Throw the Best Fourth of July Pool Party with These Great Recipe Ideas

With the Fourth of July just around the corner it’s time to start dusting off those grills and marinating some meat. Ok, maybe postpone meat marinating until the 3rd of July. If celebrating the fourth of July with a bountiful feast of delicious foods and watching fireworks explode on a full stomach is something that you look forward to every year, you’re not alone. It’s the perfect reason to make those festive patriotic recipes you have been eying all year, since bringing those red, white, and blue fruit skewers to the company Thanksgiving potluck just feels wrong. But the time is here now and we got a head start on menus and recipe pairings that will make this years Fourth of July the best one yet!

Imagine for a moment it’s July 1st and temperatures are rising, you’re staring out at your pool after a long day of work itching to take a dip when boom! The best idea you’ve had all week hits you; a Fourth of July pool party! You’ll invite all your family and friends from the neighborhood and even those neighbors you hardly know(but probably should considering they’ve lived down the street for the past 5 years). It’s going to be a great time and all those hours you’ve spent making the kids clean the pool will finally be put to good use. You’re pumped and ready to go. One of the first things you do is start to brainstorm what you’ll feed your guests. Guess what? We’ve got you covered check out the perfect menu we’ve set up for the best Fourth of July celebration yet!

Start off with some fresh and juicy Strawberry Lemonade Jello Shots(be sure to make some sans alcohol for the kids). Lay out a spread of Skinny Baked Zucchini chips paired with some Avocado-Yogurt Dip and chopped veggies. These “chips” and dip are the just the thing for a pool party when everyone will want to try and eat light so they can feel fit and flirty in their American Flag swim wear. Add in some Bacon Wrapped Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates for a savory rich flavor combo. The bite sized shape of this delectable treat is perfect for munching by the pool. Bonus: pin them together with little American Flag toothpicks to add that extra patriotic flare. What is a good pool party with out salsa? Try this phenomenal Spicy Chipotle Lime Mango Salsa, it combines sweet and spicy in a super fresh explosion of flavor. Be sure to pick up some tortilla chips at the store for dipping!

After everyone has got their tan on and taken a dip in the pool they’ll be ready for more food! Try out this assortment of dishes to satisfy even the hungriest pool party goers appetite:

Make your life easier by cooking some Crock Pot Pulled Pork ahead of time, this recipe will give you that trademark Fourth of July barbecue flavor. While it’s easy it’s time consuming so consider setting it up the night before so it’ll be ready to go when the party starts. You can’t forget to add in some extra BBQ sauce, here’s a recipe for Incredible Pulled Pork BBQ Sauce. It’ll be perfect for those who like things extra saucy, it combines tangy and sweet for a harmonious sauce perfect to top anything. For the vegetarians in attendance prep some Beet Quinoa Burgers the day before and cook them up during the party. These burgers are to die for plus their red color adds to the patriotic theme. Add in some Elote Mexican Style Street Corn on the side, this is a great pool party food! The corn on the stick allows for an easy delivery method, even with pool wrinkled fingers! This recipe will make you fall in love with corn on the cob, it’s a burst of flavors with delicious spices, you’ll never eat plain corn again. Another great side dish is Mac and Cheese but this isn’t just any Mac and Cheese, it’s comfort food healthified! Adding cauliflower to your Mac and Cheese is a great way to lighten up a classic comfort food, this recipe allows to do that without compromising flavor. I bet this recipe will become a staple in your recipe book!

Wrap up the best pool party meal ever with some sweet treats!

This Avocado Smoothie is super refreshing after a day spent poolside. It’s secret to the creamy texture is the avocado, it balances the fresh fruit for a winning flavor pairing. Make these Patriotic Skewers that are super easy to make and even easier to eat. The fruit/cake match s just the right amount of sweetness. Again this recipe is great for eating poolside. Impress your guests with these Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars, they are really easy to make but will have everyone thinking you’re a pro chef! The richness of the cheesecake melds perfectly with the crunchy cinnamon sugar topping. Go homemade with these Ice Cream Sandwiches! Again everyone will think you outdid yourself but these are fun and easy to make and will have everyone in awe of your sweet decorating skills!

After you serve the best meal anyone has had at a pool party, everyone will want your recipes! You can easily share your recipe collection and add more by using Foodie.com and the collection in this post. What are some of your favorite ways to celebrate the Fourth? Let us know in the comments and enjoy having the best Fourth of July Pool Party yet!