Canada Day Recipes: A Classic July 1st Menu

Canada Day falls in the middle of barbecue season, so the best menu is one you can cook outside, set out on a table and eat over a long afternoon. Here is a full July 1st spread built from Canadian classics, with timing so you're not stuck at the grill.

The drinks

• [Classic Caesar](/recipes/classic-caesar-cocktail): Canada's national cocktail, invented in Calgary in 1969. Mix a pitcher of the base ahead and rim glasses with celery salt as guests arrive.

Off the grill

• [Cedar plank salmon](/recipes/cedar-plank-salmon): soak the planks the night before. One plank feeds four.
• [Peameal bacon sandwiches](/recipes/peameal-bacon-sandwich): slice the roast thick and grill it instead of pan-frying. Serve on kaiser rolls with mustard.

Something for the kids

• [Classic poutine](/recipes/classic-poutine): make the gravy ahead and keep it warm. Fries go last so they stay crisp.

Dessert

• [Nanaimo bars](/recipes/nanaimo-bars): no oven needed, and they're better made a day ahead.
• [Butter tarts](/recipes/butter-tarts): bake in the morning before it gets hot.
• [Beaver tails](/recipes/beaver-tails-pastry): fry to order if you want a crowd around the stove.

Make-ahead timeline

1. Day before: Nanaimo bars, soak cedar planks, mix the Caesar base, make the poutine gravy.

2. Morning: butter tarts; slice the peameal bacon.

3. One hour before: light the grill, set out drinks.

4. Serving: salmon and peameal on the grill together, then fries for the poutine.

For more ideas, see the [Canadian Food guide](/blog/canadian-food-iconic-dishes-by-province) or browse [Canadian classics](/canadian-classics).