Holidays & Occasions 4th of July 60 All-Time Favorite Fourth of July Snacks By Hallie Milstein Hallie Milstein Hallie Milstein is an Editorial Fellow for Southern Living covering food and culture. She has been published in Modern Luxury magazines, Our State Magazine, and Hudson Valley Magazine. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on June 10, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez An outdoor Fourth of July celebration calls for finger foods for all ages to enjoy. After all, no Independence Day party is complete without plenty of food and refreshing drinks. These easy, grab-and-go snacks will fly off the plate and fuel day-long celebrations until the final fireworks show caps off the night. Plus, there's no need to stop the festivities to enjoy these on-the-go foods that are perfect to munch on while mingling and celebrating with loved ones. For America's birthday, put a new twist on Southern favorites with smoky deviled eggs and dressed-up pimiento cheese. Throw in some healthier options too, like grilled okra fresh from the farmers' market and homemade hummus. And because it's a backyard barbecue kind of holiday, you'll want to whip up staples like dips, mini sliders, and baked beans. To round out the festive spread, you may also want to make an Independence Day-themed cake or other delicious dessert. Keep spirits high and stomachs full this Fourth of July with these reliable recipes. 01 of 60 Fire Crackers Recipe: Fire Crackers What's Fourth of July without firecrackers? The snack version of this tradition—a zesty, spruced up saltine—will light up any celebration. 02 of 60 Barbecue Deviled Eggs Southern Living Recipe: Barbecue Deviled Eggs Try an updated take on this classic finger food by mixing smoky barbecue pork into the filling. A drop of liquid smoke will take this classic finger food favorite to the next level. 03 of 60 Mini Black Bean and Cheese Enchiladas Stephen DeVries Recipe: Mini Black Bean and Cheese Enchiladas Create bite-size bursts of Tex-Mex flavor by baking tortillas in muffin pans. Fill them up with the toppings of your choice, and watch guests keep coming back for more. 04 of 60 Crispy Andouille Hush Puppies Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Crispy Andouille Hush Puppies Spicy Andouille sausage adds a dose of Cajun flavor to traditional hush puppies. Serve them warm for toasty, flavorful bites with a delicious and crowd-pleasing Louisiana edge. 05 of 60 Smoky Field Pea Hummus Recipe: Smoky Field Pea Hummus Use any legume to make this filling, protein-packed dip. We like it topped with crispy ham. 06 of 60 Party Poppers Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Party Poppers For an easy no-fuss snack, try these cream cheese-stuffed jalapeño poppers. Wrapped in hickory-smoked bacon, each popper is a two-bite explosion of savory and spicy flavor. 07 of 60 White Cheddar-Chive Pimiento Cheese Hector Sanchez Recipe: White Cheddar-Chive Pimiento Cheese No Southern get-together is complete without homemade pimiento cheese. For extra texture, grate the sharp cheddar cheese by hand—half on the large holes of the box grater and half on the small holes. 08 of 60 Beef Sliders with Bacon Jam Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Beef Sliders with Bacon Jam Serve these mini hamburgers with bacon jam. Did we mention they're spiked with mustard and balsamic vinegar for extra flavor? 09 of 60 Baked Zucchini Fries Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Baked Zucchini Fries These crispy veggie fries are a great alternative to classic French fries. Instead of ketchup, dip them in pasta sauce. Our favorite is marinara. 10 of 60 Bacon-Pimiento Guacamole Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Bacon-Pimiento Guacamole Pimiento and bacon add a flavorful surprise to your fresh bowl of guacamole. Alongside ripe avocados, this dip is a fresh and smoky, Southern take on a classic party dip. 11 of 60 Georgia-Style Boiled Peanuts Alison Miksch Recipe: Georgia-Style Boiled Peanuts This addictive snack is as easy as can be to make. Salty and tender, boiled peanuts taste best with a cold drink. 12 of 60 Ham-and-Cheese Sliders Photography and Styling: Karen Rankin Recipe: Ham-and-Cheese Sliders Any dish that starts with Hawaiian rolls is sure to be a hit. Brushed with honey mustard and topped with ham, Gruyère cheese, and béchamel sauce, guests will love these buttery mini sandwiches. 13 of 60 Summer Fruit Skewers Southern Living Recipe: Summer Fruit Skewers These fruit skewers draw inspiration from the colors of the holiday, and are absolutely refreshing. These red, white, and blue handhelds are both healthy and festive. 