38 4th of July Side Dishes, Desserts, Main Dishes, and More

Cobb-Style Hot Dogs

Our favorite salad fixings paired with a 4th of July favorite? Yes, please! These Cobb-style hot dogs, grilled to perfection, are then loaded with avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, bacon, and creamy buttermilk dressing.

Padma's Grilled Corn

Elevate your grilled corn game with this flavorful Fourth of July recipe. Lemon, fleur de sel, and smoked paprika are welcome additions to this simple summertime staple.

Blueberry Lemonade Poke Cake

The best 4th of July dessert recipes are simple with many servings. This poke cake fills the bill. White cake mix gets a flavor update from frozen lemonade and a homemade blueberry sauce.

Lemon Bars

Lemon desserts are a cool, refreshing end to any summer meal—and these yummy lemon bars couldn't be easier. The prep time is less than 30 minutes, and the yield is more than 35 bars. Add this tart treat to your rotation of 4th of July dessert recipes and win the holiday.

Fourth of July Shooters

It's official: Fourth of July recipes don't get more festive than this. These colorful cocktails are the most patriotic shots ever! To make them, simply layer grenadine, peach schnapps, and blue curacao in a tall shot glass.

Pineapple, Mint, and Coconut Water Pops

Pineapple desserts are perfect for summer because the fruit is so refreshing—and these chilly ice pops are no exception. Made with coconut water, pineapple chunks, mint, lime juice, and honey, these flavorful pops are a healthy addition to your 4th of July spread.

BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches

Every vegetarian recognizes the sad plate of 4th of July sides and desserts they eat at summer barbecues. Change the game with this meatless main dish: BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches. Even carnivores will appreciate the dish's meaty texture and flavor (thanks, jackfruit!).

Baconista Brats

Brats and bacon: the perfect July 4th marriage. We share grilling and saucepan directions so you can pick your method and craft the most glorious bacon brats ever.

Swirled Fourth of July Bundt Cake

This sweet 4th of July dessert looks patriotic on the outside thanks to drippy white frosting and firecracker-inspired sprinkles. But there's also a surprise hidden inside each slice. We swirled together red, white, and blue cake batter so that every bite of this bundt cake recipe is just as patriotic as the American flag itself.

Buy It: Wilton Non-Stick Fluted Tube Cake Pan ($17, Michaels)

Strawberry-Pretzel Salad

Three layers—salty, sweet, and fruity—make this layered dessert a potluck favorite. Add it to your arsenal of Fourth of July sides and desserts, but be prepared to make copies. Everyone will be asking you for the recipe!

Honey Fruit Salad

Utilize peak-of-the-season fruits to make this simple fruit salad that is perfectly patriotic. This can be both a 4th of July side and dessert recipe and stays sweet with the help of honey rather than refined sugar.

Peanut Butter Brownies

A tray of brownies makes it oh-so-easy to feed a hungry 4th of July crew. These benefit from mini peanut butter cups and a batter enhanced with PB. Each recipe makes 16 brownies, so your batch will go a long way.

Grilled Romaine Panzanella

Give your greens some heart with hearty grilled romaine, cherry tomatoes, and ciabatta bread. Dress the summer salad in a sweet and savory vinaigrette made with honey and bacon drippings.

Sparkling Rosé Blueberry Floats

Make this tiki-bar-meets-farmstand treat with layers of coconut gelato, refreshing blueberry granita, and sparkling rose. It's a delicious, gorgeous, grown-up version of classic ice cream floats. Cheers to the holiday!

Firecracker Party Cake

This cinnamon cake-layered trifle wins on all fronts: presentation (layers of red cake and ultra-creamy whipped mascarpone), ease (make it the night before), and flavor (like munching on cinnamon candies).

Buy It: Classic Glass Trifle Serving Bowl ($17, Target)

Fat-Free Watermelon Sherbet

Chill out at your 4th of July celebration with this icy-cool summer treat. The sweet blend of watermelon and cranberry juice will please tiny tykes and adults alike.

Ranch Fried Chicken

We know 4th of July is prime barbecue season, but fried chicken deserves a spot at your celebration. Especially this recipe, since ranch salad dressing is included in the batter, while dry seasoning is mixed with crushed crackers for double the flavor. True ranch lovers, make sure you have a cup on the side for dipping your piece.

White Strawberry Sangria

Toast to the nation's independence with a sweet strawberry sangria recipe. The red-and-white big-batch holiday punch gets double the fruit flavor from fresh berries and strawberry schnapps.

Fourth of July Trifle

Celebrate the 4th of July in festive fashion by making this patriotic trifle for your dessert table. White angel food cake and cream, red strawberries, and blueberries mimic the stripes of the flag, which you can see throughout the bowl when you make this recipe in a trifle dish. For added patriotic pep, use a tiny cookie cutter ($3, Etsy) to shape the strawberries into stars.

