Sam’s Club Reveals Its Most Popular Meats for the Fourth Of July
In honor of National Grilling Month—and with America’s 250th birthday around the corner—Sam’s Club is sharing what meats members love to purchase in advance of the Fourth of July holiday. The results might surprise you.
When someone mentions a summer cookout, a good, old-fashioned hamburger is often top of mind—but as we looked at Sam’s Club Fourth of July buying trends in 2025, we found the burger had serious competition.
Fourth of July Meat Trends at Sam’s Club
The map below shares what meats are likely headed for the grill this Fourth of July weekend, state by state.
After we evaluated meat purchases by state leading up to the Fourth of July in 2025, several clear trends emerged.
Chicken Rules the Roost
Affordable, versatile, and ideal for large gatherings, chicken was the most popular protein across the most states—especially in the Southwest and Mid-Atlantic. From city to suburb and beyond, part of the universal appeal comes from how quickly chicken can be prepared—especially on gas grills.
Tradition Calls for Pork Ribs
Pork ribs stand out across much of the Midwest and Southeast, including states like Illinois and Tennessee—regions where BBQ traditions run deep, BBQ sauce runs thick, and pork has long been the protein of choice.
Because of their time-intensive cooking process, ribs are often reserved for special occasions, making the Fourth of July the perfect moment to fire up the smoker or charcoal grill—methods that create the rich, smoky flavor that defines BBQ traditions in these regions.
Burgers Reign Where the Buffalo Roam
If you were wondering whether burgers made the list, they did. Ground beef is the protein of choice in several states, including in parts of the Great Plains; states like Montana — where cattle raising shapes the regional economy, and the landscape doubles as the backdrop for classic Westerns. Easy to grill over an open flame, burgers are flavorful, quick to cook, and as classic as America itself.
Fourth of July Favorites At-A-Glance
Let’s look at a summary of our key findings as we evaluated the purchases leading up to the Fourth of July in 2025. Based on Sam’s Club data, chicken leads in the most states (19), followed by pork ribs (15) and ground beef (11).
Where’s the Brisket and Lobster?
Curious about those favorites typically reserved for special occasions like the Fourth of July? We were too, so we took another look at our data from 2025. It wasn’t surprising that the top brisket lovers were in Texas and seafood lovers were in Florida. The surprise was that Florida also took the top spot for lamb.
Top Fourth of July Specialty Meats and Seafood by State
Fourth of July Grilling: Propane vs Charcoal
Backyard grilling decisions aren’t just centered around what to grill—how you grill plays a big part, too. There’s an ongoing debate between propane grill lovers and charcoal grill fans: one loves the speed, while the other prefers the smoky flavor. The Member’s Mark brand, available exclusively at Sam’s Club, offers both types of grill lovers a quality grilling experience this Fourth of July.
The Member’s Mark 4-Burner Propane Gas Griddle is ideal for cooking multiple items at once and feeding a crowd.
The Member’s Mark 35” Barrel Charcoal Grill is complete with a built-in thermometer and creates the smoky flavor BBQ fans love.
While some members are all about the grill, others want to go all out with the entertaining. So, we also have thought beyond the grill.
Fun Fourth of July Finds
The little extras can turn a cookout into a Fourth of July experience for the books, belly, and social media. We’ve shared fun facts about standout Member’s Mark plate fixings and photo worthy finds.
- Member’s Mark Star Cutout Cookies: Colored using vegetable juices and natural extracts - no synthetic colors.
- Member's Mark Sweet Fruit Topped Chantilly Cream Bar Cake: Fresh, fruit-topped, and available year-round.
- Member’s Mark Loaded Potato Salad: A side that includes real Idaho potatoes, cheddar cheese, sour cream, chives, and bacon. No artificial ingredients.
- Member’s Mark Icon Drinking Glasses (4-Pack): Summer-themed and dishwasher safe.
- Member's Mark 6-Section Bamboo Melamine Serving Platter with Lazy Susan Base and Storage Lid: BPA-free and dishwasher safe.
- Member's Mark Inflatable Oversized Cowboy Hat Lake Island: Just shy of 16 feet long, this float holds up to six adults (around 1,000 lbs.). A fun backdrop for your Fourth of July photos.
Added Savings for 2026
While these grilling trends reflect member purchases from 2025, this year's Fourth of July cookouts come with added savings on popular backyard favorites:
- Member's Mark Whole Bone-In Pork Loin Back Ribs: $3.18/lb. (was $3.48/lb.)
- Member's Mark Whole Bone-In Pork Spare Ribs: $2.68/lb. (was $2.98/lb.)
- Member's Mark 88/12 Ground Beef: $5.97/lb. (was $6.17/lb.)
- Member's Mark Bone-In Chicken Wings, Frozen, 10 lbs.: $2.00/lb. (was $2.88/lb.)
- Member's Mark Beef Hot Dogs, 2 oz., 24 ct.: $10.86 (was $12.96)
Fourth of July: The Big Picture
While burgers may be the most iconic cookout food, Sam’s Club Fourth of July trends tell a bigger story about how Americans celebrate. Based on Sam’s Club 2025 data, chicken leads as the most popular meat in the most states, pork ribs dominate in regions where BBQ tradition runs deep, and ground beef is most popular in some of the Great Plains states—where beef and open-flame cooking helped shape the burger into an American classic—but what really defines the Fourth of July holiday is the freedom to choose how it all comes together.
FAQs About Fourth of July Trends
Based on Sam’s Club data leading up to the Fourth of July in 2025, chicken was the most popular meat purchased in the most states thanks to its affordability, versatility, and ability to feed large groups. The 19 states that favored chicken based on the data, included: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.
Based on Sam’s Club data leading up to the Fourth of July in 2025, burgers are a staple in the following 11 states: Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, New Mexico, North Dakota, Maine, Montana, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Meanwhile, pork ribs were more popular in the following 15 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
