Recipes For Your BEST 4th of July Celebration
Whether you’re hosting the whole neighborhood or just throwing a few burgers on the grill, the 4th of July is one of those holidays that’s all about the food. And with this year being America’s 250th birthday, there’s no better time to go ALL out!
To help make planning your menu a little easier, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite recipes. From appetizers like our reader favorite Asparagus Pastry Bundles to easy desserts like our Grilled Peaches and everything in between. These recipes are ones our family and our readers always go back to make again and again!
Recipes To Celebrate The Fourth of July
– Cocktails –
There’s no party without a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail!) to kick things off.
Strawberry Moscato Slush
This sweet Strawberry Moscato Slush is my favorite quick and easy, but oh so refreshing drink. The perfect drink to sip on with friends and family all summer long! Try finishing this slush off with a sugar mint lime rimmed glass, fresh strawberry slices, and a sprig of mint for that extra special touch. It’s so good!
Watermelon Lime Jalapeno Margarita
It’s a touch of sweet, a little bit spicy, and so refreshing too! This margarita is super easy to mix up, uses minimal ingredients, and is so good! The perfect to drink to celebrate warm days or when you have friends and family over.
Hibiscus Tom Collins Cocktail
Kicking off the start of summer with this fun to make and delicious Hibiscus Tom Collins Cocktail! Gin, lots of lemon juice, a splash of hibiscus syrup, and topped with club soda. Think your favorite lemonade, but with a fun summery twist.
Peach Moscato Sangria
We’re celebrating these warm summer days with this Easy Peach Moscato Sangria. Sweet peach moscato mixed with peach schnapps and a little bit of sugar to make the best-ever sweet summertime drink. This fruity sangria is so easy make and requires minimal ingredients
Orange Champagne Cocktail
Fresh squeezed orange juice, mixed with warming brandy, orange liqueur, then topped off with champagne, and finished with a sugar cube! It’s such a fun drink to make and enjoy. Truly the perfect cocktail for any upcoming celebration, holiday parties with family and friends, or just you would love a delicious champagne cocktail!
Frozen Mango Margarita
The perfect frozen cocktail to celebrate the warm weather! Frozen mango chunks blended with a mix of Añejo Tequila, Orange Liqueur, Sweet and Sour Mix, and finished with a sprig of mint and a lime wedge. It’s creamy, smooth, and extra boozy. This margarita is so easy to mix up, uses minimal ingredients, and is oh so very good!
– Appetizers & Snacks –
Homemade Potato Chips
Switch up your average appetizer/snack with these super simple homemade Olive Oil Potato Chips with Sour Cream and Onion Dip. Sweet Yukon gold potatoes, lightly fried in olive oil, and served with the best EVER sour cream and onion dip that’s only four ingredients. Every bite of chip is crispy, not greasy, and so delicious.
Asparagus Pastry Bundles
These Asparagus Prosciutto and Brie Puff Pastry Bundles are the perfect last-minute appetizer to make during the holiday’s! Easy, quick to make, and so delicious. They’re a real crowd pleaser! Prosciutto, creamy brie, and fresh asparagus wrapped in puff pastry and baked together to create the salty, cheesy, and delicious bite.
Pimento Cheese
Elevate your afternoon snack with this classic Southern recipe! Our Pimento Cheese is a creamy blend of cheddar, homemade mayo, diced pimentos, and a hint of onion. Add a kick with jalapeño if you like. Enjoy with veggies, crackers, or bread – it’s quick, crowd-pleasing, and oh-so-good!
Melon Skewers
It’s the no-bake, super simple treat you’ll want to make all summer long. Made with three types of sweet, juicy melons and finished with the best-ever honey lime mint drizzle! Every bite is bursting with natural summery sweetness and a slight tartness from the juice.
Homemade Caramel Apples
Crisp and sweet Macintosh apples, coated in a thick layer of homemade caramel, dressed up with chocolate and nuts or simply served as-is for an easy but delicious treat! There’s no way to not love this childhood treat. Especially when the caramel is actually so easy to make!
