50 Fantastic Patriotic 4th of July Inspired Recipes for Summer (2024)

It’s time to pull out our reds, whites, and blues! If you’re having a barbecue, a potluck, or a sophisticated celebration, you’ll want to have your food and drink referencing our nation's favorite colors.

I’ve compiled a list of 50 “4th of July” inspired recipes. From starters to desserts, from mains to drinks I’ve got you covered!

Scroll through my list and save any dishes that suit your plans because you’ll find your crowd-pleaser here.

4th of July Inspired Starters

1. Easy Sweet and Savory Patriotic Charcuterie Board

Let's start this feast with some easy finger food that still says “sophisticated”. Apart from using a cookie cutter to create star-shaped cheese, this recipe is a simple job of finding the red, white, and blue-colored foods and laying them neatly on a sharing plate.

2. Red, White & Blue Cheesecake Strawberries

This could be a dessert, but in my mind, this refreshing quick snack is a great appetizer to pass around whilst the main food is cooking. It looks simple, but the homemade cool whip will wow your friends into thinking you are a culinary genius.

3. Mini Berry Cream Pies

A healthy starter or dessert to cleanse your pallet. Great for a potluck!

4. Grilled Blackberry, Strawberry, Basil, and Brie Pizza Crisps

Fruit on a crispy pizza base? Crazy! But trust me it works!

4th of July Inspired Sides

5. Red, White, and Blue Coleslaw

This dish might not have the obvious colors of red, white, and blue, but the flavor is all there. The white mayonnaise, blue cheese, and red cherry tomatoes create a refreshing side for your more heavy mains.

6. Red White and Blue Potato Salad

The color is all in the potatoes themselves! You might have trouble finding the ingredients, but if you manage it, this could be a perfect dish for you!

7. Ultra Easy Pineapple Chicken Kabobs

This simple and refreshing side dish will get your mouth watering!

8. Red, White, and Blue Patriotic Peppermint Patties

This is a fun, hands-on cooking experience that your kids will love to make, and everyone will love to eat as they get ready for the main event!

9. Red, White, and Blue Deviled Eggs

Devolved eggs are an 80s favorite and now a dish of the past, but with these bright colors, how could you pass up the chance to show off your cooking skills!

10. Cookie Cutter Fruit Salad

Simple, Refreshing, and Effective!

4th of July Inspired Mains

11. 4th of July Pulled Pork

This dish might not have all the colors you’d want on the 4th of July, but it does have that All-American taste!

12. Summer Strawberry Sliders with Blue Cheese Sauce

This dish makes burgers feel fresh and light, perfect for a super hot day and a nice cold beer.

13. Cherry-Almond Farro Salad

You can have this dish as a side, but it is filling and tasty enough for it to be its own main! If you have any vegetarian guests this July, then you’ll be covered by offering this dish!

14. Red, White, and Blueberry Grilled Chicken

Smokey and spicy meats dipped into a sweet and sour sauce, a beautiful combination with all the colors you’d want for your 4th July celebration!

15. Mixed Berry Hand Pies

Main or dessert, this pie is a delight to the tastebuds!

16. Flag Pizza

This super dish is great for the little ones and anyone who likes to play with their food.

17. Blue and White Potato Gnocchi with Fresh Red Tomato Sauce Recipe

Want something a little more sophisticated? Try this Gnocchi dish!

18. Hawaiian Belly Buster Burger

Are your friends and family gourmet burger lovers? Check out this rich barbecue flavor which is layered in a sweet aftertaste that will make your belly beg you for another bite!

19. Prize-Winning Baby Back Ribs

This is a foolproof recipe to create a deliciously tender rack of ribs.

20. Delicious Turkey Burgers

Need a healthier meat-eater option? Then go for the thanksgiving favorite, turkey burger!

21. Red, White, and Blue Spaghetti

Add a bit of fun to the classic alfredo!

