28 Easy 4th of July Potluck Recipes Everyone Will Love

By BH&G Holiday Editors
Updated May 18, 2020
Hosting or attending a 4th of July potluck? Share these crowd-pleasing holiday entrees, sides, and desserts. We have easy potluck ideas for potato salad, fruit salad, dips, refreshing summer drinks, and many more July 4th recipes.
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Flag Cake

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It doesn't get much more patriotic than this easy 4th of July cake. Fresh cherries or raspberries, blueberries, and a decadent cream cheese frosting turn a plain vanilla cake into an American flag. Plus, the dessert's large size (it serves 24!) means there will be plenty to feed a crowd.

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Pressure Cooker Pork Loin Back Ribs with Apple Glaze

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Is the grill completely occupied with burgers and hot dogs? Roast up saucy ribs in your pressure cooker or Instant Pot. A whopping 4 pounds of ribs, enough to serve 8 hungry 4th of July potluck guests, requires just 25 minutes. Plus the apple-shallot glaze is a lovely complement to the oh-so American apple pie to come later in the day.

Buy It: Instant Pot Duo 6qt 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker, $79.99, Target

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Cold-Cut Bundt Sandwich

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Refrigerated bread dough baked in a Bundt pan becomes the star of this massive cold-cut sandwich. The grooves of the pan make it easy to portion and cut individual servings. Perfect for a potluck main dish, this hearty sandwich is guaranteed to satisfy even the hungriest of guests. Customize it with your crew’s favorite proteins, veggies, and condiments.

Buy It: Nordic Ware Formed-Aluminum Bundt Pan, $15.96, Williams Sonoma

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Ancho-Brown Sugar Baked Beans

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Brown sugar and molasses star in these baked beans. Plenty of bacon, garlic, and onion keep this 4th of July side dish from being too sweet. Ancho and jalapeño peppers add a dose of spicy heat.

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Frozen Neapolitans

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Chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla? Why not all three at once? Our spin on the classic triple-layer Italian ice cream will have your mouth watering at a July 4th potluck. Cut the frozen treat into bite-size bars to serve a crowd, then top with melted chocolate and toasted almonds.

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Pizza Pasta Salad

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Pizza, meet pasta salad. This flavorful potluck side dish recipe—a favorite of kids and adults alike—combines the best parts of two iconic foods in one mash-up recipe. Perfect for your 4th of July menu, the yummy summer salad is stuffed with sweet peppers, mozzarella, tomatoes, pepperoni, red onion, and olives.

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Cherry Hand Pies

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Alternate blueberry and strawberry or cherry jam and these petite pies are a sweet red, white, and blue dessert to include on your 4th of July potluck treat table. Or if everyone is too full, send them off with a hand pie as a favor post-fireworks.

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Cucumber-Honeydew Salad with Feta

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Get your greens in this refreshing salad recipe. The melon and cucumber add sweetness, while red onion and feta give the salad a tangy bite. It's perfect for July 4th potlucks: The prep takes only 20 minutes before chilling in the refrigerator overnight.

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Crumb-Topped Apple Slab Pie

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Inviting the whole block? We have an all-American dessert idea for you! Whip up this giant apple slab pie for a no-fuss addition to your 4th of July party spread. Each batch serves 25 people.

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Caramelized Onion Dip

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Say goodbye to store-bought onion dip. Our easy homemade version takes the party favorite to new heights. Caramelizing the onions gives the dip a sweeter flavor, and light sour cream and mayo keep the calories fairly low.

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Watermelon-Mint Coolers

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Instead of toting a whole watermelon to your outdoor 4th of July party, bring this refreshing summer beverage instead. Pureed watermelon and crushed mint offer a sweet alternative to classic lemonade, and the ginger ale base makes it bubbly and fun.

Buy It: Kilner Barrel Beverage Dispenser and Stand, $39.99, Bed Bath & Beyond

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Classic Potato Salad

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It wouldn't be a 4th of July potluck without potato salad—and this classic recipe is one of our favorites. Our Test Kitchen offers other ways for you to make it your own, including an herb-roasted garlic version and a peppercorn-ranch chicken variation.

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Black-Eyed Pea Relish

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Black-eyed peas are said to bring good luck, so bring them to the party for an extra dose of positive vibes. This July 4th appetizer is so versatile and easy to make: Fresh sweet peppers add color, a chopped serrano adds some bite, and black-eyed peas give the relish texture. Serve it with chips, on a bed of lettuce, or on sandwiches for an instant-favorite homemade condiment!

