30 Easy 4th of July Appetizers
Easy 4th of July appetizers that you can make ahead or bring to a potluck party. These fun and festive recipes are filled with red, white, and blue ingredients and perfect for summer entertaining.
The best 4th of July appetizers focus on fresh in-season produce and add tons of flavor and texture to your party menu.
From cold and creamy dips, fresh fruit and vegetable salsas, and crispy hot crostini bites, I've included all the best party appetizers for your backyard bash.
The most important thing to remember is, you can honestly turn any appetizer into a 4th of July appetizer by just serving it a festive dish or adding red, white, and blue party plates and napkins to the buffet table!
Jump to:
- Firecracker Cream Cheese Pinwheels
- Watermelon and Blue Cheese Platter
- Roast Beef Crostini
- Fresh Strawberry Bruschetta
- Peach Blueberry Salsa Bites
- Bruschetta al Pomodoro with Crostini
- Chicken Enchilada Dip
- Caprese Salad
- Deviled Eggs
- Mini Hot Dogs & Potato Chips
- Crescent Roll Veggie Pizza
- Poolside Dip
- Strawberry Mango Salsa
- Seasoned Pretzels
- Shrimp Platter with Dipping Sauces
- Fried Green Tomatoes with Pimento Cheese
- Dill Dip for Veggies
- Pineapple Salsa
- Easy Crab Melts
- Easy Taco Bites
- Cold Spinach Dip
- Spicy Taco Dip
- Tzatziki Sauce
- Easy Homemade Salsa
- Chunky Corn Salsa
- Creamy Piña Colada Dip
- Sweet and Spicy Peach Salsa
- Ham and Cheese Sliders
- Cuban Sliders
- BBQ Chicken Sliders
- Roasted Mini Potatoes with Dipping Sauces
- More Party Planning Tips
- 💬 Comments
Firecracker Cream Cheese Pinwheels
This spicy cream cheese pinwheels recipe has been a fan favorite for years. It is my most popular 4th of July appetizer on the whole site!
People love it because you can make it ahead the day before and then just slice and serve the pinwheels at the party.
They are the perfect appetizer to bring to a potluck because they travel so well.
Watermelon and Blue Cheese Platter
Watermelon is an essential 4th of July menu item but this year, why not try something a little different?
Slice up your watermelon and arrange it on a platter but add a jar of this easy Greek yogurt blue cheese dressing? You could also add a bowl of salted pecans for crunch.
The two flavors go so well together and it would be a delicious new way to serve fresh watermelon as an appetizer.
Roast Beef Crostini
This easy roast beef crostini party appetizer can be served all assembled like you see below or you can lay out the elements to build your own crostini bites on a pretty platter.
Pile up the roast beef in a chilled tray, set out a big bowl of the tomatoes and a jar of the sour cream horseradish sauce.
Gather a batch of crispy crostini toasts into a bread basket and set them together on the buffet table.
Fresh Strawberry Bruschetta
This perfectly pretty fresh strawberry bruschetta is a fun way to add a dash more bright red color to your party menu.
Since strawberries are in season, try pairing them with fresh basil for a delicious appetizer your guests will love.
Peach Blueberry Salsa Bites
Another great way to use crispy crostini is to assemble a batch of my peach blueberry salsa bites.
Put the fresh fruit mixture in a big bowl and let guests build their own appetizers.
Bruschetta al Pomodoro with Crostini
Though this is a classic Italian recipe, this no cook appetizer has the festive red color the 4th of July needs!
Chicken Enchilada Dip
Party guests just seem to love dipping tortilla chips into things and there are few better options than my easy make ahead chicken enchilada dip.
This is the perfect not-too-spicy chicken dip to pair with a tortilla chip!
Caprese Salad
To make the perfect red, white, and blue appetizer with fresh produce, arrange my easy caprese salad with a sprinkle of blueberries.
Believe it or not, blueberries pair perfectly with the mozzarella and balsamic vinegar drizzle over the top!
Deviled Eggs
Is it even a party if there aren't a tray of deviled eggs on the table?? In the south, most hosts would say they are essential.
My easy recipe is filled with flavor but is made without mayonnaise.
Mini Hot Dogs & Potato Chips
This tasty buffalo blue cheese potato chips recipe was inspired by one of our favorite appetizers from a local restaurant.
Using little cocktail hot dogs as the protein here is a fun twist on the classic 4th of July hot dog.
Crescent Roll Veggie Pizza
My easy crescent roll veggie pizza recipe could be a fun way to arrange an American flag appetizer with just rows of chopped red vegetables like tomatoes and red bell peppers.
But an easy way to turn any appetizer into a 4th of July appetizer is to just make sure to serve it with festive napkins and plates.
Poolside Dip
There's just something so addicting about this cold and creamy veggie dip loaded with sweet corn, bell peppers, and fresh cilantro.
