Holidays & Occasions 4th of July 76 Fourth of July Side Dishes for an All-Star 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 22, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Alison Miksch The 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 delightfully 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 your grandmother's fine china. Celebrate Independence Day with these easy sides you can make and take. A July Fourth 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 potluck ideas—they'll have you feeling patriotic in no time. 01 of 76 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. 02 of 76 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. 03 of 76 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 effortless to make and take. 04 of 76 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 effortless yet memorable tomato salad—right in the height of summer, when tomatoes and fresh herbs abound. 05 of 76 Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal 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. 06 of 76 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. 07 of 76 Best Deviled Eggs Jennifer Davick Recipe: Best Deviled Eggs Sure, we love our good old-fashioned deviled eggs and they are always right for the occasion— especially a potluck. 08 of 76 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. 09 of 76 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. 10 of 76 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. 11 of 76 Queso-Filled Mini Peppers Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Queso-Filled Mini Peppers Part appetizer, part side dish, 100% party-approved. 12 of 76 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. 13 of 76 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. 14 of 76 Okra and Chickpeas in Fresh Tomato Sauce Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Okra and Chickpeas in Fresh Tomato Sauce While this whole dish is a winning combo, it's the okra that will have everyone coming back for seconds. 15 of 76 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 foolproof combo of seasonings will see you through this recipe. 16 of 76 Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad 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. 17 of 76 Stuffed Okra Poppers Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Stuffed Okra Poppers Got fresh okra? Here's how to use it. We updated the original jalapeño popper with crisp, smoky grilled okra. 18 of 76 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. 19 of 76 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. 20 of 76 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. 21 of 76 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 crowd favorite sweet potato fries all year long. 22 of 76 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. 23 of 76 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. 24 of 76 Mac and Cheese with Ham 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 original will still melt in your mouth. 25 of 76 Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas This gorgeous summer pasta salad showcases peak-season tomatoes, fresh herbs, and field peas. 26 of 76 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. 27 of 76 Field Pea, Corn, and Bacon Salad Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele Recipe: Field Pea, Corn, and Bacon Salad Akin to a time-honored succotash, this recipe can be thrown together in just minutes. 28 of 76 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. 29 of 76 Grilled Potato Salad Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Kellie Kelley; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Grilled Potato Salad You'll want to boil the potatoes until they are fork tender and then slice and grill them for this tangy and creamy potato salad. 30 of 76 Quick Pickled Slaw Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos Recipe: Quick Pickled Slaw Coleslaw is a summer side dish that we can't get enough of. This recipe is best served the day-of for maximum freshness. 31 of 76 Golden Corn Fritters Southern Living Recipe: Golden Corn Fritters These fritters are reminiscent of hush puppies, but are much lighter and richer in flavor. 32 of 76 Spicy Grilled Corn Salad Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan Recipe: Spicy Grilled Corn Salad This corn salad is tangy, smokey, slightly creamy, and packs a punch. 33 of 76 Squash Ribbon Salad Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett Recipe: Squash Ribbon Salad Make a light and bright summer salad with your seasonal bounty. 34 of 76 Spicy Pineapple Slaw Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Kellie Kelley; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Spicy Pineapple Slaw No mayo required for this summertime slaw. 35 of 76 Chicken-and-Shrimp Kebabs with Summer Vegetables and Basil Oil Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Recipe: Chicken-and-Shrimp Kebabs with Summer Vegetables and Basil Oil The summer veggies sure shine on these kebabs, but it's the basil oil that is the true star of the show. You'll definitely want extra for dipping. 36 of 76 Grilled Baby Zucchini-and-Tomatoes Salad Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Grilled Baby Zucchini-and-Tomato Salad Mint adds a pop of fresh flavor to this seasonal side dish. 37 of 76 Easy Grilled Asparagus Jen Causey Recipe: Easy Grilled Asparagus Use crispy bacon, herbs, and dijon mustard to spruce up your asparagus this summer. 38 of 76 Grilled Peach-and-Arugula Salad with Feta Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Kellie Kelley; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Grilled Peach-and-Arugula Salad with Feta Throw some peaches on the grill with your hamburgers and hot dogs. The sweet slices pair perfectly with feta and arugula for a side salad. 39 of 76 Mrs. R's Coleslaw Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Mrs. R's Coleslaw It's not a barbeque without the crunchy, slightly sweet, tad-bit tangy medley that is coleslaw. 40 of 76 Tomato-Herb Panzanella Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Tomato-Herb Panzanella This vibrant, shareable dish is the ultimate way to put your summer produce to good use. 41 of 76 Broccoli and Grape Pasta Salad Jennifer Davick Recipe: Broccoli and Grape Pasta Salad A light and refreshing pasta salad for any potluck. 42 of 76 Classic Succotash Alison Miksch 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. 