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Here’s Your Easy, Breezy Meal Prep Plan for July 4th Weekend

published about 1 hour ago

Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Styling: Cyd McDowell

If you’re hosting a 4th of July party this year, declare independence from the kitchen so you can actually enjoy the holiday. Here, we break down how to meal prep some common cookout fare so you can spend the week setting yourself up for fireworks rather than just … work.

Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Styling: Cyd McDowell

Potato Salad

• 4 days ahead: Prep the potatoes. Scrub, peel, and cut the potatoes for your potato salad. Place them in water as you chop, and then store the potatoes in that water in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours. The water prevents the potatoes from being exposed to air so that they won’t turn brown.
• 3 days ahead: Drain and rinse the potatoes. Then cook until tender and decide whether your crew wants a creamy classic potato salad or an herby potato salad.

Credit: Joe Lingeman

Coleslaw

• 3 days ahead: This tangy cabbage and jalapeño slaw gives full permission to use pre-cut cabbage and carrot, making prep that much faster. All you have to do is slice a jalapeño and make the dressing. The slaw will hold until the party, but you can also choose to store the dressing separately. Just toss it all together at least 30 minutes before serving.

Credit: Joe Lingeman

Hamburger and Veggie Burger Patties

• 1 week ahead: Form the beef patties based on the weight you want (1/4-pound burgers? 1/3-pound?), and prep these easy black bean burgers (the secret is using mashed avocado as the binder). Place each kind of burger on a waxed paper–lined rimmed baking sheet. Freeze them in a single layer, then store them in a zip-top bag or airtight container with waxed paper between the patties.
• Day before: Thaw the burgers and veggie burgers.

Credit: Joe Lingeman

Deviled Eggs

• 1 week ahead: Cook the eggs. No matter how you cook your eggs — Instant Pot, air fryer, microwave — plunge them in an ice bath, drain them, and then store them in their shells in the fridge for up to a week.
• Day before: Peel the eggs. Then make your fave family recipe, or check out our best deviled egg recipes as well as tips and tricks for making them. You can either hold the filling separately and pipe it the day of the party, or just fill the eggs now and store them in a single layer in an airtight container.

Credit: Joe Lingeman

Slow Cooker Baked Beans

Baked Beans

• 6 days ahead: Soak the beans. This is the simplest prep with the biggest payoff for feeding hungry people: Cover a pound of dried navy, pinto, or great northern beans with cool water and walk away for 10 to 12 hours.
• 5 days ahead: Cook the beans. These rich and smoky Brown Sugar and Bacon Slow Cooker Baked Beans will hold until the Fourth in an airtight container in the fridge. The best part is that using the slow cooker keeps your kitchen cool.

Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Styling: CC Buckley; Prop Styling: Stephanie De Luca

Icebox Cake

• 2 days ahead: Icebox cakes need time to soften, so they’re perfect for meal prep. Justin Burke’s Peach Delight Icebox Cake celebrates one of summer’s finest fruits — and Pride — with prosecco-poached peaches. They’re layered with a light mascarpone filling and cinnamon graham crackers.

Credit: Sara Kate Gillingham

Ice Pops (for Dessert and Breakfast)

• 1 week ahead: Ice pops are a no-brainer for a summer party. These hydrating Watermelon Popsicles are not just make-ahead, but they’re also only three ingredients. While you’re at it, get game-day breakfast out of the way with these Yogurt Parfait Breakfast Popsicles . (Then Independence Day breakfast is ready with the lift of a stick.) No molds? No problem. Try one of these 5 ways to make Popsicles without a mold .

For more ideas: Every Single 4th of July Recipe You Could Ever Need (All in One Place)

What are you making for the Fourth this year? Let us know in the comments!

Sarah Wharton

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Sarah Wharton is a recipe developer and food writer. She is a graduate of the International Culinary Center in NYC.

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Source : food