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A July 4th Menu That’ll Have ‘Em Seeing Fireworks (20 Recipes, 1 Article)

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Summer is in full swing, and it’s time to relax and enjoy yourself. Gather your friends and family to celebrate Independence Day with a backyard bash featuring an all-American menu!

Below you will find links to many of our favorite July 4th recipes including the best BBQ ribs you ever tasted, old-fashioned potato salad, Boston baked beans, classic cole slaw and, for dessert, a new take on an old standby: Grilled Strawberry Shortcake with Smoked Whipped Cream. Don’t forget the ice-cold beverages. Fireworks are optional but strongly recommended.

Sauced rack of ribs on a tray

A Killer Smoked BBQ Ribs Recipe That Shames The 3-2-1 Method

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Mastering smoked ribs -- whether they are St. Louis style ribs, spare ribs, or baby back ribs -- with our comprehensive tutorial and recipe will make you a backyard all star.
chopped smoked pork rib tips

Smoked Pork Rib Tips Are The Best Treats, No Tricks

By:

Clint Cantwell, Champion Pitmaster

This simple smoked rib tips recipe makes the perfect snack, appetizer, or main course. The rib tip (a.k.a. brisket, costal cartilage, or break) is the triangular, cartilage-dotted slab of meat attached to the lower end of the sparerib. Seasoned with BBQ rub then slow smoked on the grill, these bites are a surefire hit.
brisket on a grill

Authentic Texas Style Smoked Brisket Recipe

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Behold the best smoked brisket recipe ever! Texas style brisket is more than a recipe, it is a concept and a goal. It all begins by selecting the right meat, trimming it, seasoning it, smoking it, slicing it, and more. Follow this easy BBQ brisket guide for mouthwatering results!
burnt ends

Brisket Burnt Ends: A Kansas City Original Made At Home

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

When done right, smoked brisket burnt ends are the perfect bite. Find out how to make your own with this tested recipe featuring the point muscle of the brisket.
pulled pork sandwich with sauce

An Easy BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe With Mouthwatering Results

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

This easy pulled pork recipe skips the slow cooker to create authentic low-and-slow smoked pulled pork on a smoker or grill. With smoke woven through the moist meat, bits of seasoned crust, and a gentle splash of BBQ sauce, pulled pork is perfect for your next backyard cookout.
Chickens dunked in Alabama white BBQ sauce at Big Bob Gibsons

Big Bob Gibson’s Bama Birds With White BBQ Sauce Recipe

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Packed full of flavor, this recipe for Alabama white BBQ sauce is the perfect addition to grilled and smoked chicken. Adapted from the original white BBQ sauce that was created by famed Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Que in Decatur, Alabama, this isn't your ordinary sticky sweet BBQ sauce as it relies on mayonnaise and vinegar.
Bacon wrapped hot dogs on a platter

Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs Will Be Your New Best Friend

By:

Clint Cantwell, Champion Pitmaster

Stuffed with cheese then wrapped in bacon, this grilled hot dog recipe is a sure fire hit at any backyard bash. Inspired by Chicago's famed francheesie, our recipe skips the traditional deep frying in favor of the grill for a crisp bacon shell and deep smoky flavor.
Detroit Coney dogs with sides

Coney Dogs, The Pride Of Detroit

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

In Detroit hot dogs are Coneys and hot dog stands are Coney Islands and we've got the recipe for creating them yourself at home. Move beyond boring hot dogs at your next cookout with these flavor packed variation featuring a chili sauce made with beef hearts. And they're very good!
Hamburger on homemade brioche bun

The Steakburger Recipe That Puts The Best Steakhouses On Notice

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Here's everything you need to know to make the best thick juicy crispy steakburger hamburger you ever tasted. This reverse seared steakhouse burger recipe produces perfectly cooked burgers with rich steak flavors, a wonderful smoky undertone, perfectly seasoned interior, and enough juice to soak the bun.
Mushroom and beef blended burger plated plated

Beef And Mushroom Blended Burgers Stay Nice And Juicy

By:

Clint Cantwell, Champion Pitmaster

Amp up the umami with this flavor packed recipe featuring a beef and mushroom blended burger. If you’re a fan of mushroom Swiss burgers then you’re going to fall in love with the rich flavor of this unique take on the classic burger.
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Brat burger with cheese sauce on a pretzel bun

