45 Spectacular Side Dishes for the Fourth of July

By Southern Living Editors
Alison Miksch

Fourth of July is a holiday that brings friends and family together to enjoy the summer weather and a spread of good food—and everyone has a favorite make-and-take dish to bring along to the party. For guys and gals who like to grill, we have some finger-licking rib recipes that will have your guests coming back for seconds. For Southern bakers, a cookout is the perfect time to use seasonal fruits to turn out deliciously melty cobblers or easy-to-transport sheet cakes. 

For most, however, it’s the delicious bounty of Fourth of July side dishes—not only what's on the grill—that makes a paper plate feel like fine china. A Independence Day barbecue or cookout is simply not complete without classics such as potato salad, baked beans, tomato salad, and creamed corn. Check out this lineup of fresh, seasonal, Fourth of July side dishes—they'll have you feeling patriotic in no time. 

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Heirloom Tomato Pie

It's time for tomato pie!

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Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob

Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob

This recipe is simple and delicious enough on its own—but the real stars of the show are the four topping options. From a bacony ranch drizzle to a basil butter with parmesan, these toppings are so good you'll officially make corn on the cob your forever-favorite cookout side. 

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Spicy Pepper Jelly Coleslaw

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Spicy Pepper Jelly Coleslaw

It's no secret that Southerners love their pepper jelly. We took it one step further by dedicating a hot-and-sweet coleslaw recipe to the standout condiment. 

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Classic Baked Beans

Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Baked Beans

A dish of baked beans is a welcome addition to any backyard barbecue, and this recipe is classic and simple to make and take. 

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Classic Succotash

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Classic Succotash

Packed with some of summer’s best produce, including onion, corn, and lima beans, this traditional Southern side makes the perfect potluck dish.

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Mixed Herb-and-Heirloom Tomato Salad

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Mixed Herb-and-Heirloom Tomato Salad

Independence Day is the perfect time to make this simple yet memorable tomato salad—right in the height of summer, when tomatoes and fresh herbs abound.

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Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal

Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal

When it's too hot to break out the deep-fryer, a quick and lighter pan-fry will do the trick. It lets fresh okra really shine. 

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Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese

Macaroni and cheese...but make it summery. Use your in-season tomatoes to top off this classic comfort side dish. 

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Smoky Pimiento Cheese Deviled Eggs

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Smoky Pimiento Cheese Deviled Eggs

Sure, we love our classic deviled eggs. But this recipe combines two favorite Southern appetizers—deviled eggs and pimiento cheese—into one easy dish. It's worth a try. 

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Tomato, Peach, and Corn Salad

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

Recipe: Tomato, Peach, and Corn Salad

While you'll see plenty of salads that pair tomatoes and watermelon together, we think peaches deserve a little more attention beyond cobbler. This salad tastes like summer. 

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Creamed Corn

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Creamed Corn

This dish is a staple at cookouts and barbecues around the South. For an added wow factor, top the creamed corn with a sprinkling of chopped fried bacon.

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Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

These bacon-wrapped bundles make serving a crowd easy, which is the name of the game on the Fourth of July. 

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Macaroni Pie

Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Macaroni Pie 

My, oh my—a macaroni pie?! Mac and cheese that’s firm enough to be sliceable, but with an utterly irresistible creaminess that can only be the result of pure magic—we’re not sure how, but we made it happen. 

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Queso-Filled Mini Peppers

Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Queso-Filled Mini Peppers

Part appetizer, part side dish, 100% party-approved. 

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Spicy Grilled Corn Salad

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan

Recipe: Spicy Grilled Corn Salad​​​​​​​

Inspired by Mexican-style street corn, this side dish hits all of the tangy, smoky, and ever-so-slightly creamy notes. 

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Potatoes Patio

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Potatoes Patio

It's the creamy, cheesy potato bake that belongs at every barbecue. 

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Marinated Watermelon and Tomato Salad

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Marinated Watermelon and Tomato Salad

This isn't your basic watermelon salad. Tomatoes and melon soak up a tangy lime-ginger-mint vinaigrette and are topped with creamy goat cheese. 

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Field Peas, Corn, and Okra in Country-Ham Cream

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Field Peas, Corn, and Okra in Country-Ham Cream

While a fresh trio of veggies is the star of the dish, the country-ham cream will have everyone coming back for seconds.

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Crispy Potatoes

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Katelyn Hardwick

Recipe: Crispy Potatoes

Two different kinds of potatoes and the perfect combo of seasonings will see you through this recipe. 

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Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan

Recipe: Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad

It doesn't get more crowd-pleasing than a Caprese. Give this salad a fun new look by using a mix of multicolored cherry tomatoes and small fresh mozzarella balls tossed in a simple vinaigrette.

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Shout Hallelujah Potato Salad

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Stylist: Buffy Hargett

Recipe: Shout Hallelujah Potato Salad

This recipe reminds you of the potato salad your grandmother served at family reunions. With an ingredient list that includes hard-boiled eggs, sweet salad pickles, mayonnaise and jalapenos peppers, we guarantee your guests will be back for seconds.

