4th of July Menu Ideas

People travel to enjoy beach getaways, family reunions, and fireworks displays on the 4th of July, so you'll need to create a festive atmosphere to draw customers into your restaurant. We’ve put together 4th of July menu ideas - including a 4th of July themed potato salad, entree, dessert, and 4th of July cocktail - that will attract guests to your establishment and boost restaurant profitability. You should also adapt your menu to include these Fourth of July specials as family-style delivery packages to accommodate at-home Fourth of July celebrations.

4th of July Recipes

Get your guests into a celebratory spirit with our 4th of July food options. If you're looking for festive 4th of July party ideas, use our easy recipes with patriotic names to add fun to your celebration. By utilizing our July 4th menu ideas, you can create the best possible fourth of July menu for your customers to enjoy. These recipes will not only make up a profitable menu, but they will also ensure that any Independence Day patrons can celebrate the holiday with delicious patriotic food and beverage.

1. 4th of July Drink: The George Washington

America has a long and storied history with whiskey, and American Whiskey has experienced a resurgence in popularity. At the time of his death in 1799, George Washington owned the largest whiskey distillery in the country, so a whiskey drink is a natural choice for your selection of 4th of July cocktails. This tasty 4th of July drink uses cherry syrup for a patriotic red color and is the perfect addition to your summer cocktail list.

4th of July Drink Recipe Video

Learn how to make our 4th of July drink recipe, The George Washington, with our helpful cocktail video below. With this delicious cocktail, you can have the perfect pairing for almost all foods on your July 4th menu.

Ingredients

• 1.25 oz. white rye whiskey
• 1 oz. Dolce cherry syrup
• 1 whole lime

Instructions

1. Measure 1.25 oz. of whiskey and add it to your shaker.
2. Measure 1 oz. of cherry syrup and add it to your shaker.
3. Using a lime squeezer, extract juice from one whole lime into your shaker.
4. Cover your shaker and shake together the ingredients.
5. Pour the ingredients over a glass of shaved ice.
6. Garnish the cocktail with a cherry.

2. 4th of July Dinner: The Betsy Ross Burger

To celebrate the woman who sewed the first American flag, we created the Betsy Ross burger, which is an exceptionally patriotic recipe. This festive alternative to a traditional burger features red peppers, white onion, and blue cheese toppings to mirror the colors of the nation. This recipe makes four burgers for your guests.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb. of ground beef
• 4 hamburger buns
• 4 slices of blue cheese
• 1 vidalia onion, peeled and sliced
• 1 roasted red pepper, sliced
• Mayonnaise (as desired)

Instructions

1. Prepare burgers on a griddle or commercial outdoor grill according to guests' temperature requests.
2. Toast and butter the bun.
3. Place a slice of blue cheese on the burger (you may also use blue cheese crumbles for this recipe, though the crumbles may not melt as well as a slice will.)
4. Add sliced vidalia onions.
5. Top the burger with roasted red pepper slices.
6. Spread mayonnaise on the top half of the bun.

3. 4th of July Side Dish: Red, White, and Blue Potato Salad

This delicious twist on a classic summer favorite is sure to satisfy your guests’ desire for traditional 4th of July food. Made with red, white, and blue potatoes, this 4th of July salad is the perfect accompaniment to the Betsy Ross burger.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. white potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1 lb. red potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1 lb. blue potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1 medium red onion
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tsp. mustard
• 1 Tbsp. dill
• Sprinkle of celery seed
• Sprinkle of apple cider vinegar

Instructions

1. Boil the red and white potatoes for about 15 minutes or until easily pierced with a fork.
2. Boil the blue potatoes separately for about 10 minutes. Let them cool.
3. Mix the sour cream, mayonnaise, mustard, and dill in a separate bowl. Add the celery seed and apple cider vinegar.
4. Combine potatoes into one large bowl.
5. Pour ingredients onto potatoes, mix, and season to taste. If you would like the red, white, and blue hues of the potatoes to stand out more, use less sour cream and mayonnaise.

4. 4th of July Dessert: Boston Tea Party Earl Grey Cupcakes

Not all 4th of July desserts have to focus on summer berries or be red, white, and blue. The Boston Tea party, when Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty threw 45 tons of tea into Boston Harbor to protest the British tax increase on tea, is our inspiration for this unique dessert. This 4th of July dessert recipe makes about 24 delicious Earl Grey cupcakes.

Ingredients

For Cupcakes

• 1 cup milk
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. loose Earl Grey tea
• 2 large eggs
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 Tbsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 tsp. finely ground Earl Grey tea
• 12 Tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

For Strawberry Filling

• 1 large jar of strawberry preserves
• Zest of 1/2 an orange
• 2 Tbsp. orange juice

For Earl Grey Syrup

• 1/2 cup water
• 1 Earl Grey tea bag
• 1/2 cup sugar

For Earl Grey Icing

• 3 egg whites
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 vanilla bean, seeds scraped
• 1 Tbsp. Earl Grey syrup

Instructions

For Cupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Lightly boil the milk over medium heat and add loose Earl Grey tea. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Remove the milk and tea mixture from heat and steep for 5-10 minutes. Strain and set aside.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and egg yolk. Set aside.
5. Mix the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and finely ground Earl Grey tea. Add the butter, vanilla, and tea-infused milk and beat with a mixer on low until the dry ingredients are moist. Mix for one minute on medium-high.
6. Add in the egg mixture. Do not overmix.
7. Pour batter into the cupcake liners. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

For Strawberry Preserves

1. In a saucepan over low-medium heat, cook a jar of strawberry preserves, the orange zest, and orange juice (about 10 minutes).
2. Set aside to allow the flavors to mix together.

For Earl Grey Syrup

1. In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil over high heat.
2. Once the water reaches a boil, turn off heat and add the Earl Grey tea bag.
3. Allow the tea to steep for four minutes.
4. Add the sugar and turn the heat back on.
5. Stir occasionally, and cook until the sugar melts completely.
6. Remove from heat and allow the syrup to cool.

For Earl Grey Icing

1. Whisk the egg whites and sugar in a large bowl.
2. Using a double boiler or a similar method, heat the egg-sugar mixture over boiling water.
3. Whisk constantly and heat the mixture to 155 degrees Fahrenheit, or until it’s hot to the touch. Transfer the bowl back to the mixer.
4. Whisk on high for about 10 minutes or until the outside of the bowl returns to room temperature. You should have glossy peaks.
5. Use a paddle attachment to mix in butter and vanilla bean on medium-low until smooth. Add the Earl Grey tea syrup and mix until combined.

Plating

Once the cupcakes are cooled and your filling and icing are complete, use a piping tip to create a hole in the top of each cupcake. Spoon strawberry filling into the hole, and then ice the cupcake.

From drinks to desserts, we have 4th of July recipes for every part of your meal. With these 4th of July food ideas, your guests can celebrate Independence Day while enjoying some delicious food! Plus, these classic recipes can easily become permanent parts of your menu, making it easy to design a popular menu.