The Fourth of July is all about celebrating independence, so have the celebration your way! Take it on the road to the local park or beach and enjoy the fireworks with a delicious gourmet picnic. Or, if you have a pool, deck, patio or backyard, invite your friends and family over for an epic 4th of July BBQ bash with great grilling recipes. Below are our Fourth of July menu ideas to kick things off.
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Fourth of July Picnic Menu
If you’re taking the celebration to the local park or beach for a picnic, make sure the menu is packing-friendly. We picked assembled meals or food that’s easily put together on site, so you can have more fun in the sun and less meltdowns on the ground.
Prosciutto, Pears & Burratta Appetizer
Fresh, light and perfect for summer. The pears and fresh mozzarella are rolled on a slice of prosciutto, and held together with a toothpick. Elegant, simple and fuss-free! If pears are not your fave, substitute with seasonal juicy peaches or sweet berries.
View The Prosciutto, Pears & Burratta Appetizer Recipe
Pickled Shrimp Appetizer
This make-ahead appetizer is the perfect picnic food! Jumbo shrimps pickled in a fresh marinade with lime juice, capers and lots of seasonings, and just enough hot sauce to give it a kick. Just pack it in mason jars and you’re ready to go. Serve them on toothpicks or small skewers.
View The Pickled Shrimp Appetizer Recipe
Shrimp and Smoked Salmon Sandwiches
Don’t feel like hitting the grill this year? NO problem! A delicious sandwich is pack-friendly and with the right ingredients can feel just as festive and upscale. Here’s our twist on the lobster roll: jumbo shrimp and delicious smoked salmon, chopped and mixed with dill, celery, sour cream and mayo, with a squeeze of lemon juice and a touch of mustard. You can make the preparation ahead and store it in a Tupperware container, and just scoop into rolls or hot dog buns. So easy!
View The Sauteed Shrimp and Smoked Salmon Sandwiches Recipe
Ricotta Cake With Seasonal Fruit
As American as...ricotta cake? Yes! A moist, delicious cake loaded with seasonal fresh fruit is our pick for dessert. Unlike a box cake or pound cake, our ricotta cake is moist and fluffy, dense and delicate. It matches perfectly to juicy fruit, like sweet oranges and ripe berries, and you could get away with Meyer lemons or peaches as well. Pack in a sturdy cake carrier, or store the fruit in a separate container and add it once you get to your destination, so you don’t risk it falling apart in the car.
View The Citrus and Strawberry Ricotta Cake Recipe
Fourth of July BBQ Menu
Whether you have a lush backyard with a sparkling pool that just begs to be used, a tiny terrace with a dazzling view of the city lights, or a patio, deck or backyard that you want to fill with friends and fam, we’ve got the perfect Fourth of July menu for you.
Classic Gazpacho
Keep things cool with soup. Yes, soup! A chilled, classic gazpacho is just what you need to kick things off. This bright red soup is festive and flavorful and just a bit spicy – think of it as a mock Bloody Mary. Serve them in pretty mason jars with some shrimp cocktail on the side or in pretty blue-white striped bowls for a red, white and blue touch.
View The Classic Gazpacho Recipe
Smoked Salmon & Dill Cups
Smoked salmon and crème fraiche is a great, refreshing combination, especially when paired with fresh dill and, peppers and cucumbers. The cups are great to serve alongside summery cocktails and glasses of chilled White Zinfandel. Perfect to beat the heat!
View The Smoked Salmon & Dill Cups Recipe
Grilled Iberico Pork Loin Steaks and Summer Salad
Our main dish is what sweet summer grilling dreams are made of: succulent, flavorful fresh Iberico pork loin, cut into steaks and grilled to juicy perfection. We serve it with a salad that just screams summer to us - meaty avocados mixed with buttery corn kernels, tomatoes and cilantro.
View The Chimichurri Grilled Iberico Pork Loin Steaks With Summer Salad Recipe
Passion Fruit Mousse Tart Recipe
Forget apple pie, finish off your Fourth of July meal with a dessert that's as bright as the firework: a sweet mousse dessert made of frozen passion fruit puree, whipped with cream and piled atop a buttery crust with a citrus zest. Light and airy, buttery and delicious, the perfect ending to a perfect summer holiday!
View The Passion Fruit Mousse Tart Recipe