Muddy Buddies
The sweet and nostalgic snack we all know and love…Muddy Buddies (also known as Puppy Chow)! This recipe is so easy, it practically makes itself, and it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
– Main Course –
Red Bean Chili
There’s nothing better than settling down with a big bowl of this one-pot Classic Red Bean Chili during these colder months! Simple to make, the perfect amount of spice, full of flavor, not too thick, and just SO. GOOD. If you’re looking for a quick and delicious meal to get on the dinner table, this chili is exactly what you need.
Mixed Greens Steak Salad
This Mixed Greens Steak Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette is definitely not your ordinary salad. Fresh mixed greens and veggies at their peak of ripeness tossed with red wine vinaigrette and finished with tangy goat cheese topped with perfectly cooked steak. Enjoy this salad as a quick dinner any night of the week.
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Easy BBQ Chicken Pizza. Homemade sourdough pizza dough topped with barbecue sauce, grilled chicken, three kinds of cheese, sliced red onions, and, of course, applewood smoked bacon!
Tomato, Arugula, and Feta Pizza
This Fresh Tomato, Arugula, and Feta Pizza is literally the pizza to make on repeat this summer. Homemade pizza dough topped with our delicious tomato sauce, a sprinkling of parmesan cheese and mozzarella, plenty of arugula, garden fresh tomatoes, a little bit of crumbled feta, and a swirl of basil pesto on top.
Ratatouille Pizza
Pizza dough, topped with sun-dried tomato pesto, a sprinkling of parmesan and shredded mozzarella cheese, finished with garden fresh squash, zucchini, eggplant, and tomatoes and drizzled with the simplest 5 ingredient Olive Oil drizzle. Every bite of this pizza is reminiscent of the classic dish, but made with a fun summer-y twist!
Chicken Caprese Sandwich
This Chicken Caprese Sandwich is the summertime sandwich to make for lunch, as a quick dinner, brought along on picnics, or even served at get-togethers with friends and family!
Southern Baked Mac and Cheese
This extra cheesy, easy to make, and oh so delicious Southern Baked Mac and Cheese is THE macaroni and cheese recipe you’ll need for any and every occasion. Made with pantry staples and THREE kinds of cheese, every bite is sure to leave you wanting more.
– Desserts –
Triple Berry Pandowdy
Bursting with juicy raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries, this classic dessert is the perfect way to enjoy the best of the season. Topped with a star-shaped pastry crust (perfect for the 4th of July!), it’s as delicious as it is beautiful!
Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream Sandwiches
Beat the heat with these irresistible Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream Sandwich Cookies! Imagine soft, chewy cookies bursting with strawberries and white chocolate chips, sandwiched around homemade ice cream. It’s a delicious twist on the classic ice cream sandwich, and so easy to make!
Brown Sugar Bourbon Peach Shortcake
We’re giving the classic dessert a summer makeover with this super easy peach shortcake! Juicy peaches with sweet brown sugar, a splash of bourbon, cinnamon, and homemade Chantilly cream all atop a tender scone-like shortcake. What’s not to love?!
Star Shaped Blueberry Hand Pies
Show your stars and stripes (and sweet tooth) with Star-Shaped Blueberry Hand Pies! These adorable hand pies are the perfect way to celebrate summer holidays. Plus, they’re easy to make and portable, making them ideal for picnics, potlucks, or backyard barbecues!
Old Fashioned Apple Pie
There’s nothing quite like a freshly baked apple pie! Whether it’s a cozy fall day or a sunny summer afternoon, this classic dessert is always a crowd-pleaser. Made with just 8 simple ingredients, it’s the perfect treat to whip up for family and friends!
Honey Grilled Peaches with Spiced Crumble
Kicking off peach season with these super simple Honey Grilled Peaches with Spiced Crumble! Fresh peaches grilled and finished with a light drizzle of honey. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a nutty brown sugar crumble. Perfect for all the warm summer days where you just need a simple dessert that’s sure to impress!
