Fourth of July recipes
Fourth of July food usually means a cookout, and this page has the classics: burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, corn, potato and pasta salads, plus red, white and blue desserts made with berries. Every recipe takes 20 minutes or less, so you can feed a backyard crowd and still get to the fireworks.
32 recipes, quickest first.
10 minClassic coleslaw
10 minRed, white and blue sangria mocktail
12 minWatermelon feta mint salad
15 minMexican street corn salad (esquites)
16 minGrilled garlic lemon shrimp skewers
17 minFirecracker shrimp
17 minStrawberry lemonade
18 minBroccoli salad with bacon
18 minCheeseburger sliders
18 minChicago-style hot dogs
18 minCowboy caviar
18 minGrilled peach caprese
19 minGrilled lemon dill salmon
19 minGrilled vegetable skewers with herb oil
20 minBBQ chicken skewers
20 minChili cheese dogs
20 minClassic deviled eggs
20 minClassic grilled cheeseburgers
20 minFlag fruit pizza
20 minGrilled bratwurst with beer onions
20 minGrilled chicken thighs
20 minGrilled corn with chili-lime butter
20 minGrilled flank steak with garlic herb butter
20 minGrilled honey chipotle chicken tenders
20 minGrilled hot dogs with a toppings bar
20 minGrilled Mexican street corn (elote)
20 minGrilled pork chops with brown sugar rub
20 minGrilled sausage, peppers and onions
20 minHawaiian chicken kebabs
20 minItalian pasta salad
20 minQuick potato salad
20 minRed, white and blue berry trifle cups
Plan the menu around the grill: one or two mains, a couple of cold sides you can make in the morning and one simple dessert. Set out a topping bar so guests build their own burgers and hot dogs. If it is hot out, serve food in smaller batches and keep backups in the cooler or refrigerator.
Common questions
What food is traditional for the Fourth of July?
Grilled burgers and hot dogs are the most common Fourth of July foods, often served with corn on the cob, potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans and watermelon. For dessert, many people make apple pie, berry desserts or a flag-themed sheet cake. Barbecued chicken, ribs and regional favorites like lobster rolls or brats also show up at many celebrations.
How many burgers do I need per person?
Plan on about 1 1/2 burgers per adult when burgers are the main dish, or 1 per person if you are also serving hot dogs or chicken. A standard patty uses 1/4 to 1/3 pound of ground beef, so 10 pounds makes about 30 to 40 burgers. Kids usually eat one smaller patty or a hot dog.
How do you make red, white and blue food?
Fresh fruit is the easiest way: strawberries, raspberries and watermelon for red, blueberries for blue, and whipped cream, yogurt, marshmallows or angel food cake for white. Layer them in cups, thread them onto skewers or arrange them in a flag pattern on a sheet cake. Red, white and blue tortilla chips or potatoes work for savory dishes.
How do you keep food safe at a Fourth of July cookout?
Keep cold dishes in a cooler or refrigerator at 40F or below until serving, and don't leave perishable food out for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour when it is above 90F. Use separate plates for raw and cooked meat, and check temperatures: 160F for burgers, 165F for chicken, and steaming hot for hot dogs.