Easy and Affordable 4th of July – Tori Avey

Looking for some easy, affordable ideas for celebrating the 4th of July holiday? Look no further! This week on Inside Edition I shared some fun, budget-friendly ideas for entertaining this holiday weekend.

Watch the clip here! I’ve posted all the recipes, as well as several decorating tips for the holiday below.

Easy and Budget Friendly 4th of July Menu

Grilled Vegetable Salad

Most people think about grilling on the 4th, which automatically brings to mind burgers and hot dogs. But for a more affordable holiday that is also healthy and eco-friendly, consider adding more meatless options to your menu. I eat a Mediterranean-style diet— it’s mostly meatless, with some lean proteins integrated. This way of eating is proven to be good for your health, and it’s also easy on the pocketbook! My Grilled Vegetable Salad is a delicious option. You grill the veggies, chop them up, then toss them in a delicious creamy basil dressing. This is something you can make ahead and toss together just before serving. The vegetables are in season now, so you can likely find them for a steal at your local farmer's market!

Click here for recipe

Lemony Marinated Chicken Skewers

If you want to feature some protein, it's healthier to stick with lean meats like chicken, turkey, or fish. Chicken and turkey will be your most affordable options. Using a flavorful marinade can really elevate your grilling game. These Lemony Marinated Chicken Skewers are one of my favorites. With anti-inflammatory turmeric, cumin, cayenne, olive oil, and garlic, this marinade is both healthy and delicious. And this marinade also works for fish!

The key to a seamless holiday celebration is to prepare as much ahead of time as possible. For this recipe, making it ahead actually produces a better flavor. You can marinate the chicken for up to 24 hours in the fridge. For fish, you won't want to marinate quite as long. Then, on the morning of the holiday, skewer it and keep it covered in the fridge until you're ready to grill. It only takes 10 or 15 minutes to grill it up, and you're done!

Want to stretch your dollar further? Chicken is the most expensive ingredient here outside of the spices – so alternate your chicken skewers with bell peppers, zucchini, and onion along with the chicken. You'll make your entree more healthy and more filling, plus you'll be able to feed more people on a budget this way.

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Lemon Pasta Salad

It's not a back yard barbecue without a pasta salad or a potato salad. But who says you need to go traditional? My Lemon Pasta Salad combines Mediterranean ingredients like chickpeas, olives, basil, and tomatoes with a light, lemony olive oil dressing. It's also got some red pepper flakes for a touch of heat. It's absolutely addictive, and super easy to make ahead – just chill and serve! Pasta is an inexpensive side dish that will help to satiate hungry guests. If you're watching your budget (or kosher, or nut allergic), omit the pine nuts and feta from this recipe – you'll save a bit, and the salad will still be amazing without them.

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Vanilla Berry Sparkling Sangria

Sangria is such a nice treat for a hot summer gathering, and it's so easy to make ahead. This Vanilla Berry Sparkling Sangria incorporates red and blue colors, and it's really delicious and refreshing. You don't need a fancy rosé, any budget variety will do. You can also use pink lemonade to make it non-alcoholic, mocktail-style.

Click here for the recipe

Decorating your 4th of July Table on a Budget

The biggest tip I have for easy, affordable table decor is to buy one great set of white dishes. They don’t have to be fancy – in fact, I adore Corelle dishes, which are super affordable, shatter-resistant, and made in America (which is appropriate for the 4th!). I like them because they’re lightweight and they last forever. My Grandma Carolyn got me hooked on them. They work for indoor or outdoor entertaining, and they’re so easy to wash up. They’re thin, so you can stack and store them with ease. They are also much more eco-friendly than disposable one-use plates – and isn’t it just nicer to eat on an actual plate?

So basically, you get one great set of plain white dishes, enough to feed a big crowd – plates, serving dishes, platters, whatever you might need – and you use that same set of dishes for every single holiday. White dishes are classic, simple, and they can be dressed up however you like for any time of year. I’m also a big fan of cooking colorful seasonal food, so using a neutral white base really highlights the natural beauty of the food.

Add Colorful and Affordable Decorative Touches

To your white dishes, add a nice set of white linen napkins. Then let the color come from napkin rings and other small decorative touches. Here, I’ve used a roll of red, white and blue ribbon – which I found on clearance at the craft store for $2.00 – to make hand-tied napkin rings. Small items like napkin rings, placemats, and decorations can be found affordably in a variety of colors, and it’s much easier to store small decorative touches than it is to store multiple dish sets.

And if you’re a procrastinator, you’re in luck! The clearance deals for the 4th are already in full swing. Your local craft store should have lots of options on clearance right about now.

Make a Candy Centerpiece

I love this idea, because you can also use it for other holidays with different colored candy. For the 4th, use red, white, and blue candies – jelly beans, gum balls, or chocolate candies – to fill clear glass vases or mason jars. Once the container is full, stick some small American flags in it. Instant centerpiece!

Then, when the part is over, you can send the candy home with the kids in the family in small mason jars as party favors. I wrapped mine with a little of the leftover festive ribbon. Cute, colorful, fun, and economical!