This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
1Every good cookout needs lots of tasty 4th of July Side Dishes to Try. From classic sides to new favorites, we have 51 of the best side dishes for a crowd.
What is a traditional July 4th meal?
You will typically find hot dogs and hamburgers at a July 4th cookout. Both of these are quick and easy while being delicious on the grill.
The meal is complete with lots of tasty side dishes to choose from. Our favorite fourth of July side dishes include: pasta salads with creamy dressing, grilled corn on the cob, fruit salad, and baked beans. It is also a must to have a good coleslaw recipe.
There is just something special about grilling on the fourth of July and inviting friends and family over.
The days are simpler and the food is too. There is less cleanup and more time hanging out.
Table of Contents
- What is a traditional July 4th meal?
- What should I bring to a 4th of July potluck?
- 4th of July Side Dishes to Try
- Traditional 4th of July sides
- 1. Easy Pasta Salad
- 2. Old Fashioned Potato Salad
- 3. Quick and easy Baked Beans
- 4. Classic Italian Pasta Salad
- 5. BLT Pasta Salad
- 6. Easy Macaroni Salad Recipe
- 7. Fruit Kabobs
- 8. Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies
- 9. Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
- 10. Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers
- 11. Greek Pasta Salad Recipe
- 12. Coleslaw Recipe
- 13. Creamed Corn
- 14. German Potato Salad
- 15. Instant Pot Baked Beans
- 16. Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Recipe
- 17. Bacon Wrapped Green Beans
- Grilled Side Dishes
- 18. Grilled Corn on the Cob
- 19. Vegetable Kabobs
- 20. Parmesan Grilled Corn on the Cob
- 21. Foil Pack Grilled Potatoes
- 22. Grilled Vegetables Foil Pack Recipe
- 23. Mexican Corn on the Cob
- 24. Foil Potatoes
- 25. How to grill bell peppers
- 26. Grilled Peaches
- 27. Grilled Zucchini Spears
- 28. Easy Grilled Avocado Recipe
- Easy Dip recipes
- 29. Ground Beef Taco Dip Recipe
- 30. Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip
- 31. Raspberry Fruit Dip Recipe
- 32. Avocado Dip
- 33. Fruit and Yogurt Parfait
- Casseroles and Crock pot recipes
- 34. Lazy Day Crock Pot Baked Beans Recipe
- 35. Crockpot Baked Potatoes
- 36. BBQ Little Smokies Crock Pot recipe
- 37. Crockpot Chili Cheese Dip
- 38. Crock Pot White Cheese Dip Recipe
- 39. Crock Pot Cream Cheese Taco Dip
- 40. Crock Pot Cheesy Potato Casserole Recipe
- More Summer Salad Recipes
- 41. Red, White and Blue Fruit Salad
- 42. 4th of July Fruit Kabobs
- 43. Quick and Easy Cucumber Tomato Salad
- 44. Creamy Broccoli Salad Recipe
- 45. Creamy Cucumber Tomato Salad
- 46. Creamy Cucumber Salad
- 47. Roasted Tomato and Mozzarella Salad
- 48. Cucumber Onion Salad Recipe
- 49. Strawberry Spinach Salad
- 50. Easy Ramen Noodle Salad REcipe
- 51. How to make a Veggie Tray
- 51 of the best side dishes for 4th of July.
- More patriotic recipes to try:
What should I bring to a 4th of July potluck?
I always like to bring a side dish that is easy to feed a crowd but delicious. Summer vegetables, mac and cheese, corn salad and Broccoli Salad make great options.
You never can go wrong with a classic dish of potato salad or pasta salad for the perfect Summer side dish.
It is also the perfect time to skip boiling corn on the cob and enjoy it on the grill. You can typically get corn very inexpensive during the Summer and it makes a great side for any meal.
4th of July Side Dishes to Try
Take a look at some of these easy and tasty ideas we have below.
The next time you are invited to a July 4th gathering, you are going to have so many tasty ideas to choose from. These ideas are easy to make, budget friendly and delicious.
Each recipe can feed a crowd without much work or expense. This makes it a great choice for a potluck.