4th of July Inspired Desserts

22. Red, White, and Blue Popsicles

Made with real blueberries and real strawberries, this natural treat will impress adults and kids alike!

23. Red, White, and BlueBerries

Want to keep everything light, fun, and quick, but need to make sure your food stretches to a large number of people? Have a look at Taste Of Home for their Red, White, and BlueBerry dessert!

24. Red, White, and Blue Finger Jello

A fun dessert that the kids will love to eat and can make themselves. Creating a fun activity to get into the 4th July spirit!

25. Stars and Stripes S’mores Cups

This easy-baked muffin is wonderfully bright in color and delicious in taste! Your kids could make this treat themselves!

26. Marbled 4th Of July 'Box' Cake

A colorful cake with a bang! Perfect for any baker!

27. Red, White, and Blue Pinwheel Icebox Cookies

A swirl of delight for your friends and family!

28. Patriotic Marshmallow Popcorn Cake

Super easy and super fun, make this summer cake recipe to impress your friends and family!

29. Red, White and Blue, Oreo Cookie Pops

Imagine the look on everyone’s face when you bring this treat to the barbeque!

30. Cherry Cobbler on the Grill

The sweet-and-tangy taste of cherry with a buttery-and-crispy oat topping will make everyone ask for seconds!

31. Stained Glass Jello

Jello, but fancy! Create this unusual stained glass effect and make your guest bewildered at how you pulled it off!

32. Red, White & Blue Candy Apples

The classic Halloween treat brought forward to summertime celebrations!

33. Pavlova

Everyone loves a pavlova so it's about time we all knew how to make one! You’ve got the white, now add strawberries and blueberries and you’ll be all set!

34. American Flag Rice Krispie Treats

An easy kid-friendly recipe that will make everyone proud!

35. Homemade Rock Candy

Who doesn’t love rock candy! Learn how to make it yourself, and spark that joy in the next generation!

36. Star-Spangled Gumdrops

Make these little treats and your friends and family will ask you where you bought them from! Show off or keep it a secret, up to you!

37. Patriotic Gelatin Salad

This isn’t really a salad, but a layered jelly cake! Easy to make, and impressive to see!

38. Firecracker Cupcakes

As the fireworks go off in the sky, make them go off in your mouth too!

39. Red, White and Blue Meringues

Sweet and crunchy with a subtle mix of our country's colors!

40. Red, White, and Blue Ice Pops

To keep you cool and patriotic!

4th of July Inspired Drinks

41. Red White and Blue Layered co*cktail

An epic drink to carry around with you as you celebrate, sing and laugh with your mates is all that you really want. This 5 ingredient co*cktail is super easy to make, but makes you look like a co*cktail whiz!

42. Sangria In Rosé, Bourbon, and Blue

If you want to make a co*cktail with a little more subtlety then try this Sangria mix. This is a co*cktail that you make hours before you need it, and keep it in your refrigerator ready for your guests to enjoy.

43. Layered Strawberry-Lime Margaritas

This margarita is tasty with or without tequila. If you want to make this drink a virgin you can still create those tasty block colors!

44. Elegant 4th of July Ice Cubes

This recipe is super easy./ The idea is that you add a raspberry, blueberry, torn mint, and water into an ice cube tray and freeze it. When the time comes, take the cubes out and pop them into your drink.

45. Blue co*cktail

Make this drink your signature this summer!

46. Sour Cherry Gin Fizz

A classic drink to help you unwind after spending all of that time cooking for your guests!

47. Red, White, and Blue Fruit Patriotic Punch

The stars are made out of apples, for a creative flair!

48. Red, White, and Blue Vodka Lemonade Slushies

You can make this drink child-friendly by not adding vodka! Take a sip and try not to get brain freeze!

49. Patriotic Shot

A quick and easy shot with a fun separation of colors!

50. Layered Drinks

A thick separation with the right kind of ice can really make a statement!