Updated: Jun. 14, 2023
The Fourth of July is the most American of holidays. You’ll hear fireworks every day of the month, see waves of red, white and blue decor, and desperately try to figure out how you’ll make it to all the barbecues you’ve been invited to. And what the heck am I supposed to bring as my side dish? There are so many choices!
Well, this recent research shows us the most popular Fourth of July food from every state. Let’s dig in.
The Most Popular Fourth of July Food Is…Potato Salad!
Taste of Home, Getty Images (2)
The results are based on research done by time2play. The information was analyzed by gathering the Google search volume trends of over 100 different types of food leading up to the Fourth of July. Here are the top five:
- Potato salad (10 states)
- Baked beans (8 states)
- Deviled eggs, macaroni salad, smoked brisket, grilled corn (5 states each)
- Red, white and blue fruit pizza (4 states)
- Smoked ribs (3 states)
Are you surprised? Honestly, I can’t say I am. Potato salad somehow finds its way into every single family get-together. And not just any potato salad, but German potato salad. I could eat an entire bowl of that all by myself.
My state, Illinois, has baked beans as its most popular dish. I can’t say baked beans have ever been a staple at our family parties, but maybe I’m too focused on the potato salad. However, the deviled eggs and grilled corn I can absolutely get behind! Just remember to bring enough butter.
But We Weren’t Expecting This
There will always be a few outliers when it comes to nationwide trends. Only two states, Idaho and New York, claimed coleslaw. Even more interesting, only Mississippi chose fried chicken. You’d think fried chicken, one of the most American dishes known to man, would have been higher up on the list. Who would have thought?
The most interesting of all though has to be the red, white and blue fruit pizza. I didn’t even know that was a thing, let alone popular enough to get four states behind it. Looks like Iowa, North Dakota, Nebraska and Minnesota like to keep their Fourth of July desserts colorful, tasty and healthy. Maybe I’ll make some patriotic fruit pizzas myself this year!
Our Favorite Fourth of July Party Recipes 1 / 55 Taste of Home Tossing the cooked potatoes with stock and wine right after you drain them infuses them with flavor. The liquid absorbs like magic. —George Levinthal, Goleta, California Go to Recipe You can also try some other 4th of July salads or feed your whole party with these 4th of July recipes for a crowd. Taste of Home Barbecued Picnic ChickenI like to serve this savory chicken at family picnics. Cooked on a covered grill, the poultry stays so tender and juicy. Everyone loves the zesty, slightly sweet homemade barbecue sauce—and it's so easy to make. —Priscilla Weaver, Hagerstown, Maryland. If you're looking for more, check out our collection of 4th of July BBQ recipes. Go to Recipe Taste of Home Quick Barbecued BeansBarbecued beans are a simple, classic recipe and cooking them on the grill adds great smoky flavor. —Millie Vickery, Lena, Illinois Go to Recipe Layered Fresh Fruit Salad Recipe photo by Taste of Home Layered Fresh Fruit SaladPeople always pass on compliments when I take this salad to covered-dish suppers. It's nice on a hot day, with a winter meal, or as a dessert! We live on a small farm where my garden gives me lots of possibilities for fresh food. —Page Alexander, Baldwin City, Kansas Go to Recipe Start the party off right with these 4th of July appetizers. Taste of Home Patriotic DessertI took this patriotic dessert to a luncheon and came home with dozens of requests for the recipe! It was quite a success. People told me it looked as good as it tasted. —Flo Burtnett, Gage, Oklahoma Go to Recipe Buttery Grilled Shrimp Recipe photo by Taste of Home Buttery Grilled ShrimpThis grilled shrimp recipe is easy and delicious! These shrimp are great with steak, but for a special occasion, brush the sauce on lobster tails and grill. —Sheryl Shenberger, Albuquerque, New Mexico Go to Recipe Taste of Home Grilled Sweet CornSince we have plenty of fresh sweet corn available in our area, we use this recipe often in summer. Parsley, chili powder and cumin accent the corn's just-picked flavor. —Connie Lou Hollister, Lake Odessa, Michigan Go to Recipe Creamy Grilled Potato SaladTo avoid turning my oven on in the summer, I grill just about everything—including this creamy grilled potato salad. My friends have dubbed this ‘The Best Potato Salad You’ll Ever Put in Your Mouth!