4th of July Recipe Ideas
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY! (To all of our American CRUSHers out there) And happy fun weekend to everyone else!
I personally absolutely love the summer. You get to spend so much time outside and with your friends, break out the grill, and enjoy some refreshing snacks and drinks. Not to mention enjoying time in the water, traveling, and whatever other plans you may have.
Are you celebrating this weekend? Having friends over or attending a party? If so, you may need some delicious and healthy meals to make.
Here are twenty-seven fabulous recipes for our fourth of July festivities!
Drinks:
🎆 Alcohol-Free Strawberry Margaritas
One of the biggest requests I get when the Holidays approach is for healthy drink recipes! Parties and family gatherings or dinners often bring sugary drinks that can damage your health, sleep pattern, and more. So, I wanted to share a few delicious “mocktails” that you can enjoy this Summer without worry! This margarita is perhaps my favorite.
Honestly, there may not be anything better on a hot summer day than some watermelon and lemonade! Both are so refreshing and tasty. Plus, with the amount of water in Watermelon, this drink will help keep you hydrated, feel full between meals, and aid indigestion.
🎆 Avocado Pina Colada Mocktails
Ah, Pina Coladas, a fan favorite! And the avocado, which isn’t typical in drinks, makes it much creamier and adds nutritional value. Give this a try, and I’m sure you will impress everyone at your fourth of July party!
🎆 Alcohol-Free Ripe Peach Coolers
If you’ve ever eaten a ripe-juicy peach just picked from the tree, you know they’re a real treat. This is one of my favorite easy mocktail recipes during those months when peaches are bursting off the branches, and we can’t use them fast enough! Fresh peach coolers taste best when you use SUPER ripe peaches, so it’s the perfect way to use them up on a hot day.
Picture this: throw a backyard Sunday Brunch for all your friends this summer, and offer plenty of creative non-alcoholic drinks along with the traditional party favorites. I have a feeling this beautiful gesture will be very appreciated!
Treats:
I’m OBSESSED with these skewers! They are SO cute and delicious. Plus, creating fun memories with my kids in the kitchen is something I cherish. So, however you’re celebrating the fourth of July, try making these. Invite your kids to help you make these in the kitchen for a great bonding opportunity and to get them excited about eating healthy.
🎆 Grilled Pineapple with Ricotta + Honey
These grilled pineapples are sweet and delicious, a treat everyone will love! Don’t turn off the grill when you’re finished making those skewers and BBQ because you’re going to want to try this.
One of our core ethos at Clean Food Crush is everything in moderation. Chocolate included. And I genuinely don’t think you can ever have too many chocolate recipes, but this one may be one of my favorites. Pair it with the skewers for a great dessert!
🎆 Watermelon Blueberry Skewers
Here’s another adorable fruit skewer to match the red and blue themes of whatever celebration you may be attending this weekend! They’re fun, festive, creative, tasty, and filled with health benefits, such as aiding heart health, bone strength, skin health, blood pressure, diabetes management, cancer prevention, AND mental health.
If your family is like mine and you love getting a refreshing snow-cone during the summer, then I’m sure you’re going to love this one. It’s sweet, frozen, and healthy – the perfect icy summertime treat. Besides being incredibly hydrating, watermelons are also surprisingly nutrient-dense, providing high levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants all within just a small number of calories and being relatively low in sugar.
I know I’ve shared many pineapple recipes so far, but they’re in season during the summer and one of my favorites! Plus, they’re so versatile, so you can be creative when cooking with them. If your fourth of July plans start a little earlier, try making these for breakfast. Or you can share these as an afternoon treat or dessert.
Refreshing homemade frozen Summertime treats are perhaps my favorite because they’re perfect after spending hours under the hot sun. Also, did you know that kiwis are an incredibly nutrient-dense fruit? It’s true! The fruit is a great source of fiber, full of antioxidants, and packed with vitamin C. Give this “ice cream” (sorbet) to your kids and watch them devour it happily while you know they’re getting so many vital nutrients.
Really lean into the patriotism with this red, white, and blue parfait! Not only is it perfect for any fourth of July celebration, but it’s also a DELICIOUS treat for everyone. If you have a lot of guests coming over and not a lot of time, try doubling or tripling the recipe and making it a few hours in advance.
