13x9 Recipes for Celebrating the 4th of July

By Mary Shannon Wells
Photo: Alison Miksch

The 4th of July is one of summer’s biggest celebrations, and you know what that means. Southern hostesses love any excuse to throw a party or show up to one with a covered dish, so the 4th of July is a big event. Whether you’re attending a casual neighborhood cookout, a beach bash, or a lakeside gathering, your 13x9 casserole dish is the most portable option for your offering. If you’ve been asked to bring a side dish, choose from classic summer dishes like squash casserole or kid-friendly favorites like macaroni and cheese. It wouldn’t be a cookout without baked beans, so try out our Rum Baked Beans in your 13x9. If you’re providing something for the dessert table, there are plenty of delicious options. For a truly patriotic 4th of July recipe, go with our Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bars or Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake, but you can never go wrong with old-school peach cobbler. Whatever direction you go with your 4th of July food, your 13x9 is the best option for the job. These crowd-pleasing 4th of July food ideas use your trusty 13x9 for bake-and-take ease.

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Old-School Squash Casserole Recipe

Squash casserole is a staple dish found at meat-and-three diners and at church covered-dish suppers.

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Rum Baked Beans

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Rum Baked Beans

Put this new twist on baked beans together up to two days in advance to save you time on the day of your party.

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Okra and Rice Casserole

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Recipe: Okra and Rice Casserole

This colorful casserole takes summer classic okra and tomatoes to a whole new level with fresh corn, rice, and a dash of Cajun seasoning.

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Mac and Cheese with Ham

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Mac and Cheese with Ham

Kids and adults will be fans of this creamy baked mac and cheese recipe.

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Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole

Three summer farmers’ market favorites meet in this crowd-pleasing casserole recipe.

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Hot Potato Salad

Photo: Helen Norman

Recipe: Hot Potato Salad

Swap out the expected potato salad dish and bring this warm, cheesy version instead—it will be a hit.

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Savory Corn Pudding

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Savory Corn Pudding

Put that fresh summer corn to good use with this easy corn pudding recipe that can be made up to two days ahead.

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Potatoes Patio

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Potatoes Patio

No one will turn down a cheesy, creamy potato side dish.

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Blueberry Cornbread Casserole

Southern Living

Recipe: Blueberry Cornbread Casserole

Summer-fy your cornbread with the addition of sweet fresh blueberries and this easy, one-step recipe from Dr. BBQ.

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Hot Chicken Salad

Southern Living

Recipe: Hot Chicken Salad

You’ve probably never thought about baking your chicken salad but let us tell you—it’s delicious. This vintage dish will be requested time and time again after you make it once.

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Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables

This comforting baked pasta is filled with fresh squash, zucchini, and tomatoes—and plenty of melty cheese.

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Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bars

Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bars

These fruity bars are the easiest way to serve cheesecake to a crowd.

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Cherry Dump Cake

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Cherry Dump Cake

This last-minute dessert recipe only takes four ingredients and a few minutes of hands-on time.

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Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake

Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake

We don’t know what we love most about this festive dessert—the luscious white cake, the fact that it has not one, but two delicious fruit fillings, or the dreamy mascarpone frosting on top.

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Cherry Pie Bars

Greg Dupree

Recipe: Cherry Pie Bars

This is the easiest and most delicious way to make cherry pie portable for the 4th of July.

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Pecan-Peach Cobbler

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Pecan-Peach Cobbler

The true sign of a summer gathering in the South is a fresh fruit cobbler on the dessert table.

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Death by Chocolate

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Death by Chocolate

This indulgent delight is the perfect potluck dessert because it’s easy to bake and take.

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Banana Pudding Poke Cake

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Banana Pudding Poke Cake

It can be difficult to serve even portions of classic banana pudding to everyone in a crowd, so this luscious cake makes it easy for you.

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Raspberry-Almond Crumble Bars

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Raspberry-Almond Crumble Bars

These gooey, crumbly bars are the perfect treat to share. Plus, red raspberries add a patriotic touch.

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Plum-Berry Cornmeal Sheet Cake

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Plum-Berry Cornmeal Sheet Cake

Fresh summer fruit shines in this easy dessert that’s as portable as it is delicious.

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