—and I love that! —Gayle Robinson, Carrolton, Georgia Go to Recipe Raspberry Lemonade ConcentrateHere's a concentrate that allows you to enjoy a refreshing summer beverage any time of year. Sweet raspberries balance the tartness from lemons. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Go to Recipe Honey Chipotle RibsNothing is better than having a sauce with the perfect slather consistency. Here's one that will ensure a lip-smacking feast. Go ahead and make the sauce up to a week ahead for an easier grilling experience. —Caitlin Hawes, Westwood, Massachusetts Go to Recipe Grilled Apple Tossed Salad Recipe photo by Taste of Home Grilled Apple Tossed SaladThe grilled apples in this salad combine so well with the blue cheese, walnuts and balsamic dressing. I like to serve it on pink Depression glass dessert plates from my great-grandmother. —Paul Soska, Toledo, Ohio Go to Recipe Taste of Home Bring on the red, white and blue with these creative cupcakes, perfect for the Fourth of July, Memorial Day or any favorite occasion. With some delicious and colorful frosting and a careful arrangement, your sweet display will be a patriotic nod to our great American flag. —Rebecca Wetherbee, Marion, Ohio Go to Recipe Taste of Home Flavorful Grilled Pork TenderloinFolks can find me grilling, no matter the weather. This moist pork tenderloin has loads of flavor thanks to its special spice blend, and it doesn't get much easier to make. My wife especially likes that she doesn't have to do the cooking! —Steve Ehrhart, Villa Park, Illinois Go to Recipe Pot of S'mores Recipe photo by Taste of Home Pot of S'moresMom’s easy Dutch-oven version of the popular campout treat is so good and gooey. The hardest part is waiting for this to cool so you can devour it. Yum! —June Dress, Meridian, Idaho Go to Recipe Grilled Marinated Ribeyes Recipe photo by Taste of Home Grilled Marinated RibeyesThese juicy steaks are a favorite meal of ours when we go camping. Let them sit in tangy, barbecue-inspired marinade overnight and you've got a rich and hearty dinner ready to grill up the next day. —Louise Graybiel, Toronto, Ontario Go to Recipe Three-Bean Baked Beans Recipe photo by Taste of Home Three-Bean Baked BeansI got this recipe from my aunt and made a couple of changes to suit my taste. With ground beef and bacon mixed in, these satisfying beans are a big hit at backyard barbecues and church picnics. I'm always asked to bring my special beans. —Julie Currington, Gahanna, Ohio Go to Recipe Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing Recipe photo by Taste of Home Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed DressingMy family is always happy to see this fruit and veggie salad on the table. If strawberries aren’t available, substitute mandarin oranges and dried cranberries. —Irene Keller, Kalamazoo, Michigan Go to Recipe Sweet Raspberry TeaYou need only a handful of ingredients to stir together this refreshing spring sipper. Its brilliant color and smile-fetching flavor will make a popular thirst quencher as the weather turns warm. