Southern 4th Of July Menu
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Whether you’re planning a 4th of July BBQ menu at home. Or you need to prepare a potluck dish to watch the fireworks with family and friends.
You’re in the right place for soul food Southern 4th of July cookout menu ideas seasoned to perfection, full of flavor, and sure to please!
Southern cookouts for July 4th
A cookout is a lively get-together of family and friends. At the center of it all is the love poured into the cookout food menu, often focusing on barbeque and slow-cooked soul foods.
Even though most Black Americans acknowledge Juneteenth as our official Freedom Day, we’ll rarely miss out on the opportunity to get together, cook out, and celebrate!
So African American July 4th celebrations will take on many names and themes, from family reunions to church potlucks, July fourth red, white, & blue parties, and elevated all-white-attire parties!
How do you celebrate the 4th of July with soul food where you live?
Traditional African American cookout foods
Whether you know it or not, a typical Black family cookout menu or 4th of July recipe is based on a tried-and-true soul food formula.
You can bet that ribs, fried chicken, potato salad, mac and cheese, and collard greens will be front and center. And don’t forget the homemade cornbread!
You may not realize that the way those dishes are prepared impacts whether it’s a good cookout. Or not.
This is why a Black cookout food menu matters – even when the focus is on a Southern 4th of July cookout menu.
Although it’s 4th of July food and a Southern cookout menu, essentially, Black people are preparing soul food.
What to serve at a Fourth of July cookout party
If you want to serve something different at your next 4th of July summer cookout or party, try these delicious, easy-to-make soul food cookout menu recipes.
Southern sides for the 4th of July
Elevate your July 4th cookout with these delightful Southern-inspired side dishes. These easy-to-make favorites will add a burst of flavor to your cookout menu.
Main dishes for your Fourth of July Menu
I have classic Southern food favorites to make your gathering an official feast! These quick and flavorful food ideas are perfect for your July 4th home BBQ, cookout, or potluck event.
Southern 4th of July menu drinks
The following refreshing and delicious drinks, highlighted on the Juneteenth Freedom Day menu, can be easily prepared and are an excellent fit for any Fourth of July gathering or celebration.
Southern 4th of July desserts
Check out these mouthwatering dessert recipes for the 4th of July, from red velvet cake to cherished African American desserts like sweet potato pie and peach cobbler. These sweet Southern treats will surely delight your taste buds and provide the cherry on top of your entire celebration menu!
Equipment
- Instant Pot electric pressure cooker optional
- Instant Pot trivet rack (comes with the Instant Pot) or egg rack
- Potato peeler
Ingredients
- 4 russet potatoes
- 4-6 potatoes small red or purple potatoes (optional)
- 2 cups water divided
- 4 boiled eggs
- 1 boiled egg sliced to garnish (optional)
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- ⅓ cup sweet pickles diced (or sweet relish)
- ½ cup celery diced
- 2 tablespoons yellow onion diced
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise (Start with the recommended ⅓ cup of mayo, and add another ¼ cup if you prefer extra creamier potato salad.)
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika to garnish
Instructions
You can use the Instant Pot electric pressure cooker to easily boil the potatoes and eggs.
- Peel the russet potatoes and leave them whole. (If you’re using the optional small red or purple potatoes, do not peel them.)
- Open the Instant Pot lid and place the Instant Pot trivet rack inside the stainless-steel inner pot. (The trivet rack isn’t required – but it keeps the potatoes above the water in the pot, so they’re steaming instead of boiling on only one side.)
- Add 1 cup of water and then the potatoes on the trivet rack.
- Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 10 minutes.
- When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 10 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
- Use an oven mitt to remove the trivet rack with the potatoes.
- Allow the cooked potatoes to cool enough so they’re still warm to the touch (but not hot).
- Then coarsely chop the potatoes into medium-sized chunks and add them to a large mixing bowl.
- Pour the vinegar over the chopped potatoes while they’re still warm, and set the bowl aside.
- Add the trivet rack or egg rack inside the Instant Pot stainless steel inner pot.
- Add the eggs to the racks and then pour 1 cup of water over the eggs.
- Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 5 minutes.
- While the eggs are boiling, dice the pickles, celery, and onion and add the diced vegetables to the bowl of chopped potatoes.
- Add the mustard, mayonnaise, sugar, salt, and pepper to the bowl and set the bowl aside.
- When the cooking time for the eggs is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 5 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
- Open the cover immediately after the pressure release. Using tongs (because the eggs will be hot!), place the boiled eggs into an ice bath to cool off.
- Once the eggs are cool to the touch, coarsely chop four eggs and add them to the large bowl of potatoes and seasonings.
- Gently fold the ingredients into the potatoes so that the vegetables, seasonings, mayonnaise, and mustard are evenly mixed to coat the potatoes.
- Garnish this Southern potato salad recipe by sprinkling paprika and then slicing the remaining boiled egg to garnish on top. Serve right away and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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