14 of 60 Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise Victor Protasio Recipe: Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise Tomato sandwiches are a classic party favorite, and the bacon mayonnaise makes them even more delicious. A fun, appetizer take on a BLT, use red heirloom tomatoes to match America's flag. 15 of 60 Queso-Filled Mini Peppers Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Queso-Filled Mini Peppers Ditch the tortilla chips and use mini peppers as a boat for queso at your barbecue. Add chopped fresh jalepeños to these zesty queso bites if you like it hot. 16 of 60 Cheeseburger Egg Rolls with Special Sauce Recipe: Cheeseburger Egg Rolls with Special Sauce No barbecue is complete without cheeseburgers. Consider switching your presentation up and incorporating them into these handheld egg rolls. 17 of 60 Mini Shrimp Rolls Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Mini Shrimp Rolls These shrimp salad sliders pack a punch thanks to the jalapeños. Everyone will devour these miniature buttery rolls stuffed with homemade shrimp salad. 18 of 60 Mini Potato Skins Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop styling: Claire Spollen; Food styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Mini Potato Skins Potato skins are always a hit, and these mini ones are perfect to snack on. For adults at the party, a mini potato skin in one hand and cold beer in the other make for the perfect combination. 19 of 60 Homemade Pretzels Becky Luigart-Stayner Recipe: Benne Seed Soft Pretzels This homemade recipe will make you forget all about store-bought pretzels. Top with lots of seeds and serve them up with some mustard to add flavor. 20 of 60 Bacon Bow Tie Crackers Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Tami Hardeman Recipe: Bacon Bow Tie Crackers Salty slices of bacon pair with buttery crackers to make the ultimate bite with only two-ingredients. Double this recipe if you're hosting a crowd because these bite-size snacks go fast. 21 of 60 Muffin Pan Tomato Tarts Alison Miksch Recipe: Muffin Pan Tomato Tarts Flaky puff pastries are filled with tomatoes, cheese, and fresh basil for an innovative take on a classic summer pie. You'll know they're ready when the pastry turns a toasty, golden brown. 22 of 60 Shrimp Boil Skewers Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell Recipe: Shrimp Boil Skewers These skewers are all the flavors of a shrimp boil packed into one handheld appetizer. Or, skip the skewers and serve this zesty Creole recipe in small cups. 23 of 60 Mini Muffulettas Jennifer Davick; Styling: Amy Burke Recipe: Mini Muffulettas Layers of cheese, cold cuts, and pickled vegetables shine in these sliders. Prepare these minis a day early and refrigerate them overnight in freezer bags for hassle-free party prep. 24 of 60 Petite Sweet Potato Biscuits with Pulled Pork and Slaw Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Recipe: Petite Sweet Potato Biscuits with Pulled Pork and Slaw Pulled pork and slaw are summer favorites, and we love eating them atop these biscuits. Stock up on sweet potato biscuits to have on hand in your freezer, then thaw and top them before serving. 25 of 60 Inside-Out Hot Brown Bites Hector Sanchez Recipe: Inside-Out Hot Brown Bites The signature Kentucky sandwich is reimagined. Filled with bacon, turkey, and cheese sauce, these snacks are compacted into a delicious, bite-size, crispy parmesan crust. 26 of 60 Crawfish Dip Greg DuPree Recipe: Crawfish Dip Take advantage of crawfish season and make this creamy dip. Serve the dip right from the slow cooker to keep it warm. 27 of 60 Cheese Snappy Wafers Hector M. Sanchez Recipe: Cheese Snappy Wafers These crispy wafers will keep every guest at your barbecue happy. With Rice Krispies folded in, these snacks add a great crunch to any party spread. 28 of 60 Buffalo Chicken Sliders Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Sliders Start with Hawaiian rolls for these delicious, spicy sliders that are sure to be swiped up fast. Between the miniature buns, top the buffalo chicken with fresh lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles for an extra snap of flavor. 29 of 60 Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad Elevate your celebration sliders by serving them on cheese puffs instead of bread. This recipe pairs light and airy puffs with tasty, tangy ham salad. 