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Clean eating recipes and meal prep for busy families.

July 4th BBQ Menu Ideas

Published . Last updated by 21 Comments

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Before loading the blanket in the car and heading for the annual fireworks and funnel cakes extravaganza, we must eat, right?!

We’ve gathered more than 40 Recipe Ideas to satisfy the July 4th backyard barbecue must-haves—pasta salad, watermelon, hamburgers, macaroni salad, baked beans, BBQ pork sandwiches, potato salad, steaks, apple pie, and sweet iced tea—all worthy of celebrating independence, American-style.

July 4th BBQ Appetizers

Guests can munch on salsa while ribs finish in the oven, beans stay warm in the crockpot, and dressed slaw marinates in the fridge.

BBQ Pulled Pork Stuffed Jalapenos

BBQ Pulled Pork Stuffed Jalapenos are a great party appetizer or snack!
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Jalapenos stuffed with BBQ pulled pork and topped with cheese for an amazingly easy and delicious appetizer.

Creamy Miso-Yogurt Dipping Sauce

A uniquely savory, tangy, dip for veggie trays or dressing salads.
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A carrot scooping up dip surrounded by veggies.

Caramelized Onion Dip

Sweet yellow onions caramelized and mixed with Greek yogurt for a healthy dip upgrade.
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Guacamole

Earthy, creamy avocados mixed with tomatoes, onions, and garlic with a kiss of lime and cilantro.
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guacamole and chips on a table

Fresh Peach and Heirloom Tomato Salsa

This delicious twist on salsa brings a touch of sweet and savory as juicy fresh peaches and plump, flavorful heirloom tomatoes team up for the best salsa you’ll have all summer.
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Chunky peach and tomato salsa in a bowl with chips

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

A hearty salsa for a party table or weeknight side dish—spicy, sweet, creamy, and fresh flavors for easy meals. Serve with tortilla chips or as a side for tacos, burritos, or enchiladas.
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black bean and corn salsa in a white bowl with chips

July 4th BBQ Mains

These recipes are worthy mains for gathering family and friends. Make-ahead Missouri-Style Baby Back Ribs take the pressure off during the party so the host can have fun too!

Grilled Baby Back Ribs with Smoked Chile Dry Rub

Baby back pork ribs seasoned with dry rub, grilled for smoky flavor, and finished low and slow in the oven for juicy tenderness.
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grilled ribs with barbecue sauce

Grilled Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwiches

Grilled pulled pork so tender and smoky, you won’t believe it came from a grill instead of a smoker.
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Grilled pulled pork that tastes close to classic barbecue. Get smoky flavor from a gas or charcoal grill.

Grilled Tri-Tip Roast

Tri-tip roast marinated or dry rubbed and grilled over charcoal or propane to medium-rare and juicy.
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Sliced grilled tri-tip on a white platter with grilled young leeks

Grilled Herb-Buttermilk Chicken with Tomato-Basil Butter

A simple marinade of buttermilk and herbs makes chicken tender and delicious when grilled. The tomato-basil butter is a superb finishing touch.
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Pancetta-Gruyere Burger with Grilled Vidalia Onions

Prize winning burger mixed with pancetta and Gruyere cheese topped with grilled onions.
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Roasted Green Chile Burgers with Grilled Sweet Onions and Salsa Mayo

Smoky chilies and cheese mixed right in the burger for a flavor explosion in every single bite.
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Green chile burger with salsa may and grilled onions on a whole wheat bun served on a white plate.

Blue Cheese Burgers [GF]

Buns are an option, but we think these savory blue cheese burgers are delicious without them served over summer-ripe tomatoes and topped with avocado.
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Grilled Tri-Tip Steak with Smoked Chile Steak Rub

Tri-tip steak grilled medium-rare with deep savory flavor with a hint of smoky spice.
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Sliced grilled steak with carrots and potatoes

July 4th BBQ Side Dishes

Easy side dishes are a must for backyard barbecues to bring just the right balance to what’s coming off the grill.

Mediterranean Bow Tie Pasta Salad

Tender pasta and fresh vegetables tossed with homemade Italian dressing for a classic summertime picnic or barbecue side dish salad.
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bow tie pasta salad

Baked Beans

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Fresh Homemade BBQ Baked Beans on a checked tablecloth

Beans, Bacon, and Chipotle

Bacon and chipotle highlight this bean side dish with a smoky kick.
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Grilled Corn on the Cob

Juicy tender corn on the cob from the grill, because we leave the husks on!
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Classic Coleslaw with Celery Seed Dressing

This delicious Classic Coleslaw with a creamy, tangy celery seed dressing is the perfect side with any BBQ or Picnic.
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Coleslaw in a bowl on a wood table

Grilled Vegetable Medley

These grilled veggies have so much flavor and make a great side dish with grilled meats or fish.
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A grilled vegetable recipe to optimize the flavor and texture of each vegetable included. Easy, delicious side dish for any meal.

Watermelon-Blueberry Salad

Feta cheese brings a balance of salt to the sweet watermelon and blueberries with a pop of cooling mint.
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watermelon salad

Arugula Watermelon Salad

This Arugula Watermelon Salad flavor combo is beyond WOW and we take it to a whole new level with browned butter toasted walnuts, blackberries, and tangy feta.
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Arugula watermelon salad with blackberries and walnuts

Spinach-Strawberry Salad

A fresh Spinach Strawberry Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts is one of the easiest ways to invite the spring season inside.
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Spinach salad with sliced strawberries and walnuts in a white bowl with a napkin and fork.

