Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Seasonal Meals 4th of July Side Dishes to Round Out Your Celebration Here is everything you need to complement your Independence Day menu. By Lacey Muinos Updated on July 04, 2024 Close Photo: Greg DuPree Three things make a 4th of July celebration extra special: fireworks, food, and spending time with friends and family. To ensure that key "food" component doesn't let you down, we compiled our favorite 4th of July side dishes to guarantee a memorable holiday. While the grill master gets all the credit for burgers and dogs, let’s not forget it’s the 4th of July sides that fill everyone’s plates and stomachs. Here’s the inspo you need to complete your spread with delightful dips, sizzling skewers, innovative salads, and traditional classic sides. 01 of 26 Watermelon Salad With Pickled Rind Victor Protasio Nothing's more summery than watermelon. You can slice it, juice it, and even grill it, but once you try this recipe, you’ll want to pickle it, too. Typically, the watermelon rind doesn’t get much recipe time, but this dish makes use of the entire fruit. It’s sweet, tart, and balanced with a creamy yogurt-based spread and pistachio topping. GET THE RECIPE 02 of 26 Sweet and Tangy Baked Beans Greg DuPree Is it even a July 4th party without baked beans? This recipe includes the essentials—pinto beans, barbecue sauce, bacon, and brown sugar—but chunks of pineapple add an unexpected but welcome sweetness to the mix. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 26 Tomato Feta Dip Victor Protasio There’s always that person at the party collecting compliments for their outstanding dip, and this time, that's you! Celebrants will fawn over its super-smooth combo of broiled tomatoes, feta cheese, half and half, and seasonings. Serve with sliced veggies or pita crackers, and stand back as guests acknowledge the hit of the party. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 26 Grilled Cantaloupe and Prosciutto Skewers VICTOR PROTASIO Skewers are always a crowd-pleaser for the 4th of July, and this recipe will definitely turn heads. It lines up cubes of grilled cantaloupe, Halloumi cheese, ciabatta bread, and slices of prosciutto for a fun, no-utensils grilled party app. Think of these as Lunchables on a stick. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 26 Elote Jalapeño Poppers Victor Protasio These tasty bites work great as an appetizer or a side. The recipe elevates the classic popper with a filling that features the taste of elote—Mexican street corn—and gut-friendly Greek yogurt. Cook them in the oven for around 20 minutes or in an Instant Pot for just 10 minutes. GET THE RECIPE 06 of 26 Caprese Skewers With Balsamic Glaze Getty Images Whether you call this simple, summery, skewered dish an appetizer or a salad, guests will call it fun and flavorful. It requires only four ingredients, comes together in minutes, and finishes with a drizzle of balsamic dressing. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 26 Grilled Flatbread with Asparagus, Burrata & Bacon Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall Slice up this pizza-like dish as an app or a vegetable side dish. It starts with a prepared pizza dough (store-bought or homemade), features mozzarella and burrata cheese, and is topped with a shaved asparagus and arugula salad dressed in balsamic vinaigrette. GET THE RECIPE 08 of 26 Summer Squash With Scallions, Chile, and Parsley Greg DuPree Put your next haul of local summer squash from the farmer’s market to good use in this raw salad. While zucchini is usually cooked, it really shines in this no-cook dish with a cornucopia of parsley, scallions, and serrano chiles. Top with almonds, oil, and black pepper, and serve at room temperature. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 26 BBQ Potato Salad Jennifer Causey Potato salad is one of the most requested dishes for backyard barbecues and picnics, and this one has a tangy twist. It calls for just a few ingredients you likely have on hand, comes together quickly, and you'll love the depth of flavor that BBQ sauce adds. GET THE RECIPE 10 of 26 Nectarine and Burrata Salad GREG DUPREE The award for Most Beautiful Side Dish goes to this fruit and cheese salad that you’ll have no choice but to Instagram before serving. It features balls of burrata resting atop a platter of nectarine slices and is topped with quick-pickled onion, almonds, mint, and a lemony dressing. GET THE RECIPE 11 of 26 Summer Ambrosia Jennifer Causey This fruit salad has it all: fresh berries, sliced nectarines, and, most importantly, a healthy scoop of marshmallows. Serve as a colorful fruit salad or a healthy, wholesome dessert. GET THE RECIPE 12 of 26 Shaved Carrot Salad Jennifer Causey Here's a light, bright, no-cook side salad that gives raw carrots a turn in the spotlight. They're shaved into ribbons and tossed in an Asian-inspired dressing flavored with tahini, ginger, soy sauce, and garlic. Make this salad up to 24 hours ahead, store it in the fridge, and then serve chilled or at room temperature. GET THE RECIPE 13 of 26 Tuna and White Bean Salad Tuna salad, anyone? This protein-packed dish takes on a summertime classic. Tuna and cannellini beans star in this recipe, but the diced celery, chopped olives, and creamy mayo-based dressing make