Red, White & BBQ: A Festive 4th of July Backyard Barbecue

Photographs: Britt Chudleigh | Table Decor + Food Styling: Koo De Ker

This year’s Fourth of July holiday is shaping up to be a little different than in years past: fireworks have been canceled, swimming pools are closed, and many of us are forgoing weekend trips in favor of staycations. But we can still celebrate our favorite summer holiday in style from the comfort of our own home—just fire up the grill and gather your nearest and dearest for a festive backyard barbecue.

THE SETTING

Invite a small group of friends and family (think 4 to 8 guests; furry friends are welcome too!) for a Fourth of July barbecue in your backyard—don’t forget the face masks and hand sanitizer. Set up your outdoor dining table, allowing plenty of space for each chair and place setting, or keep things casual with a picnic-style barbecue and let your guests spread out on the lawn. Set the scene with a good soundtrack: try this Ultimate BBQ Soundtrack for upbeat summer classics, or this French Summer Playlist for feel-good vibes.

THE TABLE

We love a red, white, and blue color palette for the Fourth of July—just go easy on the stars and stripes to avoid your decor looking too thematic. Dress your outdoor dining table with a classic blue and white tablecloth, patterned blue and white china, woven placemats, striped cloth napkins, festive glassware, and simple flatware. Add some red seat cushions to your outdoor dining chairs to make the seating more comfortable. No need for a fussy or elaborate centerpiece—keep things casual with some votives and a few small floral arrangements spread out across the table. We love vibrant peonies and fluffy hydrangeas for a fresh summer tablescape.

THE FOOD

Start things off with a gorgeous charcuterie board. We like a large spread of cheeses, meats, fruits, nuts, olives, and crackers—plus fresh honey for drizzling and whole-grain mustard for spreading. Depending on the size of your group, consider 2-3 cheeses (select a variety of hard and soft cheeses, such as Manchego, Brie, and Blue Cheese),1-2 meats (such as salami and prosciutto), juicy grapes, summer berries, Castelvetrano olives, and homemade crostini or your favorite assortment of crackers. Check out this handy tutorial for tips on how to build a first-class charcuterie board (complete with darling illustrations).

For the main event, serve something grilled like steak, chicken, salmon, or tofu (for non-meat eaters), and a seasonal veggie. We love a simple marinated grilled flank steak and Koo De Ker’s grilled artichokes topped with ripe Roma tomatoes and basil, and served with a side lemon-garlic aioli for dipping. You could also make Koo De Ker’s summer corn salad or our favorite no-mayo potato salad with bacon, parsley, and Dijon mustard. For dessert, consider something summer-y and celebratory like Koo De Ker’s mini strawberry shortcakes or Meyer lemon raspberry cake. And if you have access to a fire pit, toast some marshmallows and make s’mores—they’re sure to delight guests young and old.

THE DRINKS

Set up a small bar area or roll out a bar cart stocked with your favorite summertime sips. For a backyard barbecue, we like to serve an assortment of beverages such as crisp white wine, dry rosé, chilled red wine, and refreshing summer ales. Some of our favorite bottles and cans include: Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc, Lorenza Rosé, Uinta Brewing 801 Pilsner, Park City Brewery Hooker Blonde Ale, and Epic Brewing Los Locos Mexican-Style Lager. When the sun begins to set and the stars start to twinkle, light the candles, pour another drink, and pass out cozy blankets to keep guests warm. Cheers!