The 4th of July is just around the corner, and it’s time to start planning the perfect menu for your celebration. Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue, a picnic at the park or a festive family gathering, I’ve got all the potluck recipes you need to make this Independence Day unforgettable. And don’t miss all of my favorite cold appetizers perfect for any size party!
Celebrate summer with my favorite Fourth of July potluck ideas! Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue or heading to a festive gathering, these dishes are sure to disappear faster than fireworks in the night sky. From parmesan corn on the cob to refreshing watermelon feta salad, each recipe captures the vibrant flavors of the season.
Check out my picks below for the ultimate Fourth of July foods, including a signature cocktail perfect for any size crowd. And don’t miss out on all of my 4th of July desserts for the ultimate sweet and star-spangled finale. Happy Fourth and let the cooking begin!
Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pulled Pork: Slow-cooked to perfection, these sliders are packed with flavor and perfect for a crowd.
The Ultimate Flank Steak Marinade: The best-ever bath for your favorite cuts of beef.
Crescent Roll Veggie Bars: My family has been making this recipe for more than 50 years. It stars a buttery crescent roll base topped with herby cream cheese and a rainbow of chopped veggies.
Broccoli Salad with Bacon: It has the perfect ratio of veggies to creamy dressing and is loaded with bacon, cheese and grapes. Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it!
Mexican Street Corn Salad: This summery side dish is perfect for potlucks and features fresh corn tossed in a citrusy dressing and topped with crumbled Cotija cheese.
Caprese Pasta Salad with Chicken: The tomato-basil duo takes on new life when paired with pasta, mini mozzarella balls and chicken, and it all gets tossed in a garlicky balsamic vinaigrette sweetened with a squeeze of honey.
5-Ingredient Zucchini Fritters: You only need five ingredients and 25 minutes for these hot and crispy fritters.
The Best Fruit Salad with Honey-Lime Dressing: The sweet and tangy dressing pairs perfectly with whatever fruit is in season.
Bloody Mary’s for a Crowd: Kickstart your celebratory backyard bash with this crowd-friendly recipe.
Homemade Barbecue Potato Chips: Pair creative cocktails and cold brews with these perfectly crunchy, salty snacks.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad: This 20-minute pasta salad will become a staple in your house, no matter the season.
Texas Caviar: Spoon it over cream cheese and dig in with crackers or serve it as a dip alongside crunchy tortilla chips.
Hungarian Cucumber Salad: It’s refreshing, crunchy, and creamy, plus it’s incredibly easy to make, doesn’t require any cooking and is the perfect side for just about any main dish.
Greek Cucumber Tomato Salad: Crisp veggies, protein-packed chickpeas and crumbled feta, all tossed in a lemony red wine vinaigrette.
Easy Homemade Mini Corn Dogs: These DIY corn dogs take less than 25 minutes to make from start to finish, and leftovers can be frozen and reheated in a flash.
Greek Pasta Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette: This potluck salad has been my go-to for years! It’s loaded with crisp veggies, creamy feta cheese and al dente pasta tossed in a quick-fix DIY dressing. Best of all, it can be served warm, room temp or cold, making it perfect for outdoor eating!
Rotisserie Chicken Taco Dip: Unlike a vertically-stacked traditional layered taco dip, my taco dip is wide and round, which means every dip yields a chip fully loaded with all of the chicken taco dip components.
30-Minute BLT Pasta Salad: Loaded with crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, and a tangy red wine vinaigrette, this dish is the perfect side for summer barbecues and picnics. Easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser!
Sugar Cookie Fruit Pizza: A soft, chewy, just-sweet-enough sugar cookie base, tangy cream cheese frosting and lots of juicy fruit.
Easy Strawberry Shortcake: This dessert stars a one-bowl biscuit recipe that yields buttery, flaky shortcakes perfect for halving and stuffing with freshly sliced strawberries, and of course, homemade whipped cream.
American Flag Cookie Cake: Featuring a buttery shortbread cookie base, tangy cream cheese frosting, and fresh blueberries and raspberries, this patriotic dessert is both easy to make and visually stunning.
Strawberry Slab Pie: This crowd-friendly pie is made with store-bought pie dough! The secret to making it look and taste 100% homemade? A juicy fresh strawberry filling, and of course, the lattice technique.
Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake: This is the ultimate potluck dessert! It’s simple to make, doesn’t require any chilling and is guaranteed to be loved by both kids and adults alike.
Shortcut Choco Tacos: Your dessert life really begins when you discover that store-bought stroopwafels (the Dutch delicacy starring two super-thin waffle wafers sandwiched together with caramel) make the most epic time-saving tip for DIY Choco Tacos.
Grilled Peaches with Ice Cream: This recipe is a summer dessert must.
Easy July 4th Ice Cream Cake: Perfect for summer gatherings, this patriotic cake is both refreshing and simple to assemble. It stars layers of store-bought pound cake, sorbet and fresh berries.
Chocolate-Covered Watermelon Bites: This may seem like a strange combo, but one taste and I guarantee you’ll be hooked on this refreshing, healthy snack!
Easy Blueberry Galette with Thyme: Forget finicky pies in favor of this crowd-friendly galette starring a tender, flaky crust and jammy fruit filling.
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