Food and Recipes Holiday and Occasion Food 50 Extra Festive Recipes for Your Fourth of July Cookout By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on June 18, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox Call your cousins, neighbors, and grandkids. This year's July 4th party is one they won't want to miss. From red, white, and blue desserts to grilled summertime staples, there's something for everyone in our round up of all-American eats. There's nothing more fun than cookout classics and freedom-themed food on Independence Day. Start your summer shindig off right with colorful cocktails and seasonal snacks. Our 4th of July Punch and Tomato, Peach, and Corn Salad are sure to hold guests over while the grill gets going. After the hot dogs and burgers have been served, it'll be impossible to keep them away from the dessert table. Can you blame them? One look at our Mixed Berry Slab Pie, and sparks will fly. No matter what combination of 4th of July party recipes you pick, old-fashioned summer fun is a guarantee. Grab those red, white, and blue streamers, fire up the grill, and make sure you're fully stocked on berries. It's time to throw a star-spangled party. 01 of 50 Pimento Cheese Sausage Balls Southern Living Recipe: Pimento Cheese Sausage Balls Pimiento cheese turns this hostess staple up a notch. 02 of 50 Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham Jen Causey Recipe: Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham This old-school cold salad pairs well with any cookout menu, but it looks especially nice on a patriotic picnic table. 03 of 50 Berry Cobbler Recipe: Berry Cobbler This mid-summer slow-cooked dessert is the ideal mix of red, white, and blue flavor. 04 of 50 4th of July Punch Jennifer Causey Recipe: 4th of July Punch A blend of fresh fruit and bright juices, this big-batch patriotic punch can be made booze-free for the kiddos, too. 05 of 50 Spicy Grilled Corn Salad Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan Recipe: Spicy Grilled Corn Salad Start sparks long before fireworks with this street corn-inspired side with a jalapeño kick. 06 of 50 Sloppy Cola Joe Dogs Melina Hammer Recipe: Sloppy Cola Joe Dogs Two summertime favorites collide in this camp-style hot dog that'll make the crowd will go wild. 07 of 50 Mixed Berry Slab Pie Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen Recipe: Mixed Berry Slab Pie In-season berries will leave parade candy untouched thanks to this centerpiece-worthy pie. 08 of 50 Memphis Dry-Rubbed Baby Back Ribs Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: MindI Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Memphis Dry-Rubbed Baby Back Ribs Put at-home barbecue in action for your backyard celebration with a recipe that would make any Memphian proud. 09 of 50 No-Bake Banana Split Pie Photographer and props: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: No-Bake Banana Split Pie We're not turning on the oven for this one. Our No-Bake Banana Split Pie takes all the flavors we love from a traditional banana split and converts it into sliceable portions fit for a crowd. Just be sure to keep it in the fridge until you're ready to serve. 10 of 50 Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob We can all agree that fresh, grilled corn is a hallmark of any Independence Day menu. 11 of 50 Turkey Cheeseburgers with Grilled Vidalia Onion Rings Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Turkey Cheeseburgers with Grilled Vidalia Onion Rings A turkey alternative to your routine backyard burger, this recipe adds a caramelized onion topping for flavor that just feels like summertime. 12 of 50 Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake Jennifer Causey Recipe: Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake Fresh summer berries and homemade frosting combine for a summertime dessert with patriotic pizzazz. 13 of 50 Tomato, Peach, and Corn Salad Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele Recipe: Tomato, Peach, and Corn Salad Three cheers for this summertime trio that pairs well with all things grilled. 14 of 50 Ranch Water Getty Images/Lauren King / EyeEm Recipe: Ranch Water When it comes to light and refreshing cocktails, few compare to Texas-favorite Ranch Water. Just make sure you use Topo Chico—no random sparkling water will do. 15 of 50 Heirloom Tomato Pie with Parmesan-Buttermilk Crust Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Heirloom Tomato Pie Believe it or not, this Southern classic tastes even better than it looks. 16 of 50 Best-Ever Succotash Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Best-Ever Succotash With timeless flavor that just says "summer," guests will enjoy every forkful of this confetti-like side. 17 of 50 Peach Cobbler Jennifer Davick; Food Styling: Vanessa Rocchio; Prop Styling: Missie Crawford Recipe: Peach Cobbler It's not a Southern summer party without a classic cobbler, and this peach cobbler is sensational. 18 of 50 Classic Baked Beans Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Baked Beans This bacon-filled baked bean recipe is a backyard party side that's simple to make and take. 19 of 50 Old-School Squash Casserole Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Old-School Squash Casserole Combine summer squash with cheese, butter, and crushed crackers, and you'll find yourself with an instant crowd-pleaser. 20 of 50 Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bars Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bars Red, white, and blue take a swirl atop cheesecake in bars you can prepare up to two days in advance. 21 of 50 Macaroni Pie Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Macaroni Pie A trifecta of cheeses and fresh thyme are responsible for a savory depth of flavor that's begging to be sliced in the backyard. 22 of 50 Crunchy Okra-and-Corn Salad with Ranch Dressing Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Crunchy Okra-and-Corn Salad with Ranch Dressing Give your side salad an upgrade with crisp okra and crunchy corn. 23 of 50 Blueberry-Orange Blossom Honey Slab Pie Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen Recipe: Blueberry-Orange Blossom Honey Slab Pie Serve a classic American pie bursting with seasonal blueberries that's sure to delight. 