My 4th of July Party Menu Plan
Planning your July 4th cookout and need some ideas? This is what I will be having at mine!
I absolutely love a good 4th of July cookout! There is something about the fireworks, family and of course, all the food that is just so much fun! Whether you are hosting the backyard BBQ or just bringing a dish, you want to have something that is fun, festive and EASY!
I know I don’t want to spend a ton of time inside in the kitchen when there is so much going on outside – and I’ll bet you don’t either.
When I sat down to plan my 4th of July cookout menu. These are the things that I put on my list to start planning:
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- A simple and easy menu
- Budget-friendly
- Fun red, white and blue theme
- Finger foods and appetizers that are easy to grab and eat
- BBQ main dishes and something to go on the grill
- A couple of side dishes (other people will be also bringing something)
- Desserts and sweet treats
- Drinks (maybe a non-alcoholic punch)
Easy 4th of July Appetizers
I always like to start with a few light appetizers because I know I like to have something to snack on while I am waiting for the food to be done – and I’m pretty sure everyone else does to!
- Patriotic Fruit Skewers – Raspberries, blueberries, and marshmallows on
skewers? So simple, so cute, and such a hit! They give a recipe for a delicious dipping sauce as well and it is SO good! - Red, White, & Blue Salsa – A mix of tomatoes, blueberries, white onions, and a splash of lime juice—this salsa is fresh, delicious, and perfect with tortilla
chips! - Firecracker Popcorn – Popcorn drizzled with white chocolate and topped with red and blue sprinkles. This one disappears FAST.
Best 4th of July BBQ Mains
You can’t have a 4th of July cookout without cooking out! Throwing something on the grill is just part of it. This is what we will be having. I decided to make a variety of things so that people could choose what they wanted – or have all of the things if they want to!
- Grilled Burgers & Hot Dogs – Classic and budget-friendly! Set up a toppings bar with fun add-ons like avocado, crispy bacon, or even a spicy BBQ sauce.
- BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders – Make these in a slow cooker ahead of time and let guests build their own mini sandwiches.
- Grilled Chicken Kabobs – Marinate chicken in a simple honey garlic sauce, skewer it with bell peppers, and throw it on the grill!
Festive 4th of July Side Dishes
BBQ side dishes are so important! These are the ones that I am making, but like I was saying above I have a few people that are also bringing side dishes – so we will end up with a lot of different options!
- American Flag Pasta Salad – Use tri-color pasta and mix in cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and black olives to give it a red, white, and blue look.
- Watermelon & Feta Salad – Sweet, salty, refreshing, and SO good for a hot summer day!
- Corn on the Cob with Garlic Butter – Grill it in the husk for extra flavor, then slather it with a garlic butter spread. Yum!
Red, White & Blue Desserts
You KNOW I have to talk about desserts! They might just be my favorite part of the whole cookout. I love a fun patriotic dessert!
- 4th of July Trifle – Vanilla cake, whipped cream, strawberries, and blueberries make this so pretty and easy to serve.
- Firecracker Jello Cups – Red and blue Jello layered with whipped cream—it’s fun, festive, and kids LOVE it.
- Berry Cheesecake Bars – A creamy, delicious cheesecake base topped with fresh raspberries and blueberries. The perfect bite-sized dessert!
Drinks for the 4th of July
We can’t forget something fun to sip on! Make sure you have something for everyone. These options are all non-alcoholic. If you are planning on serving alcohol, make sure you have something out for the kids and people that do not drink.
- Patriotic Punch – Perfect patriotic punch for a 4th of July party!
- Watermelon Slushies – Blend up fresh watermelon with ice and a splash of lime juice for a refreshing drink.
- Firework Mocktails – Sprite with a splash of grenadine and a few blueberries floating on top for the perfect festive touch!
This is what is on our 4th of July menu plan for this year! Are you ready to start yours?
Check out these 4th of July party food ideas and patriotic red, white and blue snacks to start your Independence Day party menu!
4th of July Party Food Ideas
So saucy, so sticky, and just so darn good! The chicken is perfectly tender with chunks of fresh pineapple, pepper and onion!
If you need a quick side dish for your next get-together, this colorful fruit salad is a perfect choice. It’s fresh, healthy, and so easy to make. With sweet strawberries, juicy blueberries, and fun star-shaped apple pieces, it’s a hit with both kids and adults.
This Broccoli Salad with Bacon is a delicious and easy side dish that will complement any meal! It is made with mouthwatering fresh broccoli, crispy bacon, and a tangy dressing that is bursting with flavor. This salad is perfect for family dinners and potlucks, as you can also make it ahead of time!
Delicious, refreshing homemade tomato peach salsa! This recipe is made right in the food processor and can be made with fresh or canned peaches. The tomatoes, peaches, and jalapeno combine with lime juice for delicious, bright flavor that is delicious on chips served next to sour cream guacamole for a fun party platter.
Red, White, and Blue Trail Mix is the perfect 4th of July Party snack! For every patriotic holiday when you are getting together to celebrate someone and their service to this country, make this crunchy, sweet-salty, festive treat to share with friends and family.
Boozy Cherry Bombs are the bite-sized treat you’ve been missing in your life. These require just 4-ingredients are so easy to make for your next party!
These 4th of July Strawberries are a fun and tasty way to celebrate the holiday. Made with just a few ingredients, these Red White and Blue strawberries are the perfect Independence Day dessert treat.
Delicious 4th of July Rice Krispies Treats are the perfect no bake dessert for your summer BBQs! Everyone is going to love the layers of red, white, and blue Rice Krispies Treats.