30 of 60 Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Recipe: Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip Not as messy as chicken wings but packing the same flavorful punch, buffalo chicken dip is a sure-fire crowd-pleaser. Use rotisserie chickens alongside lots of cheese and hot sauce to save prep time. 31 of 60 Shrimp-Okra-and-Sausage Kebabs Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos Recipe: Shrimp-Okra-and-Sausage Kebabs Ready in just minutes, these flavorful kabobs are packed with Cajun seasoning and fresh ingredients. When choosing your okra, opt for smaller pods to fit best on the skewers. 32 of 60 Texas Caviar Southern Living Recipe: Texas Caviar This chopped-up mix of Southern flavors is a delicacy. Dig into this combination of beans, veggies, and herbs with some tortilla chips. 33 of 60 Southwest Black-Eyed Pea Dip Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christina Lane; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Recipe: Southwest Black-Eyed Pea Dip More of a hot dip-lover? This recipe is like Texas Caviar but warm and gooey with melted cheese. Grab a tortilla chip and scoop up a bite of this multi-layered dip that combines the flavors of the Southwest. 34 of 60 Stove-Top Bacon Popcorn Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Stove-Top Bacon Popcorn Adding a savory twist to this movie-time classic greatly expands its snacking potential. Only a step past microwave popcorn in effort but a leap in flavor, guests will love this bacon-infused popcorn served in small cups or cones. 35 of 60 Collard Dip Southern Living Recipe: Collard Dip Not your momma's collard greens, this dip is a playful take on good ole' Southern collards. Combined with lots of cheese and using a baguette as a spoon, this dip promises to be a hit on your buffet table. 36 of 60 Cheddar Cheese Shortbread Crackers Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Cheddar Cheese Shortbread Crackers These crunchy crowd-pleasers are customizable. Crisp and cheesy, these crackers can be made the classic, no-frills (but still delicious) way, or in three flavor combinations: pimiento cheese; pecan and thyme; and bacon, bourbon, and benne seed. 37 of 60 Bacon Bites Oxmoor House Recipe: Bacon Bites A combination of crispy bacon, breadsticks, and brown sugar, this three-ingredient snack is simply delicious. Rolled up into tasty handhelds, your guests won't be able to get enough of these sweet and savory sticks. 38 of 60 Deviled Potatoes Hector Sanchez Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham Recipe: Deviled Potatoes A perfect marriage of two Southern classics, this hybrid dish combines the appetizing flavors of deviled eggs and potato salad. To best impress your guests, prepare these snacks in advance then let them cool. 39 of 60 Smoky Snack Mix Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Smoky Snack Mix A standout for kids and adults alike, this snack mix is salty and crunchy with a tasty hint of smokiness. Serve in a cup or cone for a delicious handheld that party-goers can munch on. 40 of 60 Mushroom-Stuffed Phyllo Cups Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Mushroom-Stuffed Phyllo Cups A buttery bite of phyllo dough and mushrooms will light up guests' taste buds. To prepare, buy a premade mushroom blend at the store or hand pick your favorite varieties. 41 of 60 Mini Chicken Pot Pies Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Loren Wood; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Mini Chicken Pot Pies This snack is packed with savory and nostalgic flavors in just two bites. With this yummy appetizer, chicken pot pie is super easy to both make and eat. 42 of 60 Blistered Cherry Tomatoes With Red Pepper-Feta Spread Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Blistered Cherry Tomatoes with Red Pepper-Feta Spread Grab fresh tomatoes from your garden, the farmers' market, or the grocery store for this tasty snack alongside cheesy dip. Keep the tomatoes on the vine to elevate your presentation. 43 of 60 Crack Crackers Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Recipe: Crack Crackers Truly addictive, you can't have just one of these delicious crackers. Grab some cheez-its from the store, add some spice, and watch as your guests keep coming back for more. 44 of 60 Baked Brie Bites Laurey W. Glenn Recipe: Baked Brie Bites A bite-sized rendition of the ever-popular baked brie, this snack features gooey, warm cheese and flakey phyllo dough. Add flaky sea salt, pepper jelly, and a couple toasted pecans for a dash of Southern flare. 45 of 60 Afterburners Southern Living Recipe: Afterburners Like jalepeño poppers but with a seafood surprise, this snack will fly off the table. Stuffed with shrimp, these peppers are bacon-wrapped and promise to please. 