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Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Stylist: Buffy Hargett

Recipe: Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole

Yellow squash and zucchini are quite prolific in the South. This recipe, a popular choice for cookouts and outdoor parties, makes delicious use of summer’s bounty.

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Zucchini-Potato Casserole

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Zucchini-Potato Casserole

The French word for this beautiful dish of layered vegetables is tian. Packed with ingredients such as garden fresh onions, tomatoes and zucchini, we call it sheer summer goodness.

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Charred Potato-Okra Salad

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Charred Potato-Okra Salad

Got fresh okra? Here's how to use it. We updated a cookout classic—potato salad—with crisp, smoky grilled okra.

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Permanent Slaw

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan

Recipe: Permanent Slaw

Like a cross between a vinegar-based coleslaw and chowchow, this recipe is just the tangy touch to add to any cookout main. 

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Oven-Fried Zucchini Sticks

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Oven-Fried Zucchini Sticks

Serve these crispy zucchini fries as a fun and fresher alternative to French fries. 

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Skillet Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Skillet Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Don't be fooled: There are still pasta noodles in there. It shouldn't come as a surprise that we wouldn't dare replace our pasta with caulifower. Instead, we decided to combine the two. 

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Strawberry-Tomato Salad

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Recipe: Strawberry-Tomato Salad

Look for mini multicolored tomatoes at the supermarket. Toss them with fresh herbs and strawberries for a surprising side to serve with grilled meat or fish.

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Grilled Sweet Potato Fries

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Grilled Sweet Potato Fries

We'll be serving up these simple sweet potato fries all year long. 

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Three-Bean Pasta Salad

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan

Recipe: Three-Bean Pasta Salad

We combined two potluck classics—pasta salad and three-bean salad—to make one tasty new side dish.

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Oven-Roasted Corn on the Cob

Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Oven-Roasted Corn on the Cob

When you don't have the time or energy to grill it, bake it! This recipe is a keeper. 

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Rum Baked Beans

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Recipe: Rum Baked Beans

Baked beans belong at a Fourth of July cookout like hotdogs belong at the ballpark. These rum-inspired baked beans are loaded with bacon and four types of beans—some might mistake it for the main course.

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Mac and Cheese with Ham

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Recipe: Mac and Cheese with Ham

Believe it or not, this reader favorite is made on the lighter side. Subtle than most on the butter and cheese, this outdoor party classic will still melt in your mouth.

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Field Pea-Tomato Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

Field Pea-Tomato Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

Recipe: Field Pea-Tomato Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

This gorgeous summer salad showcases peak-season tomatoes, fresh herbs, and lady peas.

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Street Corn Salad

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Recipe: Street Corn Salad

This quick and easy Street Corn Salad comes together in a short 20 minutes. Combine the ingredients with a dash of olive oil and sprinkle with cheese and you have a delicious summer side or dip. Now that's summer siding made simple!

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Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham

Jen Causey

Recipe: Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham

As far as we're concerned, this old-school cold salad pairs well at any cookout. 

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Big Daddy’s Grilled Blue Cheese and Bacon Potato Salad

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Recipe: Big Daddy’s Grilled Blue Cheese and Bacon Potato Salad

Every good cook south of the Mason Dixon line has a special recipe for potato salad. Give this one, with grilled potatoes and crumbled blue cheese, a try, and you might just add it to your list of favorites.

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Field Pea, Corn, and Bacon Salad

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

Recipe: Field Pea, Corn, and Bacon Salad

Akin to a classic succotash, this recipe can be thrown together in just minutes. 

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Garden Potato Salad

Photo: Helen Norman; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Garden Potato Salad

New potatoes are simply baby spring potatoes with delicate thin skins. The red-skinned potatoes, along with the vibrant green peas and herbs, creates a colorful summer side dish.

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Tomato-and-Watermelon Salad

Southern Living

Recipe: Tomato-and-Watermelon Salad

If you like salt on your watermelon, you will love this salad. Who knew tomatoes and watermelons play so well together? When Chef Bill Smith at Crook’s Corner Café and Bar in Chapel Hill, NC put this salad on his menu, it was an instant hit. 

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Three-Cheese Pasta Bake

Southern Living

Recipe: Three-Cheese Pasta Bake

This delicious variation on traditional macaroni and cheese is easy to prepare and perfect for both weeknight family dinners and weekend entertaining.

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Grandma Gwen's Beans

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Prop Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Recipe: Grandma Gwen's Beans

This top-rated reader favorite won our 2012 ‘Cue Awards for Best Baked Beans. One bite and you will understand why.

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Tee's Corn Pudding

Hector M Sanchez

Recipe: Tee's Corn Pudding

One of our most requested recipes for a summer outdoor event, this classic recipe has a rich, soufflé-like texture without the hassle.

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Two-Cheese Squash Casserole

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Amy Burke

Recipe: Two-Cheese Squash Casserole

This cheesy summertime favorite calls for yellow squash, but feel free to sub in some zucchini for an added splash of color.

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Sesame, Tomato, and Cucumber Salad

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Sesame, Tomato, and Cucumber Salad

As much as we love using up our summer tomatoes in a fat-stacked BLT, we'll leave out a pound of the juicy red delights for this refreshing salad.

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