Food and Recipes Holiday and Occasion Food 38 Crowd-Favorite Kentucky Derby Party Recipes By Cameron Beall Cameron Beall Cameron Beall is a writer, marketer, photographer, and creative with over a year of experience with Southern Living in the realm of homes and home building. She was infatuated by home design from a young age, credit to her mother and grandmother. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on March 14, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Hosting a Kentucky Derby party, but aren't sure what to serve? Rest assured, we've got your celebration covered with these Kentucky Derby party recipes. Celebrate the South's most celebrated horse race with a mix of Bluegrass-inspired dishes and some of our all-time favorite party recipes for a spread that won't disappoint. From traditional Derby Day cocktails like mint juleps to crowd-pleasing appetizers and decadent bourbon-inspired desserts, you're set with Triple-Crown-worthy Kentucky Derby party recipes so good that your guests may even think that you took a weekend trip to Louisville to study up on the local traditions. So dust off your favorite silver trays, punch bowls, and julep cups, fill them these delish and festive recipes, and then put on your best Derby hat for the most exciting two minutes in sports. 01 of 38 Hot Brown Party Rolls Victor Protasio; Food Stying: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis These delicious party rolls are packed with gooey Gruyère cheese, turkey, and bacon ,then topped with dijon mustard and a brown-sugar-garlic-butter spread. Best of all, they're just as easy to make as they are to pull apart and enjoy. 02 of 38 Mint Julep Brent Hofacker/Getty Images On race day, Churchill Downs serves up 120,000 of these refreshing concoctions of bourbon, fresh mint, and crushed ice. While sterling silver julep cups are classic, highball glassware is a great alternative to show off this pretty cocktail. 03 of 38 Kentucky Bourbon Pie Antonis Achilleos This beloved recipe of chocolate, bourbon, and pecans is a rendition of George Kern's Derby Pie that dates back to 1964. Though not originally intended to be served on Derby Day, it quickly became a popular celebratory dessert on race day due to its name. 04 of 38 Inside-Out Hot Brown Bites Hector Sanchez We love Kentucky hot browns in any form, especially this pretty, bite-sized version. The Parmesan crust cups are filled with turkey, bacon, and more cheese, and then topped with tomatoes and parsley for the perfect bite. 05 of 38 Sweet Pea-Avocado Soup Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry We love this bright and zesty soup because it adds a pop of spring color to the buffet. Bonus: You can make it ahead of time and chill until ready to serve. 06 of 38 Black-Eyed Susan Slushies Victor Protasio; Food Stying: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis This colorful, fruity cocktail has been the official drink the Preakness Stakes race for decades. Most versions of this classic cocktail call for pineapple and orange juice, orange liqueur, vodka and rum like this non-frozen version, but our slushie has a few twists. 07 of 38 Strawberry Caprese Salad IAIN BAGWELL Celebrate spring with this fresh caprese salad made with basil, strawberries, and mini mozzarella balls. Serve it as an appetizer with crostinis or over a bed of arugula for your Derby festivities. 08 of 38 Bourbon-Chocolate Cake with Browned Buttercream Frosting Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop styling: Lydia Pursell Elegant, showstopping desserts don't come much easier than this. Each slice of this decadent cake is a bourbon lover's dream. 09 of 38 Pork Tenderloin Sliders Hector Sanchez One easy way to serve these cuties is to slice the tenderloins on a large cutting board, set out fresh rolls and homemade condiments, and then let guests build their own sandwiches. 10 of 38 Cheddar Cheese Straws Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford No Southern party would be complete without cheese straws. These have the perfect amount of peppery kick, making them our go-to snack for any occasion. 11 of 38 Pecan Bourbon Balls Iain Bagwell Who spiked the cookies? You'd be hard-pressed to find a festive occasion in the South without these traditional bourbon-flavored pecan cookies on the dessert bar. 12 of 38 Ham Biscuits Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas For a Derby Day classic, these tea biscuits are great on their own, but they're even better as mini sandwiches filled with thin slices of country ham and a spread. Have a variety of condiments for guests to dress biscuits, like blackberry-honey mustard sauce, fancy-flavored butter, or creole mayonnaise. 13 of 38 Kentucky Hot Browns Becky Luigart-Stayner In need of a little comfort? Tuck into this open-faced, knife-and-fork sandwich smothered in Mornay sauce for a delicious Kentucky classic. 14 of 38 Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Pie Hector Sanchez We can hardly celebrate in the South without bourbon or whiskey, whether it's in our cocktails, sauces and braises, or desserts. Bourbon and pecan pie are a match made in heaven, but this pie takes that combination to a whole new level. 15 of 38 Mini Tomato Sandwiches with Bacon Mayonaise Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Finger foods are a hit at any party, and heading into summer, these mini tomato and bacon sandwiches are begging to be served at gatherings, including your Derby day celebration. There's something about mini sandwiches on white bread that pairs perfectly with fancy hats. 16 of 38 Kentucky Hot Brown Casserole Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke We love putting anything in a casserole dish, and that includes our twist on the Kentucky Hot Brown from Louisville. 