Celebrate the South's great race with some of our favorite Bluegrass-inspired recipes.
Decided to host a Kentucky Derby party, but aren’t sure what to serve? Rest assured, we’ve got your derby celebration covered with these Kentucky Derby party recipes. From cocktails to appetizers to desserts, you’re set with Kentucky Derby party recipes. Your friends will think that you took a weekend trip to Louisville to study up on the local Kentucky Derby recipes. Shhh…Your secret is safe with us. We do ask that you wear your best hat while you prepare your Kentucky Derby party recipes. You would win the Triple Crown for Kentucky Derby party prep if you did this with a mint julep in hand.
Triple Crown-Worthy Kentucky Derby Recipes
Recipe: Fluffy Cream Cheese Biscuits
Kentucky Derby is celebrated the first Saturday in May with visitors from around the world gathering at the racetrack, and all over Louisville. Gather friends and family to watch the race at home in great Southern tradition. You can mix-and-match these Kentucky Derby Recipes to host a Bluegrass-themed party.
Fluffy Cream Cheese Biscuits with Figgy Port Chutney, Blue Cheese Butter, and Ginger Ale-Brown Sugar Smoked Ham make up this delectable Derby sandwich.
Three leavening ingredients—yeast, baking powder, and baking soda—ensure light biscuits every time.
The SL Mint Julep and The Blush Lily
Recipe: The SL Mint Julep
Recipe: The Blush Lily
On race day, Churchill Downs serves up 120,000 mint juleps and 40,000 of the lesser-known Oaks Lily cocktails. Sterling julep cups are classic, but these cocktails are so pretty—why not show them off in highball glasses?
Chilled Sweet Pea Soup with Mint and Cream
Recipe: Chilled Sweet Pea Soup with Mint and Cream
We love this bright, minty soup because it adds a pop of spring color to the buffet. Make it up to 48 hours ahead of time.
Moonshine-Cherry Blush
Recipe: Moonshine-Cherry Blush
Base Recipe: Basil-Lemon Moonshine
Basil-Lemon Moonshine is great by itself on the rocks, but our Moonshine-Cherry Blush recipe will certainly be difficult to pass up.
Derby Truffles
Recipe: Derby Truffles
These make-ahead gems are easy enough for casual get-togethers and fancy enough for special occasions.
Mint Julep Sweet Tea
Recipe: Mint Julep Sweet Tea
This iced cocktail features the best of two classic Southern drinks: the mint julep and sweet tea. For best results, sip in a rocking chair on a front porch somewhere.
Chocolate-Bourbon-Butterscotch Icebox Cake
Recipe: Chocolate-Bourbon-Butterscotch Icebox Cake
Elegant, showstopper desserts don’t come much easier than this. Each slice resembles fine pastry.
Spring-on-a-Plate Salads
Recipe: Spring-on-a-Plate Salads
Look for tender, fresh baby greens and microgreens at your local farmers’ market; they should be abundant this time of year. Soaking vegetables in ice water crisps them up.
Sweet Tea Julep Pops
Recipe: Sweet Tea Julep Pops
These pops combine two Southern favorites, sweet tea and mint juleps, so they're bound to be a crowd-pleaser.
Honey Custard with Berries
Recipe: Honey Custard with Berries
This refreshing treat will be a great dessert for any party. If you don’t have white balsamic vinegar, substitute Champagne vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
Pork Tenderloin Sliders
Recipe: Pork Tenderloin Sliders
One carefree way to serve these cuties is to slice the tenderloins on a large cutting board, set out fresh rolls and homemade condiments, and let guests build their own sandwiches.
Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Pie
Recipe: Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Pie
The new appreciation for whiskey goes beyond drinking and finds its way into sauces, braises, and especially desserts. Now bourbon and pecan pie fit togther like peanut butter and jelly or Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Jalapeño Cheese Straws
Recipe: Jalapeño Cheese Straws
We know: You’ve got a cheese straw recipe you can make with your eyes closed. But give this subtly spicy recipe (that impressed our Test Kitchen staff!) a try.
