Summertime has been off to a great start, and we are quickly rollin’ up on the 4th of July – so start making those plans. It is time to get your friends and family together, fire up that stainless steel grill, pop open a cold one, and enjoy the holiday with some good old bbq ideas for 4th of July!

But wait – you need food. What are you going to grub on before the sky lights up with fireworks?

You could spend your 4th celebrating with the plain old hot dogs and burgers – but those are for rookies. Anyone who knows anything about throwing a BBQ and playing grill master (that’s you) knows that you have to go above and beyond to make mouths water. So why not choose something a little zestier this fourth of July?

Try these six delicious BBQ ideas for the 4th of July.

Main Dishes

Let these main dishes steal the show this weekend. They are a little familiar, but with a little flair, too. You and your guests may just be surprised how adding a few different ingredients together can create something so incredible. Beware: you are not likely to have any leftovers.

1. Smoked Brisket

An outdoor-cooking favorite, smoked brisket is a bbq treat. It may be a long process, but it is so worth the wait.

The key to good brisket is the perfect rub mixture – which is a combination of paprika, cumin, brown sugar, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, white sugar, onion powder, chili powder, brown sugar, and cayenne pepper. This mixture is rubbed into the brisket and is refrigerated for 24 hours before being put on the grill and smoked at a temperature between 220 and 230 degrees Fahrenheit.

Be patient – it could take a while. You are looking to reach a temperature of 165 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit inside.

Sit back and wait – you will see the crowd fight each other to delight in this tender meat.

2. Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs

Sure, we said we were leaving the hot dogs to the rookies, but this is not your ordinary hot dog. In fact, it is a delightful spin on a classic BBQ hot dog. Start off by wrapping each hot dog with bacon. Simply add this to a hot fryer or place it on the grill until the bacon is crispy.

In a large bowl, combine all the colorful toppings like avocado, onion, tomato, jalapeno, and lime juice together with a dash of salt. Top and serve immediately. Don’t forget to add some condiments like mayo and cilantro, too.

3. Tequila Lime Chicken

Grilled chicken is always good. Adding some tequila lime flavor to it will keep your guests coming back for more and more.

To make this recipe, combine some tequila, lime juice, orange juice, chili powder, jalapeno pepper, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large bowl and mix it all up.

Then add your chicken breasts to the bowl and refrigerate overnight to get all the good flavors absorbed.

The next step to ensuring your chicken is on point is to make sure the racks on the grill are oiled properly. This is a surefire way to keep your chicken from sticking to the racks. The total cook time on your chicken, until cooked through, is roughly 15 minutes total. Remove from the grill to the plate and serve hot or at room temperature. Oh yeah.

Desserts You Won’t Want to Miss

You can’t grill out on the 4th of July and let all your BBQ guests stop eating after lunch/dinner. You need dessert, or else the meal won’t feel complete. And we’ve got a couple of patriotic sweets everyone will enjoy indulging in.

4. Red, White, and Blue Trifle

This is a cool summer treat with a patriotic look. And there is no baking required.

This trifle is layered with pound cake and fruit that is best served in a glass bowl for its picturesque look to shine through – the red, white, and blue colors.

First, you want to mix and combine the cream cheese and granulated sugar until smooth. Slowly add the heavy cream and vanilla and mix until combined. You want to whisk until soft peaks form, and the mix is easy to dollop.

Now the fun part begins – the layering process. In a large trifle dish or glass dish, place a layer of cake cubes. Top that with the blueberries and blackberries, and one-half of the whipped cream. Next, you want to add the strawberries. Repeat this process with the cake and cream layers and top with the remaining berries. You can serve it immediately, or you can make it in advance and store it for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.

So cool. So refreshing.

5. Homemade Classic Cherries Jubilee Recipe

Another cool and refreshing 4th of July dessert is cherries jubilee. A liquor-filled sauce that tops some ice cream – can you think of a better combination?

To make this treat, you will need some sweet cherries, cherry liquor, brandy, lemon juice, sugar, and vanilla bean ice cream. Liquor-soaked cherries are heated with the other ingredients to create a deliciously flaming sauce.

Top your bowl of vanilla bean ice cream with the concoction. It is a fantastic combination.

6. 4th of July Jell-O-Shots

These patriotic shots will be the talk of the party. And are sure to bring a good time. Simply mix vodka and three different gelatins, red, white, and blue. Though, you will want to prep these ahead of time in order to pull off the triple-layer look. The total time for these is about 6 hours, as each layer must be set before placing the next layer. On the final layer, you can just let the batch chill overnight. Prepare in advance, and you are good to go for the celebrations.

Happy 4th of July from THOR Kitchen

The fourth of July is always a fun time outdoors with friends and family. No matter how you decide to spend your day, make it taste good with some of these BBQ ideas for 4th of July! Lookout – between the brisket, the trifle, and the jello shots – you may end up being the permanent BBQ host for future holidays.

From the team at THOR Kitchen, have a safe and happy fourth of July!

Looking for the perfect stainless steel grill, outdoor kitchen suite, or modern kitchen appliance? Shop THOR Kitchen by searching for your nearest dealer to get started.