Ignite Your Fourth of July with our Backyard Party Menu

The Fourth is the one cookout a year where the whole block is watching. No pressure. This is the menu that makes your yard the one everyone remembers — five dishes that hit every craving from the first bite to the last sip, current and classic, nothing fussy. Fire up the grill, pull in the family, and let’s cook. And get the music going: cue up our July 4th and Backyard BBQ playlists on Spotify.

Appetizer: Firecracker Shrimp with Lime

Start with a bang. Firecracker Shrimp go on the grill hot, catch a spicy, tangy kick, and land on a cool round of English cucumber over a dab of guacamole. One bite, gone. They disappear faster than you can plate them, so make a double batch. Get the Firecracker Shrimp recipe.

Main Course: Backyard Smashburgers

The main event is the smashburger, and the whole point is the crust. Smash loose balls of 80/20 thin on a screaming-hot surface and the edges go lacy and crisp while the center stays juicy. Double them up on a soft potato bun with American cheese and a quick special sauce. More crust, more flavor, every bite. Get the Backyard Smashburgers recipe.

Side: Grilled Street Corn w/ Chimayo Butter

Every burger needs a partner. Char sweet corn hard over the fire, then hit it with a smoky, just-spicy Chimayo butter — the heat stays gentle so the flavor does the talking. Never cooked with Chimayo chile from northern New Mexico? This is your excuse. Get the Grilled Street Corn recipe.

Dessert: Summer Pound Cake with Berries

Finish light. This pound cake bakes right on the grill and picks up a whisper of smoke, then goes down easy under a pile of fresh berries and cream. Red, white, and just sweet enough. Get the Summer Pound Cake recipe.

Cocktail: Frozen Watermelon Margaritas

Now the sipper. Blend fresh watermelon juice with reposado, orange liqueur, and a lot of lime, then pour it frozen or over ice in a glass rimmed with salt you smoked on the grill. Yes, really. Sweet, tart, ice cold, gone by sundown. Get the Frozen Watermelon Margarita recipe. Drink responsibly and never drink and drive — line up a rideshare or a designated driver.

That’s the whole spread: one showpiece burger, a bright side, a cool dessert, and a drink that does the heavy lifting. Take your time, work the smoke, and feed the people you like.

Now tell us in the comments: what is the one dish that has to be on your Fourth of July table every year, no exceptions?