Cooking for a Fourth of July doesn’t just involve deciding on burgers or dogs, but sorting out the full line up. Creating a menu involves knowing your guests, settling on dishes that will marry well on a buffet table, and getting real about your time and bandwidth. Below I’ve curated five fab Fourth of July menus that range from family-friendly to a little bit fancy. Feel free to mix and match depending on what grabs your eye. In advance of the holiday, here are a few tips to make it all go smoothly:
1.Lean on your staff
For me, that’s my family, who are very capable of helping me shop, chop, and clean up. Use that little red hen school of party planning.
2. Outsource, especially if you have little ones underfoot.
If you are having guests, ask them to bring a dish. You can share a link to a recipe for them to follow. That way, you’ll know what’s coming and will have a menu that works.
3. Get a jump on things
The supermarket and farmers’ markets will get busy as we roll into the weekend, so shop ahead and do whatever prep you can in advance. You’ll enjoy your Fourth that much more.
4. Don’t plan for perfect
Holidays should be about being with your beloveds more than getting everything right. Don’t sweat it if you over-salt the salad dressing or leave the tart in the oven too long.
Five Fab Fourth of July Menus
Family Favorites
Crunchy Veggies with Healthier Green Goddess Dressing
Pizza on the Grill
Watermelon Wedge Salad
Ice Cream Pie with Chocolate Cookie Crust
Crowd Pleaser
Honey Roasted Tomato Bruschetta
Pork Chops with Peach Salsa or Instant Pot Glazed Raspberry Ribs
Corn and Avocado Salad with Quick Pickled Onions and/or Warm BLT Potato Salad
Summer Fruit Crisp with Date Walnut Topping
Meatless Menu
Fancy Smashed Pea Toast with Feta
Grilled Vegetables with Herb Creme Fraiche
Tomato Zucchini Tart with Olive Oil Crust
Berries in a Cloud
Pretty Pretty
Colorful Cheese Board
Cilantro Lime Marinated Grilled Chicken
Fattoush Salad and/or Quinoa Tabbouli
Wild Blueberry Tart with GF Crust
Make Ahead Party or Picnic
So Simple Deviled Eggs
New England-Style Shrimp Rolls
Peach, Tomato, and Corn Salad
Whole-Grain Crumble Jam Bars or Upside Down Plum Cake
As for what to serve with your feast, check out this post for summery mocktails and this one for refreshing spritzers