4th of July Potluck Recipes

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 cake's large size means there will be plenty to share at your 4th of July potluck.

Refrigerated bread dough baked in a Bundt pan becomes the star of this massive cold-cut sandwich. Perfect for a potluck main dish, this hearty sandwich is guaranteed to satisfy even the hungriest of guests.

Pizza, meet pasta salad. This flavorful potluck side combines the best parts of two iconic foods. Perfect for your 4th of July menu, the yummy salad is stuffed with sweet peppers, mozzarella, tomatoes, pepperoni, red onion, and olives.

Brown sugar and creamy molasses star in these baked beans. But don't sweat—they're not too sweet. Ancho and jalapeno peppers add a dose of spicy heat.

Our spin on the classic Italian ice cream will have your mouth watering at a July 4th potluck. The frozen chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla combo is cut into bite-size bars to serve a crowd, then topped with delicious melted chocolate and toasted almonds.

Get your greens in this refreshing fruit-and-veggie salad. 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.

It doesn't get much more American than apple pie. Whip up this giant apple slab pie for a no-fuss addition to your 4th of July potluck.

Say good-bye 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 under control.

Instead of bringing a whole watermelon to your 4th of July potluck, 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.

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.

No spread of 4th of July side dishes is complete without potato salad. Learn our easy secret for cooking potatoes and getting the best results with your potluck salads.

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!

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.

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 potlucks.

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

Fresh herbs such as tarragon, dill weed, or parsley dress up this July 4th potluck classic. Make this potato salad ahead—our recipe is best with 4 hours of chill time and a few minutes to come to room temperature.

Cool off with this fruity sorbet made with summer's favorite fruit. Add raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, or a mix of all three to the recipe to give the sorbet a variety of flavors.

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

Ready in under an hour, this July 4th potluck dish gets its sweet-and-savory flavor from brown sugar, maple syrup, and snipped fresh sage. Top with fresh cherry and grape tomatoes for a colorful garnish.

Fruit and veggies come together in this inventive July 4th salad that features fresh sweet corn, blueberries, cucumber, and jalapeno. It makes a great summer side dish and can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a large potluck crowd.

Expand your 4th of July menu by giving classic potato salad a healthy twist with cauliflower. Top with crumbled blue cheese and crispy bacon for a dash of unexpected flavor.

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

Editor's Tip: Place bars in an airtight tin or resealable container, separating the layers with a sheet of parchment or waxed paper to keep them from sticking together.

Try this flavorful take on a summer salad that combines Kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, and crispy baguette pieces. It is ready in less than 30 minutes, tastes great served hot or cold, and transports easily in a plastic container.

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.

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; the dessert will be ready in minutes.

Editor's Tip: Check with the host in advance about using her broiler for heating the skewers and her microwave for melting the chocolate.