4th of July Party Ideas
Star-Studded Blueberry Pie
Family and friends say this patriotic pie is better than a local favorite from one of our best neighborhood restaurants. Sometimes, I switch things up and use gooseberries for half of the blueberries. —Nancy Barker, Silverton, Oregon
Red, White & Blue Potato Salad
Tossing the cooked potatoes with stock and wine right after you drain them infuses them with flavor. The liquid absorbs like magic. —George Levinthal, Goleta, California
Barbecued Picnic Chicken
I like to serve this savory chicken at family picnics. Cooked on a covered grill, the poultry stays so tender and juicy. Everyone loves the zesty, slightly sweet homemade barbecue sauce—and it’s so easy to make. —Priscilla Weaver, Hagerstown, Maryland
Quick Barbecued Beans
Baked beans are a simple, classic recipe, and cooking them on the grill adds great smoky flavor. —Millie Vickery, Lena, Illinois
Contest-Winning Barbecued Pork Chops
Sherry, honey, barbecue and steak sauces combine to give these chops a beautiful glaze and dressed-up flavor. The sauce works well on chicken breasts, too. —LaJuana Holland, Amarillo, Texas
Layered Fresh Fruit Salad
People always pass on compliments when I take this salad to covered-dish suppers. It’s nice on a hot day…with a winter meal…or as a dessert! We live on a small farm where my garden gives me lots of possibilities for fresh food. —Page Alexander, Baldwin City, Kansas
Patriotic Dessert
I took this patriotic dessert to a luncheon and came home with dozens of requests for the recipe! It was quite a success. People told me it looked as good as it tasted. —Flo Burtnett, Gage, Oklahoma
Buttery Grilled Shrimp
This is easy and delicious! These shrimp are great with steak, but for a special occasion, brush the sauce on lobster tails and grill. —Sheryl Shenberger, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Grilled Sweet Corn
Since we have plenty of fresh sweet corn available in our area, we use this recipe often in summer. Parsley, chili powder and cumin accent the corn’s just-picked flavor. —Connie Lou Hollister, Lake Odessa, Michigan
Creamy Grilled Potato Salad
To avoid turning my oven on in the summer, I grill just about everything—including this creamy potato salad. My friends have dubbed this ‘The Best Potato Salad You’ll Ever Put in Your Mouth!”—and I love that!” —Gayle Robinson, Carrolton, Georgia
Raspberry Lemonade Concentrate
Here’s a concentrate that allows you to enjoy a refreshing summer beverage any time of year. Sweet raspberries balance the tartness from lemons. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Honey Chipotle Ribs
Nothing’s better than having a sauce with the perfect consistency for slathering. Here’s one that’ll ensure a lip-smacking feast. Make the sauce up to a week ahead. —Caitlin Hawes, Westwood, Massachusetts
Grilled Apple Tossed Salad
The grilled apples in this salad combine so well with the blue cheese, walnuts and balsamic dressing. I like to serve it on pink Depression glass dessert plates from my great-grandmother. —Paul Soska, Toledo, Ohio
Patriotic Cookie & Cream Cupcakes
Bring on the red, white and blue with these creative cupcakes, perfect for the Fourth of July, Memorial Day or any favorite occasion. With some delicious and colorful frosting and a careful arrangement, your sweet display will be a patriotic nod to our great American flag. —Rebecca Wetherbee, Marion, Ohio
Flavorful Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Folks can find me grilling, no matter the weather. This moist pork tenderloin has loads of flavor thanks to its special spice blend, and it doesn’t get much easier to make. My wife especially likes that she doesn’t have to do the cooking! —Steve Ehrhart, Villa Park, Illinois
Easy Hummus
Using sun-dried tomato salad dressing instead of tahini adds a new dimension of flavor to this nutritious predinner snack. —Jeannette Jeremias, Kitchener, Ontario
Pot of S’mores
Mom’s easy Dutch-oven version of the popular campout treat is so good and gooey. The hardest part is waiting for this to cool so you can devour it. Yum! —June Dress, Meridian, Idaho
Grilled Marinated Ribeyes
These juicy steaks are a favorite meal of ours when we go camping. Let them sit in tangy, barbecue-inspired marinade overnight and you’ve got a rich and hearty dinner ready to grill up the next day. —Louise Graybiel, Toronto, Ontario
Three-Bean Baked Beans
I got this recipe from an aunt and made a couple of changes to suit our tastes. With ground beef and bacon mixed in, these satisfying beans are a big hit at backyard barbecues and church picnics. I’m always asked to bring my special beans. —Julie Currington, Gahanna, Ohio
Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