it pop. GET THE RECIPE 14 of 26 Spicy Street Corn Salad Jen Causey How do you improve on corn? Borrow ingredients from Mexican street corn—aka elote—like mayo, lime, chili powder, and Cotija cheese. This delectable dish also mixes fresh kernels with chives, cilantro, jalapeño, and arugula for an explosion of flavor and freshness. GET THE RECIPE 15 of 26 Cornbread Panzanella Greg DuPree “Panzanella” is an Italian term for a salad made from bread, tomatoes, and veggies. This twist contains a frenzy of fun ingredients—day-old cornbread, mixed tomatoes, chopped onion and cucumber, and small mozzarella balls—and gleans Italian notes from olive oil, basil, and garlic. If you want your taste buds to be whisked to the European countryside (even on an American holiday), this is the dish to make. GET THE RECIPE 16 of 26 Orzo Tomato Salad Jennifer Causey Once you try orzo, it'll be your go-to pasta shape for refreshing summer salads. This one relies on roasted cherry tomatoes for sweetness and juiciness and gets a healthy dose of crunch from pine nuts. A simple vinaigrette allows the tomatoes and orzo to shine but cuts through with a salty-sweet fusion of honey, mustard, and kosher salt. GET THE RECIPE 17 of 26 Spring Pasta Salad Caitlin Bensel If you eat with your eyes first, just wait until you set your sights on this dish. A pasta salad is perfect for a 4th of July get-together, and this one is light, bright, and won't weigh you down. It calls for sugar snap peas, which are in season through the end of summer, so don’t wait to try this one. GET THE RECIPE 18 of 26 Spaghetti Pasta Salad With Avocado-Basil Dressing Victor Protasio Spaghetti doesn't come to mind when you think of pasta salad, but this recipe may change all that. In the time it takes to cook the noodles, you can whirl a simple dressing of avocado, basil, Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, and honey. Toss with cherry tomato halves and chopped, toasted almonds for this fresh take on a summer staple, GET THE RECIPE 19 of 26 Tangy Broccoli Slaw Andrew Purcell This unconventional slaw packs a surprise in every bite. Its base consists of both raw and roasted broccoli; its creamy, mayo-free dressing is kefir-based; and dried sour cherries provide a splendid pop of sweetness. Make it ahead up to 24 hours early so you can enjoy the holiday, too! GET THE RECIPE 20 of 26 Carrot Apple Slaw Antonis Achilleos If you're looking for a mayo-laden, cabbage-based slaw, you'll be disappointed with this one. Instead, it features carrots, apples, raisins, and sauerkraut to deliver tang, sweetness, and gut-healthy microbes. A gingery dressing that makes use of the sauerkraut liquid helps you pull this together in just 5 minutes. GET THE RECIPE 21 of 26 Dill Pickle Relish Cornbread Muffins Caitlin Bensel No Southern celebration is complete with cornbread, and this recipe kicks it up a notch with a batter spiked with tangy pickle relish. The recipe calls for a package of cornbread baking mix, but you can easily make it yourself. Serve warm out of the oven or whip up a batch (or two) ahead and serve at room temperature. GET THE RECIPE 22 of 26 Joanna Gaines' Biscuit Recipe From Magnolia Table Amy Neunsinger Biscuits go with a Southern-style BBQ like hot dogs go with buns! These are good enough to serve at the Magnolia Table, Jojo's restaurant in Waco, Texas. If you're a planner, whip up a batch of pre-baked biscuits 2 to 3 weeks early, freeze them, and then bake them straight from the freezer to serve warm on the 4th. GET THE RECIPE 23 of 26 Spicy Deviled Eggs Philip Friedman; Styling by Colleen Riley You can’t go wrong with deviled eggs for a summer party, and this recipe elevates the classic with jarred pimentos, grated cheddar cheese, and a little spice: cayenne, to be exact. Make sure there is plenty of lemonade or thirst-quenching adult beverages nearby. GET THE RECIPE 24 of 26 Corn Salad With Feta and Walnuts Christopher Baker This salad features one of summer’s favorite veggies. It calls for fresh corn kernels that can be cooked, but try it with raw kernels for a crisper, juicier dish. Either way, combine those kernels with jalapeños, lime juice, oil, and walnuts,. Refrigerate for up to 24 hours and sprinkle with feta before serving. GET THE RECIPE 25 of 26 Kimchi Potato Salad Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Carla Gonzalez Hart Robust and flavorful with a gochujang kick, this twist on a potato salad is sure to delight everyone. Though the crunch in a potato salad usually comes from celery, this version uses kimchi, a fermented Korean side dish made from cabbage, radishes, carrots, and turnips. It does need to be refrigerated for a couple of hours before serving, so make sure to plan accordingly—it's worth it! GET THE RECIPE 26 of 26 Loaded Baked Potato Salad Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Carla Gonzalez Hart Get ready to be the star of the party—this potato salad is guaranteed to become everyone's new favorite! Just like a loaded baked potato, this salad has smoky bacon, fresh chives, sharp cheddar cheese, and a creamy sour cream and garlic sauce that brings everything together perfectly. The best part is it's served cold, so you get all of the perks of a baked potato without the heat on a hot day. GET THE RECIPE Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit