Six Festive Recipes for Your July 4 Menu

We see July 4 as an opportunity to celebrate tradition while simultaneously advancing our culinary horizons. While burgers, hot dogs, and macaroni salad are welcome at any Independence Day get-together, why not impress your guests by serving soda-enhanced shredded pork, a spicy spin on Caesar or the most summery salad ever? Or turn a patriotic potluck into a party by bringing a potato chip-inspired salad, impossibly crunchy fried chicken or a from-scratch take on the ubiquitous flag cake? The six recipes below will brighten up any July 4 gathering, whether you’re hosting your own backyard barbecue or fulfilling a “what can I bring?” promise.

HERE ARE SIX DISHES TO SALUTE ON JULY 4 

Grilled Sour Cream & Onion Potato Salad

 

We see where this potato salad is going: Take all the flavors and textures of your beloved sour-cream-and-onion potato chips and turn it into a substantial and superb side dish. While potato salad usually lacks the crunch of its chip counterpart, the brilliance of this recipe is found in the two-stage cooking of the potatoes. First you boil the potatoes in a HexClad saucepan or pot until tender, then smash them into a HexClad BBQ Grill Pan over a hot fire to create crispy, craggy bits. (If your July 4 barbecue is on rain delay, you can also sear the potatoes indoors on a HexClad fry pan.)

Get the recipe for Grilled Sour Cream & Onion Potato Salad

Korean-Style Fried Chicken

 

The audibly crunchy shell and sweet-spicy glaze makes Korean fried chicken our favorite KFC, hands down. Rice flour and a double fry in a HexClad Hybrid Deep Sauté Pan gives the chicken its famously crisp exterior that retains its crunch for hours, making this fried chicken more portable for potlucks—and flexible for your schedule.

Get the recipe for Korean-Style Fried Chicken

Dr Pepper Pulled Pork Sandwiches

 

The 19th-century soda’s supposed medicinal benefits may be ancient history, but Dr Pepper can still work miracles on a pork shoulder. The soda’s iconic flavors and acidity bring a spicy depth and tenderness to pork butt braised in a HexClad Dutch Oven or stock pot, which you’ll shred and top with creamy coleslaw and (why not?) fried onion rings to make the ultimate blend of bold flavors and textures. Start this recipe in the morning and you’ll be ready to knock guests off their picnic benches by early afternoon. 

Get the recipe for Dr Pepper Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Grilled Little Gem Salad with Calabrian Chile Caesar

 

A smoky, spicy and crunchy salad is exactly what your July 4 table needs to complement condiment-covered meats. Calabrian chili paste adds just enough heat to light up the creamy Caesar dressing for this clever update on the classic salad. We also swap the standard romaine lettuce for adorable little gems, then give them a quick turn on the grill until they pick up a smoky charred flavor. Fried in a 10” HexClad Hybrid Pan, the parmesan-coated croutons add crunch (tip: make a double batch and use the rest over the weekend). 

Get the recipe for Grilled Little Gem Salad with Calabrian Chile Caesar

Tomato, Peach and Burrata Salad With Chile-Lime Vinaigrette

 

Fruit salad has never seen such sophistication. Sweet peaches, tangy tomatoes, and oozy burrata combine for a supremely summery side that comes together in minutes. To make this salad portable, prep the dressing and fruit (yes, tomatoes are fruit) ahead of time (using a sharp knife and trusty cutting board) and assemble just before serving. 

Get the recipe for Tomato, Peach and Burrata Salad With Chile-Lime Vinaigrette

Red, White, & Blue Mixed Berry Skillet Shortcake

 

It’s so customary it should be law: No July 4 gathering is legit without a patriotic red, white and blue dessert. Usually this means a sheet cake (from a box) slathered with whipped cream (from a tub) and decorated with a fruit-spangled flag. Our easy, from-scratch version starts with a buttery homemade shortcake baked in a HexClad Deep Sauté Pan, then gets topped with sour cream-enhanced whipped cream and fresh berries. It might not resemble a flag, but this dessert still deserves a salute.

Get the recipe for Red, White, & Blue Mixed Berry Skillet Shortcake