The Perfect Fourth of July Menu

Better than fried chicken and the best way to start your cookout, these crispy peanut chicken skewers are the perfect combo of sweet and savory.

The classic southern recipe you know and love, spiked with Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey and gently perfumed with smoke from Jack Daniel’s Whiskey Barrel Chips. We told you there would be booze.

We’ve all been to cookouts where the burger situation is only average—not these smash burgers. We use brioche buns and top with all of the classics: cheese, lettuce, tomato, and white onion. Oh, and make sure to slather a little more garlic butter on those buns. True patriots know there’s no such thing as too much.

We love to marry sweet, juicy fruits with the charry taste of the grill. Sear a combination of peaches and nectarines, or whatever stone fruit is freshest from the market. If you really want to show off, make the ricotta at home, but we won’t tell anyone if you go with store-bought.

Trust us, you’ll be coming back for seconds because this is not your grandma’s potato salad. We smash the taters on the grill to create a warm, crispy outside and top with a sweet, acidic vinaigrette. The secret: bacon grease.

You already have your grill fired up, why not add some fresh watermelon? Mix with arugula, fresh mint and basil, and fried shallots for a salad that will impress even the toughest cookout critics.

This cake might make you rethink whether there’s nothing more American than apple pie. Light, delicious, colorful, and big, this cake is a must when you’re feeding a crowd before the fireworks.

Paired with fresh blueberries and lemon zest, this sweet, fluffy cake will leave guests asking you for the recipe—and we won’t complain if you share.

This pie tastes just as good as it looks. The bright red strawberries and lattice crust will catch everyone’s attention at the table, and we might be biased, but we don’t think you’ll find a better crust than one baked in a cast iron skillet.