‘Barefoot Contessa’ Ina Garten 4th of July Menu Ideas Upgrade Your Cookout

If you’re looking to host an effortlessly elegant Fourth of July celebration, look no further than Ina Garten. The Barefoot Contessa herself has curated a holiday menu that takes familiar summer favorites and elevates them just enough to impress—without making you sweat in the kitchen. Garten keeps the spirit of the day alive with laid-back recipes, plenty of seasonal ingredients, and her usual splash of charm (and maybe a splash of vodka in the lemonade).

Ina Garten’s Take on the Fourth of July—Skip the Hot Dogs This Year

“I usually grill hot dogs and hamburgers for the Fourth of July,” Ina Garten wrote in her newsletter, “but this year, I’m going to make it a little more special.” That special twist? Her Warm Lobster Rolls from “Cook Like a Pro,” which come together easily but taste like you pulled out all the stops. They’re served in buttered buns and loaded with warm, buttery lobster meat—no mayonnaise in sight. “They’re so delicious and really easy to assemble,” Garten promised.

“For a Fourth of July celebration, I like to make lobster rolls, but I make one worthy of a celebration,” Garten says in a new video.

“They’re warm lobster rolls and they’re so easy to make. There’s something about a warm lobster roll that’s just so much better than a cold one. It’s not that different, it’s just warm.”

To round out the lobster rolls, she sticks to her trusted favorites: a crisp Vegetable Coleslaw from “The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook” and her Potato Salad à la Julia Child from “Go-To Dinners.” The latter is a creamy, mustardy take on the classic that pays homage to Julia Child’s legendary palate.

Add in a glass of fresh Lemonade (from “The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook”)—spiked with vodka if you’re feeling festive—and you’ve got a perfectly balanced summer meal. “You always need something delicious to drink,” Garten said. “Yes, you can add vodka!”

‘The Barefoot Contessa’ Also Has Ideas for Sweet Finishes and Al Fresco Sides

Garten’s patriotic desserts include a show-stopping Flag Cake—a moist sheet cake decorated with berries to resemble the American flag—and a nostalgic twist on a campfire classic: S’mores made with Homemade Toasted Coconut Marshmallows from “Family Style.” The marshmallows bring a tropical flair and a chewy, toasted bite that elevates the standard treat.

For those planning a full al fresco spread, Garten also recommends several simple yet flavor-packed sides from her Barefoot Contessa recipe archive. Her bright Guacamole, tangy Tomato Feta Salad, Sautéed Fresh Corn, and crispy Oven-Fried Chicken are fan favorites. Each one is designed for easy entertaining and ideal for serving at room temperature—just the way Garten likes it.

“You don’t need to overcomplicate it,” she often says in interviews and on her show. “Use really good ingredients, keep it simple, and make food you love.”

Tell us! Which of Ina Garten’s Fourth of July-inspired recipes will you be making this year? Let us know in the comments below.