Upgrade Your 4th of July Cookout

Hosting a cookout for the 4th of July? Hot dogs, potato salad, and a backyard grill are classic for a reason, and this year, we’re giving a few backyard favorites the Food Lab treatment. Enjoy fresh flavors, fun toppings, and a crowd-friendly cocktail. Happy hosting!

Not-So-Classic Wedge Salad

If you cannot find endive, you can use romaine or even radicchio (a little more bitter). This is a fun take on the classic

Serves 8

Ingredients:

4 heads endive, leaves separated
8 oz pancetta, diced
1 cup tomato jam- recipe below
4 oz Pt Reyes blue cheese, crumbled-(feel free to swap to goat or even swiss cubes if you prefer
½ bunch basil, torn

Instructions:

1. Cook pancetta in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels.
2. Arrange endive leaves on a platter.
3. Spoon tomato jam into the leaves.
4. Top with pancetta, basil, and crumbled cheese.
5. Serve immediately.

Tomato Jam

Makes about 2 cups

Ingredients:

2 lbs cherry tomatoes, halved
1 medium shallot, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
¼ cup brown sugar
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 tbsp chopped fresh basil 

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add shallot and cook until softened, about 3–4 minutes.
3. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
4. Add tomatoes, vinegar, brown sugar, salt, and pepper.
5. Bring to a simmer and cook for 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and jammy.
6. Remove from heat and stir in basil if using.
7. Cool completely before serving.

The jam can be made up to 5 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator.

Build-Your-Own Dog Bar

Serves 12–16

A great hot dog bar is all about options. Start with grilled all-beef hot dogs and bratwurst, then let guests customize their own creation. If you are local to Colorado, check out Lotties Meats for a great brat. 

The Dogs

• 12 All-Beef Hot Dogs
• 12 Bratwurst
• 24 Buns- can do classic bun- almost the cheaper the better!  and brioche style

The Classics

• 20 oz Ketchup
• 20 oz Yellow Mustard
• 16 oz Relish
• 2 Medium Onions, diced
• 1 Quart Pickles
• 1 lb Shredded Cheddar

The Upgrades

• 3 Large Onions, grilled
• 1 Quart Sauerkraut
• 1 Quart Kimchi
• 2 Quarts Chili
• 16 oz Curry Ketchup
• 2 Quarts Coleslaw
• 1 Whole Pineapple, grilled and diced

Try One of These Combinations

The Chili Cheese
Chili, cheddar, onions

The Korean
Kimchi, grilled onions

The Currywurst
Curry ketchup, grilled onions

The Hawaiian
Grilled pineapple, coleslaw

The Backyard Classic
Mustard, relish, onions

Set everything out in bowls and let guests build their perfect dog. It’s interactive, crowd-pleasing, and always one of the most popular stops at the party. You can make your own little signs like I found here at Target so people know what is what.

The Best Potato Salad

Don’t shy away from the toasted sesame oil. When guests taste this potato salad, their first thought isn’t, “Is that sesame?” Instead, it’s usually, “Wow, what did you put in this?”

My theory is that the subtle smokiness of the toasted sesame oil delivers some of the same savory satisfaction that bacon brings to a traditional potato salad. You can absolutely add bacon if you’d like, but the sesame oil provides a more subtle, balanced flavor that lets the potatoes shine.

Serves 8

Ingredients:

2 lbs baby potatoes
2 celery stalks, diced
1/2 red onion, diced small
½ cup toasted sesame oil
¼ cup red wine or champagne vinegar
1 tsp celery seed
1 tsp mustard
Salt
Pepper

Instructions:

1. Cook potatoes in salted water until fork tender.
2. Drain and allow to cool slightly.
3. Whisk together vinegar, sesame oil, mustard, salt, and pepper.
4. Toss warm potatoes with dressing, celery, and green onions.
5. Serve warm or chilled.

Hugo Spritz

The cousin of the more familiar Aperol Spritz, the Hugo Spritz brings elderflower liqueur to life in a cocktail that’s light, floral, and arguably even more refreshing. For a non-alcoholic version, swap the prosecco and elderflower liqueur for lemon-lime soda or sparkling elderflower soda. One of my favorites is Bundaberg Lemon Lime & Bitters, a drink I discovered while traveling in New Zealand. It seemed like everyone was drinking one, and after the first sip, I understood why. It’s bright, refreshing, and makes a fantastic alcohol-free twist on the classic Hugo Spritz.

Ingredients:

1 oz St-Germain
4 oz Prosecco
2 oz soda water
Fresh mint
Lime wheel
Ice

Instructions:

1. Fill a wine glass with ice.
2. Add St-Germain, Prosecco, and soda water.
3. Stir gently.
4. Garnish with mint and a lime wheel.