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen Go to Recipe You can also add some extra fun to the holiday with 4th of July drinks! All-American Hamburgers Recipe photo by Taste of Home All-American HamburgersWe do a lot of camping and outdoor cooking. Hamburgers are on our menu more than any other food. —Diane Hixon, Niceville, Florida Go to Recipe Red, White and Blueberry PieThis creamy pie gets dressed up with berries to make a showstopping display at any Fourth of July party or summer get-together. It's as pretty as it is tasty! —Kimberly McFarland, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Go to Recipe Firecracker Grilled SalmonLet this sensational firecracker salmon perk up dinner tonight. With a super flavorful glaze that kicks you right in the taste buds, this weeknight dish is anything but boring. —Melissa Rogers, Tuscaloosa, AL Go to Recipe Everyone has a favorite potato salad, and this is mine. As a young bride, I was eager to learn how to cook and make things that my husband would love. I combined my mom's and his mom's recipes, and this potato and egg salad the delicious result. —Angela Leinenbach, Mechanicsville, Virginia Go to Recipe Patriotic Taco SaladWhen my daughter asked to have a patriotic theme for her July birthday party, I made this refreshing dish. If you want to prepare your salad in advance, omit the layer of chips and serve them on the side so they don't get soggy. —Glenda Jarboe, Oroville, California Go to Recipe Pretzel Gelatin Dessert Recipe photo by Taste of Home Pretzel Gelatin DessertThis is one of my mother's absolute favorite desserts. The salty pretzel crust is the perfect complement to the sweet cream cheese filling. —Erin Frakes, Moline, Illinois Go to Recipe Baby Back Ribs Recipe photo by Taste of Home Baby Back RibsSlow-cook the ribs during the day and they will be ready to finish on the grill when you get home. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen Go to Recipe Taste of Home Grilled Vegetable PlatterThis recipe is the best of summer in one dish! These pretty veggies are perfect for entertaining. Grilling brings out their natural sweetness, and the easy marinade really perks up the flavor. —Heidi Hall, North St. Paul, Minnesota Go to Recipe Patriotic Ice Cream Cupcakes Recipe photo by Taste of Home Patriotic Ice Cream CupcakesThese frosty cupcakes are practically a fireworks display on their own. The little treats feature red velvet cake, blue moon ice cream, a creamy white topping and star-spangled sprinkles. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen Go to Recipe BBQ BratsIn Wisconsin, brats are a food group! We are always looking for new ways to cook them. This recipe is easy and a hit at any tailgate party or cookout, any time of year. —Jessica Abnet, DePere, Wisconsin Go to Recipe Taste of Home Patriotic Gelatin SaladAlmost as spectacular as the fireworks, this lovely salad makes quite a "bang" at our July Fourth meal. It's exciting to serve, and our guests loved the cool fruity and creamy layers. This salad really added to my patriotic theme. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin Go to Recipe Dad's Lemony Grilled ChickenLemon juice, onions and garlic add tangy flavor to chicken when firing up the grill. —Mike Schulz, Tawas City, Michigan Go to Recipe Broccoli Salad SupremePeople can't get enough of the sweet grapes and crunchy broccoli in this colorful salad. I appreciate its make-ahead convenience. —Terri Twyman, Bonanza, Oregon Go to Recipe Picnic Fruit PunchThis pink cooler is deliciously thirst-quenching on a warm day. Seeing its color, folks guess it might be pink lemonade. They're pleasantly surprised to discover the bubbly blend includes cranberry, pineapple, orange and lemon juices. —Marion Lowery, Medford, Oregon Go to Recipe Grilled Whiskey ChopsNo one can believe that these fabulous chops are ready in half an hour! We love them for weeknights and family gatherings. The dollop of molasses butter on each chop is absolutely delish! —Kelly Melling, Frankton, Indiana Go to Recipe Homemade Guacamole Recipe photo by Taste of Home Homemade GuacamoleI always judge a Tex-Mex restaurant by its guacamole. And although it's simple to prepare, it can go wrong oh, so easily. I've spent many years perfecting mine, to the point where I think it's better than most restaurants. