These 30 Fourth of July Appetizers Are Like Fireworks for Your Mouth
Step 1: Start the meal off strong. Step 2: Celebrate all night long.
I feel like we just celebrated New Year's, but friends, it's time to start making plans for the Fourth of July. I know. Time flies. No matter how you feel about our country at the moment (there's a lot going on), July 4th is going to be poppin' up on your cal regardless—and with that comes a glorious, glorious long weekend. In order to do summer right, you simply have to take advantage of every hour of PTO possible, and that means you've gotta fill your Fourth of July weekend with fun, friends, and, most importantly, good food. (Unless you want to curl up in a ball alone and recharge for 72 hours straight. No judgment here.)
If you're planning to a) host, or b) attend a party to celebrate America's big 247 (yes, that's how old the good ol' USA is turning this year), you're in the right place, because I've got a long list of Fourth of July appetizers that will make you the most popular person at the event. From fresh strawberry salads to delicious dips and deep-fried pickles (we! love! balance!) there's a recipe for everyone on this list. Make a few different dishes and you'll be sure to please everyone across the country—or at least those attending your mid-summer soirée. Make sure your guests come hungry. They won't regret it.
Melon Caprese Salad
Single-serving snacks have been all the rage since that little situation called COVID. This sweet-and-salty salad, served up in wide glass cups, remains cute and cool even post-panini.
Berries and Cream Charcuterie Board
If this dessert-filled charcuterie board doesn't leave you feeling patriotic, I don't know what will, tbh.
Chef's Salad on a Stick
It's true that everything tastes better on a stick (I feel so strongly about this fact that I wrote an entire article about it), and believe it or not, that includes salad. This speared chef's salad, specifically.
Bacon Zucchini Fries
Fact: everything is much more delicious when wrapped in bacon. These zucchini fries are no exception, and they're honestly super easy to make. Just wrap and bake!
Oven Baked Buffalo Chicken Dip
I actually don't think it can be considered a party in the USA if there's no buff chick dip. Always make double what you think you need.
BLT Cups
If you're still using your muffin tray to make, you know, muffins, I've got news for you...you can also use it to craft cups made of bacon. This recipe has all the fresh, crunchy deliciousness of a typical BLT sandwich, but no bread is required.
Horseradish Deviled Eggs
How do you summer-fy a deviled egg? You add a barbecue chip to it, of course. Plus, the horseradish in this recipe adds the perfect kick.
4th of July Brie
I mean, it's brie decorated like an American flag. There's only one thing to say: hat's off.
Green Goddess Potato Salad
If green goddess is your go-to dressing, this herb-loaded potato salad is officially your go-to app. So! Many! Veggies!
Strawberry Spinach Salad
If you've never tried putting strawberries in your salad before...your life is about to change forever. This sweet and savory spinach sitch is so good you won't even notice you're eating a salad, thanks to the creamy avocado, juicy chicken, and delish poppy seed dressing.
Sunflower Seed, Kale and Cherry Salad with Savory Granola
Savory granola? Say less. Trust me, this baby is worth making your own vinaigrette for (and it's Tieghan Gerard's recipe, so...duh).
Cheeseburger Dip
Delicious cheeseburger, but make it messless. Highly recommend making the homemade special sauce. It includes pickle brine.
Cheddar Bay Biscuits
Red Lobster duuuupe! Nothing will ever beat the real deal (ily Red Lobster ♥), but these cheesy, buttery biscuits are the next best thing. And yes, you should probably pair 'em with a nice seafood spread.
Zucchini-and-Pecorino Fritters
These cheesy fritters are crispy enough to make you believe they're deep-fried, but they actually only need a quick trip to the oven. Prep your pantry—you're gonna need some panko!
Bacon Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes
One-bite bliss made with just four ingredients: tomatoes (duh), bacon, mayo, and green onions. So easy! So refreshing!
Caramelized Onion Dip
Onion girlies, rise up 🙋. If you're not afraid of a lil ~breath stinkage~ (and tbh, you shouldn't be, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind), then this is the dip of your dreams. It's rich, it's creamy, and it's a great way to use up that bag of onions you always end up buying.
Guava and Cheese Pastry
Guava and cheese make for a delicious duo, and these little hand pies pack a serious flavor punch. Plus, they only require three ingredients, and the less trips you need to take to the grocery store, the better.
Fried Pickles with Buttermilk Ranch
Batter me up and bury me in a pile of these perfectly crispy fried pickles. Do yourself a favor and make the buttermilk ranch yourself instead of buying a bottle from the store. You won't regret it.
Sweet Southern Hush Puppies
It's America's birthday, so we gotta pay tribute to the Southern states—and what better way to do so than with a batch of hush puppies? They're crisp on the outside, airy on the inside, and will tickle your fancy with just a touch of sweetness.
Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Meatballs
I know everyone hates the word moist, but that's really the best way to describe these chicken meatballs doused in a tangy barbecue sauce. Pop a few toothpicks on the plate and you'll look like you ordered catering.
Hannah Chubb is the associate lifestyle editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things home, travel, food, health, career, and more. She spends pretty much every hour of every day curating the internet for the best new products, trends, and travel destinations. You can typically find her looking for houses she can’t afford on Zillow or Airbnb, planning her next meal before she gets to the restaurant, or taking all of the Justin Bieber classes over and over and over again on Peloton. Follow her on Instagram.
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