Your Ultimate Checklist For July 4th

The Fourth is nearly upon us. Are you ready? Got all the drinks? Food? Got enough charcoal to start your own coal mine? Well if you don’t have your menu set yet, we’re here to help! We’ve gathered some of the most essential items for your July 4th party. We’ll help you make the list and then you just have to cook!

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The Star

The star of any cookout, BBQ, or party is the food. And when you’re BBQing, that star becomes meat. Two quintessential pieces of Americana and the cookout are burgers and hot dogs. But you don’t need to feel like you’re doing something plain and boring by including a classic. Burgers and hot dogs make for great vehicles to let your guests create their own masterpiece. Less thinking for you, more enjoyment for them. Seasonings, sauces, condiments, cheeses, wild toppings, even the bun can make a simple burger or dog feel special. 

That’s not to say you can’t branch out and have something different. Anything you can throw on the grill is great. And for those that aren’t big meat eaters, there’s even great burger and hot dog options out there for them too. You can have something for everyone and make the cookout feel closer than family. A personal favorite burger is a nice medium patty smothered in melty sharp cheddar, topped with bacon, an egg, crispy onions, and garlic aioli. It’s messy, but I promise, it’s so worth it. 

The Chorus

This might be the thing people forget most. The star of the plate is nothing without the chorus of sides. And a day full of celebration calls for the best. These can range from ready-made and store bought to home-made. But there are a few that we think are important to make your BBQ a true event. 

First, salads. And we don’t mean the leafy, green kind. (Though a salad option isn’t a bad idea to have in case someone isn’t feeling heavier food.) We mean things like potato salad, pasta salad, and macaroni salad. And what is a BBQ without baked beans? Rich BBQ-style sauce and tender beans? Yummm. All of these sides offer the freedom for you to have fun with ingredients and be creative. There are basic recipes, but taste-wise? You can go crazy. Add some bacon to your pasta salad or some green onions to your potato salad. The world of BBQ salads is an oyster for you to take. 

Now salads don’t have to be your only side. Or a side at all. We know they’re not to everyone’s tastes. So, go for that classic cookout side: potato chips. With so many flavors out there, you can get a few types and make everyone happy. It’s an easy to grab side and who doesn’t love a good salty chip?

The Orchestra

Now, you can’t have a meal without a drink. Well you could, but you’d probably not enjoy it as much as you’d get thirsty. So you want to make sure you’ve got drinks a-plenty for your guests. This, just like your food, can be as varied as your friends and family are. You can always make it BYO and save yourself the hassle of getting enough drinks that everyone will enjoy. But if you like hosting absolutely everything, then drinks are key to your setup, too. 

These go into two categories: alcoholic and non-alcoholic. You want plenty of drinks for non-drinkers and the youngsters. This can be everything from water to lemonade to sweet tea to soda. And just because they’re ready-made drinks, doesn’t mean you can’t add a little extra to make the drink more fun. Add some fun summery cups or little umbrellas. Just because they don’t have alcohol in them, doesn’t mean they have to be boring. 

For alcoholic drinks, there’s a lot to go through. Do you want mixed drinks? A big batch of margs? Maybe you go with canned drinks and get some cocktails or beer. There’s a world of fun that can be had. Make sure whatever you choose, that you and your loved ones drink responsibly. Don’t turn your celebration into a tragedy.

Curtain Call

Now, you may think that the firework show is the end of the cookout. But really, the end is what you serve for dessert. No cookout is complete without some sweet treats to round out all that meat and sauce. Now, it’d be wrong for us to mention dessert on the Fourth and not say that apple pie is the clear winner for what your cookout needs. Like, what is more American than that? 

And there’s no reason to not make your pie a little more fun. Make it a crumble, serve it with something interesting (Canadians make cheddar apple pie―we know, it’s a little weird), serve it and other desserts. Cakes, cookies, brownies… there’s a whole world of fun little sweets that you can lay out for the end of the cookout.

Props and Set

Now, with the food covered, you do need to make sure you have all the proper equipment. Plates, silverware, napkins, cups, containers for the food, grilling equipment―all items you don’t want to leave off your list. Your BBQ isn’t going to be perfect unless you have everything you need. This doesn’t mean you have to buy a ton of decorations. Cookouts can be done without them. But if you’ve got the time and cash, you can absolutely decorate to make your space feel a little more celebratory. 

All this talk of food is making us hungry for the Fourth. We’re ready to eat our fill, drink, relax, and watch some fireworks. Just make sure you don’t forget to check your essential BBQ list. And maybe even check it twice.