippers.

Homemade Hot Dog Buns Recipe

Hot dogs never tasted so good! Make these homemade hot dog buns to wow your guests at your next backyard barbecue.

sausage burger on plate with pile of coleslaw.

Spicy Sausage Burgers

These Spicy Sausage Burgers are super simple to prepare and come packed with flavor thanks to the spicy sausage and herbed mayo.

A close up of a burger on a plate

Popeye’s Burgers with Spinach

Here’s a hamburger that Popeye would be proud of: a beef patty chock full of greens.

close up of BBQ bacon cheeseburger on a white plate with a white background.

BBQ Bacon Burger Recipe

A seasoned burger patty topped with melted pepper jack cheese, crispy bacon, carmelized onions, and barbecue sauce, this BBQ Bacon Burger is one you'll want on repeat.

turkey burger on plate with blue cheese crumbles

Easy Turkey Burger Recipe

Turkey burgers are going up in the world. These seasoned turkey burgers flavored with green onion and tarragon are further enhanced with creamy bleu cheese and a spicy chipotle mayonnaise.

jar of BBQ sauce on table with red checked cloth and a basting brush.

Apricot BBQ Sauce

This easy Apricot BBQ sauce is a perfect pantry staple to make yourself. It brings great sweet and smoky flavor to burgers, pulled pork, and other grilled meats.

closeup of everything hamburger buns piled on a cooling rack.

Everything Hamburger Buns

These easy homemade hamburger buns feature a secret ingredient: the same topping as an Everything Bagel! Mix up seeds and spices for a delicious seasoning to your Everything Hamburger Buns.

homemade hamburger buns stacked in a basket.

Homemade Hamburger Buns

Homemade Hamburger Buns are something that you must make at least once. Just know that these tastier, healthier, often cheaper alternatives to spongy store-bought buns will have you hooked. You’ll never look back when you see how easy it is to make your own.

turkey burger loaded with tomato, lettuce, chipotle mayo, and blue cheese on homemade bun.

Best Hamburger Toppings

Serving a variety of buns, patties, and hamburger toppings is a great way to elevate the classic summer party meal or busy takeout dinner into something extra special. Choose from the list of burger toppings below to add variety to every burger night.

chicken breast on a plate with green beans and rice

Mustard-Grilled Chicken

Liven up Chicken Night with this delicious Dijon Mustard Marinade. It mixes up quickly and tastes amazing on grilled chicken breast. Bonus: it’s freezer-friendly.

A plate of grilled dijon basil chicken

Grilled Dijon Basil Chicken

This Grilled Dijon Basil Chicken recipe screams of summer. Use fresh summer basil and cook it outdoors for a taste that can’t be beat.

potato salad in a black dish, being scooped up on a fork.

Classic Side Dishes for the 4th

bowl of dill potato salad on a table with other picnic items.

Dill Potato Salad

Want to make the perfect dill potato salad? This recipe is simple and quick and you can doctor it up however you like.

big white bowl of potato salad on red checked cloth

Deli Potato Salad

This Deli Potato Salad is one of those summer dishes that is filling without heating you up. A traditional potato salad recipe that goes great with grilled meats, sandwiches, and salad buffet meals, it’s a great after-anything kind of snack.

Whole Grain Mustard Potato Salad

Red Potato Salad with Whole Grain Mustard

Looking for good old fashioned comfort food in the middle of summer? Serve up this Red Potato Salad with Whole Grain Mustard at your next BBQ. It is full of flavor and oh so comforting.

Seasoned Corn Off the Cob | Good Cheap Eats

Seasoned Corn Off The Cob

Liven up a simple supper with this easy, Seasoned Corn off the Cob. It comes together in minutes and makes for an ideal side dish without the fuss.

overhead shot of large spoonful of corn salad held above a bowl of salad.

Corn Salad

Sweet juicy corn, crunchy pepper, and kicky green onion combine in a delicious corn salad you'll want to enjoy all year long. Serve it as a side salad or as a topping for tacos or nachos.

coleslaw on a plate with a forkful on the side, sloppy joe and blueberries in the background.

Easy Coleslaw Recipe

Forget that stop at the deli salad counter! Mix up this easy coleslaw made with a homemade creamy dressing.

overhead shot of bowl of coleslaw with apples.

Coleslaw with Apples and Almonds

Want to add something crisp and fresh to the table tonight? Stir up a batch of this super yummy Coleslaw with Apples and Almonds.

close overhead shot of white bean salad in black bowl.

White Bean Salad

Enjoy this filling, yet easy and refreshing white bean salad dotted with sweet peppers this summer. This bean salad recipe is a perfect side dish for all your grilling recipes.

hand holding square plate with macaroni salad, fruit salad, and a hot dog with mustard.

Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad with Cheese

Stir up this quick and easy, old fashioned macaroni salad recipe in minutes. Studded with celery, red onion, and cheddar cheese, wrapped in a creamy mayo dressing, this pasta's packed with flavor and perfect for picnicking.

platter of tuna pasta salad on white table.

Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe

Take the French classic Nicoise Salade and tweak it with this Tuna Pasta Salad. Filled with tuna, egg, and vegetables but served in a pasta salad, the traditional salad feels new again.

layered raspberry jello in glass ramekin on white plate, with spoon.

Festive Desserts for the 4th

jello 123 copycat layered dessert in glass ramekin topped with whipped cream and a raspberry, on a white dish with a spoon.

Jello 123 Layered Dessert Cups

This copycat of Jello 123 is easy to make with just three ingredients. It comes together easily and tastes delicious. Customize it to suit whatever color and flavor gelatin you prefer.

A little girl sitting on a table

Strawberry and Chocolate Icebox Cakes

Want a most delicious summer dessert without heating the oven? Make these Strawberry and Chocolate Icebox Cakes for one of the easiest treats under the sun.

white dessert plate with a slice of mixed berry pie and a dollop of whipped cream and a fork.

Mixed Berry Pie

A trio of berries in the filling and cinnamon and lemon zest in the crust make for a practically perfect Mixed Berry Pie.

blueberry pie with a golden crust of hearts on white and blue towel.

Easy Blueberry Pie with Frozen Blueberries

Bake someone happy with this easy blueberry pie made with frozen blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and butter.

square of apple pie on white plate topped with whipped cream.

Slab Apple Pie with Easy Crumb Top

This easy to prepare slab apple pie takes just minutes. It’s delicious and simple, and a huge hit for fall.

squishing a smore between two hands.

How to Make S’mores

You can make s’mores in rain or shine with this easy recipe. It’s so quick, you’ll have chocolate on your face in less than five minutes.

a dish of vanilla ice cream

Simple Vanilla Ice Cream

Simple Vanilla Ice Cream is a delight. Made with only four ingredients, it tastes so much better than store-bought.

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