Brat Burgers With Beer Cheese Sauce, A Taste Of Wisconsin

By:

Clint Cantwell, Champion Pitmaster

When it comes to great burger recipes, this is the best of the 'wurst featuring a grilled bratwurst patty, charred peppers and onions, and a rich and creamy beer cheese sauce all served on a pretzel bun. Why decide between a bratwurst and a burger when you can have both in this mouthwatering brat burger recipe.
Bowl of Smoked mac-and-cheese

Smoked Mac and Cheese May Be The Best Version Ever

By:

Clint Cantwell, Champion Pitmaster

Macaroni and cheese rises to new heights after hitting the grill in this smoked mac and cheese recipe. Baked over live fire with the perfect touch of smoke, the end result is a rich and smoky mac-and-cheese that you’ll dream of for days to come. Served as a main course or side dish, smoked mac and cheese is a surefire hit.
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pinquito beans for borrachos

Borracho Beans: The Ultimate Drunken Beans Recipe

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Frijoles Borrachos are a classic Western way to cook beans in beer and this tested recipe shows you how to do them right.
Boston BBQ baked beans

Simple Boston Baked Beans Recipe, As Easy As They Are Delicious

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Looking for the perfect side dish for your next cookout? Nothing screams BBQ more than a sticky and smoky bowl of Boston baked beans. It was in Beantown that the notion of mixing dried beans with molasses was conceived. This flavorful recipe is an ode to the original while offering suggestions for amping them up.
red potatoes with pesto in a bowl

Pesto Potato Salad: Summer’s New Favorite Side

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

It's time to rethink serving ordinary potato salad as a side dish at your next BBQ and grilling cookout thanks to this delicious recipe for pesto potatoes. Pesto is a savory pasty green sauce that traditionally includes basil leaves, olive oil, plenty of garlic, pine nuts or walnuts, and parmesan cheese.
potato salad

Mom’s Old Fashioned Potato Salad Wows ‘Em Every Time

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Make mom proud with this recipe for the perfect potato salad. No backyard BBQ is complete without potato salad but often times it can be lacking in flavor. The secret to old fashioned potato salad is the dressing, a simple blend of mayonnaise and sour cream that perfectly complements the other ingredients.
grated carrot and cabbage make coleslaw

The Best Basic Creamy Southern Coleslaw Ever

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Just say no to bland store bought coleslaw and hello to this delicious homemade recipe. This classic simple creamy Southern coleslaw recipe is not only the perfect side dish for your next BBQ and grilling cookout but is also amazing on a Memphis and South Carolina style pulled pork sandwich or on a West Virginia style hot dog.
coleslaw

Make This Easy Deli-Style Coleslaw At Home

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Here's the recipe for that great creamy cole slaw they sell in the delis, and the secret ingredient is sour cream mixed with mayonnaise.
grilled sweet corn

The Best Grilled Corn You’ve Ever Eaten

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

You will never look at corn the same way again after trying this recipe for the ultimate grill roasted corn on the cob recipe. While boiling and steaming are popular methods of cooking corn, the smokiness and caramelization achieved by grilling it directly over live fire. Butter and tarragon help round out the flavor.
Grilled watermelon plated

Grilled Watermelon Will Change the Way You Look At Summer’s Favorite Fruit

By:

Clint Cantwell, Champion Pitmaster

Grilling watermelon transforms an otherwise sweet summer treat into a savory side dish or dessert. Grilled watermelon tastes great plain but this recipe rounds out the flavor profile with fiery hot honey, citrusy lemon zest sea salt, and bright fresh mint.
Grilled strawberry shortcake with whipped cream

Smoked Whipped Cream: The Secret To Amazing Grilled Strawberry Shortcake

By:

Clint Cantwell, Champion Pitmaster

Briefly grilled strawberries and smoked whipped cream are the stars of this delicious BBQ twist on southern strawberry shortcake. This delicious strawberry shortcake grilled dessert recipe features lightly charred grilled strawberries, blueberries for a patriotic touch, and whipped cream that has been lightly smoked.

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Published On: 6/25/2023 Last Modified: 6/26/2023

 

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