70 Festive Summer Sides For The Perfect Fourth Of July Celebration
From pasta salad to cornbread, these are the BEST of the best.
Finding the best side dishes for your Fourth of July party is no easy feat. You need to have a variety that pairs well with burgers and BBQ, AND everything's gotta taste good on a hot summer day. To take your celebration to the next level, we're sharing our list of 70 Fourth of July side dishes to inspire your holiday menu.
We've included everything from classics like pasta salads, veggies, and potato salads here, as well as some must-make accoutrements that will take your spread from good to amazing. You really can't go wrong by keeping things simple with the classics such as coleslaw, cornbread, baked beans, and grilled corn. Enjoy them on the side, or piled high atop your burgers and dogs. They’re timeless recipes for a reason and will please everyone in your crowd.
Of course, side dishes can also offer a way to introduce exciting flavors combinations to your seasonal spread. Take inspiration from the classics, but add different ingredients and cooking techniques to wow your guests. Go ahead and upgrade plain ol’ macaroni salad into lobster roll pasta salad or Thai peanut chicken pasta salad. Transform an average potato salad into our jalapeño popper potato salad or our antipasto-inspired version. We've got plenty of creative takes on old-fashioned recipes to make this July Fourth, so try a few and thank us later.
Want even more Fourth of July inspiration? Check out our favorite Fourth of July appetizers, our best Fourth of July drinks, and our more festive red, white, and blue desserts too.
French Potato Salad
We all love a classic mayo-based potato salad, but sometimes we want to try something with a little more…je ne sais quoi. In this recipe, tender, creamy potatoes are tossed with a garlicky mustard dressing and showered with plenty of fresh chopped herbs.
Get the French Potato Salad recipe.
Elotes (Mexican Street Corn)
In this elotes recipe, grilled corn is covered in a creamy mayo and sour cream mixture before being topped with chili powder, cotija cheese, and plenty of lime juice. The result is an easy, flavor-packed side dish that we just can't get enough of.
Get the Mexican Street Corn (Elote) recipe.
Summer Couscous Salad
A summer salad should be simple with minimal effort, allowing the seasonal produce to really shine. This easy salad—loaded with couscous and colorful vegetables—just might become your new favorite side dish.
Get the Summer Couscous Salad recipe.
Coleslaw
When it comes to summer cookouts, coleslaw is a must. This recipe is about as classic as it gets. The real kicker is the dressing, which is light and punchy, thanks to a generous amount of apple cider vinegar and Dijon mustard.
Get the Coleslaw recipe.
Baked Beans
Baked beans are equal parts sweet and savory. Not to mention, they’re a one-pot wonder! Serve them alongside hot dogs and cornbread for an all-American feast.
Get the Baked Beans recipe.
Broccoli Caesar Pasta Salad
If Caesar salad took a vacation to the Midwest, she would become this side dish. This broccoli Caesar pasta salad features crisp-tender broccoli tossed with cavatappi, shredded Parm, and crispy croutons in a homemade Caesar dressing.
Get the Broccoli Caesar Pasta Salad recipe.
Homemade Cornbread
This tried-and-tested cornbread recipe checks all the boxes. Whether you’re serving it plain or with honey butter, you’ll return to it again and again.
Get the Homemade Cornbread recipe.
Grilled Zucchini With Ricotta & Walnuts
Skewered and grilled zucchini planks are topped with herby whipped ricotta and crunchy toasted walnuts in this easy, healthy side dish for July 4th. The ribboning also creates plenty of nooks and crannies for the creamy ricotta and walnuts to settle.
Get the Grilled Zucchini With Ricotta & Walnuts recipe.
Watermelon Strawberry Caprese Salad
We took inspiration from two summer salad staples—Caprese salad and watermelon feta salad—to create this best-of-both-worlds side dish. In it, fresh strawberries are combined with juicy watermelon, tangy feta, and fresh basil for a sweet summer bite.
Get the Watermelon Strawberry Caprese Salad recipe.
Panzanella Salad
A panzanella salad might seem simple to make—and it is! Our recipe features generous golden-brown croutons, chunks of juicy tomato, shallots, and torn basil in a bright vinaigrette.
Get the Panzanella Salad recipe.
Shrimp Pasta Salad
If you’ve found yourself making the same macaroni salad over and over again, this is the recipe for you. This Peruvian-inspired shrimp pasta salad is bright and zingy with perfectly cooked shrimp, red bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes.
Get the Shrimp Pasta Salad recipe.
Strawberry Balsamic Pasta Salad
News flash: Strawberries aren’t just for dessert. Their sweet and slightly tart flavor lends itself perfectly to savory dishes. We added in some spiral pasta, creamy goat cheese, crunchy toasted almonds, delicate shallots, and fresh herbs to make it a real party.
Get the Strawberry Balsamic Pasta Salad recipe.
Watermelon Gazpacho
Though we'll always love a classic, tomato-based gazpacho, the addition of watermelon gives the soup a delicious subtle sweetness we can't get enough of. Full of bright fruits and veggies, this no-cook soup is equal parts satisfying and refreshing.
Get the Watermelon Gazpacho recipe.
Ramen Noodle Salad
Upgrade your salad game with this ramen noodle side dish, which pairs crunchy ramen noodles with sweet mandarin oranges, creamy avocado, edamame, carrots, and cabbage.
Get the Ramen Noodle Salad recipe.
Grilled Plum & Pancetta Panzanella Salad
Plums are by far the most underrated stone fruit and it’s time they get the attention and treatment they truly deserve. Grilled plums are tossed with crispy pancetta, tangy goat cheese, fresh cherry tomatoes, and grilled sourdough bread, then drizzled with a maple-Dijon dressing.
Get the Grilled Plum & Pancetta Panzanella Salad recipe.
Burrata Salad
Think of burrata salad as caprese salad's fancy cousin. In this recipe, peak-summer tomatoes are topped with this luscious cheese and garnished with peppery basil leaves and savory chives.
Get the Burrata Salad recipe.
Watermelon Caprese
This watermelon Caprese combines slices of juicy, sweet watermelon, mozzarella, fresh basil, and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic glaze. The result is a simple side that's ready in just about 15 minutes.
Get the Watermelon Caprese recipe.
Classic Macaroni Salad
For summer cookouts, macaroni salad is a non-negotiable. It's one of our favorite things to pair with pulled pork or ribs. This recipe features crunchy celery, umami-packed tomatoes, and briny Kalamata olives.
Get the Classic Macaroni Salad recipe.
Cheesy Garlic Zucchini Steaks
Slathered with garlic oil and showered with mozzarella and Parmesan, these showstopping zucchini steaks will take center stage at your July 4th cookout.
Get the Cheesy Garlic Zucchini Steaks recipe.
Mediterranean Pasta Salad
This time around, pasta salad gets a Mediterranean twist. To make it, gemelli pasta is tossed with chickpeas, bell pepper, cucumber, scallions, feta, olives, herbs, and tomatoes, then tossed in harissa mayo.
Get the Mediterranean Pasta Salad recipe.
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