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

They're guaranteed to impress.

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the perfect fuss free solution for deviled egg lovers this deviled egg pasta salad has tender elbow macaroni noodles and crispy bacon combined with garlic powder and sweet paprika seasoned mayonnaise dijon dressing, then tossed with celery, scallions, and parsley for mild onion flavor and a slight crunch
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Uh oh, it’s July 3rd and your mother-in-law just called—she’s coming to your place for the Fourth of July, and expects to be impressed! No matter what kind of relationship you two have or what your plans were for the holiday, her coming to visit can easily add a new level of stress to the day. Whether yours likes the classics and NOTHING ELSE, or is the type to be bored of the same-old and won't be pleased unless there's something new and exciting on her plate, there's recipes here for you. Impress her with grilled mains like our green goddess grilled chicken or our grilled ribs; fill your spread with fun sides like our shrimp pasta salad or our antipasto potato salad; and ply her with sweets like our flag cake or our no-bake strawberry lemon swirl tart. Whatever you do, don’t forget the drinks! Check out our favorite summer cocktails and mocktails that’ll help take the edge off, for everyone.

1

Grilled Shrimp Piccata Skewers

juicy, charred shrimp, bright lemon zest, briny capers, and white wine butter sauce
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

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.

2

Watermelon Feta Salad

watermelon cubes, feta, red onion, and mint in a bowl
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

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.

Get the Watermelon Feta Salad recipe.

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3

Roasted Cabbage Burgers

roasted cabbage burgers on a sheet pan topped with american cheese, bacon, red onion, pickles, ketchup, and mustard
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

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.

Get the Roasted Cabbage Burgers recipe.

4

Deviled Egg Pasta Salad

the perfect fuss free solution for deviled egg lovers this deviled egg pasta salad has tender elbow macaroni noodles and crispy bacon combined with garlic powder and sweet paprika seasoned mayonnaise dijon dressing, then tossed with celery, scallions, and parsley for mild onion flavor and a slight crunch
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

Get the Deviled Egg Pasta Salad recipe.

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5

No-Bake Strawberry-Lemon Swirl Tart

a tart made with cookie crust and a filling of lemon and strawberry curds swirled together. served with whipped cream on the side
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

Get the No-Bake Strawberry-Lemon Swirl Tart recipe.

6

Green Goddess Grilled Chicken

green goddess grilled chicken drizzled with green goddess dressing
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

Get the Green Goddess Grilled Chicken recipe.

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7

Grilled Cod With Romesco Sauce

grilled cod on top of a spread of romesco sauce on a white plate topped with herbs
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

Get the Grilled Cod With Romesco Sauce recipe.

8

Ribs On The Grill

grilled ribs getting cut
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

Get the Ribs On The Grill recipe.

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9

Broccoli Caesar Pasta Salad

broccoli caesar pasta salad topped with crunchy croutons
PHOTO: ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

Get the Broccoli Caesar Pasta Salad recipe.

10

Croissant Hot Dogs

hot dogs in croissants with toppings
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: PEARL JONES

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!

Get the Croissant Hot Dogs recipe.

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11

Shrimp Pasta Salad

shrimp pasta salad with chopped tomatoes and red onion
PHOTO: ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

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.

Get the Shrimp Pasta Salad recipe.

12

Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola Cake

chocolate coca cola sheet pan cake with chocolate icing
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

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13

Grilled Peach Salad

lettuce topped with grilled peach slices, tomatoes, toasted hazelnuts and creamy buttermilk dressing
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

14

Chicken Burgers

chicken burger topped with sauce, lettuce, sliced red onion, and tomato
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

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.

Get the Chicken Burgers recipe.

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15

Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Cake

layers of strawberry ice cream and vanilla ice cream on top of a sandwich cookie base
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: SAM SENEVIRATNE

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.

16

Grilled Zucchini With Ricotta & Walnuts

skewered and grilled zucchini planks topped with herby whipped ricotta and crunchy toasted walnuts
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

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17

Grilled Romaine Caesar Wedge

grilled romaine lettuce wedge topped with caesar dressing and croutons on a white platter
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

18

Flag Cake

cake topped with raspberries, icing, and blueberries to create an american flag design
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

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.

Get the Flag Cake recipe.

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19

Corn Salad

corn, chopped tomatoes, feta and basil in a bowl
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

Get the Corn Salad recipe.

20

Sheet-Pan BBQ Pineapple Chicken

chicken drumsticks and thighs with pineapple and jalapenos
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

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