5-Ingredient Fourth of July Recipes

Updated June 15, 2012
Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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 Slices with Mint and Lime

Credit: Christopher Baker

Watermelon Slices with Mint and Lime Recipe

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Raspberry-Lime Rickey Slushies

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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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