27 Last-Minute Fourth Of July Recipes Even Your Mother-In-Law Will Approve Of

Chicken piccata is an Italian-American staple we love so much, we had to transform it into a summertime staple. These grilled shrimp piccata skewers are the perfect combination of juicy, charred shrimp, bright lemon zest, briny capers, and white wine butter sauce that will make your MIL beg you for the recipe.

Get the Grilled Shrimp Piccata Skewers recipe.

Watermelon + cucumbers is one of the most refreshing combos of all time. Throw in some mint, red onion, and feta and toss it all with a very simple vinaigrette (just olive oil + red wine vinegar), and you've got yourself a mean summer salad no mom could resist.

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We love cabbage in any form (schnitzel! Parmesan!), but these baked cabbage burgers are something extra special. Roasted cabbage steaks are topped with melty cheeseburgers and a smattering of all your favorite burger condiments for a cozier, healthier take on this summer backyard staple.

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Deviled eggs are our go-to appetizer for every warm-weather gathering, but we don’t always want to deal with the fuss of making sure they all stay upright and perfect until it’s time to serve. This deviled egg pasta salad is the perfect solution for getting the same vibes with much less fuss.

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This no-bake strawberry lemon swirl tart is the dessert that we're planning to make all season long. It's evocative of a classic French tarte au citron (AKA lemon tart)—but with way less work.

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Summer cookouts call for food with bright herbs, creamy sauces, and tons of char, and this green goddess grilled chicken is bringing all that and more. Chicken thighs are tossed in a simple green goddess dressing and grilled immediately for a no-wait, no-fuss dinner that hits all those alfresco dinner vibes.

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Inspiration for this quick and easy recipe comes from the Catalan province of Tarragona in Spain. Nutty, smoky romesco sauce was originally created to serve alongside the region’s abundant seafood, so it goes together with this grilled cod like peanut butter goes with jelly but, you know, fancier.

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Few foods are better than perfectly tender ribs, glistening with caramelized BBQ sauce. Now, you can have smokehouse-quality ribs from the comfort of your own home. All it takes is a grill, a few hours, and—okay—a lot of patience. While they're cooking is the perfect time to get the rest of your sides ready.

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Bright green broccoli is tossed with cavatappi, shredded Parm, and shards of crispy croutons in a silky homemade Caesar dressing for an unforgettable spin on the classic cookout staple.

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Make your MIL forget everything she knows about a ballpark hot dog by elevating it with this simple ingredient swap. She'll love the richness of a charred hot dog inside of a flakey and buttery croissant. Top it with mustard, and it tastes just like a pig-in-a-blanket—it’s everyone's favorite finger food turned life-size!

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If you’ve found yourself making the same macaroni salad over and over again, this is the recipe for you. It’s bright and zingy, with perfectly cooked shrimp. We took inspiration from classic Peruvian ceviche, with its lime- and fresh cilantro-forward flavor profile, and you’ll be glad to know you only need 8 simple ingredients to make this.

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We're obsessed with this Cracker Barrel copycat recipe, thanks to how easily it comes together. From the moist chocolate cake to the generous amount of chocolate fudge frosting, it's the ultimate Southern sweet.

Get the Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola Cake recipe.

With so much juiciness and just a hint of acidity, peaches—like their summery friend the tomato—are amazing in all sorts of salads. Next up on our peach salad agenda? This summery spin on the iconic wedge salad.

Get the Grilled Peach Salad recipe.

Excuse us while we say our goodbyes to beef burgers forever. JK, we’ll always love a classic burger, but can we talk about how good a chicken burger can be when it’s done right? Holy smokes, Batman. Far from dry or bland, this chicken burger is juicy, flavorful, and oh-so satisfying when that burger craving hits.

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This cake has everything you and your MIL love about the Good Humor strawberry shortcake bars in the form of a homemade ice cream cake. Pro tip: To get clean slices of the cake, run a chef's knife under hot water before cutting each piece.

Get the Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Cake recipe.

This is no ordinary zucchini recipe. Instead of cutting the zucchini into slices, we threaded them onto skewers. The ribboning creates plenty of nooks and crannies for the creamy ricotta and walnuts to settle (and is gorgeous enough to impress your mother-in-law too).

Get the Grilled Zucchini With Ricotta & Walnuts recipe.

Grilling romaine for this wedge salad gives it just a slight char that goes perfectly with Caesar salad dressing. Feel free to swap for your MIL's favorite green goddess dressing or ranch dressing if you want to switch things up.

Get the Grilled Romaine Caesar Wedge recipe.

Hot dogs, fireworks, and flag cake—if your Fourth of July party doesn’t end with a this patriotic dessert, then you’re doing it wrong! With a simple frosting, boxed cake mix, and sweet fresh fruit, this cake is as easy to make as it is to devour.

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As soon as the weather warms up, we can't wait to get our hands on fresh ears of corn. Here, we toss the kernels with cherry tomatoes, red onion, feta cheese, and basil for a potluck-friendly side everyone (even your MIL) will love.

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Has there ever been a combination more harmonious than pineapple and BBQ sauce? We don’t think so! Sweet and tangy with just a hint of spice, this chicken dinner is practically guaranteed to make you your mother-in-law's favorite person at the cookout.

Get the Sheet-Pan BBQ Pineapple Chicken recipe.