46 of 60 Mamau's Cheese Straws Southern Living Recipe: Mamau's Cheese Straws Inspired by the Southern Living Editor in Chief's family recipe, these cheesy snacks are simple and delicious. Make sure to serve these in a family-size bowl. 47 of 60 Orange-Basil Yogurt Dip Iain Bagwell Recipe: Orange-Basil Yogurt Dip A refreshing dip that's ideal for summer, this buffet-table addition will be the culinary star of any summertime party. To dip, we love grilled veggies—especially peppers and zucchini. 48 of 60 Spicy Bisquick Sausage Balls Photography: Caitlin Bensel Food Styling: Ali Ramee Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland Recipe: Spicy Bisquick Sausage Balls Adding this recipe's not-so-secret ingredient, Bisquick, is a game changer for classic sausage balls. Make sure to freshly shave your cheese for the best results to snack on mid-festivities. 49 of 60 Spinach-and-Vidalia Dip Greg Dupree Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham Recipe: Spinach-and-Vidalia Dip Dipped with chips or fresh veggies, spinach dip is a party staple. While artichoke is its usual bedmate, vidalia onions give this snack an unexpected and delicious flourish. 50 of 60 Cheese Dreams Southern Living Recipe: Cheese Dreams Make these cheesy bites the night before your party then dream sweet dreams of them before baking the next morning. Complemented by ground red pepper, Worcestershire, and dry mustard, these easy-to-make snacks are a must-have for any barbecue spread. 51 of 60 Creamy Shrimp Dip with Crispy Wonton Chips Recipe: Creamy Shrimp Dip with Crispy Wonton Chips An elevated take on a party dip, this seafood spread is rich and tasty. We recommend crispy wontons as a vessel, but if you're short on time, tortilla strips work too. 52 of 60 Benedictine Spread Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist:Christine Keely Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Benedictine Spread Born in Kentucky, Benedictine Spread will be a hit at Fourth of July parties across the South. This recipe skips the traditional green food coloring in favor of chives for noticeably colorful freshness. 53 of 60 Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham Recipe: Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce A two-in-one recipe, these savory meatball sliders are covered in homemade tomato sauce. Still perfect for grab-and-go party dining, make sure these saucy appetizers are accompanied by a napkin. 54 of 60 Buttermilk-Ricotta Cheese Dip Hector Sanchez Recipe: Buttermilk-Ricotta Cheese Dip Impress party-goers with this snack starring homemade ricotta cheese. Your guests won't be able to look at store-bought ricotta the same. 55 of 60 Pimiento Cheese Sausage Balls Southern Living Recipe: Pimiento Cheese Sausage Balls A hybrid of two Southern classics, this finger food showcases the beloved flavors of both sausage balls and pimiento cheese. Make a double batch—one to plate for Fourth of July, and one for breakfast July 5th. 56 of 60 Spicy Sweet Potato Crostini Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Spicy Sweet Potato Crostini Slice up a sweet potato and pack on the spice for a handheld snack everyone will love. Topped with goat cheese, pecans, and honey, these appetizers are a burst of tart, sweet, and spicy flavors. 57 of 60 Shrimp on Seasoned Crackers with Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Shrimp on Seasoned Crackers with Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese Not your average bite of cheese and cracker, this flavorful party snack has a few extra key ingredients. Start with simple saltines and dress them up with cream cheese, pepper jelly, and a pan-fried shrimp. 58 of 60 Chicks in a Blanket Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Recipe: Chicks in a Blanket Pigs in a blanket are a classic party hors d'oeuvre, but these chicks in a blanket are even better. Swap out the freezer-aisle version for flavorful chicken sausage and fluffy crescent rolls that are still easy to prepare but extra tasty. 59 of 60 Deviled Egg Salad and Asparagus Tartines Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Deviled Egg Salad and Asparagus Tartines An elevated and open-face take on a tea sandwich, this appetizer will go quick at your Independence Day bash. For spicy food-lovers, add more hot sauce to make your egg salad extra devilish. 60 of 60 Spinach-and-Artichoke Bites Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith Recipe: Spinach-and-Artichoke Bites This appetizer option uses a fluffy pastry as a convenient and delicious vessel for a dip classic. Mix things up by swapping out this recipe's spinach for peppery arugula, perfect for summer. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit