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Easy Make-Ahead 4th of July Recipes

ByStephanie Wilson Updated onJanuary 11, 2026

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These make-ahead Fourth of July recipes are delicious, festive, and simple, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the holiday! They include appetizers, salads, meats, vegetables, and Fourth of July dessert recipes for your summer party.

A collage features make-ahead 4th of July recipes: skewers with cheese, meats, tomatoes, and olives; a salad with cherry tomatoes, blueberries, and star-shaped cheese; plus a bowl of baked beans on a cutting board beside stacked bowls.

5 Make-Ahead 4th of July Recipes: Prepping Tips

Vegetables: Start slicing up veggies for the grill the weekend before.
Salads: Most salad recipes can easily be made ahead. For salads with creamy dressings, like coleslaw, pasta, and macaroni salads, cook the pasta and prep the ingredients ahead, including the dressing. Just before serving, assemble the salads.
Corn Salad: Corn salads are perfect for making ahead, as their flavors only enhance during chilling.
Grilling sauces and rubs: While bottled barbecue sauces are convenient, they can never compete with homemade. If you are making your own sauce or dry rub, these are perfect to make ahead.
Appetizers: Prep your vegetables and dips ahead for easy appetizers or charcuterie boards. Giving guests delicious options while waiting for the main event.

Easy Make-Ahead 4th of July Recipes

These 4th of July recipes are mostly easy and make-ahead friendly. For some, you can make the entire recipe ahead, others are easy to assemble on the day of.

1

A berry trifle dessert in a glass bowl, featuring whipped cream, blueberries, strawberries, and sponge cake, topped with fresh berries and mint leaves, displayed on a wooden stand near a window with soft natural light.

Easy Berry Trifle Recipe

A simple and elegant Berry Trifle recipe with layers of pound cake, sweetened whipped cream, and juicy fresh berries. A no-fuss dessert for summer holidays, Christmas, and afternoon tea.

2

Horizontal side view of 4th of July Chex Mix in a white bowl on a white marble board.

4th of July Snack Mix (5 Minutes)

Celebrate Independence Day with a tasty and festive 4th of July Chex Mix. Made in 5 minutes, it's perfect for parties and snacking.

3

Red, White and Blue Charcuterie Board

Red, White and Blue Charcuterie Board

Choose your favorite red, white, and blue meats, cheeses, fruits, veggies and candies to create a beautiful Patriotic Charcuterie Board!

4

Top view of Mediterranean antipasto skewers on wooden bamboo sticks on a white platter.

Antipasto Skewers

Antipasto skewers are the easiest Italian appetizers EVER. Assembled on a wooden skewers, these antipasto kabobs feature cherry tomatoes, cheese tortellini, cured meats, and mozzarella balls. Drizzle a homemade Italian dressing on top to create the ultimate skewer recipe!

5

Close up horizontal view of 4th of July Snack Board with Strawberry Yogurt Dip, fruit, vegetables and treats.

Easy Fourth of July Snack Board

Celebrate the Fourth of July with a red, white, and blue Snack Board. Easy to make and a hit with everyone!

6

Red, White & Blue Caprese Salad

Red, White & Blue Caprese Salad

This fun and patriot Blueberry Tomato Caprese Salad is red, white and blue and perfect for serving as a side dish for any American holiday.

7

Closeup view of a bowl of German Potato Salad with mult color baby potatoes

German Potato Salad Recipe

This German Potato Salad is a simple hot potato salad recipe with fork-tender potatoes, savory bacon, and fresh parsley tossed in a delicious tangy dressing you will love.

8

A vibrant spinach strawberry salad featuring blueberries, raspberries, cucumber, pecans, and crumbled cheese is served in a bowl with a jar of pink dressing on the side, all set on a rustic wooden board.

