These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families
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These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families
This Independence Day, cook up a spread of star-spangled 4th of July recipes worthy of America's birthday. From traditional 4th of July foods (we’re talking about you, coleslaw and potato salad) to modern, creative finger foods, we've rounded up mouthwatering recipes to help you celebrate the summer holiday in the most delicious way possible. Fire up the grill and make some of the best all-American entrees, keeping it classic with fried chicken, smoky meats, and burgers of all kinds — or even trying some zesty seafood recipes that taste like you’re eating beachside. You'll of course have to pair it with some delicious 4th of July apps, refreshing summer salads, or the best desserts to cap off a backyard barbecue. And don't forget the drink recipes to pair with all your cookout fare — it is the American way, after all.
And the fun doesn’t have to stop at your 4th of July menu: embrace your patriotic pride with some red-white-and-blue decorations or some creative crafts (we’ll be playing American Flag Corn Hole all summer long). The best way to celebrate living in the land of the free is with some old-fashioned summer fun, so go ahead and don your best blue garb, make some room on your plate, and raise a glass to 244 more years.
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Beef and Mushroom Burgers
These half-veggie, half-beefy burgers get an extra dose of flavor from mushrooms. With cheese and all the fixin's, they might just be the new ultimate burger.
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Grilled Leek Potato Salad
Toss this mild oniony veg on the grill for a boost of charred flavor to a classic grainy mustard potato salad.
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Tangy Charred Coleslaw
Lightly charring wedges of cabbage before cutting it into smaller pieces transforms ordinary slaw into extraordinary.
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Steak Chimichurri
Make an extra batch of this zesty Argentinian-inspired herb, garlic, and chili sauce. You're going to want to spread it on everything.
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Chilled Tortellini Romesco
You'll never go back to plain old pasta once you've had a cheesy side salad. Bonus: the Romesco sauce can also be tossed with potatoes, or used as a dip or a killer sandwich spread.
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Grilled Chicken Wings
Once you toss this game-day classic on the grill, you'll never go back to boring fried wings again.
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Chicago-Style Chicken Dogs
Sweet and spicy pickles and peppers make these grilled dogs a real winner.
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Grilled Sweet Potatoes With Lemon-Herb Sauce
A fiery, fragrant chile and mint relish is the perfect topper to perk up these smoky grilled sweet potatoes.
Get the recipe for Grilled Sweet Potatoes With Lemon-Herb Sauce »
RELATED: 60+ Grill Recipes That Will Be Your New Summer Favorites
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Grilled Pineapple
Juicy pineapple dipped in coconut sugar and cinnamon, then grilled until golden and caramelized, is the perfect start-of-summer dessert.
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Charred Salsa
Grilling nearly all of the ingredients before blending gives this salsa its uniquely smoky flavor.
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Heirloom Tomato Salad
This salad is all about the tomatoes — choose the highest quality options you can find at the farmer's market or grocery store for the most delicious summer flavor.
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Mexican Grilled Corn
Grilled corn gets even better with zesty, spicy, and smoky toppings. Oh, and plenty of crumbled Cotija cheese.
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Zucchanoush
For a fun, summery twist on baba ganoush, try swapping out eggplants for zucchini to take advantage of the summer squash in its peak season.
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Grilled Green Beans, Fennel, and Farro
Packed with fiber-loaded farro, this flavorful side also makes for a light vegetarian main.
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Corn Wheels With Hot Honey Butter
Give summer a warm welcome by complementing your main with these sweet and spicy corn wheels. Top tip: The more honey butter, the better.
Get the recipe for Corn Wheels with Hot Honey Butter »
RELATED: 20 Easy Grilled Corn Recipes to Round Out Your Summer BBQ
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Greek Salad Recipe
Flavorful capers give this go-to Mediterranean dish a serious boost of flavor, while a pinch of confectioners’ sugar balances the tartness for the perfect zesty bite. Consider this our go-to Greek salad recipe.
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Green Chile Cheeseburger
Roasted green chiles, gooey cheddar cheese, and a brioche bun are a genius way to take your burger game to the next level.
