Chef John's Favorite Fourth of July Recipes

"Whether it's sitting next to some smoky ribs or just a humble hot dog, this deli-style macaroni salad will always be a crowd favorite, as long as you pay attention to a few key details," says Chef John.

In this classic buttermilk fried chicken recipe, you'll toss the chicken pieces with 11 spices and then marinate it in buttermilk. Give the chicken a quick dredge in seasoned flour, and it's fry time! "I love the tangy tenderization that the buttermilk provides," says Chef John. "After the buttermilk soak, dredge the chicken pieces in seasoned flour, and fry them in hot oil until crisp and cooked."

Not only delicious, the burger dog isn't just a fun gimmick; the shape of the burger actually helps develop an incredible grilled crust that covers the whole surface of the burger, and the proportions between meat, cheese, and bun are exceptional. "This 'burger dog' is far more than a hot dog-shaped cheeseburger," says Chef John. "It's a one-handed wonder that's perfectly proportioned and easier to eat than a regular cheeseburger."

These delicious hot dogs get the full Coney Island treatment with a meat relish that's slightly sweet, slightly spicy, and slightly salty. Top with plenty of yellow mustard and raw onions. And check out the recipe for Chef John's Homemade Hot Dog Buns too!

Your Fourth of July celebration requires juicy BBQ chicken with truly explosive flavor! There are no cherries in this recipe, but it's undeniably the bomb. Actually, the name comes from the brine, which features cherry tomatoes and hot habanera chilies, all blended together into a smooth puree.

"This is my mother Pauline's recipe," says Chef John. "It's pretty much a classic potato salad but remember, if you add onions, use sweet onions and chop with a very sharp knife, allow potatoes to cool to room temp before dressing them, and always taste for salt."

"When it comes to barbecued chicken, everyone wants that nice thick glaze of sauce attached to the skin, and the only way to do it, is brush it on as it cooks," says Chef John. "Therein lies the problem. Because of the sugar content, it only takes a minute for a barbecue sauce to go from brick-red to solid black. I just 'mark' the chicken's vulnerable skin side, then cook it all the way through in a closed grill, brushing on the glaze as it cooks."

Here's Chef John's spicy take on a shrimp po'boy with crab mayo. "I decided to do an extra spicy version, and give it a 4th of July-friendly name," says Chef John. "But the soul of the sandwich is the same and features an insanely great combination of hot, crunchy shrimp, and cold crabby mayo."

Chef John's deviled eggs are the only way to get your party started. As always, the devil is in the details. "My deviled eggs recipe is fairly standard, except I like to add a little cream cheese," says Chef John. "Unlike mayonnaise, cream cheese firms up when chilled, and provides a little more luxurious texture."

You'll want these Boston baked beans with just about any main dish you'll make for July 4th — fried chicken, BBQ'd chicken, burgers, grilled sausages and hot dogs. Watch the video to see how Chef John bakes up a batch of perfectly tender beans.

"These minis really capture everything I love about the classic Philly cheesesteak," says Chef John.

Chef John perfects the picnic pasta salad. The trouble with pasta salads is that they're so often undercooked, underdressed, under-seasoned, and just plain bland. But this recipe will help you regain your faith in a much maligned salad.  "This recipe shows you how to transform what is normally an afterthought to a dish that's good enough to enjoy on its own, or as the perfect complement to grilled meat," says Chef John. "Top this with extra fresh chopped herbs if you like."

"Smoky, spicy meats have been paired with sweet-and-sour, fruit-based sauces since we've had cooks, so that this combo works beautifully is no big surprise," says Chef John. "And yes, other juicy fruit like peaches, or other berries will work nicely."

Chef John asks you: "Is there any better way to celebrate the Fourth of July than with this red, white, and sort-of-blue Popsicle? Before you answer, I should mention they're actually strawberry and blueberry cheesecake ice pops that are spiked with booze."

This simple no-bake cheesecake is decorated like the old Stars and Stripes. The filling features cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, and fresh whipped cream. It's rich and sweet, with a light texture that's less dense than baked cheesecake. You'll spread the creamy filling over a homemade chocolate graham cracker crust. It's so easy!