My family is always happy to see this fruit and veggie salad on the table. If strawberries aren’t available, substitute mandarin oranges and dried cranberries. —Irene Keller, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Sweet Raspberry Tea
You only need a handful of ingredients to stir together this refreshing spring sipper. Its brilliant color and smile-fetching flavor will make a popular thirst quencher as the weather turns warm. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
All-American Hamburgers
We do a lot of camping and outdoor cooking. This all-American, homemade hamburger recipe is on our menu more than any other food. —Diane Hixon, Niceville, Florida
Yogurt Dill Dip
Every person who tries this dip wants to know what makes it taste special. The secret is the blend of yogurt, sour cream and mayo. —Krisann Durnford, Muskego, Wisconsin
Red, White and Blueberry Pie
This creamy pie gets dressed up with berries to make a showstopping display at any Fourth of July party or summer get-together. It’s as pretty as it is tasty! —Kimberly McFarland, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Firecracker Grilled Salmon
Let this sensational salmon perk up dinner tonight. With a super flavorful glaze that kicks you right in the taste buds, this weeknight dish is anything but boring. —Melissa Rogers, Tuscaloosa, AL
Dilly Potato & Egg Salad
Everyone has a favorite potato salad, and this is mine. As a young bride, I was eager to learn how to cook and make things that my husband would love. I combined my mom’s and his mom’s recipes, and this is the delicious result. —Angela Leinenbach, Mechanicsville, Virginia
Patriotic Taco Salad
One year, my daughter decided to celebrate her July birthday with a patriotic theme. This colorful and refreshing salad was the main dish on the menu. The kids gobbled it up! —Glenda Jarboe, Oroville, California
Pretzel Gelatin Dessert
This is one of my mother’s absolute favorite desserts. The salty pretzel crust is the perfect complement to the sweet cream cheese filling. —Erin Frakes, Moline, Illinois
Baby Back Ribs
Slow-cook the ribs during the day and they will be ready to finish on the grill when you get home. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Grilled Vegetable Platter
The best of summer in one dish! This pretty grilled vegetable recipe is meant for entertaining. Grilling brings out their natural sweetness, and the easy marinade really kicks up the grilled vegetables’ flavor. —Heidi Hall, North St. Paul, Minnesota
Patriotic Ice Cream Cupcakes
These frosty cupcakes are practically a fireworks display on their own. The little treats feature red velvet cake, blue moon ice cream, a creamy white topping and star-spangled sprinkles. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
BBQ Brats
In Wisconsin, brats are a food group! We are always looking for new ways to cook them. This recipe is easy and a hit at any tailgate party or cookout, any time of year. —Jessica Abnet, DePere, Wisconsin
Broccoli Slaw with Lemon Dressing
Our family absolutely loves broccoli, so I’m so happy there’s finally a slaw mix in stores that uses broccoli stems. I like this slaw best after 20 minutes or so to allow the flavors to meld. —Donna Marie Ryan, Topsfield, Massachusetts
Patriotic Gelatin Salad
Almost as spectacular as the fireworks, this lovely salad makes quite a “bang” at our July Fourth meal. It’s exciting to serve, and our guests loved the cool fruity and creamy layers. This salad really added to my patriotic theme. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Dad’s Lemony Grilled Chicken
Lemon juice, onions and garlic add tangy flavor to chicken when firing up the grill. —Mike Schulz, Tawas City, Michigan
Broccoli Salad Supreme
People can’t get enough of the sweet grapes and crunchy broccoli in this colorful salad. I appreciate its make-ahead convenience. —Terri Twyman, Bonanza, Oregon
Picnic Fruit Punch
This pink cooler is deliciously thirst-quenching on a warm day. Seeing its color, folks guess it might be pink lemonade. They’re pleasantly surprised to discover the bubbly blend includes cranberry, pineapple, orange and lemon juices. —Marion Lowery, Medford, Oregon
Grilled Whiskey Chops
No one can believe that these fabulous chops are ready in half an hour! We love them for weeknights and family gatherings. The dollop of molasses butter on each chop is absolutely delish! —Kelly Melling, Frankton, Indiana
Homemade Guacamole
Nothing is better than freshly made guacamole when you’re eating something spicy. It is easy to whip together in a matter of minutes and quickly tames anything that’s too hot. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Sliced Tomato Salad
I got this recipe from my grandmother. It’s a perfect platter to serve with burgers or hot sandwiches. —Kendal Tangedal, Plentywood, Montana
Crispy Star Pops
These patriotic pops are a hit at our annual Fourth of July get-together. Serve them as an after-picnic dessert. Or slip them into cellophane bags, tie on ribbons and give them as favors. —Colleen Sturma, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Jersey-Style Hot Dogs
I grew up in northern New Jersey, where hot dogs with grilled potatoes were born. It’s a combo you’ll love. —Suzanne Banfield, Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Watermelon Feta Flag Salad
Our family celebrates the Fourth of July with a watermelon salad that resembles the flag. Here’s an all-American centerpiece that’s truly red, white and blue. —Jan Whitworth, Roebuck, South Carolina
Blue-Ribbon Apple Pie
This pie is special to me because I won a blue ribbon for it at the local fair and was able to compete at the state farm show. —Collette Gaugler, Fogelsville, Pennsylvania
Glazed BBQ Ribs
Yes, these racks would taste wonderful hot off the grill, but you can really enjoy these sweet, fall-off-the-bone ribs any time of the year. The raspberry preserves give my BBQ (and now yours) that lil’ something extra! —Stephen Marino, Nutley, New Jersey
Farmer’s Market Corn Salad
I love fresh corn on the cob, especially grilled, so I am always looking for innovative ways to serve it. This recipe takes the corn right off the cob and combines it with fresh basil. —Haras Cindie, Jupiter, Florida
Bacon Macaroni Salad
This pleasing pasta salad is like eating a BLT in a bowl. Filled with crispy bacon, chopped tomato, celery and green onion, the sensational salad is coated with a tangy mayonnaise and vinegar dressing. It’s a real crowd-pleaser! —Norene Wright, Manilla, Indiana
Lemon Nut Star Cookies
Family and friends will say “Hooray!” when they see these star-spangled cookies from our Test Kitchen. Make these treats throughout the year by using different cookie cutter and food coloring. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Cheddar & Onion Beef Sliders
My girlfriend and I threw an outdoor party for a bunch of friends and these sliders were a hit. We also like to make them for a quick, easy meal. —Kirk Brooks, Tucson, Arizona
Orange Lemonade
This juice is a favorite at our place. I’ll often double the batch and send a jar next door to my mother-in-law! I was looking for a way to sweeten lemonade without using more sugar when I came up with the recipe. —Wendy Masters, Grand Valley, Ontario
Marinated Three Bean Salad
Fresh herbs and cayenne pepper provide the fantastic flavor in this marinated salad featuring fresh veggies and canned beans. —Carol Tucker, Wooster, Ohio
Light Strawberry Pie
People rave about this luscious strawberry pie. Best of all, it’s a low-sugar sensation that you won’t feel guilty eating. —Lou Wright, Rockford, Illinois
Sweet ‘n’ Tangy Chicken Wings
I love the convenience of slow-cooker recipes for get-togethers. Start these wings a few hours ahead of time and you’ll have fantastic appetizers ready when your guests arrive. —Ida Tuey, South Lyon, Michigan
Deli-Style Pasta Salad
Pasta provides a base for this tongue-tingling make-ahead salad. It has lots of fresh and satisfying ingredients topped with a flavorful dressing. This pasta salad is terrific to serve to company or take to a potluck. — Joyce McLennan, Algonac, Michigan
Fudgy Patriotic Brownies
A rich chocolate frosting makes these brownies really tasty. I always come home with an empty pan when I take these to potlucks. —Julie Moyer, Union Grove, Wisconsin
Fourth of July Bean Casserole
The outstanding barbecue taste of these beans makes them a favorite for cookouts all summer and into the fall. It’s a popular dish, even with kids. The beef makes it so much better than plain pork and beans. —Donna Fancher, Lawrence, Indiana
Peach Blueberry Pie
“What a flavor!” That’s what I hear most often when guests taste this peach blueberry pie. I invented it one day when I was short on peaches. —Sue Thumma, Shepherd, Michigan
Loaded Potato Salad
Get a load of this: sour cream, bacon, shredded cheddar, green onions and more come together to give you all the richness of restaurant potato skins at your next picnic. —Monique Boulanger, Greenwood, Nova Scotia
Sweet & Spicy Pulled Pork Sandwiches
I threw some always-available condiments into my slow cooker with a pork roast to create this fantastic pulled pork. It has become a staple sandwich filler for large get-togethers. The flavor of the pork goes well with a cold glass
of white wine.—Lori Terry, Chicago, Illinois
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