4 Unexpected Things To Grill At Your 4th Of July Barbecue

Fourth of July menus are usually pretty standard. You have your grill fired up and ready to go and each year you cook the same thing. It's burgers and hot dogs and potato salad, but isn't it time we all tried something different?

There are a lot of foods out there that some of us would never even think of grilling. But the truth is that they are the secret stars of any barbecue. They'll bring a unique flair to your party that your guests will absolutely love. So while you set up the red, white and blue decorations, we've gathered up some yummy and unexpected foods you can grill this Independence Day.

Pizza

Everyone loves pizza. It's the perfect comfort food for any occasion, and it's the perfect party food too. Grilling a pizza is incredibly easy and delicious. You can buy premade dough from the store, or make your own, and then place the flattened dough on the grill for a few minutes until grill marks appear. Then add your cheeses and your toppings on the grilled side of the dough, and return your pie to the grill for two to three minutes until the cheese is warm and bubbling. It'll knock that delivery pizza out of the park.

Meatballs

A batch of meatballs is a great appetizer for a Fourth of July bash. All you have to do is place your prepared, uncooked meatballs on the grill and cover them so they cook fully through. After three to four minutes, turn the balls so they get an even grill and then cook them for another three minutes. Keep turning them until they are cooked through, which should take around fifteen minutes in total, and serve them with a drizzle of marinara sauce on top or plain.

Salad

That's right, you can grill a salad. Romaine lettuce works perfectly as the base. All you need to do is cut the head in half and grill each side for about five minutes each. The veggies you can add on top are endless, but try grilling up some avocado. It's just as easy to make as the romaine. Cut your avocados in half, remove the seeds, and brush them with a little olive oil. Cook them cut side down for five to seven minutes. They'll top your grilled romaine nicely.

Pineapple

Grilling pineapple gives the fruit a delicious caramelized flavor. Trust us, grilled pineapple is the way to go, and it's the perfect topping to ice cream. You just have to place some chunks on the grill for about three minutes per side. They'll be warm and sweet and so decadent without getting too indulgent.