8 Great 4th of July Party Food Ideas
Food and Drink

8 Great 4th of July Party Food Ideas

Whether you’re entertaining with friends and family or throwing your street’s biggest block party, there’s nothing more fun than all-American cookout classics on Independence Day. Here’s a few 4th of July Party Food Ideas to get the menu planning started. Grab those red, white, and blue streamers and fire up the grill. It’s time to throw a star-spangled party.

Sister Mary’s Heavenly Deviled Eggs

Courtesy of the American Egg Board, IncredibleEgg.com

"Amped up deviled eggs with bacon and cheddar cheese. Perfect finger food for a game day gathering or holiday party appetizer. Quickly prep ahead of time in only 30 minutes with no mess. Your guests won’t be able to resist the temptation of this twist on a classic appetizer."

Prep: 30 minutes Servings: 24

 

14 large hard-boiled eggs

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup sour cream

1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

1/3 cup cooked bacon, crumbled

1/4 cup (1 ounce) sharp cheddar cheese, finely shredded

2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped

Cut the eggs lengthwise in half. Remove the yolks to a medium bowl. Set 24 of the white halves on a plate. Finely chop the remaining four white halves and set aside.

Mash the yolks with a fork. Add the mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, lemon juice and pepper. Mix well until smooth. Add the chopped egg whites, bacon, cheese and chives. Mix well.

Spoon the yolk mixture evenly among each egg-white half. Refrigerate, covered, to blend flavors. Sprinkle with paprika just before serving, if desired.

Shrimp Ceviche with Purple Potato Chips

Reprinted with permission of Potatoes USA; Photo credit: Potatoes USA

"Tender shrimp marinated in citrus juice along with chilis, onion, tomatoes, cucumbers, and garlic. Served alongside crispy purple potato chips."

Prep Time: 20 minutes Marinating Time: 20 minutes Serves: 4

 

1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined

½ cup freshly squeezed lime juice

¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice

¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 serrano chilies, sliced thin

1/3 cup tomatoes, diced

½ cup cucumbers, diced

1/3 cup red onions, diced and rinsed in cold water

1 garlic clove, chopped fine

¼ cup cilantro, chopped

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

5 ounces purple potato chips, bagged

Chop the peeled and deveined shrimp into ½-inch pieces.

Pour the lime, orange, and lemon juices over the shrimp and allow to marinate 20 minutes. Add the chilies, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, garlic, cilantro, and olive oil. Stir to combine, then allow to sit 10 minutes.

Place the ceviche in a serving bowl and pair with a basket of crispy blue/purple potato chips. Any potato chips (or tortilla chips) can be subbed, however, the colorful potato chips make the dish visually stunning.

Classic American Cheeseburger

Excerpted with permission from Weber's Ultimate Grilling: A Step-by-Step Guide to Barbecue Genius, by Jamie Purviance, © 2019 Weber-Stephen Products LLC; photo: Ray Kachatorian

"Even allowing for differences in personal tastes, this burger approaches perfection. At first bite, meaty juices will run down your chin and the flavors will remind you just how gratifying an old-fashioned burger can be. There are many ways to personalize these. If you wish, add your mesquite, apple, or hickory wood chips to the grill, or top with bacon. While sliced yellow American cheese is traditional, grated mild cheddar has a bit more flavor, and the shreds melt very readily, too."

Prep: 10 minutes Grill: 8–10 minutes Serves 4

 

1½ pounds ground chuck (80% lean)

1 teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

4 thin slices mild cheddar cheese

4 sesame hamburger buns, split

4 leaves iceberg lettuce, broken to fit the bun

8 slices ripe tomato

8 dill pickle chips

Ketchup

Mustard

Mayonnaise

Prepare the grill for direct cooking over medium-high heat (400°F). In a bowl using your hands, mix together the ground chuck, salt, and pepper.

Gently form four patties of equal size, each about 3/4 inch thick.

With your thumb or the back of a spoon, make a shallow indentation about 1 inch wide in the center of the patties to prevent them from forming a dome as they cook.

Grill the patties over direct medium-high heat, with the lid closed, until cooked to medium doneness (160ºF), 8 to 10 minutes, turning once or twice.

Turn them only when enough crust has developed on the surface of meat that that patties release easily from the grate, without sticking.

During the final minute of grilling time, place a slice cheese on each patty to melt.

Toast the buns, cut side down, over direct heat.

Grilled Brats with Onion Relish

Courtesy of the National Pork Board, PorkBeInspired.com

"For your next tailgate party, picnic or backyard BBQ, serve your guests Grilled Brats with Onion Relish. Ready to eat in 30 minutes."

