25 Spectacular Recipes for Your 4th of July Cookout

It’s time for the biggest outdoor celebration of the year! The 4^th of July, or Independence Day, is the time to show your patriotic pride and celebrate the day with friends, family, and lots of delicious food. Whether you’re going to a big blow-out party or celebrating at home with a backyard barbecue, you’ll want to serve food that’s fun, casual, and finger-licking good. If it’s your first 4^th of July eating a plant-based diet, we have so many tips and recipes that can help you not only get through the day but enjoy it to the max.

Need recipe ideas? We have tons that will have your guests’ eyes sparkling and fireworks dancing on their tongues. Look at these 30 Epic Vegan-Friendly Grilling Ideas for Your 4^th of July Cookout, All-American Veggie Burger Recipes for a Healthy and Delicious 4^th of July, and Fire Up the Grill With These 15 Savory and Saucy Vegan BBQ Dishes, because the 4^th also happens to be National BBQ Day. If you’re strapped for time, you’ll love these 10 Last-Minute Appetizers You Can Quickly Make For Your July 4th Party.

Of course, it’s always fun to have lots of red, white, and blue dishes on Independence Day. Pile on the strawberries, blueberries, and dairy-free whipped cream for sweets, and eat beets, cauliflower, and more blueberries for savory. Take a look at 15 Patriotic Vegan Dishes for the Perfect Red White and Blue Party on Independence Day and these 30 Vegan Desserts to Show Off You Are a Proud American on July 4^th. But the show isn’t over yet – here are 25 spectacular recipes for the most incredible 4^th of July cookout ever!

1. Hearts of Palm Salad

This simple and refreshing Hearts of Palm Salad is perfect for your summer barbecue. Hearts of palm are tossed with tomatoes, onion, and spring onion in a simple dressing made from olive oil, lime, salt, and pepper, to give it a little bit of spice. If you’ve never tried hearts of palm before, this salad is a great place to start.

2. Jalapeño Poppers With Smoked Tofu

These Jalapeño Poppers With Smoked Tofu are the perfect mix of crunchy and creamy consistencies, together with the heat of the jalapeño and the complimentary cooling of the vegan cream cheese. Smoked tofu adds another layer of heat and a bacon-ish flavor to the mix. Is your mouth watering yet?

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3. Cherry Tomato and Pesto Tart

This savory Cherry Tomato and Pesto Tart is perfect for a holiday cookout. It has a big flavor in every bite. It starts with a rustic whole wheat and oat crust seasoned with fresh rosemary. It’s topped with fresh parsley and walnut pesto, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes that get juicy when roasted. Lovely and colorful, this tart should be the centerpiece of your picnic table.

4. Smoky and Spicy Black Bean Burger

Barbecue season is upon us, and you can never have enough tasty burger recipes. This Smoky and Spicy Black Bean Burger is perfect served with a good BBQ sauce and loads of greens. Make these and you’ll never buy packaged burger patties again.

5. Sweet and Spicy Mango Kebabs

You don’t have to miss out on barbecues if you’re trying to eat more raw foods. Not with these raw Sweet and Spicy Mango Kebabs. Mango, mushrooms, tomatoes, and onions are sliced and tossed in a blend of barbecue spices, then dehydrated. They’re raw, spicy, sweet, and chewy and great when served as a side with burgers.

6. Spinach Dip Crescent Roll Ring

A must-have at any cookout or get-together, this Spinach Dip Crescent Roll Ring is just delicious. Creamy, garlicky spinach dip is wrapped in crescent rolls and then baked until the rolls are crispy and golden and the dip is warm. It’s so easy to make, you may as well make two because it’ll disappear fast.

7. Creamy Strawberry Basil Pops

Enjoy the longer, warmer days outdoors with a Creamy Strawberry Basil Popsicle in hand to help keep you cool. Fresh, sweet strawberries and cool basil make up these delicious frozen treats. If you have a farmer’s market nearby, you could probably find almost everything you need to make them.

8. Pesto Potato Salad

Add some pizzazz to the usual ho-hum white potato salad by making this Pesto Potato Salad. In addition to potatoes, this salad has chickpeas and green beans, so it’s packed with protein. Tossed in a fresh herb pesto that also features salty capers, this potato salad shows how easy it is to be green.

9. Carrot Hot Dogs

Besides burgers, every cookout needs hot dogs. There’s no need to buy veggie dogs when you can make these Carrot Hot Dogs. The marinade gives the carrots that smoky flavor you know and love. Add your favorite toppings and no one will know they’re eating a carrot. We won’t tell, either.

10. No-Bake Strawberry Tart With White Chocolate Matcha Glaze

When strawberries are in season, make dessert! This easy No-Bake Strawberry Tart With White Chocolate Matcha Glaze is beautiful and delicious. It has an almond crust, a topping of fresh strawberries, and a white chocolate matcha glaze topping. It’s gluten-free, grain-free, and can be made paleo, so this crowd-pleaser of a tart can accommodate everyone.

11. Smoky Barbecue Potato Salad

This Smoky Barbecue Potato Salad isn’t your classic potato salad recipe. Potatoes along with tofu, carrots, celery, onions, and jalapeño are tossed in a barbecue sauce vinaigrette. Crunchy and spicy, serve this at your cookout and we guarantee this potato salad will disappear long before all the veggie burgers do.

