15 4th Of July Recipes Perfect For Family Barbecues

Hot dogs and hamburgers are both traditional choices for 4th of July. But you'll also want to focus on the sides. Chicken salad is a great option to serve, since it's a classic. You can also creative with it.

One of the best chicken salad recipes comes from Lisa of Downshiftology, who tries hard to cook with fresh and simple ingredients. She uses red grapes, celery, and toasted almonds in her recipe. It's bound to be a crowd pleaser, and it's also pretty Instagrammable, as far as recipes go.

Pimiento cheese is another great recipe you can use that'll be perfect for your barbecue. Just pair it with some tasty crackers and it'll be a great appetizer before the rest of the food comes out. One of the best pimiento cheese recipes comes from Southern Living. It uses cheddar, pimiento, and Worcestershire sauce to make a bold statement.

Want to up your hot dog game? This recipe for Beefy Chili Dogs comes from Taste of Home and is bound to make your guests very happy. Even better, it's fairly simple to make. When you eat a hot dog with chili on top, it's possible that ketchup and mustard will no longer stand a chance. You can also make and freeze the chili beforehand to save a lot of prep work on the day of your barbecue.

Are chili dogs not your thing? Well, have no fear. Taste of Home also offers up a recipe for Mini Mac & Cheese Dogs, which are bound to be a big hit with kids. These are also pretty easy to make, especially if you're familiar with using frozen bread dough. This specific recipe makes two dozen, which is great for a neighborhood party. These might be so popular that they'll be requested at every gathering you have from here on out.

Looking for a burger with a fun twist? Then you might want to try the Double RL Ranch Burger, created by Ralph Lauren Restaurant. The recipe was given to Bon Appétit, and it may make your barbecue the most memorable of the summer. According to Bon Appétit, the original burger contains a mix of chuck, brisket, and short rib. But if your butcher won't let you mix, chuck by itself will also work fine. "I made it when it first was published but also about 4 times since," one home chef said to the publication.

Are you looking for some healthy 4th of July recipes that are also very tasty? Then look no further. Grilled chicken is a great substitute for beef. Delish has a recipe for California Grilled Chicken that'll be even more flavorful. It includes fresh ingredients to complement the meat, like avocado, tomatoes, and basil.

When putting together healthy 4th of July recipes for your big party, corn might be an obvious choice. Yes, there are plenty of ways to make corn a little less healthy. But it's a very popular choice for the summertime. Cooking Light believes it's all in the rub. The magazine has a recipe for smoked grilled corn that will make you never want to buy frozen corn kernels ever again.

Grilled shrimp is another great way to celebrate the 4th of July in a healthy way. Shrimp is an excellent protein, and it's quite delicious as well. This fantastic recipe for Garlic Grilled Shrimp comes from Spend With Pennies. The recipe makes eight skewers and takes just 34 minutes from start to finish. You might want to double it up, since these will definitely be popular.

Let's be honest — everything tastes better when it's grilled. And that includes cabbage. You might not want to base your entire party around grilled cabbage, but it's a great recipe for vegetarians who are looking for something light to eat. Delish's recipe for Grilled Cabbage "Steaks" gets it right. You can add blue cheese and scallions on top, or even use crumbled bacon for those who are interested but aren't fond of a completely plant-based diet.

When you're aiming to change up your diet, one of the easiest swaps is turkey or chicken instead of beef and pork. Chicken and turkey are quite delicious and offer more nutritional value. This turkey burger recipe from Cooking Classy might even have some of your guests fooled, especially those who have yet to understand how fantastic turkey burgers really are. Even better, the recipe includes ingredients you probably already have.

Now that your grill is fully occupied with tasty meats and veggies, it's time to think about the real underdogs of your 4th of July barbecue — side dishes. It's simply not summer without pasta salads and coleslaw. A Spicy Perspective has a very fun recipe for an Italian pasta salad that's sure to knock people's socks off. It's special, since it uses a homemade Italian vinaigrette instead of the premade stuff from the grocery store.

Looking to add a fun fruit side to your barbecue? Then this Watermelon-Blueberry Salad recipe from Savoring Today is ideal. It's slightly fancier than a standard fruit salad, but it'll still be popular with the kids. All you need are watermelon, blueberries, mint, and crumbled feta to create a masterpiece. If you're feeling daring, you can also add some cucumber for a delightful crunch.

What's a cookout without baked beans? While standard beans from a can would work well, you might want to mix things up a bit. Familiarizing yourself with this recipe for brown sugar and bacon baked beans from The Chunky Chef is a good idea. You can even store leftovers (if there are any) in a freezer for up to three months.

What's a barbecue without mac and cheese? Macaroni and cheese is a wonderful dish for many reasons. For one, it's meatless — so it's good for vegetarians. It's also widely popular with kids, even those who are picky eaters. This recipe for Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese from Laura of Joy Food Sunshine uses eight ingredients for flavor but takes only about 15 minutes to make. You may never eat the boxed variety ever again.

If you're having a party, you're probably buying some chips. Instead of leaving them out by themselves, it'd be smart to pair them with a delicious dip. How about homemade guacamole? This popular recipe from SkinnyTaste uses only five ingredients outside of salt and pepper. This recipe makes about 2 cups, so you might want to double it, depending on how many guests you're inviting over.