Celebrate with These July 4th Potluck Recipes

4th of July Cookie Pizza

Delight guests of all ages with this quick and easy patriotic cookie pizza at your July 4th gathering.

Baconista Brats

A wrapping of bacon gives special flair to this beer-soaked brat. A quick stop on the grill crisps the bacon and browns the brat.

Sunny Broccoli Salad

Salty bacon gives a punch of flavor to this classic potluck broccoli salad.

Old-Fashioned Scalloped Corn

This comfort food hotdish, creamy and delicious, is perfect for July 4th gatherings.

Pretzel Sparklers

The sweet coating complements salty, crunchy pretzel rods. Stand your edible sparklers in a container filled with coarse brown sugar or candy-coated milk chocolate candies (M&Ms).

Corn Off the Cob

Just shave the kernels off boiled sweet corn, then toss with lime juice, olive oil, cilantro, red onion and a dash of hot sauce for sass. This fresh corn recipe tastes great at any temperature.

Tiny Chocolate-Cherry Bombs

Cherry stems form the "fuse" on these brownie-covered maraschino cherries.

Watermelon, Feta and Mint Salad

Discover the savory potential of watermelon in this five-ingredient salad.

Lemon-Herb Grilled Chicken

Herbed lemon marinade cooks down with honey to a glossy, gorgeous glaze in our Lemon-Herb Grilled Chicken recipe.

Sugar Snap Peas with Sesame Seeds

We gave this popular veggie a new twist with a hint of ginger, some kick from black pepper and a finish of nutty sesame oil and seeds.

Cherry Berry Berry Pie

Red raspberries and blueberries join ruby-red cherries in Cherry Berry Berry Pie, a favorite from Sweetielicious Bakery Cafe in DeWitt, Michigan.

Beer Simmered Brats and Potatoes

We liked the hoppy bitterness of a pale ale for these simmered brats, but you can use a more mild lager.

Firecracker-Red Cupcakes with Coconut Filling

A red, white and blue dessert stars at any patriotic potluck. Red velvet cake mix makes our moist and gooey Firecracker-Red Cupcakes extra easy to prepare.

Watermelon spears

No more drippy chins! Slice watermelon into a checkerboard to make two-bite spears.

Double Berry Cobbler

Handy shortcuts make this cobbler recipe a breeze. Cooking the fruit in an oven-safe skillet cuts the bake time (and the number of dirty dishes). Refrigerated biscuits form the simple topper.

Easy baked bean fix-ups

Pop the top on a can, and give summer's easiest barbecue side new personality with these simple baked bean mix-ins.

Go saucy: Barbecue sauce.
Go sweet: Pineapple tidbits.
Go meaty: Diced ham.
Go smoky: Smoked paprika.

Vanilla Cake Batter Ice Cream

Cake and ice cream go together like peanut butter and jelly—so why not combine them in one sweet scoop?

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Prep juicy, tender pulled pork in your slow cooker. Low-calorie barbecue sauce and whole wheat buns help make this a healthier potluck option.

Triangle Ranch Scalloped Corn

Diced green chile peppers give this baked and cheesy dish character with some hotness. We like the crunch from the saltine crackers, too.

Oven-Roasted Tomatoes

The sweet tomatoes blend with tangy-mellow balsamic vinegar and basil. Serve with some crusty bread to soak up the liquid.

Stuffed Party Pinwheels

Our recipe actually makes two different kinds of tortilla spirals—one flavored with curry powder, the other with garlic and herbs.

Sloppy Joes

Skip the canned stuff and make this childhood favorite from scratch. Our simple recipe is just a starting point; try one of our variations or experiment with seasonings.

Summertime Smashed Burgers

Break the cardinal rule of grilling—don't press the patties!—with this diner-style smash burger, made on the grill in a cast-iron griddle or skillet. The recipe comes from Weber's Ultimate Grilling.

Strawberry Shortcakes

It's hard to top the divine trio of a tender biscuit, soft whipped cream and juicy strawberries. But our recipe includes four variations that keep those basic elements and add a little twist.

Nutty Apple-Cherry Slaw

Nuts and fruit add crunch and color to cabbage tossed in a homemade vinaigrette. This beautiful twist on traditional coleslaw is best served right away for maximum crispness, but it will hold for up to 24 hours.

S'More Cookies, Please

Cinnamon, brown sugar, oats and finely crushed grahams shape this moist cookie made even more irresistible with a thumbprint filling of marshmallow crème and an upside-down milk chocolate candy.

Creamy Spinach-Basil Pasta Salad

Fresh basil in the dressing lends a hint of pesto-inspired sophistication to this mayo-rich pasta salad.

Raspberry Cheesecake Bars

Layers of cheesecake, raspberry filling, almonds and coconut form dessert bars perfect for summer picnics and potlucks.

Tropical Tomato Salsa

Try this sweet, colorful salsa—made with tomato, mango and melon—over chips, fish or chicken.

Strawberry-Coconut Thumbprints

Linda Roberts of Rapid City, South Dakota, tops her buttery cream cheese, coconut-coated cookie with fruit jam.