Stars, Stripes, and the Best 4th of July Recipes
Summer is the perfect season to throw pool parties and barbeques, and what better time to celebrate with your friends and family than the 4th of July!
While these celebrations are intended to spend time with your favorite people, what kind of food and drink is being served is often on everyone's minds.
Great food can make or break a party, especially when it goes with the theme. Even if you're not a chef or a baker, you can try out the best 4th of July recipes for your summer smash.
Why Do We Celebrate 4th of July?
Chances are you're familiar with the 4th of July holiday, but you may be forgetting some of the details you learned about in school.
Every year on July 4th, the United States celebrates Independence Day. This day commemorates a pivotal moment in American history: the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
This document declared the thirteen American colonies free and independent from Great Britain, marking the birth of the United States of America.
So, the 4th of July is essentially a giant birthday party for the entire nation! It's a day filled with fireworks, parades, and barbecues, a time for families and communities to come together, celebrate their heritage, and reflect on liberty and self-determination that the country was founded upon.
Best 4th of July Recipes
Looking for some inspiration outside of hamburgers and hot dogs for your 4th of July menu? Check out some of the best 4th of July food ideas easy enough for anyone to make.
1. Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes
Cupcakes can be a quick, easy dessert to serve your guests at any party, and you can customize them based on the celebration. For one of your 4th of July desserts, try Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes! Simply bake vanilla cupcakes, fill them with strawberry filling, and top with strawberry icing.
To add a patriotic twist, top the cupcake with strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries. If you want to get really creative, use a 4th of July themed cupcake liners. The best part about this dessert is everyone can enjoy it and almost anyone can make it.
2. Watermelon Stars
When the summer heat has got you beat, one of the best snacks is watermelon. Both kids and adults can enjoy this healthy snack guilt-free, and stay cool while the sun beats down. To make your fruit more patriotic, you can cut them into Watermelon Stars using a star-shaped cookie cutter.
This recipe only calls for a watermelon, so it can one of the easiest 4th of July food to whip up for a lot of guests. Make sure to store them in a cooler or a tray in ice to help keep them cool during the day.
3. Hot Dog Kabobs
If your 4th of July party isn't complete without hot dogs, you can try Hot Dog Kabobs as a unique twist on the basic in-bun style. As one of the more creative recipes for your 4th of July bbq, the hot dogs are still easy to make and of course enjoy!
The best part about this recipe is you can customize based on your or your guests' preferences. While this recipe calls for peppers, onions, and pineapples along with the hot dogs, you can also try potatoes, tomatoes, mushrooms, and more.
4. Potato Salad
No barbeque is complete with a fluffy potato salad, which makes it one of the best 4th of July food to serve at your party. There's just something about this side dish that feels like summertime and can be the perfect way to keep your guests full and happy.
There are plenty of different ways to make potato salad, but this recipe just might be the best one as it uses russets potatoes for extra fluffiness and bacon for an extra flavor component. Potato salad is pretty easy and quick to whip up and is a great option if you're hosting a large party.
5. Pulled Pork
Nothing says summertime like some good barbeque. Your 4th of July bbq wouldn't be complete without a classic Pulled Pork sandwich. The best part about this recipe - besides its taste - is you can eat it with or without the bun.
This can be one of the easiest and most convenient 4th of July recipes to throw together for a large party as you need to do is throw it in the slow cooker and it'll do the rest! Top it with your favorite barbeque sauces and cole slaw and enjoy with our without a bun.
6. 4th of July Bruschetta
One of the most favored appetizers is a delicious bruschetta because it's small yet filling, and who doesn't love bread? The 4th of July Bruschetta takes a classic recipe and puts a patriotic spin to it by adding strawberries and blueberries.
While this bruschetta might require a little more work and ingredients to make, it'll be worth it to see your guests faces light up when they see and taste it.
7. Red, White, and Blue Cocktail
If you're throwing more of an adult 4th of July party, you're probably serving cocktails. You might be looking to serve more creative drinks other than cans of beer, and if so, Red, White, and Blue Cocktails might be the perfect option.
No fancy mixers are needed for this recipe, and you can use any alochol of your choice to add. Some suggested mixers are fruit punch, cranberry juice, blue raspberry Kool-Aid, or blue Gatorade. To add an extra pop, line the top of the glass with either blue or red popping candy.
8. American Flag Cheesecake
Looking to get really creative with your 4th of July desserts? The American Flag Cheesecake is guaranteed to impress with guests with its look and taste. You'll need a little more time to make this one, so it might be best to starting making it early or throw it in the fridge the night before.
After making the cheesecake itself, you can get really creative with the decorations. Cut up some strawberries and line them like the stripes on the American Flag, and use blueberries to represent the stars.
9. Buffalo Cauliflower
Who doesn't love chicken wings at a party? However, not everyone eats meat or may be looking to add more veggies into their diet. Whether that's you or your guests, you can quickly and easily whip up some Buffalo Cauliflower.
Many people love this appetizer as it can taste similar to buffalo wings. This is a great 4th of July food to serve for multiple guests as it works well as an appetizer or snack.
10. Patriotic Jell-O Shots
Ring in Independence Day by taking Patriotic Jell-O Shots with friends! While this recipe requires more time and a little more creativity to put together, it's a fun and delicious way to celebrate your 4th of July party.
If you're throwing more of an adult party, you can add alcohol, but the best part about this recipe is it can be turned into one of the regular red, white, and blue desserts for kids or guests who don't drink.
Try These 4th of July Recipes
Whether you're throwing a party for five, 10, or 50 people, any of these 4th of July recipes can be perfect for your summer celebration. You don't have to be a chef to give your guests a delicious 4th of July menu - you just need the motivation and a great recipe.
Happy Fourth of July!