The Fourth of July is hotter than blazes in most parts of the country. If grilling out in the sweltering heat isn’t your idea of fun, fear not. Instead, feed your hungry, huddled masses a Fourth of July fast food feast. After all, what’s more American than the local drive-thru? All you need are your car keys and a little gas in the car, and voila! Instant eats!
Where to Go for Your Fourth of July Fast Food Feast
America has more than 50,000 fast food chains from sea to shining sea, so planning your feast shouldn’t be much of a problem. What to order depends on what you and your guests like: A stack of pizzas, an array of Chinese dishes, or a six foot-long sub will feed an army without breaking the bank or a sweat. If you’re a traditionalist, though, you might think fast food is out of the question. Think again! You can easily piece together a true-blue Americana picnic from some of the most popular fast food joints around.
KFC: Fried Chicken
Nothing says “classic picnic” like a pile of crispy fried chicken, and KFC is the obvious choice for your crispy fried chicken needs. Get a bucket of original, extra crispy, or grilled chicken—or one of each—and a big old bowl of cole slaw for an old-fashioned holiday experience. Be sure to serve up a side of wet wipes for those who don’t enjoy finger lickin’.
Sonic: Hot Dogs
A mess of gen-u-wine American hot dogs is just the thing for your Fourth of July feast. Sonic’s line of hot dogs represents the diverse tastes of Americans. The New York Dog is piled high will grilled onions, sauerkraut, and spicy brown mustard, while the Chicago dog is topped with pickle, tomato, peppers, relish, and yellow mustard. The All-American Dog is your classic ketchup, mustard, and relish gig, and the Chili Cheese Coney is smothered in, well, chili and cheese. If kids are a part of your celebration, add a few corn dogs to the mix for good measure.
Popeyes: Corn on the Cob
No Fourth of July celebration is truly complete without corn on the cob, a summertime staple across America. While you can get a plain old side of corn at KFC or Boston Market, you’ve got to go to Popeyes for the cobbed stuff. Tender, crunchy, and buttery, Popeye’s corn on the cob is a classic accoutrement for your Independence Day spread.
McDonald’s: Apple Pie
It’s not exactly your grandma’s apple pie, but the McDonald’s version of this Independence Day classic is tasty nonetheless. The shell is sweet and crisp, and the gooey, hot apple filling satisfies the pie-lovin’ patriot in you. So pile ‘em high on a platter next to a tub of vanilla ice cream cups on ice, and dig in.
DQ: Ice Cream Cake
If you really want to do it up right this Fourth, add a DQ ice cream cake to the lineup. These sweet, ice-cold concoctions are just the thing to take the heat off and add some fireworks to the fireworks. These days, you can get your favorite Blizzard as a cake, and DQ even has Mini Blizzard Cakes if you want to create a smorgasbord to choose from. If you’re serving a crowd, a DQ Sheet Cake will probably be more your speed.
So you see, you needn’t spend a fortune on groceries and wilt over the grill this Fourth. A fast food feast is easy, practical, and easy on the budget. Just pop some beer and soda in the cooler, and you’re good to go. Happy Fourth!
