Fireworks aren’t the only things lighting up this Fourth of July — your grill and table should be just as dazzling! Start with appetizers like irresistible Grilled Mexican Street Corn, then serve up juicy mains like our Big Blue Burgers with Cherry Mustard, sizzling kabobs, and sausages piled high with condiments like sweet pickle relish. Plus, classics like potato salad, our Blueberry Refresher and the Easiest Berry Crisp to finish off your feast. Fire up the grill and get inspired!
Festive Appetizers
Grilled Mexican Street Corn
In a nod to the elotes served by street vendors in Mexico, sweet corn is grilled until smoky and charred and then finished with crumbled cotija, cayenne and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
BLT Deviled Eggs
Garnished with crisp bacon and juicy tomatoes, this deviled egg take on the beloved BLT combo will go quickly, so it’s best to bring a big batch to the party.
Alfresco Dip
Something between pico de gallo and insalata caprese, this fresh, flavorful dip might become your new summer favorite. Use fresh oregano or marjoram in place of some of the parsley.
Party-Time Pimento Cheese
Pimento cheese is a Southern staple, and it's easier to make than you might think. Serve it with crackers as part of an appetizer tray or alongside hot biscuits for breakfast.
Chicken Wings with Gochujang Sauce
Savory, chile-spiked gochujang makes these sweet-and-spicy wings irresistibly tasty and easy to put together. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds for an extra pop of flavor.
4th of July Salads and Sides
The Best Basic Potato Salad
Potato salad is one of those dishes that can help limit the cost of a summer get-together. Learn to make this one, then try a few of your own special touches — maybe curry powder, chopped hard-cooked eggs, black olives or roasted red peppers?
Vegan Potato Salad with Arugula and Celery
Ideal for summer parties and backyard barbecues, this take on potato salad includes lots of crunchy celery, piquant fresh arugula and a mayo- and cider vinegar-dressing that combines it all perfectly.
Watermelon Salad with Tomatoes, Goat Cheese and Basil
This colorful salad makes a great addition to any summer cookout. Try with feta and mint instead of goat cheese and basil.
Get the recipe: Watermelon Salad with Tomatoes, Goat Cheese and Basil
Lemony Confetti Macaroni Salad
Add this classic but fresh, veggie-packed macaroni salad to your summer repertoire. Nutty whole wheat pasta and a sprinkling of Parmigiano Reggiano gives it a little sophistication.
Three-Bean Salad with Gouda
This hearty sweet-and-savory bean salad gets a uniquely delicious layer of flavor from rich and tangy Gouda cheese. Beans tend to absorb flavors as they sit, so always taste the salad just before you serve it and add more salt, pepper or vinegar a little at a time if the flavor needs perking up.
Sweet Corn and Black Bean Salad
Simple to prepare, colorful and flavorful, this salad combines sweet corn, tender black beans, crisp red peppers and zesty cilantro in a simple lime and rice vinegar dressing.
Macaroni Sings the Blues
For those who love a flavorful macaroni and cheese, this sharp cheddar and blue cheese version will be a new favorite.
Grilled Sausages and Condiments
Sausage on a Bun with Pickle Pepper Relish
A classic combo improved dramatically by taking just a few minutes to mix up your own homemade relish — to which you can add chopped hot peppers for a kick.
Grilled Chicken Sausages with Jicama Slaw
Chicken sausages make a great addition to any cookout, especially when paired with this crisp, Mexican-inspired slaw.
Beer-Poached Grilled Sausages
Poaching sausages in beer before they hit the grill ensures they'll cook beautifully. Serve with potato salad, coleslaw and plenty of spicy mustard.
Hot Honey Mustard
This mustard will be very sharp at first and then will mellow as it is left at room temperature. It makes a fabulous, fiery topping for hot dogs and sausages and will really heat up a sandwich.
Refrigerator Pickled Slaw
The flavor of this slaw is reminiscent of Chicago-style hot dogs with the distinct taste of celery seed. It's excellent on a dog or as a tangy side.
Sweet Pickle Relish
This relish is ideal with hot dogs or sausages, but it’s also great on almost any summer sandwich or over grilled chicken or tofu cutlets.
Grilled Burgers and Kabobs
Big Blue Burgers with Cherry Mustard
Give summer a bang of flavor with grilled beef burgers topped with cherry-spiked Dijon mustard, grilled onions and tangy blue cheese.
Apple and Cheddar Beef Burgers
Pile these juicy burgers on your favorite buns and top with lettuce and sliced tomatoes. Serve with more Dijon mustard on the side, if you like.
Pesto Turkey Burgers with Grilled Halloumi
Halloumi cheese is a must-try for grill fans. Its uniquely firm texture allows it to hold together as it browns, resulting in a wonderfully caramelized flavor. Garnish these tasty burgers with your choice of toppings and condiments — fresh tomatoes, avocado and additional pesto are excellent choices.
Portobello and Pineapple Teriyaki Veggie Burgers
These delicious mushroom burgers will brighten up any cookout. Our method uses leftover pineapple juice from a can of pineapple to make a simple teriyaki sauce.
Get the recipe: Portobello and Pineapple Teriyaki Veggie Burgers
Lebanese-Style Ground Beef Kabobs
These aromatic grilled kabobs made with ground beef are a wonderful way to enjoy the full flavor of grass-fed beef, but any of our non-antibiotics-ever lean ground beef will be excellent.
Grilled Chicken Kabobs
Stacked with fresh vegetables and chicken, these kabobs are flavored by a tangy, citrus-honey marinade and make for an easy, light summer staple for the grill.
Spicy Grilled Shrimp Kabobs
A quick sauce made in the food processor doubles as a marinade and a dressing for this delicious grilled entrée. Removing the seeds from the jalapeño peppers should leave your dish with a pleasant heat. For a fiery version, keep the seeds in one of the peppers.
Celebration Drinks and Desserts
Fresh Cherry Limeade
Made with sweet, juicy cherries and tart lime juice, this icy refresher is hard to resist on hot summer days.
Mango Mocktail
Fresh mango purée combined with Italian soda makes for a flavorful drink to enjoy on its own or with appetizers. We recommend tangerine soda, but other citrus sodas work wonderfully too.
Blueberry Summer Refresher
Add as much or as little sparkling water as you like to this blueberry and mint thirst quencher.
Red, White and Blue Fruit Salad
Celebrate Independence Day with this patriotic-hued, light, yet luscious dessert. Serve it family-style by bringing the fruit and cashew cream to the table in separate bowls. Or dish the fruit into individual bowls, cups or wine glasses and top with the cream.
Traditional Strawberry Shortcake
The season's quintessential dessert, a sweet biscuit topped with whipped cream and chopped strawberries. Or use any of summer's sweetest berries or peaches.
Easiest Berry Crisp
Pull together this simple fruit crisp with your favorite summer berries and a couple of pantry staples. This recipe is a fun way to feature stone fruits, too. We love using a combination of nectarines and cherries.
