Preparing a good 4th of July appetizer is a great way to start your holiday meal, but it’s not always easy to find inspiration for the best starter. If you’re out of ideas, don’t worry. Here are some of the best 4th of July appetizers you can try.
Tasty 4th of July Appetizer Recipes
According to Statista, over 80% of Americans celebrate Independence Day. They usually have fireworks and throw a community party following various 4th of July safety tips to celebrate the holiday. Moreover, many Americans who celebrate spend over $80 on food — whether that’s for a party or a small dinner.
If you will spend that much money anyway, it’s better to plan. After all, you don’t want to spend money on so many ingredients that will only go to waste. Do you want vegetarian recipes? How about something that goes well with an outdoor BBQ? Whatever it is, we’re here to help. Here are some of the best Fourth of July appetizer recipes you can try today.
1. Berries and Cream Charcuterie Board
If you want easy 4th of July appetizers, there’s no better way than to simply have a charcuterie board. They don’t require too many complicated preparations and still taste amazing.
Ingredients:
- For the whipped ricotta:
- 8-ounce whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1 tsp. Honey
- A pinch of kosher salt
- For the assembly:
- Store-bought angel food cake, biscuits, or shortbread cookies
- Strawberries, blackberries, cherries, blueberries, and raspberries (1 cup each)
- Whipped cream and mint leaves, for serving
Directions:
- For the sweet whipped ricotta:
- Blend honey, salt, and ricotta in a fast blender or food processor. Do this for 2 minutes.
- Transfer the whipped ricotta to a serving bowl. Chill in an airtight container and serve a few days later.
- For the assembly:
- (Optional) Cut the pastries into star shapes with a cookie cutter.
- Rinse the fruits and pat them dry with paper towels. Arrange bowls of whipped cream and ricotta on a platter beside the pastries. Then place the fruits on the board and garnish with mint leaves.
2. Best-Ever Buffalo Chicken Dip
This July 4th appetizer is a scrumptious addition to your menu. It’s great for sharing at parties, especially if you have wings or other dippable dishes.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1 8-ounce block of cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup buffalo sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar, divided
- Hot sauce
- 1 tbsp. ranch dressing
- Finely chopped chives, for garnish
- Sliced celery sticks, baguette, and carrot, for serving
- (Optional) ¼ cup crumbled blue cheese
Directions:
- Center the oven rack and preheat the oven to 350°. Mix the cream cheese, ¾ cup cheddar, buffalo sauce, hot sauce, ranch, and rotisserie chicken in a bowl.
- Place the mixture in a baking dish and top with ¼ cup cheddar. Bake for 20 minutes.
- Serve with chives, blue cheese, bread, and veggie sticks.
3. Blueberry Salsa
The best appetizers for Fourth of July don’t have to be complex. Even a simple blueberry salsa makes a great 4th of July appetizer. Just make sure to serve it with yummy corn chips.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of fresh blueberries
- ½ red bell pepper chopped
- 1 jalapeño, finely chopped
- Juice from 2 small limes
- ¼ red onion, finely chopped
- ½ yellow bell pepper, chopped
- ¼ cup freshly chopped cilantro
- 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper, freshly ground
- Corn chips, for serving
Directions:
- Mix all the salsa ingredients and toss them to combine.
- Season the salsa with salt and pepper.
- Serve with corn chips.
4. Buffalo Wings
Buffalo wings are one of the most classic Fourth of July appetizers. They’re delicious and simple to make. Moreover, they’re easy to eat while all your friends and family gather around the TV to watch a show.
Ingredients:
- 2 lb. chicken wings
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
- Freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ cup hot sauce
- Kosher salt
- 2 tbsp. Honey
- 4 tbsp. Butter
- Carrot sticks, for serving
- Ranch dressing, for serving
- Celery sticks, for serving
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400°. Put a wire rack atop a baking sheet. Toss the chicken wings with oil in a bowl. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Transfer to the baking sheet.
- Bake for 50 to 60 minutes while flipping halfway through.
- Whisk honey and hot sauce in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and stir in the butter. Melt the butter for 2 minutes. Heat broiler on low. Toss the wings into a bowl with buffalo sauce and coat it.
- Place the wings onto the rack and broil for 3 minutes.
- Serve with ranch and vegetables.
5. Pigs in a Blanket
Recipes for Fourth of July appetizers just aren’t complete without pigs in a blanket — especially if you’re throwing a party. They’re also easy to make and can finish within just 30 minutes.
Ingredients:
- 1 8-ounce tube crescent rolls
- All-purpose flour, for surface
- 1 12-ounce package mini cocktail wieners
- 4 tbsp. melted unsalted butter
- Coarse salt
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375º. Flour a surface and unroll the crescent sheets on it. Cut the triangles into three smaller triangles.
- Add one cocktail wiener to each triangle’s thick area. Roll them toward the thin side.
- Transfer to a baking sheet. Bush with butter and use salt to sprinkle.
- Bake the pigs in a blanket for 12 to 15 minutes.
6. Tomato Gnocchi Kebabs
Grilled gnocchi is a little unconventional but it’s exactly what you need to spice up your menu. It’s crispy, chewy, and full of flavor.
Ingredients:
- For the salsa verde:
- ¼ cup fresh parsley
- 2 tsp. Capers
- ¼ cup fresh basil
- 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 anchovy filets
- 1 clove garlic
- Kosher salt
- For the kebabs:
- 1 12-ounce package of fresh gnocchi
- 2 pt. cherry tomatoes
- Kosher salt
- 2 small red onions, cut into two-inch pieces
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Directions:
- For the salsa verde:
- Mix parsley, oil, capers, basil, anchovies, garlic, and lemon juice in a food processor. Blend until smooth. Season the mixture with salt to taste. Chill until ready to serve.
- For the kebabs:
- Preheat the grill for 3 minutes on medium-high heat. Add water to a shallow pan and soak the skewers for 10 minutes.
- Toss and coat the gnocchi, onions, oil, and tomatoes in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Thread onions, gnocchi, and tomatoes on the skewers.
- Grill the kebabs and flip halfway through for 7 to 8 minutes. Wait until the gnocchi is browned and the tomatoes are blistered.
- Drizzle salsa verde and serve the kebabs on a platter.
Make the Perfect 4th of July Appetizer With These Recipes
Cooking up a 4th of July appetizer shouldn’t be too much trouble. Most of these recipes are pretty quick to make. Most don’t require any complicated processes. Just make sure to choose the recipe that suits how you’re celebrating the holiday.
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