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Serves 4

 

4 bratwursts, uncooked

2 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large onion, sliced

1 12-ounce can beer

1 teaspoon brown sugar, firmly packed

1/4 cup bread and butter pickles, roughly chopped

1 teaspoon thyme leaves, chopped

In large deep skillet, heat olive oil over medium high heat and add onion. Sauté, stirring frequently, until very soft, about 8-10 minutes. Add beer and brown sugar and cook over medium high heat until liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Continue cooking until the onion turns a golden brown, stirring constantly. Stir in bacon, pickles and thyme. Season with salt and pepper.

Prepare a medium hot fire in grill. Grill bratwurst directly over heat, turning, until evenly browned, about 5-7 minutes and to an internal temperature of 160°F. Remove from grill and top with onion relish.

Note: The onion relish can be made ahead and reheated. Store it in the refrigerator. Serve it warm or at room temperature.

Red White and Blue Potato Salad

Courtesy of Texas based MountainKing® Potatoes, mtnking.com

"Whip up this quick and easy, crowd pleasing potato salad at the next tailgate or backyard BBQ as you celebrate with friends and family."

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Serves: 6

 

2 1/2 pounds MountainKing® Texas Red Potatoes

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup blue cheese, crumbled

4 hard boiled eggs, chopped

2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

Wash potatoes, and cut into quarters. Boil potatoes over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until fork tender. Drain potatoes, and place in a large mixing bowl. Set potatoes aside until completely cool, or place in the refrigerator for one hour.

In a separate small bowl, mix the mayonnaise and blue cheese together until combined. When the potatoes are cooled, stir in mayonnaise mixture until evenly coated. Gently stir in chopped hard-boiled eggs and salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with parsley to garnish. Serve immediately, and enjoy.

Classic Baked Beans

Recipe courtesy of Whole Foods Market

"Impress your tailgate or homegate guests! Assembling baked beans from scratch is not hard, and the resulting delicious flavor makes it worth it. Beans can be assembled ahead of time and baked just before serving at the tailgate or backyard BBQ party! "

Serves: 6–8

 

3 slices nitrate-free bacon, roughly chopped

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 large yellow onion, chopped

1–2 tablespoons tomato paste

1/2 cup light brown sugar

2 tablespoons molasses

1/2 to 1 teaspoon chipotle chile powder, more to taste

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

3 15-ounce cans white beans, such as navy, rinsed & drained or 6 cups cooked white beans

1–1½ cups low-sodium chicken broth, plus more if needed

Preheat oven to 325°F. Cook bacon in a large, oven-proof skillet over medium heat until it starts to release its fat.

Add olive oil and onions and cook until translucent and soft, 5 to 7 minutes.

Stir in tomato paste, sugar, molasses, chile powder, mustard and vinegar until well combined and cook for 1 minute.

Add beans, broth, salt and pepper and stir gently to combine. Cover skillet tightly with a lid or foil and bake for 1 hour.

Remove lid, add more broth if needed to moisten beans and continue to bake, uncovered, until top is browned and bubbly, about 30 minutes more. Serve hot.

Sugar Cookie Fruit Pizza

"A giant sugar cookie dough crust with a creamy delicious spread topped off with an assortment of fresh fruit of your choice. "

Serves 16

 

1 (18 ounce) package refrigerated sugar cookie dough

1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

Fresh fruit: strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, bananas, raspberries, etc.

Preheat oven to 350º F.

On an ungreased medium baking sheet, smooth the refrigerated sugar cookie dough into a single layer approximately 1/4 inch thick. Bake in preheated oven 10 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned and center is no longer doughy.

In a medium bowl, blend the marshmallow creme and cream cheese. Spread the mixture over the cooled crust.

Arrange with assortment of fresh fruit of your choice on top. Chill until ready to serve.

Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce

Image: Depositphotos

"Bread Pudding recipe with a rich Bourbon Cream Sauce is a classic Southern dessert perfect for any occasion!"

Serves 16

 

1 pound French style bread

3 1/4 cups milk

3 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup pecans

1/4 cup raisins (optional)

 

Sauce:

1 cup granulated sugar

6 tablespoons. butter, melted

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 tablespoon bourbon

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon white corn syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla

Tear bread into medium pieces. Add sugar and cinnamon. Mix milk, lightly beaten eggs and vanilla. Add to bread mixture. Place half of the mix in a casserole dish. Layer pecans and raisins, if used. Top with the rest of the mix. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.

To make sauce, combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil for one minute. Serve warm with warm bread pudding.