The Party Starter (Watermelon Tequila Cocktail)
This refreshing watermelon cocktail is a pure taste of summer. For a nonalcoholic version, skip the tequila and add a little water to help blend the mixture.
Strawberry Lemonade
Make frosty pitchers of this beautiful lemonade for the kids, and as a satisfying mocktail option.
Recipe: Strawberry Lemonade
Blackberry pineapple mojito
The fruit in this rum-based drink makes it a terrific choice with tangy-sweet glazed ribs.
Recipe: Blackberry Pineapple Mojito
Ginger Rosemary Lemon-Drop Cocktails
These go down very, very easily. They’re also delightful without the alcohol, should you prefer a cross-crowd-pleaser; just call it ginger rosemary lemonade.
Recipe: Ginger-Rosemary Lemonade
Lime Rickey
While adults enjoy a refreshing Lime Rickey, the kids will love the flavor and color of our non-alcoholic Fire-Engine Red Cranberry-Raspberry Spritzers. If they prefer a spritzer on the sweet side, use lemon-lime soda; add mineral water or soda just before serving.
Recipe: Lime Rickey
Chorizo deviled eggs
Keep these beauties cold until ready to serve, and put them away (assuming there are any left!) once the party moves on to main courses.
Recipe: Chorizo Deviled Eggs
Honey-Sesame Grilled Chicken Wings
Sticky sweet replaces blazing buffalo with these tasty wings. Serve them as finger food for your Fourth of July party.
Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus with Citrus Dip
You can make these hors d'oeuvres even simpler: Without their scallion ties or lemon zest, the asparagus and prosciutto still taste terrific.
Mediterranean Shrimp Salad in Cucumber Cups
Short on time? Whip up this crowd-pleasing appetizer in just 25 minutes. Shrimp with lemon, parsley, and garlic echoes classic shrimp scampi, but here it's a cooling salad.
Santa Maria–Style Top Sirloin
This is California’s own style of barbecue, honed over the decades—some say centuries—along the state’s central coast.
Recipe: Santa Maria-Style Top Sirloin
Garlic-Basil Grilled Chicken with Caprese Salsa
Why not try scattering your Caprese salad over grilled chicken? It's a great way to utilize summer produce, not to mention super delicious.
Smoked Pork Ribs with Maple-Sherry Vinegar Glaze
Cook these incredible tender, savory ribs ahead of time (it actually improves them). Then all they need is a last-minute turn on the grill.
Recipe: Ginger Rosemary Smoked Pork Ribs
Herb-Rubbed Baby Back Ribs
These are the ribs for summer. The black pepper in the rub picks up on the black-pepper notes in Zinfandel. (Be sure to have plenty of bottles on hand!)
Recipe: Herb-Rubbed Baby Back Ribs
Mojito Shrimp
These sweet, juicy shrimp taste of fragrant mint and lime, their aromas amplified by rum.
Recipe: Mojito Shrimp
The Perfect Burger
What's more all-American than enjoying a big, juicy burger on the Fourth of July? Enjoy our delicious burgers in six variations, from classic plain, to green chile cheese, to spicy tomato.
Recipes: The perfect burger, 6 ways
Puttanesca Meatball Sliders
Heat up the meatballs and sauce in a pot on the grill and toast the tiny buns at the same time. These are just right for people who can’t commit to a whole burger on top of the Fourth of July ribs, grilled chicken, or hot dogs.
Recipe: Puttanesca Meatball Sliders
Argentine Sausage Sandwiches
Quite possibly the best—and easiest—sausage sandwich we’ve ever had. A cold beer in the other hand and plenty of napkins completes the picture.
Grilled Corn Poblano Salad with Chipotle Vinaigrette
We can never get enough of this salad; it’s one of our all-time summer favorites, as good with tacos as it is with anything grilled.
Recipe: Grilled Corn Poblano Salad with Chipotle Vinaigrette
Watermelon, Heirloom Tomato, Ricotta Salata, and Corn Salad
Thirst-quenching and gorgeous, this salad is a star at any Fourth of July party.
Tomato Herb Salad with Fresh Chive Cheese
You can use any mild fresh cheese in this recipe. It’s a great use for backyard tomatoes.
Artichoke, Fennel, and Tricolor Tomato Salad
Fresh tomatoes at their peak are the highlight of this colorful salad.
Warm Bacon and Herb Coleslaw
Add a savory twist to the classic summer side dish: a warm bacon dressing.
Recipe: Warm Bacon and Herb Coleslaw
Carrot, Apple, and Corn Slaw
Apple cider vinegar makes this German-style slaw ultra-refreshing.
Recipe: Carrot, Apple, and Corn Slaw
Chili Lime Corn on the Cob
Corn on the cob is the ultimate summer vegetable for the grill; lime and chili give it a real kick.
Recipe: Chili Lime Corn on the Cob
Potato Salad Stacks
This reader-submitted recipe puts an elegant spin on the BBQ mainstay by grilling the potatoes and stacking the rest of the ingredients on top.
Recipe: Potato Salad Stacks
Garlic Smashed-Potato Salad
This chunky potato salad is a cool summer version of everybody's favorite garlic mashed potatoes.
Recipe: Garlic Smashed-Potato Salad
Grilled Strawberry Shortcake Kebabs
Meat isn't the only thing that belongs on a stick at a summer BBQ. You’ll need 32 bamboo skewers (each 8 in.); there’s no need to soak them before they go on the grill, because they won’t char with such a short cooking time.
Old Glory Cherry-Blueberry Pie
For dessert, we give you a cherry-blueberry pie with a patriotic topper.
Recipe: Old Glory Cherry-Blueberry Pie
Spiced Blueberry Pie
A deep-flavored, luscious pie, it’ll disappear fast, especially when you set out the vanilla ice cream to scoop on top. Better make two pies.
Recipe: Spiced Blueberry Pie
Ginger Chocolate Cookies
These cookies are not only easy to make and very tasty, they pack well for picnics, too. They won’t crumble on you.
Recipe: Ginger Chocolate Cookies
Coconut Cupcakes
Every party needs a cupcake! To make them very Fourth-ish, bake them in an assortment of shiny red, silver, and blue cupcake liners.
Recipe: Coconut Cupcakes
Watermelon Granita
Here’s a fun twist on the quintessential Fourth of July fruit.
Recipe: Watermelon Granita recipe