Best Fourth of July Barbeque Ideas For Homeschool Families

The Fourth of July is a great time for Americans to get together with friends and family and make great memories. Here are some ways to incorporate good food and fun into your homeschool barbeque this 4th of July.

If you have never used a Blackstone griddle before, you are seriously missing out! They are so much fun, and they cook so many different things. My favorite thing about the Blackstone griddle is how fast it cooks hamburgers compared to a grill.

You Need A Blackstone Griddle for This Summer

You need a Blackstone Griddle for this summer. If you don’t have one yet, you should get one now. They are easy to use and clean—and they’re made in the USA!

Blackstone Griddles use olive oil instead of canola oil or butter (both bad for your health) to prevent food from sticking to the surface. Plus, olive oil is easy on your arteries. And if you get a big Blackstone Griddle like the 36-inch model, it will be perfect for cooking an entire meal at once for the whole family—or even just for yourself if you turn on one burner. 

Blackstone Griddle Accessories

There are lots of fun and cheap Blackstone griddle accessories that you can get to make your grilling experience easy and enjoyable. 

• Blackstone Griddle Cloth Cover
• Blackstone Griddle Grease Catchers
• Blackstone Griddle Cooking Utensils
• Blackstone Griddle Press

Blackstone Griddle Cloth Cover

Blackstone Griddle Cloth Cover is an excellent accessory for your grill. This cover protects your grill from the weather and is easy to clean. It’s lightweight, so you can quickly put it on and remove it from your grill. It has clips that allow it to fasten around, but you can also let these hang down if you don’t want to bother them. They are similar to the buckle for kids on a Walmart shopping cart. 

Blackstone Griddle Grease Catchers

While having a good quality grill is one of the best things you can do for your outdoor kitchen, having the right accessories is also essential. Grease catchers are one example of this. They keep grease from splattering off your grill and onto your patio or deck, making cleaning easier because you don’t have to worry about cleaning the deck.

The ones we use are called “Blackstone Griddle Grease Catchers.” These are simple throw-away tin foil containers that fit in the back of the grill and can be dumped out and tossed when you are finished. It is excellent for mess-free clean-up. 

Blackstone Griddle Cooking Utensils

For the Blackstone griddle, you can get some great cooking utensil sets on Amazon. They include:

• Tongs: The tongs help turn the meat over.
• Basting Brush: The basting brush is for applying oil to the meat. This will help keep it moist and flavorful as it cooks.
• Spatula: The spatula flips the meat over to cook both sides evenly.
• Thermometer: A thermometer will allow you to check the internal temperature of your food to ensure that it has reached its safe minimum cooking temperature before serving it up!
• Knife: A sharp knife is essential when preparing any type of food, especially meats like chicken or steak which tend to be tough unless cut correctly (and even then).

Blackstone Griddle Press

The Blackstone Griddle Press is a fantastic tool for flattening your meat and creating a crust on the burgers. It does not have to be used only for burgers, though. You can do this with other meats like chicken or pork chops.

The press has stainless steel construction and is dishwasher safe, making it easy to clean after use.

It’s also made in the USA, making us all feel good about using it!

What to Cook This Fourth of July

There are many options for the food you can cook or bring to your cookout for the fourth of July. 

Hamburgers

With hamburgers, you can use any kind of meat, such as ground beef, chicken, or turkey. You can also make them with vegetables, like zucchini or eggplant inside. If you want to go vegetarian with your burger, there are plenty of options for that too.

Grilling makes it easier for kids to eat food because they don’t have to cut it into small pieces. They can just bite it off. And if they’re eating burgers at a picnic table outside, they don’t need forks or knives!

Hot Dogs

Hot dogs are one of the best foods to eat on a hot summer day. They’re easy to make, they’re fun to eat, and they can be made into all sorts of different styles. Hot dogs are also excellent finger food for kids who want to play with their food a little bit (but not too much). You can even cut them into the shape of octopuses.

You can add a variety of toppings to your hotdog like:

• Mustard
• Ketchup
• Cheese
• Chilli 
• Relish
• Bacon

Grilled Chicken

Grilled chicken is a great summertime meal. It’s simple, easy to make, and a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors with friends and family.

There are lots of seasoning options for grilled chicken. You can use Dale’s Marinade or salt and pepper if you’re in a hurry!

Marinade your chicken for about an hour in Dale’s Marinade, then grill on a Blackstone until it is done. It doesn’t take too long but can vary on how hot your grill is. 

Steak

Steak is an excellent meat to grill; you can use this opportunity to teach your children about grilling. Use the marinade from Dales Steak Marinade as your base, and then add some extra flavor by mixing in spices like cumin, oregano, and red pepper flakes. The Blackstone griddle will help prevent sticking, so the steak won’t stick on the grill!

Cheese Sandwiches (Grilled on the Bbq)

Grilled cheese sandwiches are a great lunch to enjoy on the Fourth of July. They’re easy to make, and you can prepare them ahead of time and then quickly grill them when the time comes. They cook fast on the grill. You can put a variety of toppings on your grilled cheese. For example, you could make Sonic’s new grilled cheeseburger at home by adding an already cooked hamburger to your grilled cheese sandwich. You could also add bacon bits or avocado. 

Pork chops

If you are grilling pork chops, season them with salt and pepper.

Grill your pork chops on a Blackstone griddle over medium heat for about 10 minutes on each side or until they are done.

Be sure to get some fun seasoning packs from Amazon to really “spice” up your life. 

Potato Salad

Potato salad is a great side dish for your Fourth of July barbecue. It’s easy to make and can be tweaked to accommodate whatever you have on hand. For example, if you have leftover potatoes and chicken, simply chop them up and add mayo, mustard, salt, pepper, and celery (or any other veggies you like). If you don’t want to use mayo, use Greek yogurt instead!

There are many ways potato salad can be customized so that it fits your needs perfectly!

Bacon Is Among the Great Barbeque Ideas For Homeschool Families

Pre-cooked bacon works really well on the Blackstone griddle. However, you have to watch it closely so it does not burn. 

Put the sliced bacon on the grill and cook for about 5 minutes, or until it looks cooked. Be sure to turn it about halfway through. When it looks “done,” sometimes it is over crispy. Remove from the heat and drain excess grease onto paper towels or a plate lined with paper towels before serving.

Fresh Grilled Asparagus

Asparagus is a great vegetable to grill. You can find it at the store or your local farmers market, but if you don’t have access to fresh asparagus, look for frozen and cook it according to package instructions. To cook on your barbecue, place the stalks on your Blackstone grill with some seasoning and stir them around every little bit. Cook until tender. 

Freshly grilled asparagus is delicious served with lemon juice or balsamic vinegar drizzled over the top!

Sprite Zero Mixed with White Cranberry and Strawberry Juice

Every grill party needs something fun and kid-friendly to drink. 

Mix Sprite Zero with white cranberry and strawberry juice for a refreshing drink. The best ratio is 3/4 sprite to 1/4 juice. 

Or a fun alternative to soda is sparkling water, which is great for kids because it doesn’t contain any sugar or artificial sweeteners. 

There Are Plenty of Barbeque Ideas For Homeschool Families

There are plenty of meat options to grill. If you and your children enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, steak and cheese sandwiches (grilled on the BBQ), pork chops, or bacon, then there is no reason not to have a barbecue. Add fresh grilled asparagus, and voila! You have a Fourth of July celebration.

Free Fourth Of July Party Planning CheckList

Do you need this information in a handy free printable? Well, we have a super cute fourth of July checklist that you can use to get ready for your homeschool BBQ.

We hope you and your kids have a fun and educational 4th of July!

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