40 Fourth of July Recipes, from Marvelous Mains to Seasonal Sides

Nothing says American cooking like hot dogs. This juicy, crowd-pleasing bite is topped with a sharp combination of julienned cornichons, sliced sweet onions, sweet-hot red peppers, and a mayonnaise-mustard combination.

It's a party in the USA with this main course—an L.A.-inspired hot dog complete with cherry tomatoes, red onion, bacon, and poblano peppers. The flavors will explode just like the anticipated fireworks display.

No July 4th festivity is complete without potato salad as a side dish. This version goes mayo-free, which means that not only can it sit out at room temperature for longer, but the tangy, zesty flavors of cornichons, quick-pickled shallots, and lemon juice really pop.

Take a bite out of this feel-good, lightened up burger for your cookout's main dish. It has plenty of texture from cooked barley and grated carrots plus all the juicy, meaty flavor that you know and love from ground beef.

Whether you're hosting or attending an Independence Day party on the beach, enjoy this perfect lobster roll as the main course. It has just a touch of mayo, but plenty of lemon and butter to highlight the sweet, succulent meat.

Zucchini is at its best and brightest around July 4th, so why not serve it as a delicious side dish for your cookout? It gets Asian flavor with a miso and soy sauce glaze, plus toasted sesame seeds for serving.

Looking for a classic potato salad recipe to serve as a side dish for your barbecue? Look no further than this all-star dish. Diced russet potatoes are dressed with mayonnaise, whole grain mustard, vinegar, chopped celery, sliced cornichons, and scallions.

If you're hosting a smaller group for the Fourth of July, make this delicious recipe for grilled flank steak, which is a more affordable cut of meat that becomes super tender as it cooks. It's infused with irresistible flavors like rosemary, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard.

Your guests will line up one by one to grab this juicy grilled chicken main dish on July 4th. The chicken is rubbed with a spice blend including paprika, dry mustard, light brown sugar, and cayenne pepper, and served alongside a honey, vinegar, and chile pepper sauce.

Think of this as a seasonal antipasto for your Fourth of July celebration. Guests can pick and choose what they want to have as a side dish, such as cured meat, creamy burrata cheese, grilled eggplant, squash, and zucchini.

Instead of making one big salad, arrange a bevy of beautiful chopped vegetables on a cutting board along with cheese (we chose a block of crumbled feta for this Greek-inspired board), plus a simple vinaigrette.

Everyone will love grabbing a slice of this scrumptious garlic bread. It's particularly apt for July 4th because it's cooked on the grill, which infuses it with charred flavor in addition to the delicious garlic butter smeared on top.

This low-maintenance potato salad is just the side to serve at your Fourth of July party. Peewee potatoes are dressed up with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lots of fresh herbs (we particularly love the combination of parsley and basil), and scallions.

Tender lamb meat is an upgrade from traditional beef in these all-American burgers for July 4th. After grilling, they're topping with the tangy, Greek-inspired sauce, parsley, and diced tomatoes.

Keep your Fourth of July side dish simple with this light and bright potato salad. It's perked up with fresh dill and light agave syrup, which makes it a welcome change from ordinary versions.

This leaner main course for Independence Day is just as flavorful as all-beef burgers. Chicken gets a boost of extra flavor, from ground cumin, diced green chiles, and cilantro leaves.

Swirls and twirls of yellow and green zucchini, carrots, and bell peppers simply say summer in this side dish made for the Fourth of July.

Let freedom ring with this grilled corn side dish adorned with melted butter, grated Parmesan, chipotle-chile powder, and lime juice.

This crowd-friendly steak main course gets some serious heat from smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano, and crushed coriander seeds.

Heirloom tomatoes are juicy, bright, and picture-perfect, so let them shine like the summer sun in this cocktail-inspired salad.

Watch your guests' eyes light up, not from the firework display, but from this stunning main course. The combination of sweet plums with grilled pork is absolutely delicious and paired with a flavorful salsa verde.

This snackable 4th of July side will be gone in a flash, so you'd be wise to double the recipe. English peas are threaded onto skewers, grilled until blistered, then topped with a fabulous combination of unsweetened shredded coconut, cayenne pepper, and flaky sea salt.

Give a nod to America's melting pot culture with this Caprese-inspired pasta salad. Gemelli pasta is tossed with chopped fennel, capers, chickpeas, two kinds of cheese, and parsley for an easy and delicious side dish.

Scallops cook in a flash when skewered and grilled, which makes this recipe so easy. It's just a touch elegant, so it's a particularly great dish to make for a smaller group.

From the thin slices of bright pink radishes to crisp corn kernels, this crowd-friendly salad is the epitome of summer. The best part is that you can make it up to eight hours in advance, which helps to ease the amount of party prep work, allowing you to enjoy more of your 4th of July festivities.

It's not a backyard barbecue without this main dish. Get your party started with these smoky sliders topped with tangy red cabbage.

Whip up a big batch of black beans in your pressure cooker or multi-cooker, then top with a fresh and fragrant combination of diced cucumbers, scallions, feta, dill or cilantro, and lime juice.

Say happy birthday to America with these crowd-friendly ribs flavored with an earthy blend of sage, thyme, rosemary, fennel, and paprika. You can marinate them overnight and roast them a couple of hours before guests arrive.

Skip the deli counter version and make your own coleslaw with Asian-inspired flavors such as rice vinegar, lime juice, fresh ginger, and toasted sesame seeds. The bright colors and crunchy texture is exactly what your 4th of July menu needs.

Take a tour of the South with this classic mixture—diced pimientos, cheddar cheese, and mayonnaise. A big schmear across beef patties is a decadent and delicious.

Try your hand at wowing the crowd with homemade salted potato chips. Use a mandoline to achieve a super thin spud that crisps up perfectly in hot oil.

Rub chicken pieces with a finger-licking combination of ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. It's a main dish that's sure to hit a home run.

Give guests a taste of this nostalgic bite on the 4th of July. This recipe only requires 15 minutes of prep work, but it tastes as if you've been building the flavor since 1776.

Top grilled corn on the cob with a savory selection of grated Parmesan cheese, fresh oregano, bacon, and mayonnaise, which binds it all together.

Wow your crowd with homemade sausage (yes, really!). You can make them up to three months in advance and store in the freezer, which we recommend because it's a time-consuming—but worthwhile!—process.

Smoky, sweet, salty, and all-around satisfying, baked beans are the perfect accessory to burgers, hot dogs, pulled pork, and more. This version gets extra flavor from strips of bacon, which are baked on top of the bean mixture.

Take a break from grilled or boiled corn on the cob, and save space on the grill and stovetop, by serving this easy make-ahead corn.

We love salty-sweet combinations, and this salad is a great play on those flavors. It's also got a refreshing crunch.

These pork ribs are rubbed with a blend of earthy spices and brushed with a slowly simmered sauce that has a slight kick. They come off the grill tender yet pleasingly chewy, with just the right hit of smoky goodness to add to your Independence Day meal.