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Layered California-Style BLT Salad

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If you love BLT sandwiches (and who doesn't?), then you'll want to make this crunchy salad with garlicky croutons, romaine lettuce, tomato, and bacon for July 4th. Because it's a layered salad, you'll get all of the fantastic flavors in each bite.

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Italian Fruit Salad

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Fresh fruit tossed in a simple 2-to-1 red wine vinegar and honey vinaigrette keeps it simple on the 4th of July. Refreshing watermelon, blueberries, and grapes make this Italian-style fruit salad (topped with shredded basil) hard to resist at any summer potluck party. At just 91 calories per serving, this light side will save plenty of room for a patriotic dessert.

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Lemonade Cake

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For a simple and sweet dessert, try our fresh lemonade-inspired 4th of July cake. The flavor is perfect for a hot summer day, and a thin slice of lemon atop each piece makes the cake party-ready.

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Herbed Potato Salad

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Fresh herbs such as tarragon, dill weed, or parsley dress up this July 4th picnic recipe. To extend the decadent sour cream and mayo dressing, try blending it with a bit of olive oil and apple cider vinegar.

Editor's Tip: Make this potato salad ahead—our recipe is best with 4 hours of chill time and a few minutes to come to room temperature.

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Watermelon-Berry Sorbet

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Why pick between melon and berries when you can scoop up a healthy dessert recipe that features all of the above? This fruity sorbet, made with several favorite fruits of summer, will help you cool off at the end of your 4th of July potluck menu. Add raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, or a mix of all three to the recipe to give the frozen watermelon treat a variety of flavors.

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Strawberry Lemonade

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Potluck drinks need to be cool and refreshing—and no 4th of July celebration would be complete without a pitcher of icy lemonade. Try this fun twist on the classic summer beverage with fresh strawberries in the mix.

Editor's Tip: For the 21+ Independence Day party guests, spike each serving with a ¼ cup of vodka or rum.

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Skillet White Beans

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Ready in under an hour, this potluck side dish gets its sweet-and-savory flavor from brown sugar, maple syrup, and snipped fresh sage. And to crank up the gourmet quality, we combine garbanzo beans and butter beans along with the white beans for a richer texture. Top with fresh cherry and grape tomatoes for a colorful garnish.

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Corn and Blueberry Salad

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Celebrate America’s best summer produce! Fruit and veggies team up in this inventive July 4th salad that features fresh sweet corn, blueberries, cucumber, and jalapeño. It makes a great summer side dish and can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a large potluck crowd.

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Potato-Cauliflower Salad

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Give classic potato salad a healthy twist with cauliflower. (Or opt for all cauliflower instead of part-spuds and stick to plain sour cream versus sour cream and chive dip to make this a keto 4th of July recipe.) Top with crumbled blue cheese and crispy bacon for a dash of unexpected flavor.

Editor's Tip: Keep food safety in mind! Serve up the bowl of salad on a tray over ice.

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Fresh Raspberry Bars

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These creamy and fruity bars are the perfect potluck contribution if you've been assigned to bring dessert for the 4th of July menu. The recipe makes 24, enough to please a large crowd.

Editor's Tip: Prep a few hours ahead and place bars in an airtight tin or resealable container, separating the layers with a sheet of parchment or waxed paper.

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Roasted Tomato-Bread Toss

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Try this flavorful take on a summer salad that combines Kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, and crispy baguette pieces. We can’t decide what we love most about it! Not only is this 4th of July potluck recipe ready in less than 30 minutes, it also tastes great served hot or cold, and it transports easily.

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Blackberry Salad with Creamy Feta

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Sweet and salty join forces in this fresh fruit salad recipe. Mint leaves, feta cheese, and pickled onions flavor fresh summer blackberries. Toss them together for a unique summer salad that makes a great July 4th potluck side dish.

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Coconut Fruit S'mores

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You don't need a campfire to put together this summer classic. Prep the marshmallow-and-berry skewers before leaving home, but keep the chocolate and graham crackers in their packages. At the party, heat up the chocolate and toast the marshmallows, then this s’mores dessert will be ready in minutes.

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Bonanza Bean Dip

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Party dip recipes are always a 4th of July crowd-pleaser. This one sports a mix of popular flavors: refried beans, lime guacamole, cherry tomatoes, ripe olives, and green onions. Plus its colorful nature is a nice complement to the show in the sky.

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Rosé-Poached Peaches

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Yes way! Add these rosé-soaked peaches in the middle of a split shortcake, on top of a cup of ice cream, or as the base of a simple sparkling wine cocktail (just top off the glass with bubbly and enjoy).

Editor's Tip: Cut day-of stress by making this 4th of July dessert recipe up to three days ahead, then chill until it’s time to celebrate.

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