Whether you’re throwing a party or keeping things low-key with your family, these patriotic summer libations will definitely impress on Independence Day (especially the red, white and blue ones). Most of them call for just a few ingredients and come together in mere minutes, so they’re easy to whip up while keeping an eye on the barbecue. Without further ado, here are 40 easy 4th of July co*cktail recipes to celebrate with on the holiday, ranging from boozy lemonade granita to firecracker berry margarita floats.
65 Delicious 4th of July Recipes to Make for a Summer Cookout
1. Raspberry-Lime Champagne Punch
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
Champagne is très chic, but any sparkling white wine (like prosecco or cava) will work fine. Drop a few blueberries into each glass to make it even more festive.
2. Beer Margarita
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, less than 500 calories
If there are any beer nerds at the barbecue, spirits alone aren’t gonna cut it. Enter the beer margarita, a surprisingly refreshing combo of tequila, lime juice and a brewski. "Use any pilsner-style beer you like; just don’t skip the lime wedge garnish," says recipe developer Erin McDowell.
3. Portable Summer Sippers
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, make ahead
You shouldn’t miss out on your own cookout because you’re busy playing bartender. "Basically the grown-up version of a juice box, my custom blends—made of tea, fruit juice and vodka—are poured into little plastic bags, then frozen until ready to serve," writes McDowell. Now, choose your fighter: raspberry-lime or lemonade iced tea?
4. Boozy Lemonade Granita
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 6 hours
Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
Does it get more American than sipping homemade lemonade on the 4th of July? I think not. Even better, this take calls for spiking it with vodka or gin and serving it in hulled-out lemons. "We make the lemonade from scratch, but you can use the store-bought stuff if you’re already in vacation mode," writes McDowell.
5. Raspberry Prosecco Ice Pops
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 3 hours
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients
Everything is better on a stick, even wine. That’s why I fell in love with this three-ingredient ice pop that gets its vibrant color from fresh summer raspberries.
6. Sparkling Red, White and Blue Sangria
Gimme Some Oven
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, <30 minutes
Brandy and sparkling white wine make this flag-inspired sipper possible. Tip: Use a cookie cutter to punch apple slices into stars for a patriotic finishing touch.
7. Red, White and Blue(berry) Margaritas
Gimme Some Oven
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes
A proper way to spend the 4th? Red, white and a little buzzed. This blended beauty should do the trick with layers of strawberry, blueberry and coconut margarita.
8. Firecracker Berry Margarita Floats
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, less than 500 calories
When it comes to floats, my philosophy is go big or go home. So, vanilla ice cream in my marg fits the bill, not to mention the decorative, over-the-top fruit skewers.
9. Frozen Sangria
Whitney Bond
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion–worthy, beginner-friendly
The blender is your BFF when it comes to frozen co*cktails. Give three types of berries and fresh orange juice a whirl for this one.
10. Grilled Strawberry Lemonade
Whitney Bond
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, make ahead
Bust out your barbecue skills for happy hour. The fruit is charred on the grill before reaching the pitcher, bringing out more of its natural sweetness. This 4th of July co*cktail is virgin, but I give you permission to add vodka for the adults.
11. Blackberry Grapefruit Margaritas
What's Gaby Cooking
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
Citrus and tequila team up with sweet muddled blackberries for a vibrant sipper. Bonus points for coating the glass rims with red, white and blue sprinkles.
12. Blackberry Pineapple Smash
What's Gaby Cooking
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
Two of summer’s favorite fruits in one glass. The best part? It works with basically any silver liquor you have (while vodka, gin or rum would work well here, I'm partial to tequila). I'll take mine with a salted rim, please.
13. Spiked Pink Lemonade
Emily Morgan
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, low sugar
This spiked lemonade is guaranteed to be a picnic favorite. How does the vodka-laced bev get its blush color, you ask? Fresh strawberry-watermelon purée.
14. Blueberry, Gin and Sage Punch
Feasting at Home
Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, make ahead
Serving a crowd? Whip out your biggest punch bowl or drink dispenser for your fanciest 4th of July co*cktail yet. P.S.: The blackberries are strained, so you get all of their sweet flavor without a single seed.
15. Blackberry and Meyer Lemon Gin and Tonic
Spoon Fork Bacon
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
Fresh mint and simple syrup make for a drink that’s equal parts herbaceous and sweet. To make your own simple syrup, boil a cup of water on the stove and stir in a cup of sugar until dissolved.
16. Peach Prosecco Punch
Damn Delicious
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
If you have four ingredients and five minutes, your new favorite bubbly drink is within reach. The secret is bottled peach nectar.
17. Red, White and Blue Vanilla Bean Spritzers
Shanna Schad/Pineapple and Coconut
Time Commitment: 6 hours
Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Strawberry and blueberry ice cubes will be a fun surprise for the kids. You’ll love the homemade vanilla bean simple syrup. Create an adults-only version of the mocktail with a dash of rum or vodka.
18. Red, White and Blueberry Jello Shots
Peanut Butter and Fitness
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, less than 500 calories
These are so much cuter than what you concocted in your dorm room all those years ago. You’ll get three layers of flavor (hello, tart cherry, coconut and lemon) in every bite.
19. Blueberry Mojitos for a Crowd
40 Aprons
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
Okay, these are less red, white and blue and more pretty in pink. But garnish 'em with a few blueberries and the fruit will totally complement the drink’s reddish hue.
20. Blueberry Lemonade
Damn Delicious
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why I Love It: <30 minutes, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
The season’s signature drink just leveled up. Think fresh-squeezed lemons and the easiest blueberry simple syrup ever. Pass the vodka (or keep it virgin for the kids).
21. Pomegranate Blueberry Floats
Two Peas and Their Pod
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, kid-friendly
The U.S.A.’s colors shine bright in this combo of pomegranate soda, blueberries and ice cream. Add a dash of vodka and you’re in business.
22. Blue Lagoon co*cktail
Yellow Bliss Road
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
Despite its Bahamas-blue color, blue curaçao actually tastes like citrus. Add extra cherries for a festive finish. (A co*cktail umbrella couldn't hurt, either.)
23. Smashed Berry Rosé Spritz
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, special occasion–worthy
I'm a sucker for thematic garnishes, especially when they’re made from juicy nectarines. This 4th of July co*cktail is loaded with tequila, fresh basil and St. Germain (that’s elderflower liqueur).
24. Hibiscus Cherry Vodka Spritz
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why I Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion–worthy, less than 500 calories
Honey, pineapple juice and dried hibiscus flowers make one fancy drink you’ll keep in your recipe collection for good. Garnish with blueberries and cherries, or coat the glass rim with blue sugar sprinkles.
25. Easy Berry Sangria
Damn Delicious
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, less than 500 calories
Fresh fruit. Sugar. Lemon-lime soda. A bottle of rosé. Well, that was easy. Nightcap on the patio, anyone?
26. Bourbon Cherry Old Fashioned
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: less than 500 calories, <30 minutes, special occasion–worthy
Do you have whiskey lovers coming to the barbecue? Consider them covered. Swap out sugar for honey to get a grit-free sip every time.
27. Blackberry Champagne Mule
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
A classic 4th of July co*cktail with a fruity, sophisticated twist. I'm toasting to America's birthday right before dessert.
28. Blackberry Bramble
Feasting at Home
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
A bramble is an old-school British co*cktail made with dry gin, lemon, simple syrup and blackberry liqueur. This one gets spiked with ginger soda, too.
29. Cherry Floats
Floating Kitchen
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Why I Love It: kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
The homemade, three-ingredient cherry syrup is a real game-changer. Add a splash of coconut rum or vanilla vodka for a grown-up spin.
30. Peach Moonshine
A Cookie Named Desire
Time Commitment: 4 hours and 50 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, make ahead
Bet you never thought you’d be up for drinking Everclear again, huh? This summery sipper is a far cry from the jungle juice you had in college. Think fresh peaches, two fruit juices, peach schnapps and cinnamon.
31. Salted Watermelon Paloma
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
Believe it or not, this seasonal gem only takes ten minutes to whip up. You can pull it off even faster if you blend and strain the watermelon juice ahead of the big day. (And in case you need help, here's how to cut a watermelon…)
32. Strawberry Champagne Mojito
A Cookie Named Desire
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, make ahead, beginner-friendly
Bubbly is *always* invited to the barbecue. Once you make the three-ingredient strawberry simple syrup, most of your work is done. (Oh, and here's how to open a Champagne bottle without injury, BTW.)
33. Tropical Wine Slushies
Grandbaby Cakes
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
Who knew moscato got along so well with mango, pineapple and strawberries? Use frozen fruit instead of fresh to get the perfect frosty consistency without diluting the 4th of July co*cktails.
34. Cherry Pie Iced Tea
A Cookie Named Desire
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, kid-friendly
This seasonal star, made with fresh cherry syrup, is technically alcohol-free, but I'm betting it'd pair beautifully with everything from bourbon to vodka to spiced rum.
35. Summertime Rosé Tequila Sangria
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, less than 500 calories
Refreshing rosé wine + earthy tequila + bright lime + bubbly kombucha = an easy home run. Go ham with the pitted cherries and fresh blueberries to up the red-white-and-blue ante.
36. Blackberry and Meyer Lemon Gin and Tonics
Spoon Fork Bacon
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
What’s muddled and herbaceous and magenta all over? These refreshing and elegant sippers are what. (If you can’t get ahold of Meyer lemons, use the regular kind.)
37. Watermelon Grapefruit Palomas
How Sweet Eats
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Whatever you do, don’t drink it with a straw. It’s so tasty, you just might gulp it down in one sip by accident.
38. Frozen Blueberry Margaritas
Cookie and Kate
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion–worthy, beginner-friendly
Go ahead, make a few drinks at once if your blender is big enough. (If it’s not, then it’s every partygoer for themself.)
39. Dirty Shirley Temple
Mom on Timeout
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
Sure, there’s the electric-pink grenadine and sweet citrus soda, but a kiddie beverage this is not. The secret? Vodka, of course (cheers to that).
40. Red, White and Blue Jello Shots
Dinner at the Zoo
Time Commitment: 3 hours and 30 minutes
Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients, make ahead
Make them a few days in advance and pat yourself on the back. You’re one step closer to a fun and fancy Fourth of July party.
