87 Fourth Of July Side Dishes For An All-Star Cookout

The Fourth of July is a holiday that brings friends and family together to enjoy the summer weather and a spread of good food—and everyone has a favorite make-and-take dish to bring along to the party. For guys and gals who like to grill, we have some finger-licking rib recipes that will have your guests coming back for seconds. For Southern bakers, a cookout is the perfect time to use seasonal fruits to turn out delightfully melty cobblers or easy-to-transport sheet cakes. For most, however, it's the delicious bounty of Fourth of July side dishes—not only what's on the grill—that makes a paper plate feel like your grandmother's fine china.

Celebrate Independence Day with these easy sides you can make and take. A July Fourth barbecue or cookout is simply not complete without classics such as potato salad, baked beans, tomato salad, and creamed corn. Check out this lineup of fresh, seasonal Fourth of July potluck ideas—they'll have you feeling patriotic in no time.

Classic Deviled Eggs

Sure, we love our good old-fashioned deviled eggs and they are always right for the occasion—especially a potluck.

Classic Baked Beans

A dish of baked beans is a welcome addition to any backyard barbecue, and this recipe is classic and effortless to make and take.

Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob

This recipe is simple and delicious enough on its own—but the real stars of the show are the four topping options. From a bacony ranch drizzle to a basil butter with parmesan, these toppings are so good you'll officially make corn on the cob your forever-favorite cookout side.

Best Homemade Macaroni And Cheese

You'll know this homemade mac and cheese is ready to take out of the oven when the cheese is melted and golden brown.

Classic Potato Salad

While there are plenty of different ways to make potato salad, this simple, no-fuss recipe is likely similar to the basic one that Grandma always makes.

Classic Coleslaw

Make sure to allow at least 30 minutes for the coleslaw to chill before serving.

Best-Ever Succotash

Packed with some of summer's best produce, including onion, corn, and lima beans, this traditional Southern side makes the perfect potluck dish.

Deviled Egg Pasta Salad

If you can't decide between pasta salad and deviled eggs, serve up the delicious flavors of both in one dish with this 20-minute recipe.

Tennessee Onions

This cheesy onion casserole is guaranteed to become your new favorite side dish.

7-Layer Salad

Trifle dishes aren't just for desserts. It's the perfect dish for serving up this layered salad that's not only delicious but pretty.

Old-School Squash Casserole

This is a staple dish that pairs well with just about anything you'll find at a cookout. It takes advantage of summer squash at its peak for a rich and cheesy, yet veggie-heavy dish.

Smoky-Sweet Baked Beans

You'll find less sugar and salt in this recipe than traditional baked beans, but still plenty of flavor thanks to a grated sweet potato, chopped sweet onion, and bacon.

Corn-And-Tomato Salad

Think of this salad as summertime in a bowl. It comes together with just a little bit of stirring.

Creamy Broccoli Slaw

Store-bought broccoli slaw helps this recipe come together with just 15 minutes of hands-on time.

Loaded Potato Salad

This recipe serves up everything you love about loaded potatoes in one bowl that's perfect for potlucks.

Charred-Vegetable Guacamole

Grilled corn, onions, and jalape?os make a delicious addition to homemade guacamole.

Texas Caviar

This recipe is the quickest way to be everyone's favorite host: 1 bowl, 10 ingredients, 20 minutes.

Ranch Potato Salad

Starting the potatoes for this recipe in cold water will help them cook evenly as the water comes to a boil.

Cucumber-and-Vidalia Onion Salad

This simple side dish salad comes together in just 10 minutes with no cooking required.

Cajun-Style Potato Salad

We kicked it up a notch with a Louisiana-style spin on traditional potato salad.

Oven-Roasted Corn on the Cob

When you don't have the time or energy to grill it, bake it! This recipe is a keeper.

Three-Bean Pasta Salad

We combined two potluck classics—pasta salad and three-bean salad—to make one tasty new side dish.

Macaroni Corn Casserole

Think of this recipe as the best of both corn casserole and mac and cheese together in one casserole.

Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham

As far as we're concerned, this old-school cold salad pairs well at any cookout.

Grilled Potato Salad

You'll want to boil the potatoes until they are fork tender and then slice and grill them for this tangy and creamy potato salad.

Quick Pickled Slaw

Coleslaw is a summer side dish that we can't get enough of. This recipe is best served the day-of for maximum freshness.

Easy Grilled Asparagus

Use crispy bacon, herbs, and dijon mustard to spruce up your asparagus this summer.

