4th of July Cookout Menu

The 4th of July is coming up and what better way to start preparing than with the menu?! We always get really excited to start grilling for the summer and we usually cook a variety of different things for the holiday weekend. I know there are a bunch of different dietary preferences out there and I want to accommodate everyone! But the main idea is that every dish is always an easy recipe that are sure to be crowd favorites! This is everything we’ll be having on our menu this year, including traditional 4th of July Foods!

Bratwurst is a great item to grill, especially in the summers! It only takes about 30 minutes to make this recipe, which is pretty quick and it’s an alternative to hot dogs. It’s easily amendable to toppings you enjoy! We’re kicking off our backyard barbecue and making this as our main course!

If you’re not feeling traditional burgers or you are looking for another chicken recipe that’s not BBQ, here is a fantastic option! You can also add in or take out any ingredients you feel when making these burgers. My mouth is watering just looking at this photo of this recipe! I’m adding this to our list of new recipes to try out as a twist on classic recipes.

You’ve heard of a charcuterie board, but have you heard of a hot dog board? It’s just like a cheese board, but instead you load it up with hotdogs both with and without toppings, surrounded by your favorite sides like french fries! This recipe shows you exactly how to do it. What’s more American than hog dogs? Not to mention the fact that they are most definitely a summer staple. This is a must-add to your cookout menu and it’s a delicious way to get your kids helping in the kitchen!

We fully intend on adding grilled chicken to our Independence Day menu! And what better way to grill your chicken than smothered in Carolina style BBQ sauce? If you’re a barbecue fan, this will quickly become your favorite food! The sauce features brown sugar, too. It doesn’t even need to be a special occasion only food, it is the perfect addition to the weekly dinner rotation!

Kebabs are a great summer dinner party option because they are completely customizable! You can put any protein and vegetables on them. Or even cheese or fruit. Here’s a few recipes to take a look at!

Corn is a very popular summer side dish, as it should be! It’s a crowd pleaser and usually a safe bet for pickier eaters and children. This is a great corn recipe as it’s super creamy and definitely easier to eat than on the cob! Add this as one of your side dishes on your July 4th menu!

Greek Bruschetta

I have a whole TikTok video where I show you step by step how to make this, but it’s Fancy Peasant’s recipe, which you can find here! It’s absolutely addicting and my kids love it, too! It’s full of really fresh ingredients and is portioned out to single servings, so it’s easy to serve.

Yes, you heard that correctly. Ranch mac and cheese topped with Ritz crackers. The holidays are indulging, okay?! I think this is a great alternative to breadcrumbs on top of mac and cheese, sometimes those aren’t great, but a salty cracker sounds really interesting. And, of course, the kids will love this!

Nothing is more summer than watermelon. This is such a great palate cleanser and side to have at your gathering. It’s one the kids will love and you can feel great about serving it because it’s healthy! Not only is it an appetizer, but a side and dessert, too!

I think it’s safe to say you’ve never seen potato salad done like this before! I love a good twist on a classic potato salad! The red peppers add so much color to the plate. This is a fantastic recipe for those of you who aren’t huge fans of mayonnaise as it only calls for half a cup and it’s more of a side sauce. Also, you can keep this sauce recipe for virtually anything, we like to dip french fries in it and put it on burgers as a special sauce!

This isn’t any ordinary salad. It’s actually one you’ll be wanting second helpings of! It’s so fresh and bright, perfect as a side for your July 4th party! If you have a nut allergy, you can totally swap those out for craisins or another veggie with great crunch. I can’t stop thinking about how good this will taste and look on my picnic table!

Anything Mediterranean is a yes from me! I feel like this dish is on the healthier side, which I love to have as an option for holidays. Anything I can add feta cheese to is on my list of July cookout ideas! And any excuse to use the grill is a win for us in the summers! This is a great option for any vegetarians coming to celebrate the big day!

You can’t say no to dessert! Especially when it’s patriotic themed! These cheesecake cupcakes are an easy way to divvy out desserts, rather than having to cut a whole cheesecake because they’re already in single portions. You can add whatever fresh fruit you’d like on top, but these are definitely the most patriotic looking berries.

I think I’ve found one of the most festive desserts in existence! Everyone loves s’mores, they are a classic summer dessert. But these have a twist– and it’s the red and blue colors on them! Your kids are going to be obsessed with these! The best part is that there is basically no prep time, it’s only a few minutes of prep work.

There’s nothing like peaches in the summer! This is a great dessert recipe with simple ingredients. And the best part is, you get to use your grill!

Pie is one of the most patriotic desserts you can make! This is a simple recipe to follow that all of your guests will love! Top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and you have a next level dessert.

This post was originally published June 23rd, 2022*

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