The Fourth of July is a time for festivities, friends, family, fireworks and — perhaps most importantly — food. It’s the Thanksgiving of summer. The smokiest time of year. The grill’s time to shine.
When we think of big backyard cookouts for Independence Day, we picture everything barbecue — from meaty mains like pulled pork and ribs to sunny sides like coleslaw and corn on the cob.
But which dish is the king of the grill?
Enter TODAY’s 4th of July BBQ Bracket, which fired up Tuesday with the Smoky Sixteen. After a tight battle between hot dogs and ribs (which Savannah, who is adamantly Team Hot Dog, called “saucy bones”), we made it to the Edible Eight, then the Fiery Four (in which potato salad overtook ribs in a surprise upset), and now we’re onto the Final Course.
Vote for your favorite cookout food, here:
Voted? Now it’s time to get grilling:


Ryan Liebe for The New York Times

istetiana / Getty Images

Getty Images

TODAY

Bobby Flay

Steven Randazzo

Zach Pagano / TODAY

Nathan Congleton / TODAY

Alanna Hale / At Home with Natalie: Simple Recipes for Healthy Living from My Family’s Kitchen to Yours

Nathan Congleton / TODAY

Robert Lowdon / Getty Images

Nathan Congleton / TODAY

Courtesy Phil Johnson

Courtesy Sunny Anderson