4th of July Side Dishes and ideas. It’s hardly 4th of July without a back yard party barbecue or a picnic in the park. Fireworks, friends and food!
And with those gatherings comes the request for you to contribute a barbecue side dish. You need side dishes that travel well and are proven crowd pleasers.
Look no further, here’s a line up of the best picnic side dishes from some of the best bloggers around. Pasta salads, vegetable salads, potato salads and some very clever specialty picnic side dishes.
Perfect for any burger, brisket or chicken main course that comes off that grill.
Table of contents
Fruit Salad Ideas for 4th of July Side Dishes
Fruit salads are a fresh choice for a backyard BBQ party. Here are some ideas that will have the crowd clamoring for more.
Summer Glow Salad with Blueberries and Cherries, Rhubarbarians
This healthy vegetarian Farmers Market Salad is loaded with fresh Summer fruit and goat cheese.
Greek Yogurt Fruit Bites, Salt and Baker
Whether you’re throwing a 4th of July party, having a barbecue, or you just want to enjoy a delicious finger food, these Greek Yogurt Fruit Bites are just what you need! Flaky fillo shells are filled with a sweetened greek yogurt whipped cream and topped with fresh fruit. This delicious treat serves as the perfect appetizer or dessert!
Corn Peach and Tomato Basil Salad, Lively Table
This fresh corn, peach and tomato basil salad with parmesan a miso vinaigrette is the ultimate fresh and flavorful summer side dish! (gluten-free, nut-free, vegetarian)
Pineapple Cucumber Salad, Natalie’s Health
This refreshing Pineapple Cucumber Salad is ideal side that goes so well with any dinner or BBQ. It’s packed with vitamins and so much crunchiness. It’s HEALTHY, all natural and super easy to make! Great for potluck, parties and picnics.
Watermelon Berry Summer Salad, Yay for Food
Bursting with sweet, colorful fruit and fresh, cooling mint, this vibrant watermelon salad recipe is so easy to make and delicious you’ll want to serve it all summer long.
Summer Peach Panzanella, Food Banjo
The crunchiness of the bread, the crispness of the tomatoes, the juiciness of the peaches all seem to work together in harmony. The flavors meld so nicely together too. The sweetness of the peaches, tartness of the white balsamic vinegar, slight spiciness of the onions. It really is just the perfect summer potluck salad.
Arugula Berry Citrus Salad, Stylish Cravings
Nothing better than a fresh delicious salad! This simple Florida arugula berry citrus salad is bursting with flavor and can be served as a side salad or tossed with chicken for lunch or dinner!
Simple Watermelon Cucumber and Mint Salad, Healthy Feels
This colorful dish is quick and easy to make and fun for kids to help out. You can make watermelon moons using circle cutters! A simple dressing of fresh lemon juice and olive oil makes the sweetness from the watermelon pop. Thinly sliced Japanese cucumber adds a natural subtle saltiness that complements the mint and watermelon perfectly.
Summer Pasta Salad Recipes, Fourth of July Side Dishes
Summer BBQ’s just aren’t complete without pasta salad side dishes, they scream Summer. Graciously welcome grilling season with a side dish of bright lively pasta. Here are some great ideas for your next back yard party.
Rancharoni Macaroni Salad, Ramshackle
Want to bring something a little different to your next potluck or picnic, tasty and reachable enough for almost everybody to enjoy? This Rancharoni Macaroni Salad mashes up a classic macaroni dish with tasty Ranch goodness to drop this easy-to-make flavor explosion on your next party.
Corn Maque Choux Macaroni Salad, Erica’s Recipes
This Cajun salad recipe with crispy bacon and corn, is a must-try, new go-to, summer-loving must-do. Inspired by the classic, Maque Choux, this Cajun macaroni salad recipe is easy, approachable, make-ahead, kid friendly, and pot-luck perfect.
Tuscan Tortellini Salad, The Cozy Cook
This tortellini salad is loaded with classic flavors of Tuscany, including mozzarella, pepperoni, salami, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and more. Better yet, it can be served warm or chilled!
The Best Pasta Salad Ever, Cooking On The Ranch
Take a look at this wonderful pot luck, crowd pleasing Summer pasta salad. Salty bacon and sweet onions…always a winner, chewy cheese tortellini with a fresh crunch of broccoli, colored with red tomatoes, with a creamy sweet unique dressing.
Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad, Midwest Foodie
This sun dried tomato pasta salad is loaded with PLENTY of sun dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, garbanzo beans, chopped spinach, fresh mozzarella and shaved Parmesan – it’s the stuff dreams are made of!
Easy Greek Orzo Salad, Happy Kitchen
This easy Greek Orzo Salad is perfect for picnics, potlucks, BBQs and get togethers. Whenever you need an easy and healthy side dish, that is guaranteed to disappear first, make this gorgeous Greek orzo salad!
Classic Macaroni Salad, Cooking On The Ranch
Hot weather and cool refreshing recipes go hand in hand. This classic macaroni salad recipe is a real crowd pleaser! It’s perfect for picnics, potlucks, and backyard BBQs.
Creamy Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad, Cooking On The Ranch
Creamy Smoked Mozzarella Penne Pasta Salad with baby spinach, roasted red bell pepper and an outstanding Parmesan cream sauce. This unique and hearty pasta salad recipe, that can be made in advance, will wow guests at your next potluck.
Southwest Pasta Salad with Black Beans Cooking On The Ranch
Southwest Pasta Salad with a creamy ranch, sour cream, bbq sauce dressing, is a pasta salad side dish that you’ll be devouring all Summer. Black beans and tomatoes give this one a Southwestern feel.
Vegetable Side Dish Recipes for 4th of July
Don’t forget to eat your veggies.
Pineapple Coleslaw, Cooking On The Ranch
Take classic creamy coleslaw to a whole new level by adding chunks of sweet pineapple and a creamy jalapeno buttermilk dressing. Give this Pineapple Coleslaw recipe a try. It’s a perfect side dish for any Summer BBQ and you’ll be amazed at how many people will ask you for the recipe.
Old Fashioned Pea Salad with Eggs, Cooking On The Ranch
Using frozen peas makes this a cinch to make. It’s Creamy with Miracle Whip, savory with bacon and cubed cheddar cheese. A popular choice for pot lucks and back yard bbq’s.
Cucina Bean Salad, Cooking On The Ranch
A variety of chopped fresh vegetables and a zingy vinaigrette brings this Cucina Bean Salad Recipe to a lively level. A white bean salad paired with black beans and fresh vegetables, this is a beautiful side dish for any main course. And even better as a picnic salad.
Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cranberries, I Heart Naptime
This Broccoli Salad With Bacon Is Dressed Up With Cranberries, Sunflower Kernels And A Delicious Homemade Dressing. It Is Super Easy To Make And Always A Crowd Pleaser. It’s The Perfect Side Dish To Bring To Any Potluck.
Sweet Corn Edamame, Cooking On The Ranch
Switching out edamame for traditional lima beans makes this a very special version of corn succotash. Add sweet red bell pepper, rice wine vinegar and basil and you’ve got a sassy Summer side dish. A healthy 4th of July Vegetable Salad Recipe!
Mexican Corn Salad with Citrus Aioli, Cooking On The Ranch
Mexican Corn Salad Recipe with Citrus Aioli. This Mexican corn side dish recipe has it all, sweet, creamy, tangy, easy and absolutely delicious. It’s everything you love about a Mexican side dish. A pot-luck pleaser.
Potato Salad Recipes for 4th of July Side Dishes
A picnic party simply wouldn’t be complete without a potato salad. Here are some great recipes that will make your Summer better than ever.
Mexican Street Corn Potato Salad, My Kitchen Love
Mexican Street Corn Potato Salad is a delicious and easy potato salad recipe. Bright and flavorful, the Mexican Street Corn element adds some fiesta to a classic potato salad.
Grilled Smashed Potato Salad with Chive Lemon Yogurt, The Endless Meal
If you’re looking for a healthy and DELICIOUS summer salad recipe, this Grilled Smashed Potato Salad is it. The potatoes are boiled, gently smashed, then grilled for tons of extra flavor. They’re tossed with some greens and an easy to make lemony yogurt and chive dressing. It’s delish vegetarian + gluten-free side dish everyone will love!
Mustard Dill Potato Salad (no mayo), Yay For Food
The bold flavour of dijon mustard teams up with earthy dill in this no mayo, vegetarian potato salad recipe. With textures ranging from creamy to crunchy, this salad makes for the perfect quick and easy side dish.
Italian Potato Salad with Green Beans, no Mayo, She Loves Biscotti
This easy to make creamy Italian Potato Salad with green beans will quickly become your favorite summer potluck recipe. You are going to love this no mayo potato salad!
Pickled Green Olive and Potato Salad, Plating Pixels
Perfect for potlucks, picnics or a dinner side, this Pickled Green Olive and Potato Salad will be a favorite. Fingerling potatoes with mayo, vinegar, garlic, castelvetrano olives and fresh parsley. Serve warm or cold.
Bacon Blue Cheese Potato Salad, Cooking On The Ranch
The flavors of blue cheese and bacon flavor this potato salad that’s great for any pot luck, back yard BBQ or picnic. A creamy and delicious potato side dish that will wow your crowd. Give this one a try, it’s creamy, tart and perfect.
Miso and Za’atar Potato Salad, Zestful Kitchen
The beloved potato salad gets a unique and flavorful upgrade with the help of miso paste and za’atar. Incredibly savory and satisfying, this Asian potato salad, with a Middle Eastern nod, dares to steal the spotlight from any main dish.
Patriotic Potato Salad with Herb Dressing, Joyful Healthy Eats
Made with red, white and blue potatoes, this Patriotic Potato Salad is a delicious & easy side dish. Covered with a homemade Herb Vinaigrette for the ultimate flavor!
Old Bay Potato Salad, This is How I Cook
Old Bay Potato Salad has the flavor of Old Bay, and all kinds of goodness. If you love potatoes you will love this version of potato salad! Perfect for your pot-luck backyard BBQ
Italian Potato Salad with Tuna, Pinch and Swirl
Italian Potato Salad is a lightened up twist on traditional potato salad. Red potatoes are coated in peppery olive oil and tossed with crunchy cucumber, tender tomatoes, briny olives and capers, buttery boiled eggs, then spiked with vinegar, oregano and slivers of fresh basil. This Italian style potato salad recipe is easy to assemble.
Old Fashioned Easy Classic Potato Salad Cooking On The Ranch
This easy potato salad recipe includes tips for perfectly boiled potatoes and eggs, along with a homemade potato salad dressing from my mom and hers! A classic American back-yard BBQ side dish.
Austrian Potato Salad, Karen’s Kitchen
This Austrian-style potato salad is tangy, herby, and filled with amazing flavor and crunch.
Loaded Baked Potato Salad, Cooking On The Ranch
Loaded with bacon and sour cream. Everyone will say “Yes Please” A perfect potato salad recipe for a picnic, back-yard BBQ party and a perfect side dish for anything grilled, steak, burgers, chicken …
Baked Beans Recipe
Spicy Baked Beans, Cooking On The Ranch
Sweet, smoky, spicy baked beans recipe. A delicious way to dress up a can of beans. Super easy recipe, super popular.
4th of July Cookie Recipe
And of course 4th of July wouldn’t be complete without a patriotic cookie recipe from Holly over at A Baker’s House
Stars and Stripes Red White and Blue Cookies
Decorating stars and stripes cookies in red, white and blue brings so much life and fun to an ordinary cookie and decorating with royal icing is not as hard as you might think. Use food coloring and icing techniques to make these red, white and blue cookies!
Why Trust These Recipes? Lea Ann Brown has lived, worked and played in Colorado for 45 years. She has immersed herself in the Colorado Culinary space, is a Culinary School Graduate and publishes her Colorado food Blog, Cooking On The Ranch.
I am so ready to celebrate summer! This round up is fabulous! Wouldn’t it be great to have them all?!
I’m going to do my best to make many of these this Summer.
What an incredible collection of recipes and these are perfect all through the summer. I can’t begin to tell you how many parties we go to throughout the year and people are always asking me to bring something…now I have more ideas.
What a terrific roundup! We host a 4th of July party and Bill always wants the same dishes. Pinning so I’ll be inspired to try some new recipes.
Thanks so much Liz. I want to make them all! In time. Thanks for that pin.
Wow everything looks so delicious. It’s a great collection and I love every single recipe here. I will definitely try some of these recipes for 4th of July. I bet my family will be delighted.
Thanks for stopping in Natalie. I want to try them all!
Wow, stupendous collection of goodness! I want each and every dish — I’m going to be busy in the kitchen for awhile. 🙂
Me too John! 🙂
I am ready for summer BBQs and get togethers and will be working my way through this list of recipes over the net few months. What a great collection of recipes!
Me too Holly. They all look delish.