65 Juneteenth Recipes for Traditional Celebrations

Jocelyn Delk Adams

June 15, 2024 at 3:56 AM·14 min read

Juneteenth, June 19, is a time of celebration, remembrance and community. It commemorates the final emancipation of enslaved Black people in Texas and is now a national holiday that is marked by parades, parties and lots of food.

You may be wondering what traditional food is served on Juneteenth. Well, you're in the right place! Here you'll find lots of inspiration for Juneteenth food ideas to get your traditional Juneteenth celebrations started right!

Related: 40 Best Soul Food Recipes

What is a traditional way to celebrate Juneteenth?

One of the best ways to honor Juneteenth is to highlight and uplift Black creators, and with this collection of Juneteenth food recipes, you can also have some delicious food in the process!

An initiative that has been uplifting Black creators for years is the annual Eat the Culture Juneteenth Virtual Cookout, which brings together Black food bloggers to share their favorite recipes so that we all can have a chance to enjoy these incredible dishes and commemorate the history behind them.

What food do you eat on Juneteenth?

So what foods are served on Juneteenth and why is it important? Well first, because it's a warm weather celebration, Juneteenth food traditions often include cookout fare like barbecued meats, potato salad and fruity or frozen desserts. You'll also see lots of traditional soul food dishes like fried chicken, cornbread and collard greens. There's also a special emphasis on red foods and red drinks.

Why is red food eaten during Juneteenth celebrations?

Throughout the history of Juneteenth celebrations, red foods have been a major part of the spread. There are several historical explanations that have been presented for this. First, it's believed that the color red commemorates the history of struggle and bloodshed that enslaved Black Americans faced. Also, many historians believe that the color red was an important signifier of special occasions in the West African nations where many formerly enslaved people originated, a tradition that carried over into Juneteenth traditions after emancipation.

What are red foods for Juneteenth?

Juneteenth red foods include cookout favorites like barbecued meat and hot links, and other traditional favorites like red beans and rice and hot sauce. You might also see new twists on red foods, like watermelon salad or red cabbage coleslaw. The most well-known of all the Juneteenth desserts is red velvet cake, but other great options include strawberry pie or berry sorbet. You also can't go wrong with a fresh fruit salad or grilled watermelon.

Juneteenth drinks

The red theme continues with traditional Juneteenth drinks like strawberry soda, hibiscus drinks and fruit punch. You can even serve up a red cocktail to really get the party started.

What do you serve at a Juneteenth party?

If you're hosting a Juneteenth party, or you'd like ideas for what you bring to a Juneteenth party, you're in luck! This collection of recipes has all the Juneteenth food ideas you could want—soul food side dishes, red foods and drinks, incredible desserts and so much more! So go on and pick out your recipes, and have a happy Juneteenth celebration!