Advertisement

Healthy 4th of July Recipes and Menus

Featured Recipes

Inside-Out Cheeseburgers

Why put the cheese on top of the burger when half of it just melts off? Instead, form the burger around the cheese so you can char the meat and safeguard the more delicate flavors. Use any mixture of hard or semihard cheeses--Emmentaler and Gouda or Asiago and Parmigiano-Reggiano also pair well.

» Inside-Out Cheeseburgers

Shaker-Style Smoked Chicken Thighs

Based on a recipe of the Shakers, a Quaker splinter group that flourished in the Eastern U.S. in the mid-19th century, this marinade derives its flavor from a hefty jolt of cider vinegar and lots of chopped shallots. Apple-wood chips are our first choice for smoking, but maple and hickory impart great flavor as well.

» Shaker-Style Smoked Chicken Thighs

Marjoram-Rubbed Pork & Grilled Potato Salad

Summery and full of fresh herb flavors, this dish is as colorful as it is tasty. If you have fresh summer squash or eggplant, grill it as well and toss it into the salad. Serve with a green salad and cold lemonade.

» Marjoram-Rubbed Pork & Grilled Potato Salad

White Sangria

OK, so it's kind of a contradiction for a sangria, which is named for its blood-red color, to be made with white wine, but once you've tasted this festive thirst quencher it won't matter a bit. Pieces of mixed summer melons are the perfect match for a crisp Sauvignon Blanc.

» White Sangria

Bean & Tomato Salad with Honey Vinaigrette

This beautiful salad combines fresh tomatoes, green beans, red onions and dried heirloom beans. Recently harvested beans (and thus freshly dried) cook more quickly than the kind you buy year-round at the market. In the latter part of the summer, farmers' markets begin to sell a fresh crop of heirloom varieties that would be perfect for this salad.

» Bean & Tomato Salad with Honey Vinaigrette

Blueberry Tart with Walnut Crust

For this tart a few tablespoons of maple syrup sweeten the blueberry topping and round out the flavor of the cream filling.

» Blueberry Tart with Walnut Crust

Whoopie Pies

Classic whoopie pies combine a creamy filling sandwiched between cakey chocolate cookies. Some are filled with a marshmallow cream frosting while others are filled with whipped cream. Even those of us who grew up with the former fell in love with our lighter version of the whipped cream-filled treats.

» Whoopie Pies


4th of July recipes for the parade, the potluck, and the fireworks.

Easy entertaining is the name of the game on July 4th. Whether you watch the fireworks, listen to the town band or just relax in the backyard, chances are you’ll share a meal with family and friends this Independence Day. Put a fresh twist to your classic American fare with this selection of easy, healthy July 4th recipes, grilling recipes and potluck recipes from our Test Kitchen. Happy Fourth of July to everyone from EatingWell!

Download a FREE Healthy 4th of July Recipe Cookbook!

Healthy 4th of July Main Dish Recipes

This Greek-inspired pasta dish features zucchini, bell...
Here's our spin on the roast-a-chicken-on-top-of-a-can...
Eggplant Parm is spun into a pizza with grilled eggplant,...
This healthy burger recipe features a spicy fajita burger...
This open-face, “fork and knife” sandwich is piled with...
Fish tacos have become all the rage in recent years and are...
Why put the cheese on top of the burger when half of it...
“Jerk” isn't Jamaican for “as hot as you can stand it...
Summery and full of fresh herb flavors, this dish is as...
Traditionally, ceviche is raw fish that's “cooked” by...
Based on a recipe of the Shakers, a Quaker splinter group...
Paella started as an outdoor dish. Grilling seafood, zesty...
Chicken drumsticks stay deliciously moist when grilled—even...
Take 5 minutes in the morning to get these pork chops...
Portobello caps make excellent mini casseroles. Here, they...

