27 Traditional Fourth of July Foods for a Classic Celebration

Pulled pork comes together in the slow cooker for a main dish that's great for feeding a crowd, or feeding your family on a Tuesday. Reviewer The Cookworm says, "It is perfect for days when you know that you will be late getting home and yet you still want to feed your family a good hearty meal."

What's a backyard BBQ without slaw? Reviewer Wendy Fore says, "I just made this coleslaw for a big cookout that I am hosting tomorrow and I had to rate this right away! It is delicious! I haven't even chilled it for the 2 hours and it is so good! I can't wait to share it with my friends and family."

With over a 1,000 glowing reviews, this macaroni salad is sure to be a hit at your celebration. "Classic is the key word here...nothing to pretty it up, nothing to add additional flavors, nothing to create a 'change' ... just a perfect, classic recipe everyone will love! I not only think it's perfect as is, but is also the best base for getting crazy with your own preferences," says reviewer AuntB. 

Summertime is synonymous with grilling, and this juicy grilled chicken recipe will bring the flavors of summer to your plate. "Wonderful marinade," says reviewer Crystal S. "Key to this recipe is to use fresh squeezed lemon and lime juice."

Cold salads help to balance out the hearty meat mains. Plus they're easy to make ahead of time and serve later. Few salads are held in such high esteem as the classic potato salad. Reviewer Jillian says, "I've been looking for the ideal red skinned potato salad and I think I've found it. This was straight forward, simple, and delicious...it goes great with BBQ chicken!"

"Confirmed broccoli haters have changed their minds after tasting this salad. It is great for potlucks or buffet meals," says recipe creator JJOHN32. "Make a day or so before you wish to serve to meld the ingredients. I have used sugar substitutes for the white sugar and also used nonfat or low-fat mayonnaise and it still tastes great!"

Making baby back ribs at home is easier than you would think! All you need is pork ribs and barbecue sauce. "These ribs really did fall off the bone and they were delicious," says reviewer KERI5678. 

Cheddar cheese and bacon take classic deviled eggs up a notch. "I made these once for a party and now everyone wants me to bring them everytime," says reviewer Laurie L. "The most interesting part —many times people that swear they don't like deviled eggs will take 2-3 of these!"

These homemade corn dogs are better than anything you will get in a box. "I was really surprised when I found out that I had everything to make homemade corn dogs on hand," says reviewer dani. "I substituted honey for the sugar and skipped the black pepper and they turned out great!"

This Southern-style sweet tea will quench your thirst and your sweet tooth. "This stuff really is good, so good you could bottle it and sell it," says reviewer Jillian. 

"This reminded me of my mom's baked beans," says reviewer Ruth. "Delicious! It was my first attempt at making baked beans from scratch, but certainly not the last!"

It's just not Fourth of July without burgers, and these are the juiciest ever. "I made these yesterday for a barbeque, and every single guest told me how great the hamburgers were," says reviewer JANEL_K. 

Nothing's more refreshing during the summer than a ripe strawberry, and nothing's more American than pie —put the two together and you have the ultimate Independence Day dessert.  Reviewer Jess suggests using ginger-ale in place of water for added flavor. 

You can't have a summery party without sliders...you just can't. Reviewer suchaprincess says, "These were a huge hit with my poker playing buddies. The sandwiches stayed nice and compact and held up well. Easy to grab and go ... and 'go' they did."

"This is the crispiest, spiciest, homemade fried chicken I have ever tasted! It is equally good served hot or cold and has been a picnic favorite in my family for years," says recipe creator QUIRKYIQ. 

"For as easy and versatile as this one is, it deserves 5 stars! I made this for a bridal shower and it went over as a huge hit," says reviewer DREGINEK. This classic, versatile pasta salad can be easily adjusted to fit your preferences. 

Take advantage of the bounty of summer fruits available! "Perfect pie," says reviewer Nickie M. "We just had this after dinner tonight. We picked the blackberries from the fence line running down the driveway. I followed the recipe exactly (But I used store bought frozen pie crusts) and it was absolutely delicious."

Few things are more American than apple pie. "This was the best apple pie I've ever made, and I've been baking for years," says reviewer NUMUM4199. "It got rave reviews from everyone at dinner."

Chips and dip are the perfect pairing for any party, and it doesn't get more classic than fresh salsa. "Really good salsa; nice and fresh. EASY to make. I put everything in the food processor and it was done in a couple of minutes," says reviewer marybcurlyq. 

"This was my favorite item at our cookout yesterday," says reviewer NERDYCHEESECAKE. Fresh corn is in season just in time for us to celebrate the Fourth of July! 

"The perfect fruit salad for a backyard bbq or any occasion. There are never leftovers," says recipe creator Nicole Graham Holley. "This is one of my favorite fruit salad recipes, as I think the sauce really makes it. This salad is tastier the longer you can let it soak in its juices. I prefer 3 to 4 hours in the refrigerator before I serve it."

Perhaps the most classic of all Fourth of July desserts, strawberry shortcake is made the traditional way in this top-rated recipe. "Hands down the best shortcakes I've ever made," says reviewer MIRABLUE. "These shortcakes are flaky like a pie crust but soft and chewy like a biscuit."

Seasonal sweet corn is put on display in this refreshing salad. "The salad keeps really well and I liked that it was so light and refreshing without the standard mayo dressing. I am making this again for a church picnic this weekend," says reviewer westcoastdream. 

It's three American traditions wrapped up in one: beer, brats, and grilling. "Simple recipe with great results," says reviewer cheddar bob. "They will melt in your mouth! I like mine with beer boiled onion, some sauerkraut, and some spicy deli mustard."

"Simple and delicious," says reviewer MAMALEIGH. "Paired with a homemade crust, this pie is everything a fresh fruit pie should be." Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. 

Cool off with some good old fashioned lemonade. All you need is lemons, sugar, and water. Reviewer ronnijean says, "We have a lemon tree in our backyard and since I discovered this recipe last summer, I've made so many batches of lemonade I don't even follow a recipe anymore! This is the best lemonade recipe!"

Chef John's beautiful strawberry ice cream is made with real, fresh strawberries. Reviewer RainbowJewels says, "This is the best strawberry ice cream I have ever had! I love the simple, real ingredients used in this recipe."