17 of 38 Beet Pickled Deviled Eggs Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch While we love traditional deviled eggs, these are just what your Derby Day menu is missing. Add some bright, festive color to your spread with these naturally-colored beauties. 18 of 38 Red Chipotle Pepper Jelly Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Whether it's atop a block of cream cheese and served with crackers or slathered on a ham biscuit, this homemade pepper jelly goes with just about anything. 19 of 38 Bourbon Balls Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox For a Kentuckian, bourbon balls are a must-have party food. In our opinion, the better the bourbon, the tastier the filling. These make-ahead gems are easy enough for casual get-togethers and fancy enough for special occasions. 20 of 38 Coffee-Rubbed Beef Tenderloin Crostini Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely This melt-in-your-mouth appetizer will be the standout of your party thanks to the ensemble of perfectly seasoned layers. Toasted baguette slices with silky caramelized onion butter and peppery arugula topped with thinly sliced tenderloin makes each bite delicious. 21 of 38 Kentucky Oaks Blush Lily Photo: Hector Sanchez More than 40,000 servings of this lesser-known Derby Day cocktail are poured at Churchill Downs on race day. It's the perfect alternative to present alongside the traditional Mint Julep for all those who are bourbon averse. 22 of 38 Bloody Mary Poached Shrimp Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely From tailgates to brunches, Bloody Mary bars are a must-have, and these poached shrimp are just as essential—they're the ultimate light, buffet snack. 23 of 38 Sweet Tea Mint Julep Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen This iced cocktail features the best of two classic Southern drinks: the mint julep and sweet tea. Whip up this cocktail the first weekend of May, and we guarantee you'll want to keep making it though the summer months for porch sipping. 24 of 38 Creamy Spinach-Ricotta Crostini Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Add color and texture to your appetizer spread with these quick and simple crostinis. Ready in just 15 minutes, you won't miss a second of spending time with your guests or sipping on a julep. 25 of 38 Kentucky Beer Cheese Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist:Christine Keely Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Though it originated in Kentucky, this regional dish has spread across the country. Similar to the South's favorite dip, pimiento cheese, this appetizer is easily served with pretzel sticks, crackers, or veggie sticks. 26 of 38 Mint Julep Slush Caitlin Bensel For those extra-warm Derby Days, we turned the classic Mint Julep that is served over crushed ice into a slushie. Blend just before serving and garnish with a mint sprig. 27 of 38 Kentucky Derby Cheese Hat Southern Living Take your snacking board to the next level on this special day by creating a cheesy take on the Derby hat with Brie (or any round cheese of your choosing). Add your own flair and frills with garnishes. 28 of 38 Cheese Dreams Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn There's really no occasion where this easy appetizer won't be the first one to go missing. 29 of 38 Ham-and-Cheese-Sliders Photography and Styling: Karen Rankin We just can't get enough of buttery Hawaiian rolls, especially when they're filled with ham and cheese and brushed with honey mustard. These baked sliders will be a crowd-pleaser at any party. 30 of 38 Crudités Platter Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs A colorful crudités platter feels just right for the height of spring! Plus, a plateful of veggies is the perfect way to balance out the irresistible Hot Brown Party Rolls that are a must-have. 31 of 38 Jesse Houston's Pickled Shrimp Recipe Southern Living This make-ahead recipe requires minimal effort with delicious results. Soaked in Old Bay seasoning, lemon juice, and garlic, then marinated in apple cider vinegar and celery seeds, these crustaceans are full of flavor. 32 of 38 Pimiento Cheese Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Complete any party spread with a heaping bowl of pimiento cheese. 33 of 38 Bacon-Cheese Gougères Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis These delicious savory pastries might sound fancy, but these made with bacon, Gruyère, and aged white cheddar, they are surprisingly simple. While gougères are best served fresh, this light and airy baked good can be baked ahead of time, frozen, and reheated in the oven at 350°F for a stress-free Derby Day. 34 of 38 Mini Hot Browns Southern Living Get your party started with mini open-faced turkey sandwiches. Pile turkey, bacon, and cheese high on pumpernickel for a guaranteed party hit. 35 of 38 Kentucky Slow-Cooker Burgoo Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis First made popular in the late 1800s, burgoo typically includes a variety of fresh vegetables and a mixture of mutton, beef, pork, or poultry. While every recipe is different, we're sticking to pork for this slow-cooker version. 36 of 38 Hummingbird Cake Southern Living This beloved cake is known for gracing spring gatherings across the South and Derby Day is no different. Its flavorful three layers are topped with cream cheese frosting and pecans. 37 of 38 Champagne Punch Hector Sanchez Pop the bubbles and cheers to your winning horse with a glass of this easy and refreshing punch. Stir the four ingredients together in a punch bowl or pitcher, then garnish with frozen fruit of your choice. 38 of 38 Feta-Olive-Fresh Herb Cheese Ball Hector Manuel Sanchez Serve this herby combination of our two favorite cheeses, feta and cream cheese with sliced cucumbers and your favorite crackers. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit