Nothing says Fourth of July quite like gathering around a table filled with good food, cold drinks, and the people you love most. Whether you're hosting a backyard cookout, heading to the lake, or simply looking for an excuse to spend a little more time outdoors, the holiday has always been about more than fireworks - it's about community.
This year, we asked a few local favorites to help us build the ultimate Independence Day menu. From refreshing summer classics to indulgent burgers, desserts, and cocktails, these dishes showcase some of the flavors that make dining in Mt. Juliet worth celebrating all year long.
So fire up the grill, pull up a chair, and enjoy a Fourth of July feast inspired by some of our favorite local kitchens.
Hillside Hangout
Rotisserie Chicken Salad - Courtesy of Chef Travis Walter
Ask around Mt. Juliet where people like to gather on a sunny afternoon, and chances are Hillside Hangout will come up more than once. While the restaurant may be known for its patio, the team behind Hillside sees it as something more: a place where families can relax, kids can make new friends, and neighbors can linger a little longer over good food and conversation.
That welcoming philosophy extends to the kitchen, where Chef Travis Walter focuses on approachable dishes made with quality ingredients and plenty of flavor. "Keep it approachable, make it good, don't overthink it," is the mindset behind many of the restaurant's menu favorites - including this Rotisserie Chicken Salad, a new addition for the summer season.
Perfect for backyard gatherings, lake days, picnics, or a quick lunch between holiday festivities, the recipe combines tender rotisserie chicken with dried cranberries, celery, almonds, and a touch of smokehouse maple seasoning for a balance of savory and sweet. Best of all, it can be made ahead of time, making it an easy addition to any Fourth of July spread.
And if you decide not to share? Well, according to the folks at Hillside Hangout, there's no judgment here.
Ingredients:
- 3 lbs rotisserie chicken breast meat
- 3 cups mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons grated yellow onion
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds (optional)
- 1 cup diced celery (about 2 stalks)
- 1 tablespoon smokehouse maple seasoning
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 2 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
Instructions:
- In a large mixing bowl add chicken.
- Break apart with fork or whisk.
- Add all other ingredients and fully combine.
- Place in appropriate containers and keep stored in refrigerator.
Yield: 2-1/2 quarts
Kat's Bar & Grille
The Pink Starburst - Courtesy of bartender Brandy
Known for its laid-back atmosphere and loyal local following, Kat's Bar & Grille serves up a refreshing summer sipper that's equal parts fruity and fun. Featuring vanilla vodka, watermelon pucker, peach schnapps, and a splash of Sprite, this easy-drinking cocktail is perfect for warm evenings on the patio or backyard gatherings with friends.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz vanilla vodka
- 1 oz watermelon pucker
- 0.5 oz peach schnapps
- 2 oz sour mix
- 2–3 oz Sprite
- Ice
- Watermelon wedge or peach slice for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add vanilla vodka, watermelon pucker, peach schnapps, and sour mix.
- Shake vigorously until chilled.
- Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass or tall glass.
- Top with Sprite and gently stir.
- Garnish with a watermelon wedge or peach slice (if desired).
Yield: 1 cocktail
The Paper Mill
Bacon & Blue Smash Burger - Courtesy of Chef
What began in Mt. Juliet has quickly grown into one of Middle Tennessee's favorite locally owned restaurants. Known for its scratch-made approach to food, warm hospitality, and elevated take on comfort classics, The Paper Mill recently expanded with the opening of a second location in Gallatin. While the original Mt. Juliet restaurant remains the heart of the operation, the new location allows even more guests to experience the flavors that have made The Paper Mill a local favorite.
Their Bacon & Blue Smash Burger is a perfect example of that approach. Featuring crispy bacon, bold blue cheese, and a perfectly smashed patty, it's a flavorful twist on an American classic—and a fitting centerpiece for any Fourth of July cookout.
Ingredients:
- 1lb. premium ground beef
- Crispy smoked bacon
- Blue cheese crumbles
- Lettuce
- Dill pickle chips
- Hamburger buns
- Sauce of choice (The Paper Mill includes their signature house made Cajun mayo - but you're going to have to stop in and order if you want to try it!)
Instructions:
- Mix and shape premium ground beef into six patties. Sear on the grill.
- Fry bacon to your liking (I love it in an air fryer, personally).
- While the patties are on the grill and the bacon is frying, toast the insides of each side of the hamburger buns.
- Once the patties are cooked to your liking, stack the sauce of your choice, blue cheese crumbles, and two patties. Top with the crispy smoked bacon, lettuce, and pickle chips.
Yield: 3 Bacon & Blue Smash Burgers
Candied Rib Company
Chocolate Caramel Banana Pudding - Courtesy of Chef Lisa Dudinetz
No holiday spread is complete without a dish everyone talks about long after the fireworks end. Whether it's their famous banana pudding or one of their signature sides, Candied Rib Company has built a reputation for serving Southern comfort food done right. Rich flavors, family traditions, and a little bit of nostalgia make this contribution the perfect finishing touch to our Fourth of July menu.
Ingredients (for the pudding):
- 3 cups whole milk
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup cane sugar
- 4 egg yolks
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Ingredients (for assembly):
- 4 ripe bananas, sliced
- 1 box Nilla Wafer cookies
- ½ cup milk chocolate chips
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
- ¼ cup dark chocolate syrup, plus more for drizzling
- ¼ cup caramel sauce, plus more for drizzling
Instructions:
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks and ½ cup of the milk until smooth.
- Gradually whisk the remaining milk into the dry ingredients. Place over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture begins to thicken.
- Slowly whisk a small amount of the hot mixture into the egg yolks to temper them. Return the egg mixture to the saucepan and continue cooking for 2–3 minutes, stirring constantly, until thick and silky.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Allow the pudding to cool for about 15 minutes.
- Fold in the milk chocolate chips and white chocolate chips, reserving a small handful of each for garnish if desired.
- In a trifle dish, serving bowl, or individual dessert cups, layer the pudding, banana slices, and Nilla Wafers. Drizzle each layer with dark chocolate syrup and caramel sauce.
- Repeat the layers until all ingredients are used.
- Top the layered pan with a single layer of Nilla Wafer cookies.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
- Just before serving, drizzle with additional chocolate syrup and caramel sauce.
Yield: 8-10 servings
The best holiday meals aren't necessarily the most elaborate - they're the ones shared with family, friends, and neighbors. This Fourth of July, we're grateful to these local restaurants for opening their recipe books and helping us bring a little Mt. Juliet flavor to your celebration.
From our family and Mt. Juliet Lifestyle, happy Independence Day - and happy eating.
From refreshing summer classics to indulgent burgers, desserts, and cocktails, these dishes showcase some of the flavors that make dining in Mt. Juliet worth celebrating all year long.
Good food has always been at the heart of every great Fourth of July celebration.
The best holiday meals aren't necessarily the most elaborate - they're the ones shared with family, friends, and neighbors.