21 Easy 4th of July Side Dishes

easy 4th of July Side DishesEasy 4th of July side dishes for our backyard barbecue are something I always try to change up to keep things fresh.

I like to experiment with different recipes and offer something unexpected from time to time. I have searched for some recipes that are familiar and some that are new. They all offer wholesome ingredients that will feed your family and keep everyone having a good time for as long as possible. So let’s see what I found for your Fourth of July side dishes this year.ย 

Pasta Salad

Pasta Salad via Spend with Pennies

Every July 4th BBQ needs a pasta Salad. This is one of my favorite summer salads with grape tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, crispy vegetables, and fresh parsley.

Broccoli Salad

Broccoli Salad via Sugar Spun Run

This delicious salad is ready to eat in about 15 minutes and it has bacon in it! I get excited thinking about it. Bacon is one of my favorites, cheddar cheese is also delicious with a little red onion in this perfect side dish.ย 

Spinach and Sweet Strawberry Summer Salad

easy 4th of July Side Dishes
Strawberry Spinach Salad via Wonky Wonderful

This patriotic side dish is made with red white and blue (add some blueberries)! A delicious 4 ingredient balsamic vinegar dressing is a wonderful addition to this summer salad. If you require a vegan side dish then omit the cheese and viola it’s vegan, but if cheese is in your diet then this dish can be made with goat cheese, gorgonzola, blue cheese, or feta cheese. Creamy avocado would also be delicious in this summer side dish.ย 

Gooey Mac and Cheese

bowl of creamy mac and cheese with a spoon
Ultra Creamy Crockpot Mac via Chunky Chef

According to my kids, the best 4th of July side dishes include two things pasta and cheese. This mac and cheese is a fix-it-and-forget-it kind of recipe. It is so easy and the results are delicious.ย 

Grilled Summer Vegetablesย 

Visual search query image
Summer Grilled Vegetables via Real Food Mostly Plantsย 

Vibrant seasonal vegetables are always a favorite. The great thing about this recipe is that you can use any type of vegetable. Everything tastes better grilled.ย 

Macaroni Saladย 

Best Macaroni Salad via Dinner in 321

This macaroni salad is delicious incorporating hard-boiled eggs and fresh veggies in the Macaroni makes for a delicious surprise for your 4th of July BBQ.ย 

Corn Saladย 

a bowl of corn salad with red pepper, cilantro, and shredded cheese.
Mexican Street Corn via Served from Scratch.

I love fresh corn so I had to give this recipe a try. We had grilled corn a few days before and I needed to use up the leftovers so I made this to serve with tortilla chips! Delish. The chili powder wasn’t even noticed. It just gave it a nice kick.

Caprese Salad

Caprese salad drizzled with olive oil and balsamic glaze on white platter
Caprese Salad via Natasha’s Kitchen

This salad is delicious with tomatoes fresh from the garden. I could eat this as a meal by itself. It is so fresh and the flavors blend nicely together. I recommend using fresh basil for this recipe.ย 

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Fruit Salad

easy 4th of July Side Dishes
Best Fruit Salad with Honey-Lime Dressing via Kristine’s Kitchen

It is simple to make this colorful fruit salad and everyone will love the results with its divine honey-lime dressing. It could easily be served as a dessert instead of some more sugary desserts.ย 

Watermelon Salad

Honey Lime Fruit Salad - #recipe by #eatwell101ยฎ
Honey-Lime Watermelon Salad via Eat Well 101

This recipe is perfect for Independence Day celebrations. The mint compliments the watermelon, providing a little unexpected kick to this refreshing salad. Watermelon is one of the best ways to stay hydrated in the summer.ย 

Cucumber Salad

overhead view of cucumber salad with red onions and vinegar dressing, on a white and blue serving plater
Cucumber Onion Salad via The Cookie Rookie

This light little salad mix can be stored in the refrigerator and served alongside any main dish when you are in the mood for a crunchy little salad. The red onion and fresh dill finish this recipe off nicely.ย 

Smokey Beansย 

Cast iron skillet filled with baked beans topped with crispy bacon and coarse ground black pepper.
Smoked Baked Beans via House of Yumm

These delicious beans are a family favorite after sitting in the smoker with the meat for a few hours during the day, the crispy bacon takes these smoked beans to the next level.ย 

Classic Potato Salad

A bowl filled with homemade Potato Salad, ready to serve.
Classic Potato Salad via Tastes Better From Scratch

This recipe makes a delicious potato salad that contains hard-boiled eggs, and creamy dressing. I like to add sour cream to take it to the next level about 1/2 a cup and I use horseradish mustard for an extra kick. Even without my changes this recipe is still worth wild and can be made ahead and pulled out once you are ready to serve it. ย ย 

Baked Spaghetti Corn

Spaghetti Corn
Baked Spaghetti Corn via Key Ingredients

This is a family favorite. My husband grew up with his mother making this as a side dish to chicken, often served with a nice salad. It would also be wonderful served alongside some BBQ.ย ย 

Seasoned French Friesย 

Overhead photo of Blackstone frozen fries on parchment paper.
Frozen French Fries on the Blackstone Griddle via Wendi Polisi

French fries are always a fun side for grown ups and kids alike. These ones are easy to do on the griddle and come out crispy and are always a hit.ย 

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Picked Onions with Spicy Jalapeรฑos

Pickled Red Onions via Delicious Table

These are a must-have when we grill. They are a nice topper for hamburgers and a nice side for grilled meat.ย  They work nicely on tacos or by themselves as a little snack. These keep nicely in the fridge for 3-4 weeks.ย 

Fruit Kabobs

Fruit Skewers
Fruit Skewers vis A Couple Cooks

These are great kept on ice next to the pool. This recipe has a nice Greek Yogurt dip that is refreshing and fun.ย 

Black Beans and Rice

Black beans and rice in a pot topped with cilantro sprigs.
Black Beans and Rice via Dinner at the Zoo

This is a great rice side dish. Black beans and cilantro lime make this rice next level. This is a common dish in Cuban culture. This recipe is delicious incorporating the cilantro lime flavor. I can see how a can of chiles could put this recipe into the next category.ย 

Air Fryer Fried Green Tomatoes

dipping a fried green tomatoe slice into ketchup
Best Fried Green Tomatoes via Seeking Good Eats

This is an easy-fried green tomato recipe that is worth trying. It came out great and is good served with a side of ranch but the ketchup marinara sends it over the edge! Something is very southern about fried green tomatoes.ย 

Grilled Red Potatoes

Garlic and Rosemary Red Potatoes via Spiced

Easy 4th of July side dishes make spending time with family so much easier. These little potatoes pack a punch with olive oil, rosemary, and black pepper. These are easily made as a side dish for any meal. I can see these being hard to keep around for long, so be sure to make plenty.

Greek Yogurt Dip

Greek Yogurt Dip recipe with cucumber slice dipper.
Greek Yogurt Dip via Five Heart Home

A delicious recipe that is accented with fresh dill and parsley this Greek yogurt is worth a trip to the grocery store to get the fresh herbs. It would be delicious served with pita bread, vegetables or even topped over chicken.

These are the best 4th of July side dishes.

With their bright colors and fresh flavors, they’ll add a festive touch to your holiday table. Best of all, they’re so easy to make that your family and friends will be coming back for more. Happy Fourth of July, America!ย 

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