20 Fourth of July Side Dishes for Your Cookout
Macaroni salads, baked beans, coleslaws, and corn are must-have sides for your Fourth of July menu.
We brought out true summer side dish classics to celebrate the Fourth of July! Potato and macaroni salads, baked beans, coleslaws, corn salads, and more, these must-have sides pair well with classic Fourth of July menu items like ribs, barbeque, and fried chicken. Dive into these deliciously fun sides and enjoy a flavorful Fourth of July.
Chef John's Boston Baked Beans
These Boston baked beans go with just about anything you'll toss on the grill or bring to the picnic. Bacon, navy beans, molasses, brown sugar, and mustard are the key ingredients here. It's 4th of July food with a true-blue Boston pedigree.
Fourth of July Salad
Toss together fresh berries, watermelon, and coconut for a quick and easy fruit salad that's perfect for 4th of July picnics and BBQs. "This is the best holiday salad, hands-down," says Maggie. "Great wholesome healthy taste! Great for the fireworks, picnics, or a family dinner side. Add a hint of love and enjoy!"
Chef John's Classic Macaroni Salad
Here's a true classic. "Whether it's sitting next to some smoky ribs or just a humble hot dog, this deli-style macaroni salad will always be a crowd favorite," says Chef John.
Bacon Pea Salad
Bacon, fresh peas, and cheese combine with a creamy dressing to create a 5-star summer salad. Chill well before serving. "A delicious refreshing side dish!" raves Asiantipped. "Perfect with bbq chicken or anything really!"
Mikes' Coleslaw
The pride of the picnic, this quick-and-easy coleslaw recipe contains almonds, cranberries, celery, peppers, and onions. "A nice change from traditional coleslaw with a mayonnaise dressing," says lutzflcat. "Enjoyed the sweetness from the honey and the crunch from the almonds. Very nice."
Patriotic Pasta
"Serve this patriotic pasta salad loaded with tomatoes, blue cheese, and pasta for a festive addition to the 4th of July picnic table," says OlgaB.
Corn Salad with Creamy Italian Dressing
"This corn salad recipe is one of my favorite summer side dishes," says Chef John. "Simple deliciousness, that's what this is. It's a perfect complement to just about any meat you pull off the grill, and can be dressed in countless ways. Serve at room temperature."
Sweet Carrot Salad
"This salad is sweet and simple," says Doug Matthews. "Great for a BBQ or a potluck and best when left to sit for an hour to let flavors meld."
Quick Savory Grilled Peaches
Fresh peaches get a savory twist with a brush of olive oil and sprinkling of herbs. Reviewer Emil24 says she was able to successfully make this recipe on her indoor griddle too, no grill required.
Chef John's Baba Ghanoush
A refreshing dip, perfect for chips and veggies, baba ghanoush gets a smoky flavor thanks to a quick trip to the grill.
Spicy Watermelon
"What a great combination of flavors," says Volleyballmom. "Never would have thought to add these spices to watermelon. So glad we did."
Sour Cream Cornbread
A hearty slice of cornbread is perfect for sopping up sauce from baked beans or coleslaw. This recipe stays delightfully moist, thanks to the addition of sour cream.
American Potato Salad
"Just a good old fashioned, down home potato salad recipe that brings back memories of picnics in the park and family gatherings," says JOSLYN. "Wonderful as it is or make it your own by adding additional ingredients of your choice."
Best Broccoli Salad
"I love broccoli salad but have never had it with Mozzarella cheese gives a nice mild creaminess to the salad," says *Sherri*. "This salad is good enough for company and will be in my recipe box."
Calico Bean Casserole
This hearty combination of kidney beans, baked beans, butter beans, ground beef, bacon, and onion makes an excellent alternative to baked beans. "I made this for a BBQ I went to and everyone wanted the recipe," says reviewer Mary Ann.
Best Fried Green Tomatoes
No southern summer would be complete without fried green tomatoes, so good thing they're plentiful come Fourth of July.
Watermelon Feta Salad
Fresh yellow squash, zucchini, and onion are all seasoned in a Cajun-inspired marinade: "We'll use this easy, extremely tasty recipe often this summer," says reviewer LIZCANCOOK.
Cajun Grilled Corn
Three ingredients are all you need to make this easy summer side: corn, butter, and Cajun seasoning together for a memorable holiday bite.
Chef John's Succotash
"This may be America's oldest vegetable recipe, coming from a Narragansett Indian word, 'msickquatash,' which, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, means 'boiled corn kernels,'" says Chef John. "When most of you hear the word succotash, you probably don't think of a delicious vegetable side dish, you probably think of the catchphrase, 'Sufferin' succotash!' But succotash really is a great and very underrated recipe."
Smoked Asparagus
Throw some asparagus on the smoker alongside your meaty mains at your Fourth of July barbeque — you'll never go back to asparagus any other way.
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