18 Patriotic Red, White, And Blue Food Ideas

We can all expect to see burgers and potato salad at any 4th of July cookout. But have you ever tried making a dish that really expresses national patriotism? We at Peerspace think you should try some of our red, white, and blue food ideas for your next BBQ or get-together! From desserts to appetizers, these are delightful menu options that will impress your guests.

1. Toss a red, white, and blue fruit salad

Fruit salads are instant favorites at any 4th of July gathering. They’re also one of the easiest red, white, and blue food ideas you can put together. Think of all the fruit varieties out there that can work for each color. Red watermelon or strawberries can be the start. Add some white jicama, banana slices, or yogurt. And for the blue, it’s hard to beat some sweet blueberries!

2. Color some patriotic rice crispy treats

Rice crispy treats have been enjoyed by enough generations of Americans that they might count as one of our national snacks. You make them a surefire winner by adding a few drops of food coloring to the marshmallow mixture! These patriotic red, white, and blue rice crispy treats are as tasty as they are beautiful to look at. And still incredibly easy to make!

Choosing red, white, and blue food ideas is important for a 4th of July celebration but so is reserving your venue well in advance for a major holiday. You should check out what Peerspace has to offer. For example, you could rent a Miami beach house for the day where the entire family is just steps away from the surf!

3. Serve some homemade strawberry-blueberry shortcake

Summer desserts like strawberry blueberry shortcake come loaded with cool fruit to help beat the heat. This recipe also happens to be wonderfully festive, with red, white, and blue colors that make it an instant win for a 4th of July party. With even the shortcake made from scratch, your friends and family will be dying to know what makes it so good!

4. Dip some 4th of July ice cream cones

You don’t have to get fancy when searching for red, white, and blue food ideas! Ice cream cones dipped in candy melt and dusted with sprinkles are a fast way to bring this theme to life. That said, if you want to choose a few red, white, and blue ice cream flavors to serve alongside them, these ice cream cones would make them look even more amazing.

These sweet ice cream party ideas can help you plan a patriotic gathering for all ages. Check them out!

5. Serve some red, white, and blue daiquiris

Did you know red, white, and blue food ideas can easily include alcoholic drinks as well? We love this creative recipe from Food Network using strawberry-watermelon puree, coconut sorbet + rum, and blue curacao. It’s a festive and eye-catching drink but not so beautiful guests won’t drink it straight away!

6. Set off some firecracker cupcakes

Vanilla cake batter is just the beginning of these firecracker cupcakes. They get a touch of fresh fruit flavor from the mixed berries and orange zest and a burst of color from the red, white, and blue sprinkles you’ll be dusting on top. Be sure to place patriotic-colored cupcake liners in each section of the tin before baking as well!

7. Smother red velvet pancakes in white syrup

4th of July meals don’t have to revolve around lunch or dinner. Breakfast can be just as exciting by making some red velvet pancakes with white coconut syrup and fresh blueberries! Made entirely from scratch, this breakfast or brunch option is exactly what you need to start the day off with a patriotic bang.

8. Arrange an American flag cupcake cake

A platter of cupcakes with the right colors is a fast way to make an instant cake that looks great and is worthy of saluting! Check out this recipe from Beyond Frosting for a red, white, and blue food idea that’s easy to arrange. 

9. Blend and freeze a red, white, and blue smoothie

Looking for a non-alcoholic alternative to our daiquiris? The Food Network Kitchen has you covered with a 3-layer fruit smoothie using strawberries, blueberries, and yogurt for the colors. After each layer, you’ll need to freeze the mix so they don’t blend. These red, white, and blue smoothies take a little more time to make than most drink ideas but they’re unique enough to be worth the effort!

10. Layer an ice cream flag cake

Now here is a red, white, and blue food idea for the truly ambitious: a homemade American flag ice cream cake! It isn’t a flag on the outside, however. Each slice includes blue cake with red and white layers of raspberry sorbet and vanilla ice cream! Have some decent kitchen skills and are up for a challenge? Then follow this recipe from The Food Network to get you started!

11. Cut some stars and flags mini fruit pizzas

Sugar cookie crust, cream cheese frosting, and a helping of colorful fruit are all you need to make amazing mini fruit pizzas that look especially patriotic! This recipe from Wishes and Dishes is the way to go here. Plus you can cut the cookies into stars and flag shapes for even more creative potential.

12. Grill some blue cheese burger sliders

It’s hard to escape the sweets when picking red, white, and blue food ideas. But one way to serve up a hearty main dish is by grilling up some blue cheese burger sliders! The red comes from strawberries in this recipe, which goes surprisingly well with blue cheese burgers. That said, you can also substitute them for cherry tomatoes if you want something more traditional.

13. Try homemade frozen fruit popsicles

We’ve all had store-bought popsicles using sugar syrup. But how about some healthy homemade popsicles that happen to look amazing as well? These red, white, and blue popsicles use strawberries, coconut milk, and blueberries for each layer. Since you’ll need hours for freezing, these are a red, white, and blue food idea that should be made well in advance for the upcoming party!

While your fruit popsicles are freezing, think about getting the venue ready for the party! What’s that, you don’t have one already?! It’s not too late if you check out the party venues near you that Peerspace has to offer! From indoor family rooms to outdoor BBQ pits our party venues have the amenities you need for an unforgettable 4th of July party.

14. Skip the oven with no-bake cheesecake cups

We do love easy recipes, especially when the party you’re planning for happens to be today. You can include all the flavors of baked goods without ever touching the oven with these no-bake red, white, and blue cheesecake cups. Once mixed, these cheesecake cups take just an hour to set before serving!

Don’t forget to scope out these fun 4th of July decoration ideas for the big party!

15. Color up some patriotic finger Jell-o

Finger Jell-o is firmer than the Jell-o you usually eat from a bowl. It’s also resistant to blending so you easily layer it into a red, white, and blue food idea that will put a smile on everyone’s face. Best of all, you can adapt this recipe from Parade to other holidays as well! Use orange, purple, and black for Halloween Jell-o squares or red and white for amazing Valentine’s Day sweets that aren’t chocolate!

16. Bake mini patriotic potatoes

It turns out that you can find potatoes colored in red, white, and blue! So how about a baked dish using all three different colors? Taste of Home’s patriotic potatoes in mustard sauce is a great side to include with steak, burgers, hot dogs, and other summer 4th of July BBQ staples.

17. Bake star confetti cookies

Sugar cookies are the foundation of so many creative food ideas because they hold their shape well, even when cut into intricate patterns. These star confetti cookies are a great example of how easy it is to make professional-looking desserts! They do take up to 5 hours of total prep time but considering how amazing they look, they’re well worth the effort.

18. Set out a layered old glory dip

Any dish with multiple layers of guacamole, bean dip, salsa, and cheese gets a nod from us. But you can upgrade it into a 4th of July-worthy snack by topping it with dark olives, tomatoes, and sour cream. Set out some corn and potato chips for an easy dip that will disappear quickly! 

Red, white, and blue food ideas: conclusion

Red, white, and blue food ideas can be sweet or savory, appetizers or mains, but all include colorful patriotic spirit along with the creativity you invested in making them! We hope Peerspace was a huge help to your party planning. Besides great food ideas, we also have party venues for the 4th of July and other holidays for you to check out while you’re here.

Find unique event spaces for your patriotic party on Peerspace