21 Fourth of July Cookout Menu Recipe Ideas
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21 recipe ideas to inspire your Fourth of July cookout menu, from appetizers and sides to main dishes, desserts, and cocktails.
Independence Day is right around the corner, which means it’s time to start thinking about your 4th of July cookout menu! Whether you’re throwing a big bash or hosting a small get-together with friends and family, good food is a must. But putting together a cookout menu for a crowd can be a daunting task.
So if you’re looking for some ideas of what to make for your Fourth of July party, keep reading! We’ve got you covered with these 21 Fourth of July cookout menu recipe ideas – including appetizers, main dishes, sides, desserts, and drinks that’ll please a crowd.
Appetizers
Cheesy Spinach & Artichoke Dip
When it comes to party appetizers, dips are king. They’re easy to scale for serving a crowd, and who doesn’t love snacking on a gooey, salty dip with their favorite chips? Serve this cheesy spinach and artichoke dip with pita chips, crostini, or tortilla chips to kick off your cookout on the right note. And if dips are your go-to party snack like us, check out our 12 Fourth of July dip recipes!
Spinach Artichoke Dip Phyllo Cups
If you’re looking for a more unique appetizer than just the classic spinach and artichoke dip. Turn it into these fun snackable spinach artichoke cups! These little appetizers are the perfect finger food for everyone to enjoy throughout the party. Although they’re so easy to eat, people may not have room left for whatever you’re grilling!
BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos
If you’re looking for something a little more filling to add to your appetizer spread, make it some BBQ pulled pork nachos. These decadent loaded nachos are piled high with a rich cheese sauce, BBQ pulled pork, jalapenos, and all your other nacho favorites.
Buffalo Chicken Dip
It’s not a party without buffalo chicken dip! This cheesy, spicy dip is the ultimate crowd-pleaser. Serve it with Fritos scoops, tortilla chips, or even Hawaiian rolls and watch as it disappears in seconds. Seriously, it’s that good.
Burgers & Sliders
Avocado Mozzarella Burger
Why settle for classic cheeseburgers when you can easily dress them up with ingredients that scream summer, like fresh mozzarella, avocado, and tomato? Prep a whole bunch of sliced mozz and tomato ahead of time, mash up a big bowl of avocado, and assemble these tasty burgers on potato rolls for your hungry guests.
Pulled Pork Burger
If you’re okay with a little more prep work and you’re hosting a crowd of meat lovers, this pork and beef burger is 100% worth the effort. Topped with cheddar cheese, pulled pork, bacon, and barbecue sauce, it doesn’t get much more decadent than this. And in our opinion, holiday cookouts are the best time for indulging in over-the-top dishes like this one!
BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders
Sliders are a great 4th of July cookout food for two reasons: they’re easy to make in big batches, and your guests will love grazing on small bites and appetizers as they play yard games, drink beer, and enjoy the sunshine! These classic bacon cheeseburger sliders with barbecue sauce are a safe bet for pleasing a crowd at any party.
Vegetarian Black Bean Southwest Sliders
If you’re looking for a vegetarian recipe you can serve at your Fourth of July cookout this summer, try these easy black bean southwest sliders. Made with frozen black bean burger patties, this recipe requires very little effort and yields a ton of flavor. Tip: You can even make the slider “filling” ahead of time and reheat it before assembling and serving.
Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Okay – these cheesy, spicy sliders are basically the same as putting buffalo chicken dip on Hawaiian rolls. So if you’re planning on making buffalo chicken dip for an appetizer, we don’t recommend serving these sliders as the main dish – unless you’re hosting a crowd of buffalo chicken fanatics! But if you’re looking for buffalo chicken to be the main attraction at your cookout, try this easy recipe to wow your guests.
Grilled Chicken Sliders
For a fresh and healthy cookout meal, try these classic grilled chicken sliders with lettuce, tomato, and onion. Prep all the toppings ahead of time and set them up on a buffet table so guests can assemble their own sliders as you churn out chicken on the grill. You can even modify the recipe and make full-size grilled chicken sandwiches instead of sliders!
Side Dishes
Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese
Cheeseburgers are a classic cookout meal, and mac n cheese is a classic cookout side dish. So why not combine the two and make this creamy cheeseburger mac n cheese for your guests? It can be served as a main dish, but we think it makes a great side dish to go with some grilled chicken sliders.
Strawberry Spinach Goat Cheese Salad
It’s always nice to have a side salad at a backyard cookout to lighten things up, but boring old salads with iceberg lettuce and grape tomatoes often get overlooked amongst all the other delicious food. So why not make a salad your guests will actually want? This fresh and summery salad is made with sliced strawberries, crumbled goat cheese, olive oil and balsamic for simple, irresistible flavor.
Pulled Pork Mac n Cheese
We love having mac n cheese at our summer cookouts. And why not make it a true barbeque with some slow cooker pulled pork and BBQ sauce? Make a large batch and watch it all disappear as your guests savor the decadence that makes summer cookouts so fun.
Chickpea and Avocado Salad
This light, fresh, and bright avocado chickpea salad is the perfect compliment to all the heavy, grilled, and greasy foods that are typically served at Fourth of July cookouts. Give your guests an easy, vegetarian option so they can feel a little better about everything else they’re eating!
Zucchini and Tomatoes
It’s never a bad idea to add some extra produce to your Fourth of July spread. Zucchini and tomatoes are some of our favorite summer sides. They’re just so fresh and flavorful and are a great addition to any cookout plate. The best part? This recipe is super easy to make and comes together in just 10 minutes so you have plenty of time for everything else you’re doing!
Desserts
Greek Yogurt Dessert Parfait
We love making this fun little red, white, and blue parfait as either an appetizer or dessert at our Fourth of July parties. Plus we get to make use of summer’s great fresh berries for a dessert that is actually healthy! Give these a go this year at your cookout and we’re sure they’ll be the hit of the party.
S’mores Dip
No campfire? No problem. Quickly whip up a batch of this s’mores dip and serve it with graham crackers, pretzels, and even strawberries. It’s an irresistible treat that will bring back memories of summers spent roasting marshmallows as a kid.
Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Fudge
This easy chocolate fudge topped with sea salt caramel is always a crowd-pleaser, no matter the occasion! If you’re hosting a lot of people for the 4th of July, this recipe is the perfect way to ensure you have plenty of dessert to go around. Plus, you can prepare it ahead of time and let it sit in the fridge until it’s time to indulge.
Cocktails
Strawberry Jalapeno Mojitos
Kick off summer with a bang and serve this firecracker of a cocktail to your guests on Independence Day! It’s spicy and fruity and refreshing, all at the same time – perfect for sipping on under the sun while playing a game of cornhole.
Rosemary Vodka Lemonade
For a more mellow cocktail that’s just as refreshing on a hot summer day, try this rosemary vodka lemonade recipe. It’s a sweet, herbaceous take on spiked lemonade that’s just as easy to make as it is to drink. Plus, you can scale this recipe to make a pitcher for your party guests!
Blood Orange Vodka Soda
Instead of a red, white, and blue cocktail, mix up a pitcher of blood orange vodka sodas to serve your guests on the 4th of July! This summer drink takes on a fun orangey-purple hue and tastes just as good as it looks.
If you’re looking for more 4th of July recipes, check out our 4th of July category page or head on over to our 12 Fourth of July Dip Recipes Every Cookout Needs!
If you have any questions regarding the information presented in this post, please refer to our Nutrition Disclaimer here.
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