Blueberry and Peach Slab Pie

Create a colorful 4th of July dessert with fresh fruit and refrigerated piecrust. The peach-and-blueberry treat gets even better with a melty scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Coconut Cream Island Punch

Move over, sweet tea and holiday punch. This five-ingredient (including perfect-for-the-holiday star fruit) tropical beverage is an adults-only drink everyone will cheer for.

Trisha Yearwood's Fourth of July Coleslaw

Classic crunchy coleslaw gains sweetness from salad pickles, which complement the fresh flavors of cabbage and carrots. The summer side-dish recipe produces 6 cups of crisp slaw, ensuring plenty for all your friends and family.

All-American Chicken with Balsamic Barbecue Sauce

When it comes to grilling, barbecue chicken is about as classic as it gets. Slather chicken breasts, thighs, and drumsticks in our sticky-sweet homemade balsamic BBQ sauce, then grill until golden brown.

Grilled Veggie Pasta Salad

Crisp-tender asparagus, sweet peppers, zucchini, and red onion hot off the grill join cooked penne for one fantastic 4th of July pasta salad. A light drizzle of balsamic vinegar coats the 30-minute side dish.

Sweet Tea Swagger

For the perfect 4th of July drink, turn to this sweet tea recipe. Our take has a splash of rum and a hint of lime juice. Garnish with watermelon and mint.

Trisha Yearwood's Potato Salad

Use red potatoes in your 4th of July potato salad for a recipe that bursts with Independence Day color. We mixed our classic potato salad with mayonnaise, but yellow mustard can be substituted if desired.

Strawberry Granita

Ruby-red strawberry granita is a refreshing 4th of July dessert that requires no special equipment to prepare. Top each serving with a few whole berries and lemon whipped cream for extra fruity flavor.

Whiskey Barrel Burgers

Classic grilled hamburgers get even better when flavored with whiskey and stuffed with a gooey cheddar cheese filling. A mixture of ground beef and pork—plus a meticulous grilling method—keeps each whiskey burger juicy.

Creamy BLT Pasta Salad

BLT sandwiches aren't the most shareable 4th of July treat, but they are when you turn them into a creamy pasta salad recipe! Toss your lettuce, tomato, and bacon with pasta, cheese, and a mayo-based sauce to transform the favorite sandwich into a popular potluck side. This delectable dish serves eight at the most, so if you've got a large crowd coming, definitely double up.

Summer Dogs

Who doesn't love a loaded hot dog at their July 4th get-together? Try some new-style summer toppings—avocado, corn, jalapeno chile peppers, and dry-roasted sunflower kernels—and give your dog a fresh flavor.

Boiled-in-the-Husk Corn on the Cob

Protect the fresh-picked flavor of summer's most iconic veggie by boiling your corn in the husk. An easy cayenne-flavor butter makes this dish a contender for the best 4th of July side dish.

Baby Back Ribs and Quick Pickles

For maximum flavor, give this rib recipe 24 hours to really soak up the spice mixture. Then, start roasting them in your oven and finish on the grill as your 4th of July party guests arrive. In addition to a lip-smacking homemade barbecue sauce, serve with quick-pickled cucumbers on the side.

Sparkler Cupcakes

Confetti cupcakes will be the hit of your party with a few festive add-ons. Fireworks inspire the swirls and colorful sprinkles that dress up these 4th of July cupcakes.

Grilled Baby Veggies with Arugula-Mint Pesto Sauce

Brighten up this year's July 4th menu with beautifully grilled vegetables. Finish off this mix of shallots, summer squash, sweet peppers, cremini mushrooms, tomatoes, and carrots with a fresh and flavorful arugula-mint pesto sauce.

Cherry-Berry Pie

Fresh blackberries and cherries fill this sweet-tart homemade pie. To make it even juicier, use frozen cherries, then top with fluffy whipped cream.

Buy It: Pyrex Grip Rite Glass Pie Pan ($5, Target)

Honey-Ginger Limeade

Sweet honey and zesty ginger add a kick to basic limeade. For even more flavor, add a jalapeno pepper to the mix. Rim the edges of your glasses with colored sugar before serving this summery drink.

Pineapple-Black Bean Guacamole

Whip up this easy 4th of July side in just 15 minutes—simply chop the ingredients and mix them together in a bowl before serving! The chunky guacamole dip incorporates sour cream, green salsa, fresh pineapple, and zingy jalapeno pepper.

Lemon Sponge Pie

What makes a better summer dessert than a light and airy lemon pie? Served chilled and topped with sugary candied lemon slices, this yummy sponge pie is the perfect choice for cooling off at a hot 4th of July get-together.