Crunchy Fennel-Apple Slaw

A bright, slightly apple-sweet slaw with earthy notes of celery and fennel.
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Fennel apple slaw in white bowl

July 4th BBQ Drinks

Meanwhile, everyone is enjoying ice-cold Strawberry Lemonade or Ginger-Blackberry Twisted Mules as the vegetables and corn finish grilling.

Classic Lime & Mint Mojito

Tangy lime and refreshing mint team up for a sparkling rum cocktail for summer evenings.
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Fresh mojitos

Classic Margarita Cocktail (On The Rocks)

A light, bright, somewhat boozy, slightly green, pearly-opaque drink with layers of citrus, tartness, saline, and thirst-quenching freshness.
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margarita with lime and a slice of orage

Slushy Blended Watermelon Lemonade

A delicious, refreshing sipper with no added sugar for a naturally sweetened summertime drink.
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GUAVA MINT MIMOSA

Refresh your guests with guava and mint in these lively mimosas.
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Ginger-Blackberry Twisted Mule Cocktail

A ginger shrub brings the ginger forward with blackberry highlights mixed with the aroma of fresh mint garnish. A pleasingly bright, tangy finish refreshes on a hot summer afternoon.
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Ginger-Blackberry Cocktail in a copper mug garnished with blackberries, mint and lime.

July 4th BBQ Desserts

A bite or two of something sweet brings just the right finish before the fireworks begin.

Grilled Strawberry Semifreddo with Pistachios & Balsamic

Grilling strawberries brings a deep, sweet flavor to this impressive ice cream dessert. All the creaminess of ice cream without hassle of using a machine.
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Grilled Strawberry Semifreddo is creamier than ice cream and no machine is needed.

Salted Caramel Apple Tart

Buttery crust and perfectly spiced apples topped with a luxurious salted caramel sauce.
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Apple tart with caramel sauce on a plate - tart pan side removed

Creamy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust

Velvety creamy lemon bars with a tangy lemon filling over a classic shortbread crust.
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Lemon bars on a blue plate with powdered sugar on top

Homemade Lemon Ice Cream for True Lemon Lovers

Tangy, creamy, lemony dessert perfect for the most discriminating lemon lover.
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Close up of lemon ice cream in a clear bowl with lemon slice

Coconut Vanilla Bean Sorbet

Creamy, dreamy coconut frozen dessert with hints of vanilla bean.
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berries and mint on top of a serving of sorbet in a blue bowl

Chocolate Peanut Butter Chunk Ice Cream

Decadent chocolate enhanced by a touch of espresso with an abundance of honey-sweetened, salt-kissed, peanut butter.
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Chocolate ice cream with peanut butter chunks in a white ramekin with the ice cream scoop beside it.

Key Lime Cheesecake

This silky, citrus-kissed dessert is everything you imagine a Key Lime Cheesecake should be—tangy, dulcet, velvety, and refreshing—perfect for warm summer evenings.
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Strawberry Shortcake Cake

It’s a spin on strawberry shortcake, but the cake is, well, cake—not the biscuit-like disc in the classic strawberry shortcake recipe.
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Grilled Peach & Vanilla Bean Crisp

Sweet vanilla crisp with grilled peaches.
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Easy Fresh Berry Crumble with Orange Cream

Fresh berries under a gluten-free crumble topped with orange cream.
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Ghirardelli Brownie Cookies

Chewy chocolate cookies with soft centers and crisp edges made with Ghirardelli brownie mix.
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A stack of Brownie cookies with milk

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  4. Yang says

    5 stars
    Ribs cooked on the BBQ are the tastiest with the smokiness! We are not beer drinker here, is there something else I can use instead of the beer? Or do you still recommend a beer for this recipe?

    Reply

    • Judy Purcell says

      Hi Yang, Thanks for asking this question, I’ll have to update the recipe with the alternatives. I’m not much of a beer drinker either, it tends to be too bitter for my taste, but works well here to add flavor without the bitterness. I’ve also used wine or a mix of wine and broth. I use beer or wine for two reasons, it adds flavor to the ribs, but also flavors the pan drippings, which I save and use for bouillon.

      Reply

  7. Hope says

    So many delicious ideas here! I’m loving the sound of the chocolate peanut butter chunk ice cream – yum! Whoever is coming to your house on the 4th of July should be counting themselves very lucky 🙂

    Reply

  8. Joni Gomes says

    5 stars
    I’m so excited and ready for 4th of July! All of these recipes look amazing and are exactly what I am looking for when it comes to a holiday BBQ!

    Reply

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  15. Nicole Feliciano says

    Yum! This BBQ looks so grand. Thanks so much for linking on the Momtrends Friday Food swap. Have a great 4th!

    Reply

  16. Heather @girlichef says

    Soooo…what time is the get together!? Oh my gosh, everything sounds amazing. I totally want to pick up those ribs and go to town…and then lick my fingers. Awesome 😀

    Reply
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