Tomato-Herb Panzanella

This vibrant, shareable dish is the ultimate way to put your summer produce to good use.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Nothing says summer like a bucket of fresh strawberries from a roadside farm stand!

Marinated Feta with Cherry Tomatoes

You can never have too many seasonal tomato recipes in your back pocket. This one might even earn its spot as your new go-to!

Pineapple-Pepper Slaw

A little sweet, a little spicy—this slaw is sure to be a potluck star.

Cowboy Pasta Salad

With taco-inspired ingredients like black beans, corn, cheese, and ground beef, this side dish might be your new summer family cookout go-to.

Heirloom Tomato Pie

Summertime is practically synonymous with tomato pie, and this recipe will have you making it all season long!

Spicy Pepper Jelly Coleslaw

It's no secret that Southerners love their pepper jelly. We took it one step further by dedicating a hot-and-sweet coleslaw recipe to the standout condiment.

Mixed Herb-and-Heirloom Tomato Salad

Independence Day is the perfect time to make this effortless yet memorable tomato salad—right in the height of summer, when tomatoes and fresh herbs abound.

Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal

When it's too hot to break out the deep-fryer, a quick and lighter pan-fry will do the trick. It lets fresh okra really shine.

Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese

Macaroni and cheese...but make it summery. Use your in-season tomatoes to top off this classic comfort side dish.

Tomato, Peach, and Corn Salad

While you'll see plenty of salads that pair tomatoes and watermelon together, we think peaches deserve a little more attention beyond cobbler. This salad tastes like summer.

Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

These bacon-wrapped bundles make serving a crowd easy, which is the name of the game on the Fourth of July.

Macaroni Pie

My, oh my—a macaroni pie?! Mac and cheese that's firm enough to be sliceable, but with an utterly irresistible creaminess that can only be the result of pure magic—we're not sure how, but we made it happen.

Queso-Filled Mini Peppers

Part appetizer, part side dish, 100% party-approved.

Spicy Grilled Corn Salad

Inspired by Mexican-style street corn, this side dish hits all of the tangy, smoky, and ever-so-slightly creamy notes.

Marinated Watermelon and Tomato Salad

This isn't your basic watermelon salad. Tomatoes and melon soak up a tangy lime-ginger-mint vinaigrette and are topped with creamy goat cheese.

Okra and Chickpeas in Fresh Tomato Sauce

While this whole dish is a winning combo, it's the okra that will have everyone coming back for seconds.

Crispy Potatoes

Two different kinds of potatoes and the foolproof combo of seasonings will see you through this recipe.

Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad

It doesn't get more crowd-pleasing than a Caprese. Give this salad a fun new look by using a mix of multicolored cherry tomatoes and small fresh mozzarella balls tossed in a simple vinaigrette.

Stuffed Okra Poppers

Got fresh okra? Here's how to use it. We updated the original jalape?o popper with crisp, smoky grilled okra.

Permanent Slaw

Like a cross between a vinegar-based coleslaw and chowchow, this recipe is just the tangy touch to add to any cookout main.

Oven-Fried Zucchini Sticks

Serve these crispy zucchini fries as a fun and fresher alternative to French fries.

Skillet Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Don't be fooled: There are still pasta noodles in there. It shouldn't come as a surprise that we wouldn't dare replace our pasta with cauliflower. Instead, we decided to combine the two.

Grilled Sweet Potato Fries

We'll be serving up these crowd favorite sweet potato fries all year long.

Mac and Cheese with Ham

Believe it or not, this reader favorite is made on the lighter side. Subtle than most on the butter and cheese, this outdoor party original will still melt in your mouth.

Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas

This gorgeous summer pasta salad showcases peak-season tomatoes, fresh herbs, and field peas.

Field Pea, Corn, and Bacon Salad

Akin to a time-honored succotash, this recipe can be thrown together in just minutes.

Tee's Corn Pudding

One of our most requested recipes for a summer outdoor event, this classic recipe has a rich, soufflé-like texture without the hassle.

Golden Corn Fritters

These fritters are reminiscent of hush puppies, but are much lighter and richer in flavor.

Squash Ribbon Salad

Make a light and bright summer salad with your seasonal bounty.

Spicy Pineapple Slaw

No mayo required for this summertime slaw.

Grilled Baby Zucchini-and-Tomatoes Salad

Mint adds a pop of fresh flavor to this seasonal side dish.

Grilled Peach-and-Arugula Salad with Feta

Throw some peaches on the grill with your hamburgers and hot dogs. The sweet slices pair perfectly with feta and arugula for a side salad.