43 of 76 Creamed Silver Queen Corn Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Creamed Silver Queen 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. 44 of 76 Potatoes Patio Iain Bagwell Recipe: Potatoes Patio It's the creamy, cheesy potato bake that belongs at every barbecue. 45 of 76 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. 46 of 76 Pimento Cheese-Stuffed Pickled Okra Hector Sanchez Recipe: Pimento Cheese-Stuffed Pickled Okra A match made in heaven— it doesn't get more Southern than pimento cheese and just about anything pickled. 47 of 76 Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole 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. 48 of 76 Strawberry-Tomato Salad 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. 49 of 76 Rum Baked Beans Hector Sanchez Recipe: Rum Baked Beans Baked beans belong at a Fourth of July cookout like hotdogs belong at the ballpark. Loaded with bacon and four types of beans, this side is so hearty some might mistake it for the main course. 50 of 76 Street Corn Salad Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham Recipe: Street Corn Salad This quick and effortless Street Corn Salad comes together in a quick 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! 51 of 76 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. 52 of 76 Heirloom Tomato Pie Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Heirloom Tomato Pie Summertime is practically synonymous with tomato pie, and this recipe will have you making it all season long! 53 of 76 Picnic Egg Salad Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele Recipe: Picnic Egg Salad No picnic or potluck is complete with one of the most nostalgic spreads— egg salad. 54 of 76 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, make for a colorful summer side dish. 55 of 76 Grandma Gwen's Beans 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. 56 of 76 Ham Salad Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Ham Salad We are bringing old-fashioned ham salad back to the spotlight with this recipe. It's fit for any occasion: Keep it simple with crackers or dress it up as a tea sandwich. 57 of 76 Fried Green Tomatoes Alison Miksch Recipe: Fried Green Tomatoes The ultimate side dish: Serve them shining on their own, with a dip, or on an iconic Fried Green Tomato BLT. 58 of 76 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 burst of color. 59 of 76 Tomato-and-Watermelon Salad Oxmoor House Recipe: Tomato-and-Watermelon Salad If you like salt on your watermelon, you'll love the flavors of this salad. When Chef Bill Smith at Crook's Corner Café and Bar in Chapel Hill, NC put this dish on his menu, it was an instant hit. Who knew tomatoes and watermelons play so well together? 60 of 76 Shout Hallelujah Potato Salad Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Shout Hallelujah Potato Salad This recipe may remind you of the potato salad your grandmother always served at family reunions. With hard-boiled eggs, sweet salad pickles, mayonnaise and jalapeño peppers, we guarantee your guests will be back for seconds. 61 of 76 Three-Cheese Pasta Bake Recipe: Three-Cheese Pasta Bake This delicious variation on traditional macaroni and cheese is easy to prepare and ideal for both weeknight family dinners and weekend entertaining. 62 of 76 Old-School Squash Casserole Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Old-School Squash Casserole This is a staple dish that pairs well with just about anything you'll find at a cookout. It takes advantage of summer squash at its peak for a rich and cheesy, yet veggie-heavy dish. 63 of 76 Cajun-Style Potato Salad Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Cajun-Style Potato Salad We kicked it up a notch with a Louisiana-style spin on traditional potato salad. 64 of 76 Cowboy Pasta Salad Photo: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Cowboy Pasta Salad With taco-inspired ingredients like black beans, corn, cheese, and ground beef, this side dish might be your new summer family cookout go-to. 65 of 76 Strawberry Spinach Salad Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Strawberry Spinach Salad Nothing says summer like a bucket of fresh strawberries from a roadside farm stand! 66 of 76 Texas Caviar Southern Living Recipe: Texas Caviar This recipe is the quickest way to be everyone's favorite host: 1 bowl, 10 ingredients, 20 minutes. 67 of 76 Marinated Feta with Cherry Tomatoes Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Marinated Feta with Cherry Tomatoes You can never have too many seasonal tomato recipes in your back pocket. This one might even earn its spot as your new go-to! 68 of 76 Pineapple-Pepper Slaw Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Pineapple-Pepper Slaw A little sweet, a little spicy—this slaw is sure to be a potluck star. 69 of 76 Whipped-Cream Corn Salad Southern Living Recipe: Whipped-Cream Corn Salad This recipe elevates classic cream corn and makes it extra light and fluffy. 70 of 76 Garlic Parmesan Green Beans Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Recipe: Garlic Parmesan Green Beans Even the vegetable averse will go crazy for these green beans made with bacon, crispy Parm, and plenty of garlic. 71 of 76 Summer Orzo Salad Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Recipe: Summer Orzo Salad The ideal big-batch summer salad to make ahead for any gathering, this dish is packed with fresh veggies, including cucumbers, tomatoes, and spinach. 72 of 76 BLT Salad with Buttermilk-Parmesan Dressing and Buttery Croutons Photo: Alison Miksch Recipe: BLT Salad with Buttermilk-Parmesan Dressing and Buttery Croutons This deconstructed version of summer's most beloved sandwich (the BLT) makes for an incredibly satisfying side. 73 of 76 Chicken Salad Stuffed Tomatoes Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Chicken Salad-Stuffed Tomatoes These chicken salad-stuffed tomatoes are a triple threat: You can serve them as an appetizer, a side dish, or even a main. However you dish them out, they'll certainly hit the spot on a hot summer day. 74 of 76 Deviled Egg-Potato Salad Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Deviled Egg-Potato Salad You can't go wrong when you combine two of the South's most popular picnic dishes: deviled eggs and potato salad. 75 of 76 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. 76 of 76 South Carolina Slaw Will Dickey Recipe: South Carolina Slaw A traditional Carolina slaw uses vinegar, not mayo. This one also pairs up with two types of mustard for a truly tangy slaw option. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit