49 All-American Recipes for Cookout Food

Read Time: 23 mins

49 All-American Recipes for Cookout Food1/49 White Texas Sheet Cake 109 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved JoJO Baccam for Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 20 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This cake gets better the longer it sits, so I try to make it a day ahead. My mother-in-law introduced this deliciously rich sheet cake to me. With its creamy frosting and light almond flavor, no one can stop at just one piece! —Joanie Ward, Brownsburg, Indiana 2/49 Favorite Barbecued Chicken 7 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 55 min Servings 12 servings

That’s where this one is from—it’s my father-in-law’s own recipe

Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Is there a better place than Texas to find a fantastic barbecue sauce? That’s where this one is from—it’s my father-in-law’s own recipe. We have served it at many family reunions and think it’s the best! —Bobbie Morgan, Woodstock, Georgia You’ll want to slather this fantastic Texas-style sauce over everything, including grilled chicken. If you want a more finger-friendly cookout food, you can grill chicken wings instead. 3/49 Watermelon Feta Flag Salad 1 Review Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From

Here’s an all-American centerpiece that’s truly red, white and blue

the Recipe Creator: Our family celebrates the Fourth of July with a watermelon salad that resembles the flag. Here’s an all-American centerpiece that’s truly red, white and blue. —Jan Whitworth, Roebuck, South Carolina Sweet watermelon and cubs of salty feta cheese are a match made in heaven. Place them in festive stripes on a bed of arugula, add blueberries in place of stars and you have a splendid Fourth of July side dish recipe. 4/49 Red and Blue Berry Lemonade Slush 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Red and Blue Berry Lemonade Slush Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time

15 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This delightfully sweet-tart beverage showcases fresh raspberries and blueberries. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen Make this sweet-tart slushy the night before your get-together so it has the right frozen consistency. This is a zero-proof family favorite, but you can make it boozy like these Fourth of July drinks. 5/49 Pesto Corn Salad with Shrimp 8 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 25 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This recipe showcases the beautiful bounty of summer with its fresh corn, tomatoes and delicious

Prevent browning by spritzing the salad with lemon juice

basil. Prevent browning by spritzing the salad with lemon juice. —Deena Bowen, Chico, California This dish really showcases the wonderful flavors of summer, like fresh corn, basil and gorgeous tomatoes. Make the salad ahead of time, throw the shrimp on the barbecue and serve everything together. 6/49 All-American Banana Split 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 5 min Servings 1 serving Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: In 1904, the first banana split recipe was made here in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, by David Strickler, an apprentice pharmacist at a local drugstore. We still use his original formula when we

make banana splits in our restaurants

make banana splits in our restaurants. —Melissa Blystone, Latrobe, Pennsylvania What would a summer celebration for the Fourth of July or Labor Day be without an all-American dessert like the banana split? Get all the toppings like strawberries, whipped cream, peanuts and chocolate sauce ready before scooping the ice cream. Assemble and serve immediately, or better yet, let everyone make their own! 7/49 Southern Fried Chicken Strips 31 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 35 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: What’s not to love with these crowd-pleasing golden fried chicken strips? A hint of

garlic makes this fried chicken tenders recipe irresistible

garlic makes this fried chicken tenders recipe irresistible. —Genise Krause, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin A pile of boneless fried chicken strips is the perfect option for any summer picnic. Serve with ranch dressing and crunchy celery, barbecue sauce or sriracha mayo. 8/49 Smash Burgers 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Now is not the time to cut the calories or skimp on the salt. Go for ground chuck that is at least 80/20. If you can find a blend with ground brisket or short rib,

all the better

all the better. The best burger comes with being liberal with the kosher salt—it’s beef’s best friend, trust me. — James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin Get a good blend of ground brisket and short rib for the best burger, and make sure to salt liberally before throwing it on the grill. When it comes to burger toppings, a couple slices of American cheese, fresh crisp iceberg lettuce and fresh onion does the trick. 9/49 S’mores Cupcakes 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Marshmallow frosting

puts these cupcakes over the top

puts these cupcakes over the top. Chocolate bar pieces and graham cracker crumbs on top make them extra indulgent and even more like the real thing—but better! —Erin Rachwal, Hartland, Wisconsin Of course every cookout should have s’mores. Or in this case, cupcakes with pieces of chocolate bars and graham cracker crumbs on top of marshmallow frosting. 10/49 Red, White and Blue Summer Salad 10 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Red, White and Blue Summer Salad Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: In this dish,

I combine traditional Caprese salad flavors with summer peaches and blueberries. I also add prosciutto for saltiness, creating a balanced, flavor-packed side dish. —Emily Falke, Santa Barbara, California A mash-up of two great salads—caprese and fruit salad—is the perfect summer cookout food. With prosciutto for saltiness and a balsamic vinaigrette, it’s a full-flavored hit along with other Memorial Day side dishes. 11/49 Old-Fashioned Lemonade 13 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Old-Fashioned Lemonade Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 7 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A sweet-tart lemonade is a traditional part of my

Memorial Day and Fourth of July menus

Memorial Day and Fourth of July menus. Folks can’t get enough of the fresh-squeezed flavor in this recipe. —Tammi Simpson, Greensburg, Kentucky This sweet-tart lemonade is a traditional part of Memorial Day and Fourth of July menus. Folks can’t get enough of the fresh-squeezed flavor. 12/49 Old-Fashioned Whoopie Pies 36 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Old-Fashioned Whoopie Pies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Who can resist soft chocolate sandwich cookies filled with a layer of fluffy white frosting? Mom has made these for years. They’re a

treat that never lasts very long with my two brothers and me around

treat that never lasts very long with my two brothers and me around. —Maria Costello, Monroe, North Carolina The beauty of a whoopie pie is that it can be served cold right out of the fridge or at room temperature. And there are loads of filling flavors to consider, like raspberry, maple or chocolate chip. 13/49 Red Potato Salad 14 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Red Potato and Egg Salad Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 17 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This flavorful red potato salad recipe with egg is the perfect

side for summer cookouts

side for summer cookouts. The red potatoes really dress it up. —Margaret Blomquist, Newfield, New York 14/49 All-American Pie Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 2 hours Servings 15 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: With apples, cherries and blueberries, this patriotic slab pie even tastes American. If the day doesn’t call for stars and stripes, feel free to use any shaped cookie cutters you like for this awe-inspiring potluck dessert. —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin This patriotic slab pie makes the most of apples, cherries and blueberries. While stars and stripes make great Fourth of July, Labor Day

Grab one and enjoy the burst of flavor in each bite!

or Memorial Day dessert, you can use any shaped cookie cutter for this potluck-friendly pie. 15/49 Grilled Steak Tacos 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Spicy aioli brings a zesty kick to steak tacos, and the ribeye is a nice upgrade from typical ground beef. Grab one and enjoy the burst of flavor in each bite! —Michael Compean, Los Angeles, California You’ll want extra spicy aioli and avocado-corn salsa for these grilled ribeye tacos. Heat the flour tortillas on the grill for a charred

flavor, but be careful, they puff up fast!

flavor, but be careful, they puff up fast! 16/49 Loaded Cowboy Queso 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved SARAH TRAMONTE FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 30 min Servings 24 servings (6 cups) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Loaded Cowboy Queso is the ultimate football dip! This easy appetizer loaded with cheese, beer, black beans, tomatoes and sausage is our family’s favorite tailgating recipe. I often serve it with homemade tortilla chips sprinkled with taco seasoning. —Becky Hardin, St. Peters, Missouri Loaded with cheese, beer, black beans, tomatoes and sausage, this is the cookout recipe for summer gatherings. Make