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas Go to Recipe Sliced Tomato SaladI got this recipe from my grandmother. It's a perfect platter to serve with burgers or hot sandwiches. —Kendal Tangedal, Plentywood, Montana Go to Recipe Crispy Star PopsThese patriotic pops are a hit at our annual Fourth of July get-together. Serve them as an after-picnic dessert. Or slip them into cellophane bags, tie on ribbons and give them as favors. —Colleen Sturma, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Go to Recipe Jersey-Style Hot DogsI grew up in northern New Jersey, where hot dogs with grilled potatoes were born. It's a combo you’ll love. —Suzanne Banfield, Basking Ridge, New Jersey Go to Recipe Taste of Home Watermelon Feta Flag SaladOur family celebrates the Fourth of July with a watermelon salad that resembles the flag. Here’s an all-American centerpiece that’s truly red, white and blue. —Jan Whitworth, Roebuck, South Carolina Go to Recipe Glazed BBQ Ribs Recipe photo by Taste of Home Glazed BBQ RibsYes, these racks would taste wonderful hot off the grill, but you can really enjoy these sweet, fall-off-the-bone ribs any time of the year. The raspberry preserves give my BBQ (and now yours) that lil’ something extra! —Stephen Marino, Nutley, New Jersey Go to Recipe Taste of Home Farmer's Market Corn SaladI love fresh corn on the cob, especially grilled, so I am always looking for innovative ways to serve it. This recipe takes the corn right off the cob and combines it with fresh basil. —Haras Cindie, Jupiter, Florida Go to Recipe Taste of Home Bacon Macaroni SaladThis pleasing pasta salad is like eating a BLT in a bowl. Filled with crispy bacon, chopped tomato, celery and green onion, the sensational salad is coated with a tangy mayonnaise and vinegar dressing. It’s a real crowd-pleaser! —Norene Wright, Manilla, Indiana Go to Recipe Taste of Home Orange LemonadeThis juice is a favorite at our place. I'll often double the batch and send a jar next door to my mother-in-law! I was looking for a way to sweeten lemonade without using more sugar when I came up with the recipe. —Wendy Masters, Grand Valley, Ontario Go to Recipe Marinated Three Bean SaladFresh herbs and cayenne pepper provide the fantastic flavor in this marinated salad featuring fresh veggies and canned beans. —Carol Tucker, Wooster, Ohio Go to Recipe Sweet 'n' Tangy Chicken WingsI love the convenience of slow-cooker recipes for get-togethers. Start these sweet and sour chicken wings a few hours ahead of time and you'll have fantastic appetizers ready when your guests arrive. —Ida Tuey, South Lyon, Michigan Go to Recipe Taste of Home Deli-Style Pasta SaladPasta provides a base for this tongue-tingling make-ahead salad. It has lots of fresh and satisfying ingredients topped with a flavorful dressing. This pasta salad is terrific to serve to company or take to a potluck. — Joyce McLennan, Algonac, Michigan Go to Recipe Fudgy Patriotic BrowniesA rich chocolate frosting makes these brownies really tasty. I always come home with an empty pan when I take these to potlucks. —Julie Moyer, Union Grove, Wisconsin Go to Recipe Taste of Home Fourth of July Bean CasseroleThe outstanding barbecue taste of these beans makes them a favorite for cookouts all summer and into the fall. It's a popular dish, even with kids. The beef makes it so much better than plain pork and beans. —Donna Fancher, Lawrence, Indiana Go to Recipe Peach Blueberry PieWhat a flavor! That's what I hear most often when guests taste this pie. —Sue Thumma, Shepherd, Michigan Go to Recipe Loaded Potato SaladGet a load of this loaded potato salad with sour cream, bacon, shredded cheddar, green onions and more. The ingredients come together to give you all the richness of restaurant potato skins at your next picnic. —Monique Boulanger, Greenwood, Nova Scotia Go to Recipe Taste of Home I threw some always-available condiments into my slow cooker with a pork roast to create this fantastic pulled pork. It has become a staple sandwich filler for large get-togethers. The flavor of the pork goes well with a cold glass of white wine.—Lori Terry, Chicago, Illinois Go to Recipe