Firing Up the Fourth: Instacart’s Independence Day Favorites

As backyard grills fire up and coolers get packed for long afternoons in the sun, the Fourth of July remains one of America’s most festive and flavorful holidays. To celebrate, Instacart dug into purchase data from 2024 to highlight what people may add to their carts to create the ultimate Independence Day spread. From must-have snacks to grill-side essentials, here’s what’s heating up for the holiday!

America’s Most Popular Fourth of July Foods

When it comes to prepping for the big day, Americans go all-out on cookout classics. Topping the list of items that surged in share of orders is the essential barbecue side dish: canned baked beans, which saw 4.2 times more orders than the yearly average. Following closely behind are Hot Dog Buns, Watermelons, Hamburger Buns, and Hot Dogs, all showing massive spikes in popularity. 

Digging deeper, we took a closer look at the food and beverage categories that saw the biggest spikes in orders relative to their yearly average and found:

• Athena Melons (6.3x more) and Rainier Cherries (9x more), the sweet, summer fruits soared compared to their average order rate, peaking around the Fourth.
• Angel Food Cake (5.6x more) showed a strong seasonal surge, given it’s the perfect base for an American flag-themed dessert.
• Daiquiri (5.4x more), Piña Colada (5.6x more), and Frozen Non-Alcoholic Cocktail Mixers (6.1x more) spiked significantly as Americans beat the heat with  tropical-inspired drinks, frozen slushies, and poolside mocktails.
• To keep coolers perfectly chilled, Ice Blocks see a surge (5.8x more), as well as fun treats to beat the heat like Alcoholic Ice Cream and Popsicles (4.9x more).

“It’s always fascinating to see how certain seasonal items really take off around holidays like the Fourth,” said Alex Orellana, Instacart’s Trends Analyst. “The surge in items like Rainier cherries, angel food cake, and frozen drink mixers tells a story about how people celebrate, and there’s a clear desire for fresh, fun, and refreshing options to beat the summer heat.”

Methodology: Instacart calculated the daily order share to the yearly average order share for each category in 2024.

Peak Patriotic Purchases

Beyond making meals, Instacart customers are getting everything else they need for a memorable holiday. For example, Fourth of July Decor and Flags saw order increases of over 65x and 30x, respectively. Other festive additions include:

• Grills (21x more than average): How else will all of the burger-flipping get done?
• Kiddie Pools (20x more than average): Summer isn’t complete without a splash for kids, and kids at heart!
• Cornhole (14x more than average): A backyard classic that brings the right level of competitive spirit and can accommodate a drink in one hand.
• Charcoal (8.4x more than average): What’s a barbecue without the unmistakable scent of summer cookout in full swing?

Methodology: Instacart calculated the share of orders that every category appeared in for every day during 2024, and found the categories that had their highest order share at some point between 6/28/24 and 7/4/24.

State-by-State Chip Contenders

Chips are more than just a side – they’re a Fourth of July staple. Whether paired with burgers, dips, or enjoyed straight from the bag, chips play an important role in holiday spreads. And while everyone loves a good potato chip, distinct chip preferences emerge across different regions of the U.S.:

• Utz ruled the mid-Atlantic and parts of the South, taking top honors in the Carolinas, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware.
• No surprise here: Hawaiian Kettle Style Potato Chips were the go-to in—you guessed it—Hawaii, where they were over 2,500% more likely to be purchased than the national average.
• Similarly, up in New England, Cape Cod Chips came out on top in Massachusetts , New Hampshire, and Maine.
• And true to their Rocky Mountain roots, Coloradans scooped up Boulder Canyon chips, which were picked up 525% more often than the national average, to pair with their favorite dips.

A Campfire Classic

It wouldn’t be a summer celebration without s’mores. Orders containing both Graham Crackers and Marshmallows surged nearly 200% above the yearly average during the week ending on July 4. It's safe to say that campfires and s’mores are a quintessential summer favorite. 

Spritz into Summer

As temperatures rise, so does the demand for one of summer’s most stylish sips: the Aperol Spritz. Aperol and Prosecco were purchased together 158% more often than average during the week of the Fourth of July in 2024, marking the peak of Spritz Season. 

📈Trend Alert: According to our data, summer spritzes are gaining a lot of momentum with the share of orders containing Prosecco and Aperol rising 13% from 2023 to 2024.

“Spritz culture is clearly on the rise, with drinks like the Aperol Spritz becoming go-to refreshers for summer celebrations,” said Orellana. “We’re seeing more consumers embrace these light cocktails that are festive and sessionable– perfect for long weekends, poolside hangs, and backyard barbecues.”

Time to Celebrate

Whether you’re grilling in your backyard, diving into a pool party, or simply soaking in the sun with friends and family, Instacart is here to deliver the flavors for Independence Day. Happy Fourth! 🎆🍔🌽