These 15 Delicious Recipes Are Perfect for Celebrating Independence Day

It's that time of year – the time for spending long days outdoors, visiting parks and beaches, and of course, eating all our favorite summer foods with friends and family. Whether you're attending a neighborhood barbecue or throwing your own, you can't show up to any Fourth of July event without these perfect summer recipes.

This list of delicious recipes that are perfect for Independence Day includes a variety of sides, desserts, and main dishes, including:

• Fireworks Grilled Chicken
• All-American Fries
• Creamy Coleslaw
• Red, White, and Blue Fruit Pizza

To help you prepare for the upcoming holiday, we're sharing some of our top summer barbecue recipes that are bound to have friends and family asking you for your recipe. From salads to dessert, here are the summer recipes you don't want to head to a Fourth of July celebration without.

This post was updated in June 2025 to include additional recipes for Fourth of July celebrations.

There are plenty of sides worth bringing to a summer barbecue, but no event would be complete without the perfect potato salad. This simple but classic dish might become your go-to recipe for those weekend barbecues or summer cookouts.

Get the recipe: Potato Salad

Nothing says summer like grilling outdoors. This recipe for grilled chicken will wow your family or any of your guests. With a smoky and tangy orange barbecue glaze, it's the perfect addition to any cookout.

Get the recipe: Fireworks Grilled Chicken

Pasta salad is another classic side that no barbecue is complete without. The best part about pasta salad is how easy it is to throw together, even with just a handful of ingredients. This dijon pasta salad brings a different flavor than your typical macaroni salad.

Get the recipe: Dijon Pasta Salad

Whether the main dish includes hamburgers, hot dogs, or both, fries are an excellent choice for a side. These All-American Fries are simple to make but have the perfect amount of seasoning. You can easily bake these in the oven or toss them in the Air Fryer if you prefer.

Get the recipe: All-American Fries

What better way is there to eat potatoes than topping them with cheese, bacon, and sour cream? This tasty recipe is perfect for any outdoor barbecue or picnic, and you can prepare these potatoes right on the grill with your hot dogs, hamburgers, or ribs.

Get the recipe: Bacon Cheese Loaded Grilled Potatoes

For a refreshing and healthy alternative to your standard barbecue sides, try this cucumber salad. With a mix of sour cream, coleslaw dressing, and garlic, it has the perfect amount of tang, and it all comes together in less than 10 minutes.

Get the recipe: Cucumber Salad With Garlic

Deviled eggs can be a side or an appetizer, no matter what event you're planning. With just some eggs, mayo, mustard, and paprika, you can make deviled eggs everyone will love. This recipe is also easy to double if you're entertaining a large group of people.

Get the recipe: Deviled Eggs

With this rib recipe, you'll be the hero of your next family barbecue. The combination of ketchup, honey, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice makes a sauce that's both sweet and sour. Preparing these on a charcoal grill gives them the perfect smoky flavor.

Get the recipe: Sweet and Sour Baby Back Ribs

Corn fritters are pretty easy to make, but they're so tasty, you'll want to eat the whole batch. You can stick with the standard recipe or switch it up to make shredded vegetable fritters, sweet potato fritters, or even gluten-free corn fritters. No matter which version you choose, these are bound to be a hit.

Get the recipe: Corn Fritters

For something a little different than your typical french fries, try this grilled potatoes and onions recipe. This recipe works well when you're cooking outside because you can throw the potatoes and onions right on the grill.

Get the recipe: Grilled Potatoes and Onions

Baked beans pair perfectly with hot dogs, hamburgers, and ribs. This recipe is a great way to add some extra flavor to a regular can of pork and beans, making it a simple and easy side dish for your meal.

Get the recipe: Picnic Baked Beans

If you're looking for a dish everyone will appreciate, coleslaw is the way to go. It's crunchy, tangy, and goes well with a variety of other dishes. Coleslaw is also made traditionally with cabbage, which has a ton of health benefits.

Get the recipe: Creamy Coleslaw

Don't let the pizza part fool you – this perfect summer dessert is made with a sugar cookie base and topped with delicious summer fruit. You can choose to make the cookie dough from scratch or use store-bought dough. Either way, it will be a hit.

Get the recipe: Fruit Pizza

A blueberry cheesecake is a delightful summer treat, perfect for any occasion. While this recipe takes a bit more effort than other desserts, it's worth trying if you have the time. Complete with white chocolate, fresh blueberries, and a hazelnut crust, it will stand out from the other desserts on the table.

Get the recipe: Blue and White Chocolate Cheesecake

Apples, cinnamon, and vanilla ice cream come together for this deep-dish apple crumb pie – what's not to love? This dessert is perfect any time of year, but it's great for a treat during the summer.

Get the recipe: Deep Dish Apple Crumb Pie