Fourth of July Menu Ideas

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Whether you’re out for a picnic in a city park or at home with family for a barbecue, here are a few Fourth of July Menu Ideas. Have a great celebration!
(Post modified on 6/21/23.)
Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for a few special recipes for Patriotic Desserts that are fabulous for celebrating the 4th of July!
Fourth of July Menu Ideas – Breakfast
Start your day with Biscuits and Gravy. It’s not uncommon for me to make this breakfast on the Fourth of July. It’s what my mom did when I was a girl, and I guess it’s one of those traditions that carried on through the years. Serve with Country Biscuits or Sourdough Biscuits. Enjoy
We like Breakfast Burritos at any time of year, but it seems especially fitting for the summer months.
Or how about Sourdough Blueberry Pancakes to celebrate the 4th of July! Fluffy sourdough pancakes with lots of plump, juicy blueberries. Add some fresh strawberries on the side for a Red, White, and Blue Breakfast!
Appetizers for the Evening Meal
Easy Corn Dip– Here’s a delicious dip introduced to me by a good friend years ago. This dip is perfect with corn chips. Try it with Lime-flavored Corn Chips!
Guacamole Dip- One of my favorites using ripe avocados and tomatoes. It’s perfect for outdoor barbecues or the next time you make Mexican food.
Try Baked Jalapeno Poppers with Bacon when you’re craving a little heat in an appetizer. These little poppers are so delicious. Cheesy, seasoned, spicy, plus the deliciousness of bacon!
Main Dishes for the Grill
Barbecued Baby Back Ribs – Ribs, anyone? We love these ribs. Start them in your oven and finish off on the grill. So yummy!
Cajun Shrimp – Don’t want to heat up your oven in the summer? Try these grilled shrimp on a Skewer.
One of my favorite summer dinners is grilled Burgers with Garlic Mayo and Onions — caramelized onions, that is!
Honey-Glazed Grilled Chicken Thighs – This chicken recipe is delicious.
Salads and Side Dishes for your Picnic or Barbecue
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad – Here’s a recipe that reminds me of the boxed Suddenly Salad dish you can buy in the store. Only better!
Antipasto Rotini Salad is an easy recipe to make for your 4th of July celebration. Tri-colored rotini with my favorite antipasto ingredients–green and black olives, red onion, carrots, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, pepperoni, marinated artichokes, and fresh mozzarella. Then marinated in a creamy Italian dressing.
Broccoli Raisin Salad – Here’s a delicious salad to serve at your next family gathering. One of our favorites!
Cheesy Corn and Macaroni Casserole is a favorite recipe on my husband’s side of our family. It’s quite nice for church dinners or family gatherings and is a perfect choice for your next picnic, barbecue, or even holiday dinner.
4th of July just wouldn’t be complete without Yummy Baked Beans on the table. It has been baked and served in our family since I was a little girl. And it’s still one of my favorite side dishes! Sweet and saucy with thick pieces of bacon.
Homemade Bread for the Fourth
Ranch Loaves – We love this recipe. And it makes 4 loaves. Enough for a large gathering!
Tangy Sourdough Bread – Here’s a sourdough recipe we adore and make every week. If you don’t have a sourdough starter, you may make your own HERE. This bread is delicious with butter, plus it makes 2 large loaves.
A Few Desserts Before Fireworks
How about serving Red, White, and Blue with our favorite fruit pies! Cherry, Blueberry, Apple, and of course, a serving of Ice Cream, too!
Homemade Cherry Pie is so delicious when using fresh cherries. If you can find them, (or pick them from a tree) we love tart cherries, which remind me of my childhood. But dark sweet cherries work well, too.
Homemade Apple Pie – Nothing says America more than a slice of fresh apple pie. This pie dough is a family favorite. And it goes perfectly with a bowl of ice-cream–another summertime favorite!
Here’s a delicious recipe for Country Blueberry Pie that uses fresh blueberries and a homemade pie crust. So yummy! Especially when served with whipping cream or ice cream!
And speaking of ice-cream, we’d better not leave that out! Here’s my mom’s recipe for Homemade Ice Cream. We love it and it’s perfect for a hot, summer celebration.
SPECIAL RECIPES – Patriotic Desserts
To end this post, lets look at some special recipes for Patriotic Desserts. You’ll want to be sure to make at least one of these to show your patriotic spirit. Kids love to take part in the preparation of these recipes so be sure to get them involved!
Patriotic Cupcakes – How about some Red, White and Blue Cupcakes! Here’s a fun recipe to make for your 4th of July Celebration. (You may substitute other colors for other times of year.)
This Patriotic Popcorn Snack is not only tasty, but it’s colored with Red, White, and Blue, making it the perfect way to celebrate the 4th of July.
I like to make Patriotic Berry Dessert for the 4th of July. Filled with strawberry and blueberry Jello, whipped cream, berries, and angel food cake, it was the highlight of the evening, usually enjoyed following the fireworks display.
Whatever you decide to make for this American holiday, I hope you will have a Grand Fourth of July!
See more Entertaining Ideas Here.
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These look yummy, especially those beans! Thanks for all the recipes you share. I always enjoy seeing them come up in my reader.
Have a great week!
Bethany
Thanks, Bethany! That bean recipe is one of my husband's favorites. Mine too. Enjoy your fourth of July!