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Charred Shrimp, Leek, and Asparagus Skewers
Because cocktail shrimp are boring. Serve this shrimp and veggie trip with a spicy homemade sauce for a punch of flavor.
Get the recipe for Charred Shrimp, Leek, and Asparagus Skewers »
RELATED: 20 Quick and Easy Grilled Shrimp Recipes to Try This Summer
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Cucumber and Cantaloupe Salad With Savory Quinoa Granola
Skip basic fruit salad. This cool and crunchy side is packed with fresh flavor.
Get the recipe for Cucumber and Cantaloupe Salad with Savory Quinoa Granola »
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Ice Cream S'mores
Who needs a campfire?! These are a cinch to make with store-bought ice cream, graham crackers, and all your favorite toppings and mix-ins.
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Best Ever Fried Chicken
For an all-American meal, fry up a batch of crispy, golden chicken and serve with an array of dipping sauces.
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Green Goddess Carrot Salad
With a light buttermilk dressing, this colorful carrot salad makes the perfect start to any summer meal or could double as the entire meal itself.
Get the recipe for Green Goddess Carrot Salad »
RELATED: 31 Healthy Salads for a Very Filling, Very Un-boring Meal
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Grilled Chicken Sliders
These fun mini sandwiches are piled high with smoky marinated chicken that has a kick and cool crunchy veggies. You can grill the chicken ahead of time and serve them cool or at room temp.
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Lemon Orzo Salad
Raw zucchini (a.k.a. summer’s finest veggie) gets “cooked” when added to the hot pasta. Bonus: it’s a cinch to make ahead of time and easy to double for big families.
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Easiest-Ever Fruit and Coconut Ice Cream
You can whip this up in less than 10 minutes; the hardest part will be waiting for it to freeze!
Get the recipe for Easiest-Ever Fruit and Coconut Ice Cream »
RELATED: 9 Best Ice Cream Makers to Make Delicious Ice Cream at Home
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Very Berry Cream Tartlets
Toasted sliced almonds at the bottom of every tart give a surprising, crunchy contrast to each creamy bite.
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Sweet and Smoky Tri-Tip
This summer, try a tri-tip, the triangle of meat at the bottom of a sirloin. It's fairly tender, full of flavor and has tons of bang for your buck: perfect for a huge 4th of July party!
Get the recipe for Sweet and Smoky Tri-Tip »
RELATED: The Best Trick For Grilling Steak You Haven't Heard Of
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Old Bay Shrimp
Fact: Those 18 herbs and spices in Old Bay make this five-minute dish taste ah-mazing.
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Mini Shrimp Rolls
These sweet little shrimp rolls are two bites (max), which means you can eat a few without feeling any guilt.
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Grilled Chicken With White BBQ Sauce
Pay homage to Alabama white sauce by pairing ordinary grilled chicken with our tangy and creamy mayo and cider vinegar BBQ sauce.
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Slow-Cooker Teriyaki Ribs
Crock-Pot to the rescue! Now you can finally enjoy your cookout while the main course simmers away in flavorful homemade sauce.
Get the recipe for Slow-Cooker Teriyaki Ribs »
RELATED: 25 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes That Basically Make Themselves
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Deviled Burger
Give your burgers a kick with the addition of horseradish, spicy mustard and Worcestershire. Then, pair it with a sweet pretzel bun to balance the whole thing out.
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Grilled Chicken With Herbed Corn Salsa
Think salsa can only be the tomato variety? Think again: this cheesy-herby fresh corn version is peak summer, especially when piled on top of juicy chicken thighs.
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BBQ Brisket Sandwiches With Quick Slaw
Traditional Southern fare doesn't get any more delicious than hearty barbecue brisket on a bun, topped with a tangy cabbage slaw.
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Cayenne Grilled Eggplant With Fresh Tomato Salad
Here's a grilled entree for your vegetarian friends that the meat eaters will want to eat, too. Smoky grilled eggplants, fresh juicy tomatoes, and cool and creamy yogurt for the win.