Pecan Bourbon Balls
Recipe: Pecan Bourbon Balls
Who spiked the cookies? Hardly a Christmas can pass in the South without these traditional ball-shaped, bourbon-flavored pecan cookies ending up on a dessert bar or in a gift box.
Derby Julep
Recipe: Derby Julep
Its namesake may be the fastest two minutes in sports, but that doesn't mean this cocktail should be short-lived. Consider our derby julep a cocktail hour mainstay all year long.
Country Ham and Biscuits
Recipe: Country Ham and Biscuits
Recipe: Blackberry Mustard
Recipe: Lemon-Herb Butter
For a Derby Day classic, bake frozen tea biscuits and fill with thin slices of country ham. Have guests dress biscuits with flavored butter and mustard blends.
Mint Julep Gelées
Recipe: Mint Julep Gelées
To make these less strong, increase cold water to 2¼ cups and reduce bourbon to ¾ cup.
Kentucky Hot Browns
Recipe: Kentucky Hot Browns
In need of a little comfort? Tuck into the classic knife-and-fork sandwich smothered in Mornay sauce for a decadent Southern dish.
Watch: Kentucky Hot Browns
Watercress Canapés
Recipe: Watercress Canapés
Recipe Twist: Goat Cheese Canapés and Bacon-and-Olive Canapés
Get the full Kentucky Derby Menu
Create color with cucumbers, yellow squash, candy-cane beets, salmon caviar, zucchini, herbs, radishes, sprouts, and other fresh finds.
Classic Mint Julep
Recipe: Classic Mint Julep
The classic version is served in silver julep cups. These are filled to the rim with a refreshing concoction of the finest bourbon, simple syrup, fresh mint, and crushed ice. See our tips and techniques for stirring up a mint julep.
Step-by-Step Video: Make a Classic Mint Julep
Derby Cheese Hat
Recipe: Derby Cheese Hat
No derby celebration is complete without the proper hat; this one is edible. Use rounds of garlic-and-herb spreadable cheese and Brie as a base, and create your own design with ribbon and herbs. Serve with assorted crackers and precut veggies.
Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Pie
Recipe: Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Pie
This recipe takes pecan pie and adds the intense flavors of bourbon and chocolate. Use a refrigerated pie crust, and hands-on preparation only takes 10 minutes.
Bourbon Balls
Recipe: Bourbon Balls
For a Kentuckian, bourbon balls are a must-have party food. Make with the freshest ingredients, and in our opinion, the better the bourbon, the tastier the filling.
Dark Chocolate-Bourbon Torte
Recipe: Dark Chocolate-Bourbon Torte
Nobody can resist a dessert as luscious as this―even if it is lightened. Just sprinkle this guilt-free dessert with powdered sugar and cocoa for an easy, elegant look.
Lightened Hot Browns
Recipe: Lightened Hot Browns
Grab a knife and fork, and dig in. There's no guilt behind these hot browns—they're lightened and full of flavor. Typically, this open-faced Kentucky classic is made with a heavy cheese sauce, but we found a way to deliver the same richness without all the saturated fat.
Next-Day Pickled Shrimp
Recipe: Next-Day Pickled Shrimp
This make-ahead recipe requires minimal effort with delicious results.
Beef Tenderloin Crostini
Recipe: Beef Tenderloin Crostini
This melt-in-your-mouth appetizer will be the standout of your party thanks to the ensemble of perfectly seasoned layers and, of course, the grilled tenderloin. Prep the Herbed Cornbread Crostini base up to a month ahead and freeze.
Bourbon-Marinated Pork Tenderloin
Recipe: Bourbon-Marinated Pork Tenderloin
Go Bluegrass on the grill with this Bourbon-Marinated Pork Tenderloin recipe. The bourbon mixed with soy sauce and spices adds flavor and tenderizes the meat.
Baby Hot Browns
Recipe: Baby Hot Browns
Get your party started with mini open-faced turkey sandwiches. Pile turkey, bacon, and cheese high on pumpernickel for a guaranteed party hit.
