5-Ingredient Fourth of July Recipes

June 15, 2012
Photo: Erin Kunkel; Styling: Emma Star Jensen
Fourth of July foods should be easy and breezy - just like summer.  Take it easy on Independence Day with these simple recipes that call for 5 ingredients or less (excluding water, ice, salt, pepper, and cooking spray). 
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Ginger Rosemary Smoked Pork Ribs

Photo: Coral Von Zumwalt
Ginger Rosemary Smoked Pork Ribs Recipe

These maple-glazed ribs with a subtle touch of ginger are a mainstay at Odys + Penelope restaurant in Los Angeles. At home, chef-owner Quinn Hatfield smokes them using either a Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker or a Pit Barrel Cooker. For versions of the recipe to cook on regular grills instead of smokers, go to Ginger Rosemary Smoked Pork Ribs on a Gas Grill, and Ginger Rosemary Smoked Pork Ribs on a Charcoal Grill.

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Grilled Chicken Wings with Tamarind Chipotle Barbecue Sauce

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Grilled Chicken Wings with Tamarind Chipotle Barbecue Sauce Recipe

Tangy, fruity tamarind, popular in Latino and Asian cuisines, is the secret ingredient in our favorite new barbecue sauce for chicken wings.

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Skirt Steak Diablo

Photo: Andre Baranowski
Skirt Steak Diablo Recipe
This steak cooks in minutes. To ensure the outside is well browned and the inside pink, keep it cold in the refrigerator until you're ready to grill.
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Grilled Buttermilk Chicken

Photo: Con Poulos; Styling: Jeffrey W. Miller
Grilled Buttermilk Chicken Recipe

This creamy buttermilk mixture makes a great marinade for grilled chicken.

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Hot Water Cornbread

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke
Hot Water Cornbread Recipe

This recipe goes with: Robby Melvin's Turnip Greens with Hot Water Cornbread

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Fresh Summer Corn Sauté

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Fresh Summer Corn Sauté Recipe

Basil adds a fresh flavor to this corn sauté. 

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Fire-Grilled Pork Chops

Photo: Karry Hosford
Fire-Grilled Pork Chops Recipe
Marinate these juicy chops overnight in olive oil, herbes de Provence, and pepper for the best flavor. Grill for just 5 minutes and each side, and you've got a pork chop that even George Washington would be proud of.

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Peach Pops

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Peach Pops Recipe

Forget the store-bought stuff. Make your own fruit-filled, 3-ingredient pops at home! Look for food-safe wooden popsicle sticks on the craft aisle.

 

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Strawberry Shortcake Shake

Photo: Katie Hanley; Styling: Emma Crist
Strawberry Shortcake Shake Recipe

This minimal ingredient milkshake is a show-stopping, drool-inducing tall glass of strawberry shortcake heaven. When topped with a cake and strawberry skewer and drizzled with a luscious syrup, this gorgeous dessert might just be better than the real thing. 

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Watermelon with Mint and Lime

Photo: Christopher Baker
Watermelon with Mint and Lime Recipe

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Raspberry-Lime Rickey Slushies

Photo: Jason Varney; Styling: Claire Spollen
Raspberry-Lime Rickey Slushies Recipe

Red raspberries' juicy, perfumey, sweet flavor peaks from late June through August and is just right for this summer cooler. We spiked the drink with an herbaceous, citrusy gin that's distilled in small batches in Philadelphia. You can also omit the gin for a refreshing mocktail.

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Corn on the Cob with Lemon-Chive Butter

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Corn on the Cob with Lemon-Chive Butter Recipe

Nothing says summer like fresh corn on the cob. Here are a few of our favorite flavor combos for buttering them up.

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Tomato-and-Gorgonzola Pasta Salad

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Tomato-and-Gorgonzola Pasta Salad Recipe
We love juicy beefsteaks for their sweet, intense flavor. Colorful small tomatoes and any crumbled cheese work well here too.

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Jell-O Stars

Jell-O Stars Recipe
No patriotic feast is complete without a plate of bite-size stars in festive colors!

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Quick & Tasty Banana Pudding

Van Chaplin
Quick & Tasty Banana Pudding Recipe
This super easy banana pudding calls for just four ingredients: a banana, thawed whipping topping, prepared vanilla pudding, and vanilla wafers
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Herb Butter Burgers

Leigh Beisch
Herb Butter Burgers Recipe
These burgers may not be light, but they sure are delicious. Butter and a selection of fresh herbs, such as parsley, thyme, rosemary, and dill, give the patties their incredible, rich flavor. Your fellow 4th of July-ers are sure to gobble these burgers right up!