24 of 50 Red, White, and Blue Popsicles Jennifer Causey Recipe: Red, White, and Blue Popsicles A patriotic treat so tasty the colorful drips are worth the risk. 25 of 50 Instant Pot Ribs Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Instant Pot Ribs If you have a parade to attend and can't babysit the smoker all day, these fast, fall-off-the-bone ribs may be your saving grace. 26 of 50 Tuna Pasta Salad Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Tuna Pasta Salad Tuna pasta salad gets a summer party-ready refresh that's as bright as the season. 27 of 50 Berry Splash Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Berry Splash This family-friendly recipe will cool off your crowd all summer long. 28 of 50 Sour Cream Flag Cake Southern Living Recipe: Sour Cream Flag Cake Salute our nation's independence in the most delicious way possible. This iconic flag sheet cake will have every guest coming back for a second slice. 29 of 50 Old-Fashioned Chicken Salad Southern Living Recipe: Old-Fashioned Chicken Salad Here's proof that old-school is still cool when it comes to cookouts. A favorite outdoor side of generations past, this cold salad uses chopped chicken, mayo, celery, and a splash of lemon juice. 30 of 50 Pitcher Mojitos Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Pitcher Mojitos Hosting a crowd all day? These big-batch mojitos are up for the challenge and easy to refill again and again. 31 of 50 Classic Pimiento Cheese Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Basic Pimiento Cheese Whether you serve it as a dip, spread, or all by itself, this recipe belongs on every outdoor summer spread. 32 of 50 Peach-Bourbon Upside-Down Bundt Cake Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Peach-Bourbon Upside-Down Bundt Cake Light up the party long before the fireworks begin with this bright and boozy Bundt. 33 of 50 Watermelon Margaritas Southern Living Recipe: Watermelon Margaritas We've yet to taste a more popular cookout cocktail than this refreshingly colorful margarita. 34 of 50 Salmon Burgers with Creamy Tartar Sauce Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Salmon Burgers with Creamy Tartar Sauce Dress up your burger offerings with this flavorful salmon version. The tartar sauce is not to be missed. 35 of 50 Marinated Watermelon and Tomato Salad Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Marinated Watermelon and Tomato Salad Move over red and blue berries. This watermelon salad is here to prove there's a place for other fresh summer produce on your July 4th menu. 36 of 50 Root Beer Float Popsicles Photography and Prop Styling: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Root Beer Float Popsicles Forget pre-made popsicles. These treats inspired by ice cream floats will be the talk of the party. 37 of 50 Oven-Roasted Corn on the Cob Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Oven-Roasted Corn on the Cob Too much on the grill? Put the oven to good use for a side that's fit for any Fourth of July menu. 38 of 50 Mini Confetti Cakes Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Mini Confetti Cakes This pre-fireworks snack has a popping surprise of its own—it starts with store-bought cake mix. 39 of 50 Green Tomato Skillet Pie Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Green Tomato Skillet Pie Green tomatoes will be grandfathered into your Independence Day spread after one bit of this sillet pie. 40 of 50 Cucumber-Jalapeno Coolers Photographer Jennifer Causey, Prop Stylist Lindsey Lower, Food Stylist Torie Cox Recipe: Cucumber-Jalapeno Coolers Chill out with this refreshing cocktail that packs a punch. Make sure you chill your club soda prior to mixing up a batch. 41 of 50 Cherries-and-Cream Icebox Cake Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner Recipe: Cherries-and-Cream Icebox Cake When it comes to the 4th, there's no such thing as too many cooled-down desserts. 42 of 50 Peach Fried Pies Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Peach Fried Pies This holiday-worthy recipe is portable and packed with colorful peaches. 43 of 50 Mac and Cheese with Ham Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine Recipe: Mac and Cheese with Ham Chopped, smoked ham rounds out this melt-in-your-mouth, cheesy dish that's made for outdoor dining. 44 of 50 Baked Zucchini Fries Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Baked Zucchini Fries Forget French fries. Serve these crispy zucchini sticks and put that farmers' market hull to good use. 45 of 50 Smoky Watermelon-Mezcal Fresca Becky Luigart-Stayner Recipe: Smoky Watermelon-Mezcal Fresca The only way to upgrade standalone slice of fresh watermelon? Turn it into an icy, boozy delight. 46 of 50 Sweet Heat Hot Dogs Jennifer Davick; Prop Styling: Allison R. Banks; Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns Recipe: Sweet Heat Hot Dogs Your crew will never opt for plain old ketchup and mustard again once they taste these kicked-up franks. Serve with chopped sweet-hot pickles (like Wickles Pickles) and shredded red cabbage for all the crunch. 47 of 50 Whiskey Pie with Tipsy Berries Hector Sanchez Recipe: Whiskey Pie with Tipsy Berries Boozy berries make for the ultimate topping to this adults-only summer pie. 48 of 50 Watermelon Cake Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Watermelon Cake What's Fourth of July without a watermelon-eating contest? This time, we're slicing it up and making things sweeter than ever with a cake that's bound to have everyone gathering around. 49 of 50 Fresh Fruit Salad Jen Causey Recipe: Fresh Fruit Salad With all of the holiday-colored berries in your party lineup, a simple fruit salad can be easy to overlook but a wonderful break from the cheesy, savory, and indulgent treats on the table. 50 of 50 Cherry Flag Pie Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Cherry Flag Pie Meet an All-American classic that's almost too pretty to slice. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit