Here, we’re sharing the ultimate selection of 4th of July side dish recipes because every summer party needs one of the classic summer salad recipes: a pasta salad recipe, potato salad recipe, or slaw recipe. We also love grilled side dishes that can be cooked alongside our proteins, like Paula’s Garlic Grilled Tomatoes or her Saturday Night Vidalia Onions. And of course we can’t go without classic cookout side dishes, like a Southern macaroni and cheese recipe.

Do you have your 4^th of July side dishes planned already? Will you be adding any of the below recipes into your menu? Let us know in the comments below what you’ll be making and how you’ll be celebrating.

We hope you have a fun and safe 4^th of July. Now, let freedom ring, y’all!

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We’re smack dab in the middle of summer and our neighborhoods are decked out in red, white, and blue, and that can only mean one thing—it’s time to prepare for our annual 4^th of July parties! We love pulling in the patriotic theme in all aspects of our parties, and one of the simplest ways to bring it into our menu is with dessert. So today we’re inspiring you to do the same with this collection of 4^th of July dessert recipes! Using the fresh berries — strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and cherries — that are so tasty and plentiful is an excellent way to bring in the reds and blues that we love to see this time of year.

From Paula’s gorgeous Fruit and Yogurt Parfait to her Strawberry Mold, these 4^th of July dessert recipes are delicious and bursting with color. Will you be trying any of Paula’s recipes this year? If so, let us know which in the comments below.

We’re wishing y’all a berry happy 4^th of July!

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Utilizing strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and cherries in tandem with whipped cream, yogurt, or some other creamy filling easily pulls in the red, white, and blue to maximize the patriotic effect of your food table.

These red, white, and blue dessert recipes with fruit will add a berry patriotic look to your celebration, but what else will you be serving this Memorial Day? Let us know in the comments below!

And just as a reminder, while you’re enjoying your patriotic sweets, your day off, and your cookouts, take a moment to reflect on why we have these privileges in the first place.

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After all, while we’re certainly not entirely free of stress, we’ve all experienced more than a normal amount recently. It feels good to finally be able to reconnect safely with our friends and family after a tough year plus, so getting together for a festive 4^th of July party feels extra wonderful and just so very… normal.

While the focus of our gatherings is on celebrating our country and our relationships with one another, food is also an important part of any get-together. While there is no shortage of recipes that have us cooking up until it’s time to host (or leave for) a party, wouldn’t it be better to enjoy some make-ahead 4^th of July recipes so that you’re not rushing around and starting your time together stressed? We certainly think so! So today, we’re sharing nine make-ahead Fourth of July recipes, including make-ahead main dishes, make-ahead side dish recipes, a make-ahead drink recipe, and a couple of fabulous make-ahead 4^th of July dessert recipes!

Will you be gathering with friends this 4^th of July? Let us know your plans in the comments below!

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You know, we love rich desserts and chocolate as much as the next gal or guy out there, but when warmer weather hits, we love that these lighter, fruitier flavors are a bit more refreshing. These sweet fruity concoctions are the perfect way to celebrate Independence Day. Not only are they beautifully red, white, and blue, but they’re delicious too.

Now get out there and show your love for this great country—the land of the free and the home of these patriotic dessert recipes. Trust us, Uncle Sam wants YOU to enjoy these sweet treats. Happy 4^th of July!

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Most likely the weather is going to be so hot I could spit on the ground and watch it sizzle, so I want to be prepared with plenty of cool drinks and simple foods to snack on. My inspiration for this party comes from some sweet pinwheels that have me feel incredibly nostalgic. Just like the way I used to decorate the handlebars of my bicycle, I’m going to decorate my dock house deck with pinwheels for my party. Y’all, if I’ve shared with you nothing less, I hope it would be not to fret any party giving! Look at how a bunch of pinwheels and some simple foods can make any place—even a sweet little space like mine—seem grand. Happy 4th of July, and as always, from the bottom of my heart, I thank all that have served and continue to serve our wonderful country, and thank you to the families who support them at home.

My Menu: Mason Jars, cutting boards, and simple melamine plates are all I used to set up the food for this little get together. When the temperatures are rising, I’ve found people sometimes like just a few snacks and not a heavy meal. Summer melons are so sweet this time of year you don’t even need to fuss with a dessert.

Drinks: Because the temperatures are rising so high, I want to make sure to have plenty of drinks on hand. My Watermelon Cooler is the perfect summer sipper. Since Bobby and Jamie are stopping by, I wanted to mix up a batch of something from one of their books. I chose the Cucumber Sangria from Get Fired Up. Now that one will just be for the adults!

Decorations: These table decorations are as festive, inexpensive, and easy as they come. Simple paper pinwheels stuck inside some monkey grass I’m going to plant in my garden later. I used some old galvanized buckets to put the monkey grass pots down in. You can use whatever paper you want to make your pinwheels. I like the idea of stars and stripes paper too! Let your imagination run wild. If you forgot how to make a pinwheel, let me remind you how. It’s really easy, and look how fun these are! Learn how to make my Summer Pinwheel Centerpieces here.

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Now we’re planning how to make this picnic a little more patriotic than others. We love the classic red gingham tablecloth, but we’ve decided to add some pretty blue napkins sprinkled with little white stars. We found a pretty little white wicker picnic basket set with blue and white striped melamine plates, silverware, and clear acrylic glassware. We’re also opting for some patriotic picks to keep our sandwiches together. But which should we choose—cute little flags or fun foil firecrackers?

Lastly, be sure to bring some games along! Whether it’s a wiffle ball and bat, a football, some cards, or a Frisbee, games are a surefire way to bring up the fun level.

So how will you be celebrating Independence Day? With a picnic or in some other way? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!

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We’ve taken some of Paula’s best picnic recipes to create a mix-and-match Fourth of July summer picnic guide. Choose one (or more) from each of the categories, and create your own festive menu! What combo will you choose?

Choose a Sandwich
1. Tomato Sandwich with Parsley or Basil
2. Jamie’s Chicken Salad Sandwich
3. Prime Rib Sandwich with Caramelized Onions, Arugula and Horseradish Cream
4. Lobster Club Sandwich
5. Mini Pork Sandwiches

Choose a Potato Salad
1. Skillet Fried Potato Salad
2. Sausage and Potato Salad
3. Pink Potato Salad
4. Roasted Potato Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
5. Italian Potatoes

Choose a Second Salad
1. English Pea Salad
2. Avocado Chicken Salad
3. Corn and Asparagus Salad
4. Southern Cornbread Salad
5. Macaroni Salad

Choose a Slaw
1. Peppery Coleslaw with Orange Chili Vinaigrette
2. Corny Coleslaw
3. Broccoli Coleslaw
4. The Lady’s Coleslaw
5. Hot Slaw

Choose a Beverage
1. Watermelon Cooler
2. Sweet Tea
3. Sparkling Sweet Cherry Lemonade
4. Lemonade
5. Minted Lemon and Limeade

Choose a Dessert
1. Yogurt Pops
2. Toffee Brownies
3. Sunshine Cake
4. Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
5. Pecan Squares

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Step 1: First gather your ingredients: ¾ cup strawberries (halved and hulled), 3 tablespoons, superfine sugar (separated), 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons lemon juice (separated), ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon honey, and ¾ cup blueberries.

Ingredient tip: Do not use reduced-fat or fat-free Greek yogurt.

Step 2: To make the red layer, combine the strawberries and 1 tablespoon of sugar in a medium bowl. Let stand, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is syrupy and completely dissolved, about 5 minutes.

Step 3: Transfer the syrupy strawberries to a food processor with 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Pulse the mixture in the processor until it’s smooth. Evenly divide the mixture into six 3-oz ice pop molds, and freeze them until almost firm—about 40 minutes.

Step 4: To make the white layer, whisk together the yogurt, honey, and 2 teaspoons of lemon juice in a small bowl. Remove the molds from the freezer and evenly top the red layer with the yogurt mixture, filling the next third of the molds. Freeze until almost firm, about 30 minutes.

Step 5: To make the blue layer, combine the blueberries and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a medium bowl. Let stand, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is syrupy and completely dissolved, about 5 minutes.

Step 6: Transfer the blueberries and syrup to a food processor with the remaining 1-tablespoon lemon juice, and pulse the berry mixture until it’s smooth.

Step 7: Remove the molds from the freezer. If you’re using ice pop sticks, insert them through the yogurt layer.

Step 8: Top the molds evenly with the blueberry mixture, leaving a quarter-inch of free space at the top. If you’re using mold covers, put them on now. Finally, pop them back in the freezer until they are completely frozen, about 6 hours or overnight.

To serve, dip the bottom of each mold in hot water for about 10 seconds to loosen them. Remove the festive pops from the molds, and serve them immediately!

Do you have any at-home ice pop recipes that you love? Let us hear them in the comments section!

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