Skillet Blueberry Cobbler
Our favorite Blueberry Cobbler recipe! Say goodbye to bland biscuit dough and hello to a simple cobbler that blends pantry essentials into a light, fluffy batter, paired with fresh, juicy blueberries. Be sure to top this blueberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream for a truly wonderful treat!
Cherry Swirled Cheesecake Bars
The very BEST Cherry Swirled Cheesecake Bars to enjoy the last of summertime cherries! It’s seriously three layers of deliciousness. An easy to make 3 ingredient graham cracker crust, topped with a New York-style cheesecake, and swirled with sweet red cherry jam to create the ultimate summer treat!
Oreo Icebox Cake
This easy, no-bake Oreo Icebox Cake is the perfect summer treat! With just four ingredients, it comes together quickly and tastes amazing. Freshly whipped Chantilly cream layered with sweet oreos creates this indulgent cake. Just mix, chill, and serve. Enjoy all summer long!
Peach and Brown Sugar Puff Pastry Tarts
Peach and Brown Sugar Puff Pastry Tarts – The perfect summer treat! Enjoy these flaky, buttery tarts filled with sweet, juicy peaches and finish with a light drizzle of honey. Perfect for picnics, snacks, or any sweet summertime craving!
Homemade Cherry Pie
This homemade cherry pie is bursting with fresh, sweet cherries and is the perfect balance between juicy and thick. It’s flavored with hints of vanilla and almond extract and encased in a buttery, flaky crust.
Mixed Berry Ice Cream Vanilla Pound Cake
Keep cool this summer with this Mixed Berry Ice Cream Vanilla Pound Cake! Truly the perfect dessert for summer. A rich and buttery pound cake layered with homemade vanilla ice cream, swirled with two flavors of jam, and topped with sweet Chantilly cream.
Patriotic Vanilla Cupcakes
Celebrate the long weekend with these cupcakes! Light and fluffy vanilla cupcakes, filled with the best-ever homemade berry jam that’s made from strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries! Then, each jam-filled cupcake is frosted with a dreamy vanilla buttercream frosting and topped with the cutest red, white, and blue sprinkles.
Summer Berry and Ladyfinger Trifle
This pretty, no-bake, Summer Berry and Ladyfinger Trifle is that go-to dessert you’ll be needing for any and all occasions this summer! Easy, simple, but still so delicious. Sweet and crunchy ladyfingers (aka savoiardi!), layered with luscious Chantilly cream, and sweet summer berries.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
These Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches are the homemade version of everyone’s favorite summertime treat…a chipwich! A super simple chocolate chip cookie that’s crispy on the edges, but soft in the middle, filled with vanilla bean ice cream, and rolled in mini chocolate chips after freezing.
S’mores Cookies
Crinkly, chewy, and oh so delicious… these S’mores Cookies are the ultimate summertime treat. Made with pantry staple ingredients, with the addition of graham cracker crumbs IN the cookie dough. Oh, and plenty of chocolate chips, too! From there, the chocolate chip cookie dough is wrapped around a marshmallow and baked to soft, gooey perfection.
Bourbon Peach Cobbler
This Old Fashioned Southern Bourbon Peach Cobbler with a flakey, sweet, and oh so delicious shortcake biscuit topping is perfect for any and every occasion this summer! Every bite is layered with fresh peaches, a little bit of bourbon, and hints of nutmeg. Then, topped with the simplest shortcake biscuit topping. It’s not just delicious, but so pretty!
No Bake S’mores Pie
This No Bake S’mores Pie is the super simple dessert you’ll be wanting to make all summer long! Think, a deliciously buttery graham cracker crust filled with the easiest two ingredient chocolate ganache, and finished with light and fluffy meringue.
Strawberries and Cream Cheesecake Bars
No Bake Strawberries and Cream Cheesecake Bars…aka the best of BOTH worlds! Crunchy, buttery graham cracker crust, with a sweet and creamy cheesecake filling, topped with homemade strawberry jam to create the ultimate no bake summer dessert. The best part is that these sweet treats take almost no effort to make.