Healthy 4th of July Side Dish Recipes

Instead of a heavy creamy dressing, this refreshing...
This beautiful salad combines fresh tomatoes, green beans,...
Summer-ripe tomatoes and fresh mozzarella need only a...
Summertime—and zucchini is taking over your garden. Turn...
An easy salad to serve with grilled chicken or steak for...
Deviled eggs are a perennial potluck favorite. Our recipe...
Lots of freshly chopped herbs add zing to our white bean...
Toss a colorful mix of grilled bell peppers with briny...
Fresh parsley and dill add depth to this creamy potato...
The combination of green zucchini and yellow summer squash...
Here's a homemade version of the tomato salsa served...
Chiles and cheese turn mild summer squash into a zesty,...

Healthy 4th of July Dessert Recipes

Somewhere between a fruity sorbet and a creamy ice cream...
For this tart a few tablespoons of maple syrup sweeten the...
Nothing conjures up childhood nostalgia like these frozen...
Grilling luscious seasonal fruit is the perfect way to end...
Eating this pie is almost like eating frozen lemonade in...
A fruit crumble offers the luscious flavor of a fresh fruit...
Tart raspberry filling is swirled into a low-fat cream...
Besides succulent fresh, ripe strawberries, the key to a...
Made with whole-wheat flour, these decadent-tasting...
Classic whoopie pies combine a creamy filling sandwiched...

Healthy 4th of July Beverages

Pick up rosemary, cucumbers and lemons to concoct this...
Here we balance the mildly grassy flavor and slightly...
Take a trip to the islands in this simple tropical cocktail.
You'll feel like you're on a tropical getaway...
A splash of balsamic vinegar adds a sour element to these...
OK, so it's kind of a contradiction for a sangria,...