Appetizers and Snacks:
🎆 Crispy + Tangy BBQ Cauliflower Bites
A delicious snack and party food, you have to try these cauliflower bites! They will satisfy that barbecue craving while still getting you important nutrients. If you have a large group, double or even triple the recipe and be sure to try this sauce to pair with it.
🎆 Rachel’s FAVORITE Marinated Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a classic Summer food – and for great reason! They’re delicious, refreshing, and a major dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been linked to many health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. If you need a good but simple tomato dish this weekend, this is the one for you!
🎆 Bacon-Wrapped Pepper Poppers
Here’s a FUN little appetizer recipe for your weekend entertaining! But be warned: the poppers will most likely disappear quickly, so you may want to make several batches. The Anaheim pepper is one of those peppers that’s just big enough to be stuffable while incredibly flavorful with mild heat.
🎆 Quick & Easy Cucumber Avocado Salad
Ever been to a party where the lone salad is completely untouched while the chip bowl is empty? Me too. But if you make this cucumber avocado salad, that won’t be the case! It’s SUPER simple, tangy, creamy, crisp, fresh, and hydrating! Perfect for a party or outdoor barbecue. As an added bonus, cucumbers have natural anti-inflammatory benefits and help to prevent water retention, keeping you hydrated and healthy.
Did you think I wasn’t going to give you another BBQ appetizer option?! July fourth parties are famous for barbecues while family and friends gather to celebrate and watch fireworks. Thankfully, eating clean doesn’t mean you have to go without some delicious BBQ recipes! You can make these as a snack, appetizer, or as a lovely salad topper.
This recipe is SO simple, so don’t worry if you don’t have a lot of time for prepping. You can still impress your friends! By roasting the veggies, they are caramelized, getting delightful crispy edges for a satisfying crunch.
🎆 Healthier Crockpot ‘Baked’ Beans
Need a traditional, amazing, and easy homemade baked bean recipe? This is definitely one to save and try this weekend! It’s a nice balance of sweet and tangy, but as always – feel free to adjust ingredients to your personal preferences.
🎆 Watermelon + Cucumber + Feta Salad
Both Watermelon and Cucumbers are inexpensive, composed of over 90% water, and plentiful throughout their peak season (July-August), which makes this simply 5-ingredient salad an OUTSTANDING choice throughout these Summer months. They also contain antioxidants and nutrients that protect the body from illnesses and diseases, such as Vitamin C, which keeps the skin looking vibrant and healthy. Cucumbers also have natural anti-inflammatory benefits and help to prevent water retention.
Main Dishes:
Clean, simple, healthy, and delicious?! This recipe is a true WINNER. Fire up your grill and enjoy the outdoors while cooking these excellent skewers. Every steak-lover is going to be in love with these!
These fajitas are the perfect blend of savory and sweet, making a super satisfying meal! And any one-pan meal is a favorite here at Clean Food Crush because it’s easy to make and quick to clean up. So, if you have a lot of cooking to do this weekend, consider making this one of your meals to save some time and energy!
🎆 Grilled Chicken Skewers + Homemade Tzatziki
Another great recipe for the grill! But, honestly, you can make these skewers year-round. I’ve included a quick recipe for Tzatziki, or you can use this homemade Tzatziki recipe
🎆 Naked Turkey Burgers with Pico De Gallo
Because ground turkey is typically quite lean, it requires the right seasonings and herbs to taste great. This recipe is my go-to turkey burger, so I’m excited for you to try it out. Be sure to let me know if you enjoy it!
🎆 Sheet Pan Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken
Besides being completely DELICIOUS, fresh Pineapple is packed with nutrients, antioxidants, and other helpful compounds, such as enzymes that can help with digestion, fight inflammation and disease. So this meal is not only delicious and easy to make but also SO beneficial to your health.
🎆 CFC’s FAVORITE Sticky Chicken Wings
Are you one of those people who loves chicken wings and other finger foods? Or do you know anyone who is? My family is full of them, so this is one of our household FAVORITES. They’re also perfect for a summer party outside. You’ll love these insanely flavorful, spicy, and sweet wings!
Whatever plans you may have this weekend, I hope you find a recipe in this list you’d love to try! If you’re having a party or going to a friend’s house, try one, or multiple, of these recipes, and let me know what you think.
Have a great fourth of July weekend, CRUSHers!
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