12. Jalapeño Cheddar Pretzels

Whether or not you’re a pro at making bread, this recipe is fun to make — really, how can you get any better than Jalapeño Cheddar Pretzels? These are soft pretzels like you can get from the streets of New York City, but better, because they’re homemade, they’re cheesy, and they’re spicy. Break these up into bite-size portions for a fun appetizer or party dish.

13. No-Bake Blueberry Cheesecake

If you’re looking for a dessert that feels and tastes sinfully decadent but is good for you, then look no further than this No-Bake Blueberry Cheesecake. This cake has the richness of a chocolate cake, but a delightfully fresh and fruity flavor. Make sure to take lots of pictures once you’re done whipping this one up because the bright blue flavor is eye-catching!

14. Red Onion and Beet Burger

These rustic, earthy, and protein-packed Red Onion and Beet Burgers are made with a savory, yet refreshingly light blend of vibrantly red and naturally sweet beets, creamy cannellini beans, and nourishing walnuts. Serve these nestled between a grainy whole wheat bun, with a generous heap of lettuce, sunflower sprouts, sweet relish, and a healthy schmear of spicy horseradish mustard and natural ketchup.

15. Fooled Pork Sandwich With Fries

This Fooled Pork Sandwich With Fries is fit for a king! Young jackfruit is simmered until tender and then broiled in sticky barbecue sauce, allowing it to absorb the flavor. This sandwich is topped with creamy, crunchy coleslaw that’s a nice contrast to the tender barbecue sauce-covered jackfruit. It all comes with a side of crispy oven-baked fries. Why not try piling those on the sandwich, too?

16. 4-Ingredient Strawberry Lemonade Popsicles

These Strawberry Lemonade Popsicles are super refreshing! Made with fresh, fruity strawberries, tangy lemons, and a bit of agave nectar, these popsicles are the perfect treats to keep in the freezer for when the heat strikes. And it takes only four ingredients!

17. Blueberry Cupcakes With White Chocolate Frosting

These Blueberry Cupcakes With White Chocolate Frosting are simply divine. Fresh or frozen blueberries are folded into a vanilla cupcake batter, giving you little bursts of fruity goodness in every bite. They’re topped with a thick, rich white chocolate frosting that’s truly decadent. Top with blueberry syrup and fresh blueberries to make the presentation extra special.

18. Roasted Corn and Tomato Salad With Tarragon Dressing

How beautiful is this Roasted Corn and Tomato Salad With Tarragon Dressing?! This late summer salad is chock full of fresh and in-season ingredients like radishes, celery, tomatoes, and of course, corn. A bit of habanero is added for an extra zing. Drizzle the salad with tarragon dressing for a truly unique combination of flavors.

19. Roasted Rhubarb Vanilla Cream Pie

This Roasted Rhubarb and Vanilla Cream Pie is healthy and light, yet super satisfying. Set on a cashew, almond, and date crust, the vanilla bean layer has a hint of coconut, and the rhubarb takes on a sweeter taste after the natural sugars are caramelized. Delish!

20. Grilled Maple Tahini Sweet Potatoes

You just found the perfect side to your barbecue — these Grilled Maple Tahini Sweet Potato wedges. They’re soft and tender with caramelized edges and especially delicious when drizzled with a sweet-tart maple tahini dip with a squeeze of lemon juice. Top them with roasted, crushed cumin seeds and serve them at your next plant-based barbecue.

21. Summer Fruit Tart With Creamy Cashew Filling

This Summer Fruit Tart With Creamy Cashew Filling is so easy to make, it’s completely gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and super flexible in terms of toppings. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll be hooked on its creamy cashew filling. It’ll quickly become your number-one go-to dessert. Top it with different seasonal fruit each time and you’ve almost got an entirely new recipe.

22. Chambord Cherry Pie

What better way to celebrate the end of summer than with a cherry pie? This Chambord Cherry Pie, in particular, is improved with the addition of fruity Chambord liqueur. Boozy berries, yum! If the only thing stopping you from making this pie right now is fear of pie crust, don’t worry: this recipe couldn’t be any easier or more foolproof.

23. BBQ Pulled Carrot Rolls

The best comfort foods are super easy and super hands-off like these BBQ Pulled Carrot Rolls. Shredded carrots are the perfect whole foods-based replacement for pulled pork. Drenched in a tangy, sticky barbecue sauce, these pulled carrot rolls are a guaranteed hit.

24. Raw Raspberry and Chocolate Ganache Cheesecake

Sweet, juicy raspberries are the star of this Raw Raspberry and Chocolate Ganache Cheesecake. The chocolate ganache, made creamy like milk chocolate by using almond milk, is a delicious addition to the top of the cake. The combination of creamy cashew cheesecake filling speckled with raspberries, the chocolate ganache topped with even more raspberries, and the crumbly date and oat base is something you’ll dream about.

25. Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Salad

If you think eating veggies mean boring salads, feast your eyes on this Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Salad. Crispy cauliflower bites are tossed with buffalo sauce and then served on a heaping bowl of greens and vegetables. The combination of the crispy and hot cauliflower with fresh and crunchy greens is super addicting. Told you salads aren’t boring.

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