All Recipe Collections

In Season
Broth and Stock
Fall
Healthy Summer Salads
Spring Recipes
Summer Drinks
Summer Potluck Sides & Desserts
Winter
Winter Drinks
Desserts
Bread Pudding
Cake
Cheesecake Recipes
Chocolate
Chocolate Desserts
Christmas Cookies
Christmas Desserts
Cookies
Cupcake Recipes
Dessert Recipes
Frozen Desserts
Fruit Bar & Healthy Brownie Recipes
Holiday Cookies
Ice Cream
Meringue
Pies
Pumpkin Desserts and Pumpkin Bread
Sorbet
Ethnic/World Cuisine
African Recipes
Asian
Cajun & Creole Recipes
Caribbean Recipes
Chinese Recipes
Curry Recipes
Greek Recipes
Hispanic
Indian
Irish Recipes
Italian Recipes
Mediterranean
Mexican
Middle Eastern Recipes
Paella
Russian & Polish Recipes
Southern
Spanish
Tacos
Tapas
Tortilla Recipes
Fruits & Vegetables
Apples
Asparagus Recipes
Avocado
Bananas
Basil
Bell Peppers
Berry Recipes
Blackberries
Blueberries
Broccoli Recipes
Brussels Sprouts Recipes
Cauliflower Recipes
Cherries
Citrus
Collard Greens
Corn
Cranberries
Cucumbers
Eggplant Recipes
Garlic Recipes
Ginger
Green Beans
Kale Recipes
Olives
Onions
Peaches
Peas
Pineapple
Pumpkin Recipes
Raspberries
Roasted Peppers
Spinach
Stone Fruit
Strawberry Recipes
Summer
Sweet Potato Recipes
Tomato Recipes
Watermelon
Winter Greens
Winter Squash Recipes
Zucchini Recipes & Summer Squash Recipes
Grilling
Appetizers
BBQ Sauce, Marinades and Rubs
Burger Recipes
Grilled Chicken and BBQ Chicken
Grilled Fish and Seafood
Grilled Lamb
Grilled Pork
Grilled Salmon
Grilled Shrimp Recipes
Grilled Steak and Beef
Kabobs and Skewers
Vegetarian Grilling
Health Considerations
7 Foods to Keep You Young
Antioxidants
Bone Health
Diabetes Dinner
Diabetic Chicken
Diabetic Desserts
Diabetic Diet
Diabetic Diet Thanksgiving
Diet
Diet Chicken Recipes
Diet Desserts
Diet Dinners
Digestive Health
EatingWell Diet Challenge Recipes
Gluten Free Diet
Healthy Aging
Healthy Mind
Heart-Healthy Chicken
Heart-Healthy Diet
High Blood Pressure Diet
High Fiber
Immunity
Low Fat
Low Sodium
Low-Calorie
Low-Calorie Chicken
Low-Calorie Desserts
Low-Calorie Dinner Recipes for Two
Low-Fat Desserts
Low-Sodium Dinners
Mind Body Spirit
MyPlate-Inspired
Omega-3
Pregnancy Diet
Holiday/Occasion
4th of July Recipes
Christmas
Christmas Appetizers
Christmas Dinner
Easter
Father's Day
Feast of Seven Fishes
Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Recipes
Good Luck
Halloween Recipes
Hanukkah
Holiday Birds
Holiday Drinks
Holiday Gifts from the Kitchen
Holiday Make Ahead Sides
Holiday Sides and Desserts
Holidays
Kwanzaa
Labor Day
Mardi Gras
Memorial Day
Mother's Day
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve Appetizers
Passover
Punch Recipes
St. Patrick's Day
Stuffing
Super Bowl
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Appetizers
Thanksgiving Casserole
Thanksgiving Cookies
Thanksgiving Desserts
Thanksgiving Leftovers
Thanksgiving Pies
Thanksgiving Recipes
Thanksgiving Sides and Desserts
Valentine's Day
Kid-Friendly
Healthy Eating for Kids
Kid-Friendly Dinners
Kids Breakfasts
Kids Lunch
Kids Snacks
Summer Kids Recipes
Lifestyle/Theme
Bars
Biscuit Recipes
Bread
Cheesy Recipes
Chili
Comfort Food
Dill
Gazpacho
Grits
Lasagna
Mashed Potatoes
Meatloaf Recipes
Muffins
Pita
Pizza Recipes
Quesadilla
Salad
Sandwich
Sauerkraut
Soup and Bread
Sweet-and-Sour
Tailgating
Vegan
Vegetarian
Main Ingredient
Almond
Bacon Recipes
Baked Chicken
Baked Potato & Healthy Twice-Baked Potato Recipes
Beans
Beef Sirloin Recipes
Beef Tenderloin & Filet Mignon Recipes
Beet
Black Eyed Peas
Bulgur & Farro Recipes
Cabbage Recipes
Cabbage Soup Recipes
Cashew
Catfish
Chicken
Chicken Breast
Chicken Casserole
Chicken Pasta
Chicken Salad
Chicken Soup Recipes
Chicken Thighs
Chipotle
Chorizo & Pepperoni
Cinnamon
Cod Recipes
Coffee
Cornbread
Date
Eggs
Fig
Fish
Flank Steak Recipes
Flax
Fried Chicken Recipes
Fruit Salad
Grapes
Ground Beef
Ground Turkey
Haddock
Halibut
Horseradish
Lemon Chicken
Lentil
Lobster
Low Fat Chicken
Mahi-Mahi
Maple
Mint
Miso
Mussels
Noodle Recipes
Nuts
Oats
Okra
Olive Recipes
Orange
Pastrami Recipes, Roast Beef Recipes & Corned Beef Recipes
Peanut Butter
Peanut Recipes
Pecan
Peppercorn
Phyllo Dough Recipes
Pickles
Pilaf
Pinto Bean
Polenta
Pork
Pork Chops
Pork Tenderloin
Portobello Recipes
Prosciutto Recipes
Quinoa
Salmon
Sardines
Scallops
Seafood
Seafood Appetizer
Seafood Casserole
Seafood Pasta
Seafood Salad
Seafood Soup
Shrimp Pasta
Shrimp Recipes
Smoked Salmon
Sole
Spinach Salads
Squid
Steak
Strip Steak Recipes
Tahini
Tilapia
Tofu
Trout
Tuna Recipes
Turkey Meatloaf Recipes
Walnut
Walnuts
Watercress
Whole Chicken
Whole Grains
Wild Rice
Yogurt
Advertisement

EatingWell Magazine

Advertisement
more smart savings
Advertisement
World Wide Web Health Award Winner
Web Award Winner
World Wide Web Health Award Winner
Interactive Media Award Winner