Serve my poolside dip with a basket of thin wheat crackers, they are hearty enough to hold up to the thick texture of the dip.
Strawberry Mango Salsa
This cool strawberry mango salsa is served with cinnamon sugar pita chips for dunking.
It is a refreshing appetizer that is also right at home on the dessert table.
Seasoned Pretzels
I included 16 different flavor ideas for my homemade seasoned pretzels recipe.
You could do either a savory OR a sweet version.
Want to make them look more festive? Make the cinnamon sugar pretzels (idea # 9) and toss in a bag of red, white, and blue M&Ms for a simple snack mix.
Shrimp Platter with Dipping Sauces
Make an easy batch of my shrimp in an air fryer or my 3-ingredient seasoned boiled shrimp and pile them high on a platter alongside 2 - 3 cups of dipping sauces for shrimp.
Be sure to use a chilled appetizer container like this acrylic chilled serving piece. It will keep both the shrimp and dipping sauces safe from the heat.
Fried Green Tomatoes with Pimento Cheese
If you really want to impress your guests, make a batch of my southern fried green tomatoes in your air fryer or oven and pair them with a big bowl of this easy homemade pimento cheese spread.
Dill Dip for Veggies
Stick with predominately red veggies if you want to be festive, but this easy creamy dill dip is the perfect partner for cherry tomatoes and red bell pepper strips.
Pineapple Salsa
Pineapple salsa is a great choice for an appetizer with tortilla chips but also makes an excellent topping for grilled fish, grilled chicken, or grilled pork, too.
Easy Crab Melts
Celebrate America's birthday from "sea to shining sea" with these deliciously easy crab melts.
You can serve them in generous squares as shown or cut each crab melt into quarters for 4 smaller bite-sized appetizers.
Easy Taco Bites
If you're serving hot dogs, brats, or grilled chicken instead of hamburgers for your main dish, you might want to add these easy taco bites as a party appetizer.
They are a fun and spicy way to add a little ground beef to the menu while stretching it for a crowd.
Cold Spinach Dip
This is another wonderful make ahead cold dip for a party.
My daughter and I are both obsessed with this easy cold spinach dip and how it tastes with bagel chips for dunking.
Spicy Taco Dip
Such a colorful and pretty veggie-heavy party dip, spicy taco dip is a party classic for a reason.
For the holiday, why not save the chopped tomatoes for the top of the mix?
Tzatziki Sauce
Planning a more Mediterranean menu for your cookout? This creamy tzatziki sauce is made with grated cucumber and is a light and refreshing dip for cherry tomatoes and pita chips.
Easy Homemade Salsa
This restaurant-style homemade salsa starts with canned tomatoes, can you believe it? My kids are obsessed with this recipe and it makes a nice big batch, perfect for a party.
I know you can just buy a prepared salsa from the store, but the fresh onion, cilantro, and lime juice in this recipe makes it taste soooooo much butter.
Chunky Corn Salsa
This chunky corn salsa actually makes an amazing hot dog, hamburger, or chicken sandwich topping, too.
Serve it as an appetizer and let guests eat it with a fork almost like a salad or let them use it to accent the main dish.
Creamy Piña Colada Dip
This creamy piña colada fruit dip is a popular party appetizer. Set it out with trays of fresh pineapple and watermelon for a refreshing and chilled treat.
Sweet and Spicy Peach Salsa
I love the unexpected flavor of this sweet and spicy peach salsa that has red bell peppers and fresh cilantro in the mix.
It adds a lovely burst of color to your party table.
Ham and Cheese Sliders
Want to serve lots of hearty appetizers and snacks instead of a single main dish? These easy ham and cheese sliders would definitely help fill up your 4th of July party friends fast.
Cuban Sliders
If one kind of slider is good, I think a second slider recipe would be even better.
Give your guests options by adding these easy cuban sliders to the menu. Made with leftover pork and ham with a pickle hiding inside.
BBQ Chicken Sliders
Take your slider game right over the top and offer THREE kinds of sliders for the ultimate party buffet table!
My easy bbq chicken sliders recipe is easy to make with crockpot BBQ chicken.
Roasted Mini Potatoes with Dipping Sauces
The best party appetizers also work as an easy side dish, you can just set them out and let guests nibble all during the party.
Why not make a huge tray of my easy roasted mini potatoes, they'd pair great with a hamburger or hot dog and be a nice change from potato chips.
Add a couple easy dipping sauces for the potatoes and let guests enjoy them as an easy appetizer.
More Party Planning Tips
Planning a 4th of July party is the easiest with these simple tips.
Now that you've got all the appetizers you need, be sure to check out my easy desserts for the 4th of July and check out all the easy 4th of July potluck recipes you need for the perfect backyard bash.