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Declaration of Independence Deviled Eggs

Declaration of Independence Deviled Eggs Recipe
These classic deviled eggs are the perfect appetizer or side dish for any 4th of July celebration. For extra party planning ease, you can make the filling up to 2 days ahead, and you can fill the eggs up to 2 hours ahead of your gathering.

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Watermelon-and-Feta Orzo Salad

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Watermelon-and-Feta Orzo Salad Recipe
Punch up this classic pairing of watermelon and feta with peppery watercress or arugula.
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Smoky Ranch Dip

Smoky Ranch Dip Recipe
Ranch dressing mix, sour cream, chipotle peppers, and adobo sauce are all you need for this humble chips-and-dip appetizer.

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Honey-Chipotle Grilled Corn

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Dan Becker
Honey-Chipotle Grilled Corn Recipe
Dress up fresh corn by grilling in the husks until blackened, then brushing husked ears with a mixture of butter, honey, garlic, and chipotle chiles. The spicy-sweet flavors will have friends and family begging for seconds!

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Land of the Free Lemonade

Land of the Free Lemonade Recipe
Watermelon is the ultimate All-American summer snack. This year, make your 4th of July celebration even sweeter with a sweet-tart watermelon lemonade.
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Heirloom Tomato Salad with Pomegranate Drizzle

Photo: Lisa Romerein; Styling: Karen Shinto
Heirloom Tomato Salad with Pomegranate Drizzle Recipe
This simple tomato salad is both colorful and tasty. A drizzle of pomegranate molasses paired with fresh oregano gives these tomatoes that little extra "oomph" of flavor.

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Chocolate and Peanut Butter S'mores

Photo: Leo Gong; Styling: Dan Becker
Chocolate and Peanut Butter S'mores Recipe
Anyone who's outgrown the kiddie classic will love this version—gooey-sweet melted marshmallow tempered by bittersweet chocolate cookies and salty roasted peanuts. Prep Time: 5 minutes

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Barbecue Deviled Eggs

Barbecue Deviled Eggs Recipe
If you want to omit the chopped pork, Madelaine suggests adding a drop of liquid smoke to provide a barbecue-like flavor.
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Berry Meringues

Pornchai Mittongtare
Berry Meringues Recipe
Top dainty, airy-looking homemade meringues with raspberries, blueberries, and whipped cream for a festive red, white, and blue dessert.

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No-Cook Chocolate-Almond Ice Cream

No-Cook Chocolate-Almond Ice Cream Recipe
Some homemade ice creams require cooking an egg custard for the base, but this easy chocolate-almond ice cream recipe skips that step. Simply stir together sweetended condensed milk, evaporated milk, whole chocolate milk, and chocolate syrup, then pour into an ice cream freezer and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Once the ice cream is ready, stir in almonds for that extra pop of flavor and crunch.

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Strawberry Granita

Photo: Ryan Benyl; Styling: Stephana Bottom
Strawberry Granita Recipe
Make your own sweet strawberry granita with just three ingredients (plus salt). Garnish with whipped cream and small paper flags, if desired, for a patriotic touch.
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Red, White and Blue Ice Pops

Red, White and Blue Ice Pops Recipe
Celebrate red, white, and blue all summer long with these patriotic ice pops. The secret ingredient is a blue sports drink, along with cranberrry juice and lemonade.

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Watermelon Cooler

Photo: Van Chaplin; Styling: Ashley Wyatt
Watermelon Cooler Recipe
Blend frozen watermelon cubes, ginger ale, and frozen limeade concentrate for this summery, sweet-tart drink that's perfect for kids and adults alike.

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Blueberry-Lemon Iced Tea

Photo: Van Chaplin; Styling: Rebecca Kracke Gordon
Blueberry-Lemon Iced Tea Recipe
Blueberries and fresh lemon juice take traditional iced tea from ordinary to extraordinary.
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Strawberry Blizzard Pops

Photo: Erin Kunkel; Styling: Emma Star Jensen
Strawberry Blizzard Pops Recipe

Fresh strawberries, creamy yogurt, and the faintest scent of rose swirl together in this sophisticated popsicle. You can use any mold you like for these popsicles, but you'll get a different number of pops depending on the mold size.

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Lemonade Blueberry Pops

Photo: Erin Kunkel; Styling: Emma Star Jensen
Lemonade Blueberry Pops Recipe

These popsicles turn a pale pink thanks to a little kitchen chemistry when the blue pigment in the berries meets the acid in the lemonade. You can use any mold you like for these popsicles, but you'll get a different number of pops depending on the mold size.

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