Mrs. R's Coleslaw

It's not a barbecue without the crunchy, slightly sweet, tad-bit tangy medley that is coleslaw.

Broccoli and Grape Pasta Salad

A light and refreshing pasta salad for any potluck.

Creamed Silver Queen Corn

This dish is a staple at cookouts and barbecues around the South. For an added wow factor, top the creamed corn with a sprinkling of chopped fried bacon.

Potatoes Patio

It's the creamy, cheesy potato bake that belongs at every barbecue.

Zucchini-Potato Casserole

The French word for this beautiful dish of layered vegetables is tian. Packed with ingredients such as garden fresh onions, tomatoes and zucchini, we call it sheer summer goodness.

Pimento Cheese-Stuffed Pickled Okra

A match made in heaven— it doesn't get more Southern than pimento cheese and just about anything pickled.

Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole

Yellow squash and zucchini are quite prolific in the South. This recipe, a popular choice for cookouts and outdoor parties, makes delicious use of summer's bounty.

Strawberry-Tomato Salad

Look for mini multicolored tomatoes at the supermarket. Toss them with fresh herbs and strawberries for a surprising side to serve with grilled meat or fish.

Rum Baked Beans

Baked beans belong at a Fourth of July cookout like hotdogs belong at the ballpark. Loaded with bacon and four types of beans, this side is so hearty some might mistake it for the main course.

Street Corn Salad

This quick and effortless Street Corn Salad comes together in a quick 20 minutes. Combine the ingredients with a dash of olive oil and sprinkle with cheese and you have a delicious summer side or dip. Now that's summer siding made simple!

Big Daddy's Grilled Blue Cheese and Bacon Potato Salad

Every good cook south of the Mason Dixon line has a special recipe for potato salad. Give this one, with grilled potatoes and crumbled blue cheese, a try, and you might just add it to your list of favorites.

Picnic Egg Salad

No picnic or potluck is complete with one of the most nostalgic spreads— egg salad.

Garden Potato Salad

New potatoes are simply baby spring potatoes with delicate, thin skins. The red-skinned potatoes, along with the vibrant green peas and herbs, make for a colorful summer side dish.

Grandma Gwen's Beans

This top-rated reader favorite won our 2012 'Cue Awards for Best Baked Beans. One bite and you will understand why.

Ham Salad

We are bringing old-fashioned ham salad back to the spotlight with this recipe. It's fit for any occasion: Keep it simple with crackers or dress it up as a tea sandwich.

Fried Green Tomatoes

The ultimate side dish: Serve them shining on their own, with a dip, or on an iconic Fried Green Tomato BLT.

Two-Cheese Squash Casserole

This cheesy summertime favorite calls for yellow squash, but feel free to sub in some zucchini for an added burst of color.

Tomato-and-Watermelon Salad

If you like salt on your watermelon, you'll love the flavors of this salad. When Chef Bill Smith at Crook's Corner Café and Bar in Chapel Hill, NC put this dish on his menu, it was an instant hit. Who knew tomatoes and watermelons play so well together?

Shout Hallelujah Potato Salad

This recipe may remind you of the potato salad your grandmother always served at family reunions. With hard-boiled eggs, sweet salad pickles, mayonnaise and jalape?o peppers, we guarantee your guests will be back for seconds.

Three-Cheese Pasta Bake

This delicious variation on traditional macaroni and cheese is easy to prepare and ideal for both weeknight family dinners and weekend entertaining.

Whipped-Cream Corn Salad

This recipe elevates classic cream corn and makes it extra light and fluffy.

Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

Even the vegetable averse will go crazy for these green beans made with bacon, crispy Parm, and plenty of garlic.

Summer Orzo Salad

The ideal big-batch summer salad to make ahead for any gathering, this dish is packed with fresh veggies, including cucumbers, tomatoes, and spinach.

BLT Salad with Buttermilk-Parmesan Dressing and Buttery Croutons

This deconstructed version of summer's most beloved sandwich (the BLT) makes for an incredibly satisfying side.

Deviled Egg-Potato Salad

You can't go wrong when you combine two of the South's most popular picnic dishes: deviled eggs and potato salad.

Sesame, Tomato, and Cucumber Salad

As much as we love using up our summer tomatoes in a fat-stacked BLT, we'll leave out a pound of the juicy red delights for this refreshing salad.

South Carolina Slaw

A traditional Carolina slaw uses vinegar, not mayo. This one also pairs up with two types of mustard for a truly tangy slaw option.

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