Traditional 4th of July sides
There are several side dishes that always come to mind when you think about July 4th. Everyone just expects these traditional side dishes to be included in the meal.
Side dishes such as potato salad, pasta salad, baked beans and fruit make great choices. These are usually served at a cookout and sure to be a hit.
We have included several recipes for these traditional classic sides and maybe a few you didn’t think about. Check out these recipes for new ways to jazz up old favorites.
1. Easy Pasta Salad
2. Old Fashioned Potato Salad
3. Quick and easy Baked Beans
4. Classic Italian Pasta Salad
5. BLT Pasta Salad
6. Easy Macaroni Salad Recipe
7. Fruit Kabobs
8. Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies
9. Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
10. Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers
11. Greek Pasta Salad Recipe
12. Coleslaw Recipe
13. Creamed Corn
14. German Potato Salad
15. Instant Pot Baked Beans
16. Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Recipe
17. Bacon Wrapped Green Beans
Grilled Side Dishes
Everything taste better on the grill and these recipes are simply amazing. Not only is it fun to grill the main dish at July 4th barbecues but the side dishes too.
Try grilling summer veggies, corn on the cob, potatoes and more. Not only is clean up a breeze but you will get gorgeous grill marks and flavor.
These side dishes will definitely make you want to fire up the grill. Each of these recipes make it so easy to enjoy a fabulous side in minutes. Grilled side dishes take hardly any effort or time.
18. Grilled Corn on the Cob
19. Vegetable Kabobs
20. Parmesan Grilled Corn on the Cob
21. Foil Pack Grilled Potatoes
22. Grilled Vegetables Foil Pack Recipe
23. Mexican Corn on the Cob
24. Foil Potatoes
25. How to grill bell peppers
26. Grilled Peaches
27. Grilled Zucchini Spears
28. Easy Grilled Avocado Recipe
Easy Dip recipes
These simple dip recipes make the perfect side dish for a cookout. They are great for snacking while you wait and also to enjoy as a side with the main dish.
We have included lots of hearty options as well as a couple of lighter ones. You will find everything from Taco dip and Buffalo Dip to fruit dip and more.
In our family, a couple of good dip recipes are a must have to include in July 4th gatherings. It is the epitome of party food!
29. Ground Beef Taco Dip Recipe
30. Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip
31. Raspberry Fruit Dip Recipe
32. Avocado Dip
33. Fruit and Yogurt Parfait
Casseroles and Crock pot recipes
These slow cooker recipes will make your next potluck or cookout even easier. You can toss everything you need into the crockpot and enjoy an effortless side dish.
We have several crock pots so I always put them to good use at July 4th parties. It is so convenient to have several side dishes in them ready to go. Since the crock pot does all of the work, you can spend more time with your friends and family.
34. Lazy Day Crock Pot Baked Beans Recipe
35. Crockpot Baked Potatoes
36. BBQ Little Smokies Crock Pot recipe
37. Crockpot Chili Cheese Dip
38. Crock Pot White Cheese Dip Recipe
39. Crock Pot Cream Cheese Taco Dip
40. Crock Pot Cheesy Potato Casserole Recipe
More Summer Salad Recipes
From fruit salads to cucumber salad and more, it is also a great idea to include a few of these. These are lighter options that will help to balance out the meal.
I love to include a salad or veggie tray to round out the meal. Everyone also seems to really appreciate a fruit salad or festive fruit display.
41. Red, White and Blue Fruit Salad
42. 4th of July Fruit Kabobs
43. Quick and Easy Cucumber Tomato Salad
44. Creamy Broccoli Salad Recipe
45. Creamy Cucumber Tomato Salad
46. Creamy Cucumber Salad
47. Roasted Tomato and Mozzarella Salad
48. Cucumber Onion Salad Recipe
49. Strawberry Spinach Salad
50. Easy Ramen Noodle Salad REcipe
51. How to make a Veggie Tray
51 of the best side dishes for 4th of July.
Now, you have lots of tasty and easy side dishes to try. The next time you are invited to a cookout, check out this list and start cooking.
Everyone will enjoy all of these recipes and get to enjoy great food. There is something for everyone.
Let us know what you decide to make. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of these options.