4th of July, celebrate with the Best BBQ (24 blogs of ‘how to’)

There’s no better way to celebrate the 4th of July than with a good old-fashioned backyard barbeque. Great friends, plenty of red, white and blue and a healthy spread of grilled dishes, cold salads and festive drinks are the perfect recipe for a great time. If you’re hosting the 4th of July party this year, look no further than these 24 blog posts for plenty of inspiration for pulling off the best Independence Day bash of the summer.

Decorations
Red, white and blue colors are the only requirement when it comes to selecting festive party decorations. Red plates, white napkins, a blue tablecloth and some strategically placed flags are the perfect way to pay tribute to the day. If your party is going to extend into the night, add some twinkling lights to the trees and buy plenty of fireworks.

For more decorating ideas, check out these six blog entries.

• How to Throw the Best 4th of July BBQ By keeping the party simple you can enjoy your party alongside your guests.
• How to Throw A July 4th Barbeque (or Picnic) Using red, white and blue in your decorating scheme is the simplest way to create a laid back party.
• Throw a 4th of July BBQ This blogger shows an alternative when decorating for a 4th of July bash, and uses a vintage color scheme.
• Throwing a Company 4th of July BBQ From flower spinners to flags, you can find all sorts of decoration suggestions on this blog entry.
• 10 Simple 4th of July Party Ideas Find several do-it-yourself decorating ideas in this article.
• Independence Day Party Planner Take a look at this table setting and see if it’s something that would work for your event.

Main Course Grilling Recipes
Hamburgers and hotdogs are standard barbeque fare, but if you find yourself wanting something a little more adventurous try adding blue cheese to the burgers or creating a toppings bar for your hotdogs.

More unique grilling ideas can be found in these six blog posts.

• The Perfect 4th of July BBQ Fancy relish and homemade ketchup will help set your party apart from all of the others.
• 5 Best Meats to Throw on the Grill Read all about suggested meats to grill, including ribs, burgers and steaks.
• How to Throw a Good 4th of July Party Spice up your party by providing a menu full of variety, like blue cheese burgers, chicken burgers, hot dogs and fruit kabobs.
• “All-American County Fair” 4th of July Party Good quality hotdogs on the grill tie in well to an All-American theme.
• 3 Great Ideas for 4th of July Party Food If you are tired of grilling the same old hotdogs and burgers, you might want to take a look at this blog post.
• {Party Food} Grilled BBQ Sweet Potato Nachos! Try something new on the grill and make up a batch of sweet potato nachos that are both healthy and tasty.

Outdoor-Friendly Side Dishes
Typically, the focus of a barbeque is the grilled meat, but no main dish is complete without an equally delicious side dish.

If you need some delectable side dish ideas, look at these six blog articles.

• Throw a Spontaneous 4th of July BBQ A brightly colored salad goes well with grilled food at a barbeque.
• Host an All-Star Fourth of July Barbeque Check out the cost-saving side dishes suggested on this blog post.
• 7 Treats for a Patriotic Summer Party Mix up a festive summer fruit salad to serve alongside the grilled meats at the party.
• 4th of July Recipes: Breakfast, Side Dishes & Main Dishes Whip up a red, white and blue garden salad to add a festive touch to your barbeque.
• Sexy Summer Sides (Picnic Potato Salad) With only a quarter cup of mayonnaise, this side dish should be safe to take outdoors, but you won’t want to leave it or any food out for hours in the sun.
• Southwestern Black Bean Salad This recipe makes a large quantity that would be perfect for a 4th of July party.

Refreshing Drinks
Make sure to serve one signature drink for your party, as well as provide other drinks that your friends might like. Offer water and non-alcoholic beverages as well to ensure that no one gets dehydrated.

These six blog entries will give some recipes for festive drink ideas.

• Throw a Unique July 4th Party Mix up some red, white and blue sangria for your guests to enjoy, along with beer and soda.
• Tops 10 Wines for July Fourth Barbeque Party Take a look at these wines and give some of them a try at your next barbeque.
• Create a Great Drink Menu at Your Outdoor Barbeque Read through the drink ideas on this blog post to get some ideas for a variety of drinks you can offer at your party.
• Party Ideas: 4th of July Pool Party and BBQ—Good Clean Fun Make up some lemonade or fruit punch and float fresh fruit on top for a festive touch. You can even serve vodka on the side for adults.
• {Tutorial} How to Make Layered Drinks for the 4th of July Mix up a bunch of these layered red, white and blue drinks in some cute mason jars for your party.
• 4th of July Party Drink Recipe: Chilean Pisco Star-Spangled Punch Try something new this year and use star fruit to tie the drink into your 4th of July theme.

Thanks to Carrie Dotson