Our best 4th of July side dishes! They include everything you need for a crowd-pleasing cookout: pasta salad, corn on the cob, watermelon, and more.
Have you decided what 4th of July side dishes you’re making this year? If you’re still on the fence, you’re in the right place! Below, I’ve rounded up our best 4th of July sides for a crowd-pleasing cookout. They range from BBQ classics like coleslaw to easy grilling recipes and picnic salads galore. Many are easy to toss together at the last minute, and even more are great for making ahead.
I don’t know about you, but the side dishes are always my favorite part of an Independence Day BBQ. They’re the most fun, fresh, and flavorful part of the meal, filled with peak-season ingredients like sweet corn, watermelon, and summer tomatoes. I’ve made all the recipes below for countless cookouts over the years, and they’ve been hits every time. Choose one (or more) for your 4th of July menu—you can’t go wrong!
Our Top 5 4th of July Side Dishes
Easy Pasta Salad
With over 600 5-star reviews, this pasta salad is one of our most popular 4th of July side dishes. Great for making ahead, it’s packed with juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, tangy feta cheese, and a bright lemon vinaigrette.
Mexican Street Corn Salad
Every time I make this salad for a summer gathering, I get asked for the recipe. Inspired by Mexican elote and esquites, it’s filled with charred corn kernels, savory scallions, and a lightly creamy, zesty dressing made with mayo and plenty of lime juice.
Watermelon Salad with Feta
Juicy cubes of watermelon play off creamy avocado, tangy feta cheese, and cooling mint in this ultra-refreshing summer salad. I think watermelon is a must at any 4th of July gathering, and this recipe is a delicious, unexpected way to serve it.
Cucumber Salad
Love dill pickles? This sweet and tangy summer salad is for you! It’s one of the easiest 4th of July side dishes on this list, made with 8 simple ingredients.
Corn on the Cob
Good news: the best way to cook corn on the cob is also the simplest. Boil it for under 5 minutes for perfectly sweet, juicy kernels every time.
Make-Ahead Salads for a Crowd
Easy Coleslaw
Doused in a sweet and tangy homemade coleslaw dressing, this creamy slaw gets even creamier as it chills in the fridge. It’s a perfect side to make ahead for the Fourth of July!
Best Broccoli Salad
In this fresh spin on the Midwest classic, I replace the traditional bacon with smoky roasted nuts and seeds. It’s become a HUGE Love & Lemons reader favorite over the years, with over 450 5-star reviews!
Best Potato Salad
Fresh dill, dill pickles, and dill pickle brine pack this salad with a bold, tangy punch of flavor. It’s one of those 4th of July side dishes that’s best made a few hours—or even a day—in advance. The potatoes absorb the seasoning from the dressing as it chills in the fridge.
Orzo Salad
Pasta salad meets Greek salad in this refreshing recipe. It’s packed with summer veggies, briny olives, and creamy, tangy chunks of feta cheese. Fresh herbs and my go-to Greek salad dressing take it over the top.
Easy Fruit Salad
Tossed in a honey-lime dressing, this summer fruit salad is one of Ollie’s favorite 4th of July side dishes. I love replacing the mandarin oranges with mango or peaches when they’re in season!
Macaroni Salad
Diced red bell peppers, celery ribs, and dill pickles add delicious crunch to this creamy summer salad. Want to make it even creamier? Fold in a couple peeled and chopped hard-boiled eggs!
Italian Pasta Salad
Warning: Try this Italian pasta salad for July 4th, and you’ll keep making it for the rest of the summer. A zesty Italian dressing coats the pasta, briny pepperoncini and olives, fresh veggies, and creamy mozzarella cheese.
Red Potato Salad
If creamy potato salad isn’t your thing, give this herb-packed potato salad a try! It’s bright and fresh, made with plenty of scallions, dill, chives, and a bold, mustardy dressing.
Ramen Noodle Salad
This ramen noodle salad has been the first side dish to disappear at every BBQ I’ve brought it to this summer. It’s a sweet and savory mix of crisp cabbage, juicy orange segments, and the best part: crunchy toasted ramen noodles, nuts, and seeds.
Grilled 4th of July Side Dishes
Grilled Corn on the Cob
Simple and classic, grilled corn on the cob on the 4th of July is never a bad idea. I share instructions for grilling it in the husks (for juicier kernels) and out of the husks (for more char) in my recipe.
Elote (Grilled Mexican Street Corn)
Take regular grilled corn on the cob to the next level by making this elote recipe! It’s my homemade spin on Mexican street corn, coated in creamy, zesty mayo, smoky chili powder, fresh cilantro, and tangy cotija cheese.
Grilled Tomatoes
Sweet, juicy, and perfectly charred, these grilled tomatoes will wow your 4th of July guests. Enjoy them plain or dressed up with drizzles of Greek dressing and sprinkles of Parmesan cheese.
Grilled Zucchini
Ready in 10 minutes, these tender grilled zukes are a quick and easy summer side dish everyone will love.
Grilled Portobello Mushrooms
A balsamic marinade adds tangy, savory flavor to these 15-minute grilled mushrooms.
Grilled Potatoes
If you’re grilling burgers (or veggie burgers) for the 4th of July, these potatoes belong alongside them. They’re summer’s answer to French fries, with lightly crisp exteriors and creamy centers.
Grilled Vegetables
Can’t pick which veggie to grill for your cookout? You don’t have to! These colorful skewers are a fun, easy way to serve a variety.
Finger Foods and Dips
Cowboy Caviar
Filled with vibrant sweet corn, tomatoes, and peppers, this black eyed pea dip feels like a party in a bowl. Serve it with tortilla chips for scooping up all that summer goodness!
Deviled Eggs
Jack’s mom makes the best deviled eggs, and this 7-ingredient recipe is based on hers. Tip: Cook the hard boiled eggs a day ahead to make these easy to assemble day-of.
Caprese Skewers
This bite-size version of classic Caprese salad is such a fun Fourth of July side dish! I love adding fresh strawberries for an unexpected pop of sweetness. You could even replace the tomatoes with strawberries and blueberries to add some red, white, and blue to your table.
Easy Mango Salsa
This 8-ingredient, 10-minute recipe is one of my favorite party dips to make in the summer. The juicy fruit and crisp veggies are so refreshing on a hot summer day.
Best Guacamole
The whole bowl will be gone before you know it!
Dill Pickles
These easy refrigerator pickles will be the sleeper hit of your 4th of July menu. Lightly sweet, tangy, and crisp, they beat store-bought pickles every time.
Classic BBQ 4th of July Side Dishes
Homemade Mac and Cheese
Every BBQ joint in Austin (and everywhere?) serves mac and cheese as a side, so if a classic BBQ menu is what you’re after, this homemade macaroni is for you. Three types of cheese give it an amazing creamy texture and rich flavor.
Corn Fritters
Cheddar cheese, scallions, and cayenne pepper load these pan-seared fritters with flavor. Feel free to make them ahead—they reheat nicely on the stove or in the air fryer.
Jalapeño Cornbread
This spiced-up riff on classic cornbread is studded with scallions, cheddar cheese, and fresh jalapeños. We love it plain, but a slather of honey butter takes it over the top.
Looking for more 4th of July recipes?
Check out one of these round ups next:
