Easy 4th of July Recipes for a Crowd
There are a few staples at every 4th of July celebration. Hot dogs, hamburgers, pasta salad, and anything you’d find at a backyard barbecue can make the menu. Why not try adding unique main dishes to your celebration with some easy 4th of July recipes for a crowd?
Easy 4th of July recipes don’t have to be boring; in fact, they can be extra fun, delicious food that will make for the best 4th of July party. Hosting a Fourth of July party means putting together a menu.
There are tons of options for an Independence Day party, including main dishes, side dishes, and even vegetarian options. You could stick with the usual, like a classic potato salad with some BBQ chicken and some salad.
End the menu with the perfect dessert, like a pound cake or any of your summer favorites with ice cream. These are the things people expect to enjoy at a patriotic party.
Changing things up keeps things as fresh and delicious as crispy bacon. The perfect 4th of July menu will start with easy appetizers. We don’t want to get too crazy with the first dish; we want to set the expectation of good food but not overdo it.
Next up is the best main course. This dish really doesn’t have to fit the theme at all. Instead, we want the main dish to be nothing but delicious. Then comes the patriotic dessert with bright colors, possibly the best part.
We do want to go with a couple of different options for desserts. There’s nothing wrong with sprinkling in some of your favorite 4th of July recipes throughout the menu.
However, adding something new can keep things fresh and make the holiday feel brand new again.
Easy 4th of July Recipes for a Crowd
The menu should start with appetizers, but not too crazy of appetizers. A classic cheesy bean dip, some Italian meatballs, or a cowboy caviar recipe will get the job done. In fact, you can go with those three alone.
A charcuterie board is a great option, especially if there is a crowd. However, you may want to make multiple boards depending on the size of the crowd attending.
The beauty of a charcuterie board is that you can customize it to your liking. Add fresh berries and toss in some hard-boiled eggs or any of your favorite finger foods.
The recipe will come with the basics needed for your patriotic appetizer. The appetizers are meant to set the stage and keep people happy while they wait for the main course to be ready.
The best Fourth of July recipes also need to be timed right. We want to make sure dinner is served before the fireworks. Typically, people start lighting up the sky around 9 pm. Keep that in mind when planning your appetizers.
July 4th Recipes for Main Course
Easy 4th of July recipes cover every stage of the party. We already got the appetizers done; now it’s time to put a fun spin on the main course. Break out the grill and toss some hot dogs, burger patties, and any cuts of meat you’d like.
These are staples at big 4th of July celebrations. However, we can have options and add things that take our festivities to the next level. A portobello mushroom burger instead of the classic beef is a great option.
Another fun idea would be to take your BBQ chicken to the next level. Try making beer can chicken on the grill. This chicken recipe adds even more flavor and fits the celebration perfectly.
A casserole is a great option to feed a crowd. To feed many people, you can make two crockpots full of a slow cooker John Wayne casserole recipe. You can even just put a fun twist on a classic burger like the spinach and feta turkey burgers.
Lastly, some crockpot ribs wouldn’t hurt. We move to the side dishes once the main course is picked out.
Easy Fourth of July Recipes for Sides
Side dishes might be the most fun because we can get very creative here. There is no wrong number of dishes to make, either. Meaning we can make as many fun sides as we’d like.
Start with the salads like a delicious basil pesto pasta salad. Another fun and creative salad option is a cornbread salad. When was the last time you enjoyed one of those?
We can’t go wrong with macaroni and cheese, but we may want to spice things up by making it a hatch chile mac and cheese. Buffalo cauliflower bites might end up being one of the fan-favorite recipes we make tonight.
However, the one dish that everyone expects at any party is the twice-baked potato. Twice-baked potatoes are a party classic because they are easy to eat, cheesy, and the perfect combination of crispy and tender potatoes.
Patriotic Desserts for the Fourth of July
Most of the easy 4th of July recipes for a crowd don’t really fit the theme of the event. However, we don’t need every dish to be red, white and blue. No one would eat the BBQ if that were the case.
However, we want to have some trendy food at the event that fits the theme. This is a great way to add some color to the menu, some American colors. Red, white, and blue desserts are a welcomed addition to your party.
We don’t often think of thumbprint cookies during summer, but these raspberry thumbprint cookies are hard to pass up. We can even take cookies to the next level with patriotic sugar cookie bars that are covered in patriotism. Or even turn the cookies into a dessert that some claim is better than sex…brownies recipe.
A better way to keep things easy is with recipes. We can make batches of colorfully dipped Rice Krispie treats. There is nothing wrong with baking a cake or two, especially with firecracker cake simply existing.
Patriotic Cocktails for the Fourth of July
The easy 4th of July recipes for a crowd don’t stop at desserts. Things will be hot outside; people will need drinks. Simple soda, juice, and water are fine, especially for any kids at the party.
Adults will want something with a little more kick to it. A spicy margarita is a good place to start. We will be hot, so why not cool it off with a simple mai tai recipe?
Round out the cocktail menu with something like a fresh strawberry margarita. This menu is going to be one that your guests won’t soon forget. Everything from the best recipes for appetizers to the drinks is covered.
More Party Ideas
Easy and Quick Crockpot Shrimp Scampi Recipe | Shrimp scampi doesn’t exactly scream patriotism, but it is delicious and should be on your radar.
55 Patriotic Dessert Recipes | There are so many desserts you can use for the Fourth of July. Here is a list that is longer than you will ever need.
15 of The Best Burger Recipes | Burgers are a staple at a summer party, but they deserve their own space, especially with as many different recipes as there are.
Slow Cooker Dips: 30+ Recipes for Parties & More | Do you have a slow cooker? Use it to make some of the best dips ahead of time for your party.
Pizza Panini Recipe | Another recipe that should be on your radar is the pizza panini. These wouldn’t be easy to make for a crowd, but you won’t want to share these anyway.
