Ree Drummond's Top 10 Favorite 4th of July Recipes
It's an all-American cookout, including flag cake!
Get ready for fun, fireworks, and good food—it's the 4th in The Pioneer Woman's hometown.
"Fourth of July is always a big deal where we live," Ree Drummond says. "We used to throw a huge party on the ranch, but in recent years we've moved it to downtown Pawhuska so a lot more people can enjoy it." Nowadays, neighbors gather in the thousands outside Ree's store and restaurant, The Mercantile, to enjoy the street food, live music, and a show-stopping fireworks display put on by Ladd and the cowboys.
One thing hasn't changed about the 4th festivities—and that's the food! Ree's list here has all the 4th of July recipes you need to host your most patriotic party yet, including cookout sides, casseroles for a crowd, and a grand old American flag cake for dessert. Which ones are her favorites? All 10 of them! There's four (count 'em: four) different side dishes. You can never have too many sides at a cookout. After all, what goes better with hot dogs and hamburgers? Oh, and there's a fresh summer salad that Ree promises: "If I had this available to me 365 days a year, I would eat it every day for lunch."
Of course, your family's own 4th of July menu may look a lot like the Drummonds' already since so many of these recipes are PW-reader favorites. Tell us in the comments which one is your family's favorite!
Dr Pepper Shredded Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Crack open a can: It's The Pioneer Woman's secret ingredient of Dr Pepper! Sure, it takes time to simmer in a Dutch oven but this recipe yields enough meat that you can feed a crowd on the 4th with enough leftovers to feed your family for two or three meals.
Caprese Salad
This pretty platter is one of Ree's "favorite things about summertime." It's layered with thickly sliced tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil leaves—an herb that Ree has grown in her garden at home. For the finishing touch, olive oil and balsamic vinegar are drizzled over the top.
Get Ree's Caprese Salad recipe.
Lemonade Floats
Making a big old batch of lemonade is one of Ree's "favorite summertime rituals." This year, give everyone's homemade drinks an extra special touch with a scoop of lemon sorbet and garnish each glass with a slice.
Get Ree's Lemonade Floats recipe.
Macaroni and Cheese
This comforting side calls for a number of ingredients—two of which are (yep, you guessed it) butter and cheese. But her secret add-in is dry mustard. "I love this ingredient in macaroni and cheese," Ree says. "It provides a tangy sharpness without injecting a definable flavor."
Get Ree's Macaroni and Cheese recipe.
Grilled Peaches
Stone fruit season bears so many juicy peaches in July. And when caramelized over the grill and sprinkled with toasted pecans, it's a downright magical treat. "If you've never tried it before, grill some peaches this weekend!" Ree says. "They are incredible, and so great for salads, desserts... or charcuterie, even!"
Get Ree's Grilled Peaches recipe.
Strawberry Sauce
"I've been making my own ice cream every summer for years and I always serve it on the 4th of July," Ree says. "It's a Drummond family tradition, and I can't imagine what would happen if I skipped it one year." Let's not find out! This homemade sauce is the perfect topping for good old vanilla.
Get Ree's Strawberry Sauce recipe.
American Flag Cake
Ree made Ina Garten's flag cake for years before she found this easy method. "Love this sprinkle approach to a flag cake!" she says. This sheet cake is red velvet layered with cream cheese frosting and colorful nonpareils. It's a grand ol' dessert!
Get Ree's American Flag Cake recipe.
Fresh Corn Casserole
It's the height of summer—and that means corn casserole. All it takes is four ingredients and yes, fresh corn is a must. Ree says it's the key to its richness: Slice off the kernels with a sharp knife, then scrape out all the creamy, milky goodness inside. "It will instantly become a staple, I promise."
Get Ree's Fresh Corn Casserole recipe.
Macaroni Salad
Macaroni salad is a classic choice for potlucks and cookouts over the 4th of July weekend. Ree says it should be, sweet, tangy, creamy but never gloopy. Enter: This dish she describes as a "confetti of wonderfulness."
Get Ree's Macaroni Salad recipe.
The Best Baked Beans Ever
It's the side that's scooped up every July! It's a PW-reader favorite and for Ree, it's her "favorite of all time." Just look at it in all its Southern-style glory: the beans are baked to a browned bubbly consistency and layered with thick-cut bacon. "They're cooked low and slow and turn into a miracle in the oven!"
Get Ree's Baked Beans recipe.
Every Cowboy Lives By These Rules of Etiquette
Sofia Already Loves The PW Walmart Line
15 Important Ranch Words and Phrases to Know
This Pioneer Woman Mat Makes Cooking More Comfy
