4th of July Recipes Beyond Classic Burgers & Hot Dogs

Independence Day is almost here, so you’re probably planning what dishes you want to make for the holiday. Burgers and hot dogs are a couple of classics. But, if you want to try something a little different this year, we have some ideas for creative 4th of July recipes that are family-friendly and delicious. 

From appetizers and entrées to side dishes and desserts, you can use the food inspiration in this blog to plan your whole menu. However, you can always check out our recipe portal for even more 4th of July recipes. Now, let’s take a look at the 8 ideas below!

4th of July Appetizers

Whether you’re celebrating with your family at home or with a small group of close friends, appetizers are great to help hold everyone over while you put the final touches on the main course. These two appetizer ideas are shareable, tasty and affordable to make. 

Crispy Dry Rubbed Wings

Grill up some chicken wings with a big punch of flavor with these Crispy Dry Rubbed Wings. Coated with a combination of spices, like Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, cayenne pepper and chili powder, as well as a 4-ingredient glaze, this wing recipe is savory with a little spice. 

And since you’re grilling these wings, it’s one more reason to get outside and enjoy some warm summer weather with your friends and family. Serve with fresh veggie slices, such as celery, bell peppers and broccoli, plus ranch or blue cheese dressing. 

Patriotic Veggie Tray

Our second 4th of July recipe is made with a few varieties of fresh produce and salad dressing. First, you’ll need to pick up a couple of red veggies, including cherry or grape tomatoes and red bell peppers. You’ll also need some cauliflower. These two different colors of vegetables will make up the red and white stripes on your serving tray or platter. Then, for the “blue”, choose a blue cheese dressing for dipping. And if you have a blue bowl to put it in, use that for a literal pop of blue. 

Would you rather make your own veggie dip? Visit our recipe portal for an easy dip recipe using sour cream, dill, onion powder, garlic powder and salt.  

4th of July Entrées

A couple of appetizer ideas for the 4th of July? Check! Now, onto the main course - the entrée. And these two main dishes are easy to make and are sure to be a big hit with your loved ones.

Low Country Shrimp Boil

Have a family of six or planning to celebrate with a few of your closest friends? This Low Country Shrimp Boil recipe feeds four to six people and is so easy to make. You’ll also only need one large pot to cook it. Here are the ingredients you may need to add to your shopping list for your next trip to Food Lion:

• Lemons
  
• Garlic
  
• Red onion
  
• Bay leaves
  
• Seafood seasoning (like Old Bay)
  
• Red potatoes
  
• Ears of corn (fresh or frozen)
  
• Smoked sausage or kielbasa
  
• Shrimp
  

Besides being easy to cook and making your dinner stress-free, another reason this recipe is great for the 4th of July is that it is the perfect dish to enjoy outdoors. After all, everyone will be peeling shrimp and eating corn with their fingers, so it can get a little messy. So, enjoy your meal and get a little fresh air while celebrating the holiday. It’s also a “one and done” kind of dinner. No need to make additional sides! 

Sloppy Joe Meatball Subs

If you still want to have a sandwich for your 4th of July entrée, our Sloppy Joe Meatball Subs recipe is a tasty new dish to give a try, especially if your family loves meatballs and sloppy joes. After all, this combines the two in a delicious way! Made with ground beef, garlic salt, Italian seasoning, pepper, sloppy joe seasoning, tomato paste, water and shredded mozzarella cheese, you can also save some time and use premade frozen meatballs instead! 

Or if you want to still make the meatballs, feel free to prep and cook them the night before. Then, refrigerate until you’re ready to serve and pop them in the microwave or oven until warmed through. 

Serve with a selection of potato chips and perhaps one (or both) of the side dish recipes below. 

4th of July Side Dishes

Sticking to our motto of “easy, fresh and affordable”, these simple side dishes incorporate fresh produce and are pretty low-cost to make too. Keep reading to get the details on our red, white and blue salad recipe and a grilled potato dish! 

Red, White & Blue Fruit & Jicama Salad

What better way to celebrate Independence Day than with a beautiful red, white and blue side salad made with strawberries, blueberries, jicama (a crisp, earthy, and slightly sweet root vegetable) and a few other ingredients. It’s tangy and refreshing for a warm summer day in July. But, if you don’t have any fresh berries on-hand, go ahead and use frozen instead. Just allow the frozen strawberries and blueberries to thaw before adding them to your salad. 

And if you’ve never worked with jicama before, here are some pointers:

• First things first - you’ll need to peel it with a vegetable peeler or knife, always cutting away from you.
  
• Then, chop the top and bottom off and cut it into cubes.
  
• If you want to infuse a little extra flavor, squeeze some lime juice and stir or soak the jicama pieces in a lemon-lime soda for 15 to 20 minutes and drain.
  

Now, snag the full recipe here! 

Grilled Ranch Potatoes

Roasted and mashed potatoes are both delicious, but if you’ve never tried them grilled, then this is the recipe to try. Instead of cooking on the stove or in the oven, you’ll be using the grill! Seasoned with ranch dressing mix and pepper, then topped with chives, cheese and your favorite brand of bottled ranch dressing, this side dish packs a lot of flavor and pairs really well with grilled chicken, steak or even a shrimp boil (hint, hint). But, if you do choose to make a shrimp boil, just skip the potatoes in the pot and grill up this side instead! 

Want to make this recipe? Get the full list of ingredients and cooking directions here!

4th of July Desserts

No holiday meal is complete without something sweet at the end, right? Both of these easy dessert recipes are made with fruit, making them the ideal treat for summer. And they’re also red, white and blue, which is why they made it on our list of 4th of July recipes! 

Watermelon Dessert Pizza

July is prime time to enjoy fresh, seasonal watermelon. But, have you ever tried it as a fruity dessert pizza? Using a seedless watermelon (sliced right through the middle) as the base, you then top it with a sweet, cheesy spread made with cream cheese, ricotta, honey and vanilla, as well as blue and red berries. Finally, cut it into slices and eat just like you would a typical piece of pepperoni pizza - with your hands! 

And just like we mentioned with the Red, White & Blue Jicama Salad, feel free to substitute the fresh berries with frozen! Now, head on over to our recipe portal to get all of the details for this simple dessert.

Berry Ice Cream Cake

Last, but not least, is a red, white and blue dessert that’ll really cool you off while celebrating the 4th of July. That’s because it’s made with ice cream and sherbet, as well as chilled berries and whipped topping. So refreshing! 

Our Berry Ice Cream Cake recipe is the perfect choice if you’re planning to make some dishes ahead of time to make sure your holiday plans stay on track. You’ll only need eight ingredients and 30 minutes to prep, then it’s ready to go in the freezer to chill for at least 6 hours or overnight. 

With these eight 4th of July recipes, we hope we’ve made your holiday menu planning a little easier and introduced you to some new creative recipe ideas your family and friends will love. Now, write your shopping list and stop by your neighborhood Food Lion to get what you need at low prices. Happy 4th of July everyone!