Get the recipe for Cayenne Grilled Eggplant with Fresh Tomato Salad »
RELATED: 25+ Dishes That Will Make You Fall in Love with Eggplant
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Grilled Reuben Dogs
Go ahead and pile on the toppings with these New-York-deli-inspired hot dogs. Or swap corned beef for wieners for a completely fresh take.
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Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
Save some napkins and serve this party-friendly sammy in place of sticky wings. (And the accompanying Blue Cheese-Apple Slaw will put a standard dipping sauce to shame.)
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Sausage-Pepper Kabobs
Smoked sausages and a rainbow of grilled veggies make for the ultimate backyard barbecue fare. Bonus: You can prep and stack these kabobs ahead of time.
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Swordfish With Summer Salad
4th of July doesn't have to be all about red meat: Add swordfish steak skewers to your arsenal with this flavorful lime juice and chili powder version, paired perfectly with fresh summer corn and zucchini.
Get the recipe for Swordfish with Summer Salad »
RELATED: 30+ Healthy Fish and Seafood Recipes to Make Tonight
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BBQ Chicken & Cheddar Burgers
Go lean with chicken patties, then indulge by smothering them with cheese and BBQ sauce — because that's how you do balance.
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Pulled Pork With Black Pepper Vinegar
It doesn't get much easier than these slow-cooked sandwiches topped with a quickie vinegar sauce. Looking for a challenge? We also have Bobby Flay's smoker instructions for the seasoned grill master.
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Barbecued Shrimp and Peach Kabobs
For this flame-fired dish, shrimp and ripe peaches (plus the carmelized juices) are seasoned with a smoky cumin-and-chile rub.
Get the recipe for Barbecued Shrimp and Peach Kabobs »
RELATED: The 4 Types of Peaches You'll Be Eating All Summer Long
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Campfire Baked Beans
It wouldn't be 4th of July without the beans. They may take an hour to bake, but consider that hands-off time the perfect opportunity to actually enjoy your BBQ.
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Savory Watermelon and Blue Cheese Salad
After tasting this sweet-and-salty combo, you'll never serve a regular fruit salad again.
Get the recipe for Savory Watermelon and Blue Cheese Salad »
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Parisian Potato Salad
We lightened up this 4th of July recipe with Greek yogurt instead of mayo, so feel free to double scoop.
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Fried Green Tomatoes
Using panko (Japanese bread crumbs) gives these slices that perfect crunchy outside you're craving.
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Red Cabbage and Jicama Slaw
Cabbage can be sliced the day before, and the dressing can be made up to three days ahead. Which means more time for you to party.
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Light and Creamy Potato Salad
Low-fat buttermilk and light mayo means you can double up on a serving of spuds, sans regrets.
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Watermelon Pizza
It's not delivery, it's fruit pizza — and you don't even have to cook anything either.
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Cupcake Flag With Berries and Coconut
This cupcake version travels better than a traditional flag cake, and guests get to pick between the three types of red-white-and-blue toppings.
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Cutaway Blueberry Pie
You might not know how to weave a pie lattice, but everyone can use a cookie cutter. Genius!
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Fourth of July Chocolate Bark
As you can see from our barks of holidays past, chocolate bark is quick, easy and totally versatile. The psychedelic blue and red swirls of this Independence Day version make it particularly mesmerizing.
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Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cupcakes
These crowd-pleasers boast a surprise peanut-butter filling for the perfect salty-sweet mix.
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Maine Blueberry Bars
These crumbly blueberry bars are basically like portable pieces of pie heaven.
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Shortcut Funnel Cakes
Summer's most iconic sweet treat doesn't have to take hours to master. This pancake-mix shortcut recipe takes only 25 minutes to make fried and fluffy funnel cakes.
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Watermelon "Cake"
We just found our new favorite way to get down with this summer melon and there's Cool Whip involved.
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Raspberry Limeade Slushies
Beat the inevitable heat with a frozen thirst-quencher. If you're looking for something more tropical, try this mango version instead.
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Fizzy Fruity Floats
It doesn't get any easier than an old fashioned float: All you need is ice cream and a delicious fruit soda and then it's cheers to summer!
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East Bayside Cocktail
It never hurts to serve a signature cocktail, especially one that marries fresh blueberries and gin.
Do it for America.