My Best Recipes for 4th of July

There’s no better way to celebrate the holiday (and my birthday) than relaxing with family, hanging out by the grill and enjoying fresh summer produce. Here are a few of my favorite recipes, from all-American cookout classics like barbecue chicken and baked beans, to picnic perfect salads and a classic angel food cake—my annual birthday dessert.

MEAT & SEAFOOD

Grilled Skirt Steak with Rum Glaze

Get the recipe >>>

Fried Chicken Sandwiches

Pickle-brined fried chicken three ways – Nashville style hot chicken, buffalo sauce and dry rubbed with Sichuan peppercorns and cumin. Get the recipe >>>

Grilled Pork & Pineapple with Chamoy

Get the recipe >>>

Pineapple Glazed Ribs

Fresh cilantro and tart-sweet pineapple give these baby back ribs a unique flavor that’s hard to resist. Get the recipe >>>

Pork Burgers with Tomatillo Salsa

Get the recipe >>>

Barbecue Chicken

This barbecue chicken is the best thing I’ve cooked in a long time. I’m confident enough that I’d put it up in a barbecue contest any day of the week. Get the recipe >>>

Reverse Seared Tomahawk Steaks

This is my favorite way to cook thick cuts of beef because it’s more forgiving, it promotes even cooking and doesn’t dry out the meat. Get the recipe >>>

Low & Slow Barbecue Pulled Pork

It’s summer, so get outside and light up that grill. Relax and be patient, the best-barbecued pork takes time. Get the recipe >>>

Grilled Chicken Wings

A foolproof flavor combination, apricot and mustard have an affinity for each other. This glaze is an easy way to dress up chicken wings off the grill. Get the recipe >>>

Lobster Rolls, Two Ways

Here are two easy recipes for everyone’s favorite summer sandwich, the lobster roll. Do you prefer mayonnaise or brown butter? I couldn’t decide, so I’m showing you how to make both. Get the recipes >>>

Grind Your Own Burger Blend

These burgers are pure, unadulterated beefy goodness. Get the recipe >>>

BBQ Shrimp

Spicy, lemony, garlicky and rich, this barbecue shrimp is a real treat. Get the recipe >>>

Shrimp Remoulade

Remoulade is a tangy mayonnaise-based sauce—flavored with mustard, horseradish, vinegar, chili sauce and scallions—that pairs beautifully with seafood. Get the recipe >>>

Prosciutto-Wrapped Trout

I love the combination of cured meat and fish, especially in this recipe for fresh-caught trout on the grill. Get the recipe >>>

SIDES

Pasta with Tomatoes, Basil and Mozzarella

This is the most delicious, warm weather, summertime pasta dish ready from start to finish in under 15 minutes. It’s going to blow your mind! Get the recipe >>>

Grilled Sweet Onion Salad

This summery grilled sweet onion salad not only looks beautiful, it’s a cinch to put together—especially if you already have the grill fired up for a backyard barbecue. Get the recipe >>>

Potato Salad

I’m channeling my inner French grandmother in this version with fingerling potatoes glossed in a warm, rich bacon vinaigrette. Get the recipe >>>

Corn and Green Tomato Salad

Don’t feel encumbered by the ingredients I am using here. Feel free to make this cold succotash–style corn and green tomato salad for any and every meal, at least until corn stops coming into the market. Get the recipe >>>

Classic Caesar Salad

Caesar salad dressing is so easy to make at home, with a rich, tangy and savory vibe that a jarred dressing can’t provide. Get the recipe >>>

Elote-Style Corn

The best way to cook corn on the cob is in the husk directly on the coals. The husk protects the cob from incinerating, while the embers impart a smoky, fire-charred flavor. Get the recipe >>>

Easy Homemade Baked Beans

The variety of beans adds a great textural contrast; the bacon, a smoky accent; the onions, a nice crunch. Get the recipe >>>

Cold Cucumber Soup

I keep jars of this stuff in the fridge all summer long, it’s the perfect healthy snack, appetizer or sauce for cold poached salmon. Get the recipe >>>

Mac & Cheese

This ultra-mac uses a blend of gruyere, brie and cheddar, which you can supplement with any cheese bits or ends that have accumulated in your cheese drawer. Get the recipe >>>

DESSERT

Banana Pudding

Get the recipe >>>

Tropical Fruit Foster

Get the recipe >>>

Angel Food Cake with Macerated Berries & Whipped Cream

This classic recipe is super moist, airy, and just heavenly served with fluffy whipped cream and fresh summer berries. Get the recipe >>>

Mixed Berry Crumble

Here, I take my typical crumble topping and add the elements of a great sugar cookie, and I guarantee you’ll love the result. This easy, rustic dessert is a cinch to throw together and works well with any fruit filling you have on hand. Get the recipe >>>