by The 4th of July is hands down one of my favorite times of year. The grill is fired up, the cocktails are cold and the whole neighborhood smells like BBQ. Over the years we have put together some absolute bangers here on SavoryReviews that are perfect for your Independence Day cookout. I decided to round them ALL up in one place — the most complete 4th of July guide we have ever put together. Let’s eat!
Main Dishes
- St. Louis Ribs on a Gas Grill — Pull-off-the-bone tender St. Louis ribs cooked entirely on a gas grill using a smoke box and indirect heat. This method is a total game changer. No smoker required.
- Pork Belly Burnt Ends — MIYM Bacon Cubes. Quite possibly the best thing I have ever made. No joke.
- Smash Burgers on the Blackstone — The crispiest, juiciest burgers you will ever make.
- Onion Slice Burgers — A basic burger that impresses every time. The onion is grilled directly into the patty. Awesome!
- Kabobs — Make a variety and pass them around. Chicken, beef, shrimp — everyone is happy!
- Grilled Pizzas — Nothing like a grilled pizza at a cookout. Make a variety and let your guests go crazy.
- Competition Beef Brisket — Nothing impresses a crowd faster than a perfectly cooked brisket. This one is competition grade.
- Grilled Lobster Tails — Nothing says summer like fresh seafood on the grill.
- Grilled Lobster Rolls — Once you have the lobster tails down, mix the meat up and make some incredible lobster rolls.
Pizza & Appetizers
- Jalapeno Poppers (Poppy’s Poppers) — These disappear in about 30 seconds at every cookout.
- Bacon Onion Jam White Pizza — Quite possibly the best pizza on earth. No red sauce needed.
- Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs — A fun appetizer twist that everyone loves.
- Bacon Onion Jam — Put this on everything at your cookout. Burgers, hot dogs, crackers — everything.
Sides & Salads
- Grandma’s Twice Baked Potatoes — Loaded with bacon, cheddar, sour cream and green onions. A total crowd pleaser.
- Fresh Sweet Potato Casserole — The brown sugar pecan topping is absolutely incredible.
- Garlic Herb Compound Butter — Slap this on your corn, your steak or your bread right off the grill.
- Perfect Macaroni Salad — There is no better BBQ side than macaroni salad. An American tradition.
- The Colonel’s Coleslaw — My recreation of KFC’s famous coleslaw. It is that good.
Condiments
- Homemade Ketchup — Want to take your burgers to the next level? Make your own ketchup. You can thank me later.
- Homemade Mustard — Add some honey for sweetness or dark seeds for spice. Your cookout condiment game will never be the same.
Cocktails
- All-American Boozy Slushy — A red, white and blue layered frozen rum slushy. The most patriotic cocktail around!
- Bomb Pop Cocktail — Bleeding red, white and blue. Lightly sweet, a tad tart and all American.
- Sherbet Float Cocktail — Capri Sun + strawberry vodka + rainbow sherbet. Trust me on this one. SO good.
- Moscow Mule — We tested 4 different ginger beers to find the absolute best one. The winner was a total surprise!
- Grilled Vodka Lemonade Spritzer — A grilled cocktail. Yeah, you read that right. Make this while the grill is hot.
- Passion Fruit Pina Colada — Passion fruit pina coladas scream summer. The perfect poolside cocktail.
- Red, White and Blue Shot — In honor of this beautiful country of ours, have a shot. A Liquid America to be exact.
Tips & Tricks
- How to Turn Your Gas Grill Into a Smoker — No smoker? No problem. Learn how to get real smoke flavor from your gas grill.
- How to Turn Your Weber Kettle Into a Smoker — Turn your charcoal kettle into a serious BBQ smoker.
Whatever you are cooking up this 4th of July, make it. You can thank me later. Happy Independence Day! — Rex