These patriotic star spangled shortcakes are perfect for your 4th of July cookout this summer! Not to mention, they are super easy to make and make the perfect sweet treat!
Cool and creamy and loaded with chopped pickles, herby dill, and spices, this Dill Pickle Dip recipe is a must-have for parties, BBQ’s, potlucks, and anytime you need a flavorful, easy dip for entertaining!
Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders are for folks who absolutely love turkey breast, bacon, and white, sharp cheddar cheese. (Isn’t that pretty much everyone?)
Mediterranean Pinwheels are the perfect finger food for your next outdoor gathering or kids lunches. Tortillas are filled with hummus, feta cheese, roasted red peppers, arugula, red onion and parsley, before being rolled and cut into the perfect bite sized appetizer. Your guests will love this colorful, light recipe!
American Flag Charcuterie Board is packed with fruits and veggies alongside meats and cheese. The cheese tray is designed into a patriotic charcuterie board.
Fruity Berry and cream Coconut flavor create these fun shot glass ice molds filled with Vanilla Pudding & topped with whipped cream & a Maraschino cherry make these cute Patriotic Pudding Firecrackers.
I don’t exactly know why, but I simply LOVE to make red, white and blue food for the holidays! When my kids were young, it was layered Jell-O. At some point, I graduated to layered cakes and other foods.
Check out this Red White and Blue Snack Mix Recipe! It’s the perfect patriotic snack for the whole family. When it comes to red white and blue recipes, don’t miss this one.
If you’re searching for a dessert that effortlessly steals the show, look no further than this Patriotic S’mores Dip! With its gooey layers of chocolate and marshmallows, this eye-catching dish not only tastes incredible but also adds a splash of festive color to any gathering. Trust me, once you try it, you’ll be hooked!
For a fun and extremely festive way to celebrate Independence Day, these Red, White, & Blue deviled eggs will be a huge hit with all of your friends and family at this year's celebrations! For an easy-to-make twist on a classic recipe, you don't want to miss out on this patriotic appetizer!
These Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs are hands-down the BEST recipe for juicy, flavorful meatballs coated in a sticky, delicious sauce. I’ve made them for my family countless times, and they’re always a crowd-pleaser – gone in no time!
Veggies and dip? An absolute must-have at every party and summer picnic! But these easy Rainbow Veggie Kabobs are so much more fun than a plain-old veggie tray! Just like your fave fruit kabobs … but with garden-fresh veggies! A great summer project for the kiddos, too – they’ll scarf down that farm market bounty in no time!
This Red, White & Blue Drink is based off of the classic summer bomb pop popsicle we grew up loving. Not only is this festive but it's delicious! You can make this Bomb Pop a non-alcoholic drink or an alcoholic cocktail to celebrate our patriotism and love of America!
The BEST Homemade Mac and Cheese of your LIFE. Outrageously cheesy, ultra creamy, and topped with a crunchy Panko-Parmesan topping, this mac and cheese recipe is most definitely a keeper. I used three different cheese and a homemade cheese sauce to take this macaroni and cheese recipe over the top.
Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Strawberries are a simple patriotic dessert with a sweetened cream cheese filling topped with blueberries.
15-minute Chex Mix Muddy Buddies with a holiday flair for the 4th of July! The most delicious and addicting snack ever!
Red White and Blue Rice Krispie Treat Bites are yummy, bite-sized balls of crunchy, marshmallow-y Patriotic delight. An easy-to-make and super delicious 4th of July dessert.
Quick, easy and delicious, these red, white and blue bars can be whipped up in minutes!
This EASY BLT Dip starts with a cream cheese and sour cream mixture with Ranch seasoning. It’s served cold and topped with layers of crispy bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese.
If you’re planning a fun trip or outing centered around those two holidays, these sweet little treats are just the thing to bring along with you! They’re super easy to make, really inexpensive, adorably festive and totally scrumptious! They’re also really fun for kids to make as a fun summer activity, too!
Spicy grilled shrimp at its finest with TWO kinds of hot sauce! Just 5 ingredients and 10 minutes are all you need for this spicy, buttery take on firecracker shrimp.
These patriotic pudding cookies are perfect for 4th of July and so delicious!
This Candy Charcuterie Board is so festive with lots of patriotic treats to enjoy. This red white and blue charcuterie board is perfect for fourth of July and Memorial Day.
These Red White and Blue Rolo Candy Treats for Memorial Day and 4th of July are so easy to make, so much fun and portable!
A Charcuterie board is such a popular and trendy appetizer tray to serve for any occasion but especially when you can tailor your food to match a good Patriotic celebration.
If you need an easy, tasty appetizer for your next potluck, consider these Potluck Pickle Wraps. Just 3 ingredients, they can be made in no time and are a party favorite. The only thing that you will regret about making these great Pickle Wraps is that you didn’t make more.
This Crack Corn Dip is the perfect side dish to serve up at a summer bbq. It is a creamy corn dip that is so good, you’ll have a hard time going back for seconds. It is easy to make and perfect for a crowd!
These red, white, and blue patriotic pretzel rods are a fun addition to your 4th of July or Memorial Day BBQ festivities! Easy to make and fun to eat, they’ll be a hit for sure!
This simple watermelon appetizer is cute, patriotic and perfect for 4th of July! It only take a few minutes to put together and makes a great summer appetizer!
This Classic Southern Potato Salad recipe is a simple southern side dish filled with flavor and perfect for barbecues and potlucks.
This American Flag Meat and Cheese Board is a patriotic-themed charcuterie board that is perfect for the Fourth of July or Memorial day when you want to serve a red, white, and blue appetizer.
This red white and blue cheesecake dip makes an amazing dessert for 4th of July. It is patriotic and so yummy!