Spinach Strawberry Salad Recipe

This Summer Spinach Strawberry Salad is bursting with juicy berries, baby spinach, creamy cheese, and crunchy toasted pecans-all tossed together with a vibrant homemade Strawberry Balsamic Dressing. It's an easy, crowd-pleasing salad that's perfect for summer entertaining, from backyard BBQs to the 4th of July.

9

Shallow glass bowl filled with homemade barbecue sauce resting on a wooden surface.

10 Minute Homemade Barbecue Sauce

An easy to make simple BBQ sauce you'll love. Use it immediately, or store it in the fridge for up to a month. Making your own barbecue sauce is worth the 10 minutes it takes to make.

10

Spoon of Dry Rub close up on a grey surface.

Easy Dry Rub Recipe

A homemade dry rub recipe is the secret ingredient to amazing BBQ. Making your own couldn't be easier!

11

A white bowl filled with Boston baked beans and pieces of bacon sits on a navy blue napkin, with another bowl of beans and a plant in the background.

Easy Boston Baked Beans Recipe

This Boston Baked Beans recipe is a classic side dish perfect for BBQs, picnics, holidays, and gatherings. Unlike traditional recipes, this is an easier, quicker, and even healthier version of this summer favorite. Smokey sweet and delicious!

12

Closeup of Mexican Corn Salad

Easy Mexican Corn Salad for Summer Gatherings

A quick and easy Mexican Corn Salad will be a favorite side all summer long. It's healthy, a simplified version of elotes, robust with the warm and spicy flavors of cumin and red pepper. Serve warm or cold, it's simply delicious.

13

Grilled Zucchini with Garlic and Herbs

Grilled Zucchini with Garlic and Herbs

This grilled zucchini is bathed in a flavorful garlic and herb marinade, then cooked to perfection on the grill. An easy side dish.

14

A plate of hot slaw featuring cabbage salad with carrots and bacon bits, garnished with green onions. The dish rests on a patterned cloth, with a blurred view of ribs in the background on a wooden board.

Hot Slaw with Bacon Recipe

This Hot Slaw recipe with Bacon Dressing is a quick and easy side dish. And a perfect complement to heftier favorites like pork, sausages, or, of course, chicken. Whether it be fried, grilled... or pulled!

15

Four ears of grilled corn on the cob, garnished with chopped herbs, are arranged on a white plate, with a small bowl of melted butter nearby for dipping.

Grilled Corn on the Cob Recipe

Grilled Corn on the Cob in Foil Packets is a favorite 3 ingredient summer side dish that is sweet and juicy and smoky with herbs and spices.

16

Grilled Vegetables with Burrata Cheese on a serving platter.

Easy Grilled Vegetables with Burrata

Easy Grilled Vegetables with Burrata is a centerpiece of summer grilling. With a simple balsamic glaze drizzled over delicious and slightly charred vegetables, it's a feast for the eyes and the palate.

17

Make Ahead BBQ Chicken

Make Ahead BBQ Chicken

Our barbecue chicken recipe uses an easy homemade barbecue sauce made with ingredients you likely already have in your pantry. We use a whole chicken cut into pieces so everyone can snag their favorite.

To make ahead: The day before serving, bake chicken in your oven at 350 degrees until pieces are cooked through, about 35 minutes; then let cool and refrigerate. Remove the chicken from the fridge about 30 minutes before it’s time to eat. Then, set up your grill for direct-heat cooking.

18

Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs on a slate serving platter on a dark wood background.

Grilled Chicken Teriyaki Skewers

Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Skewers, a savory and sweet BBQ favorite, is an easy go-to dinner idea everyone will love, all season long.

19

Pasta Salad in a White Bowl with salami and vegetables.

Easy Summer Pasta Salad Recipe

This Mediterranean-inspired Pasta Salad is a favorite with salami, peppers, broccoli, zesty Italian dressing, and Feta cheese.

20

Side view of Classic Potato Salad in a dark wood bowl with green onions and boiled eggs

Classic Potato Salad for Delicious Summer Cookouts

There is no substitute for a Classic Potato Salad. Especially when it's made in the style of grandma's potato salad. It's creamy, and sweet, and comforting... just a little bit addictive.

21

Closeup horizontal view of homemade coleslaw in a light blue bowl.

Easy Homemade Coleslaw

This simple coleslaw recipe is a summer classic. An easy recipe to serve all summer long. Crispy, crunchy, and perfectly flavored. Exactly what a coleslaw should be.

22

A strawberry pie recipe with a golden crust, topped with whipped cream and a mint leaf, sits on a white table next to a gold pie server, stacked white plates, and a red-striped napkin. One slice is missing.

Easy Strawberry Pie Recipe

This Strawberry Pie recipe uses four key ingredients-and one surprising twist. It's packed with juicy, whole berries and tastes like summer in a slice: fresh strawberries, warm sunshine, and an irresistibly sweet dessert.

23

Sliced Icebox Cake topped with fresh summer berries

Easy No Bake Icebox Cake Recipe

This Icebox Cake is an easy, vintage-style no bake dessert recipe, perfect for summer. A simple layer cake made with sweet berries, graham crackers, and a delicious lemon flavored whipped cream. Easy to make in 10 minutes plus freezing time, it's perfect for summer gatherings all season.

24

A plate of chocolate M&M cookie bars topped with red, white, and blue candies is displayed on a white cake stand with a striped cloth and a red, white, and beige backdrop.

4th of July M&M Chocolate Cookie Bars Recipe

These Red, White, and Blue M&M Cookies are deliciously soft and chewy, bright with the pastel colors of 4th of July. With a vanilla sugar cookie base, they're easy to bake, no chilling, and perfect for summer!

25

Top view of blueberry pie with star shaped crusts on the top.

Star Studded Blueberry Pie Recipe

This blueberry pie recipe puts that bounty of farmers market berries to proper use. All their juicy, summery goodness shines through!

26

Two thick, fudgy brownies with melty chocolate chunks are stacked on a decorative white plate, placed on a rustic wooden surface, showcasing the ultimate indulgence for fudgy brownie lovers.

Fudgy Brownies Recipe (A Fudgy Cakey Brownie)

A perfect blend of fudgy and cakey, these family size brownies are decadently delicious. Measuring an inch tall, they bake in a 9″ x 13″ size pan. Perfect for feeding your crowd.

27

Stacked Easy Strawberry Crumble Bars on a wooden board

Strawberry Crumble Bars

These simple Strawberry Crumble Bars are deliciously summery with sweet fresh strawberries and an irresistible crumble topping. Perfect for backyard summer BBQ, picnics, or when you're craving a sweet treat.

28

A decadent chocolate pie with a graham cracker crust, topped with whipped cream and chocolate curls, sits on a white plate. One slice has been removed, showcasing the rich chocolate filling inside.

No Bake Chocolate Pie

A rich and creamy no bake chocolate pie made with just three simple ingredients. This easy, make-ahead dessert is perfect for Valentine's Day, dinner parties, or whenever you need a quick chocolate treat.

29

Side view of sliced No Bake Cheesecake with blueberry topping

No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe

This No Bake Cheesecake is a 10-minute, no-bake, foolproof way to make cheesecake, the easy way. And, it's utterly delicious. Utterly simple. And one you'll make often!

30

S'mores Cookies on a white plate

S'mores Cookies

Gooey and delicious, these S'mores Cookies are everything you love about s'mores in cookie form. Packed with 2 kinds of chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers.

More Make-Ahead 4th of July Recipes

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Stephanie Wilson

Cookbook Author, Food Writer, and Chef

Stephanie Wilson is the founder of 31Daily.com, where she shares seasonal recipes, weekly meal plans, and teatime favorites to help readers gather around the table with joy. A certified private chef, cookbook author, and longtime event planner, she brings over 20 years of experience in catering, food writing, and media production—including network television work as a producer, director, and writer. Her work has been featured by Today.com, The Kitchn, Parade, and more.

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