32 Kentucky Derby Recipes That'll Win Even When You Don't
For this upcoming Kentucky Derby (Saturday, May 4, 2024), we think you shouldn't leave any part of your Derby Day party up to chance. So while you're off to the races, it's time to think about the real winners. No, not the horses, the food and drinks! Thankfully, we've got tons of recipe ideas that are perfect for your Kentucky Derby party. With recipes like Southern tomato pie, bourbon balls, and BBQ brisket on the menu, your odds at having a great spread are very, very good. Be sure to check out all 32 of our top Kentucky Derby food recipes (and don't forget the mint juleps!). On your marks, get set, eat!
The Kentucky Derby is the perfect time of year to highlight one of the best gifts Kentucky has given us: Super good bourbon. And we're not just talking bourbon cocktails, either. We've found tons of ways to incorporate the spirit into sweet and savory dishes, like our bourbon bacon Brussels sprouts, cherry bourbon glazed ham, and even a bourbon peach pie. It also goes without saying that our slow-cooker bourbon barbecue wings go very well with our gold rush cocktail. 😉
The South has legendary cuisine and we'll take any opportunity to serve up our favorites on Derby Day. Our surefire winners? Crispy fried chicken with plenty of Southern potato salad and vinegar coleslaw on the side. And if you're in the mood to snack before the main event, whip up some pimiento cheese for good measure.
Now that you've got your fancy derby hat and prepped all the food, be sure to round out your party with plenty of bourbon and whiskey cocktails. If your bar cart needs restocking, check out all of our favorite bourbon and whiskey brands next!
Pimento Cheese
If you love party dips like Buffalo chicken or spinach artichoke, you’ll LOVE pimento cheese. This soft, creamy spread loaded with shredded cheddar cheese and spiked with diced pimento peppers and hot sauce can be served hot or cold (so make it ahead of time!).
Get the Pimento Cheese recipe.
Vinegar Coleslaw
To make this a truly vegan-friendly slaw, there is neither mayonnaise nor honey in the mix. We use maple to bring out the veggies’ natural sweetness and Dijon mustard helps emulsify the oil and vinegar while adding a bit of a kick in the back of your throat. Feel free to halve the amount of mustard if you already know you don’t like spice.
Get the Vinegar Coleslaw recipe.
BBQ Brisket
You don't need a fancy smoker to make BBQ Brisket. Instead, use your grill, and then and serve it with your favorite Southern-inspired sides like baked mac & cheese, potato salad, and cornbread.
Get the BBQ Brisket recipe.
Deviled Eggs
Nothing says cocktail party like some classic deviled eggs! They're a Southern party staple and we love making them year-round.
Get the Deviled Eggs recipe.
Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders
Every sandwich is better in slider form, especially when it comes to the southern classic Kentucky hot brown. Just like the OG version, these are piled high with turkey breast, cheese sauce, crispy bacon, and juicy sliced tomatoes. We swapped the sliced bread for a pack of soft and fluffy King’s Hawaiian rolls to make these the perfect shareable bite for an afternoon snack, dinner, or your next Kentucky Derby party.
Get the Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders recipe.
Southern Tomato Pie
Fillings for Southern tomato pies always include tomatoes, mayonnaise, plenty of cheese, and Dijon mustard, but our version's got a flavorful upgrade: chopped pimiento peppers, which lend the filling all the delicious richness of pimiento cheese dip.
Get the Southern Tomato Pie recipe.
Prosecco Mint Julep
This festive sparkling drink is perfect for a low-key party cocktail hour. A sort of lightened-up mint julep, the addition of a dry sparkling wine provides a pleasant brightness and effervescence that plays well with the rich, caramelized tones of bourbon whiskey.
Get the Prosecco Mint Julep recipe.
Hot Crab Dip
In the Delish test kitchen, we believe hot crab dip belongs in the party dip hall of fame. Packed with melty cheese and sweet, tender crab meat, this rich dip is the perfect opener to any party, from New Year's Eve to Kentucky Derby celebrations. While it may seem extra fancy, it's surprisingly easy to whip up this decadent dip. Ready in an hour, this is the perfect last minute app to throw together with minimal effort, and is best served hot straight out of the oven!
Get the Hot Crab Dip recipe.
Bourbon Peach Pie
Let this pie be the first thing you make to celebrate peach season. It has a flaky buttery pie crust that is so easy and makes it worth making your own! The filling is rich with spices and hint of bourbon that really makes the pie stand out. A pie is a great way to use those peaches that are still a little too firm to eat. They will break down while cooking creating a jammy, addicting filling that isn't too soft.
Get the Bourbon Peach Pie recipe.
Black-Eyed Pea Bruschetta
This easy crostini couldn't be easier: Simply toss canned black-eyed peas with raw chopped collard greens, bell pepper, scallions, and garlic, and toss with an apple cider vinaigrette. Pile the mix onto toasted baguette slices and top with crispy, smoky pork to complete this shareable appetizer.
Get the Black-Eyed Pea Bruschetta recipe.
BBQ Tempeh Sandwiches
Nothings says summer more than grilling over an open flame. Except the aroma of a whisky-infused homemade barbecue sauce. The grill adds subtle smoky flavor to these tempeh steaks, almost bacon-like, but there's no meat in sight. Add a cooling, creamy coleslaw and a toasted buttered bun for the perfect summer sandwich.
Get the BBQ Tempeh Sandwiches recipe.
Classic Mint Julep
Mint juleps are often only brought up around the time of the Kentucky Derby, and we think that’s a crying (neighing?) shame! Not only does the classic frosty cup and minty flavor provide a cooling freshness on a hot day, it’s also one of the best low-effort cocktails out there. It's only 3 ingredients (if you don’t count ice), and the prep couldn’t be simpler.
Get the Classic Mint Julep recipe.
Crispy Fried Chicken
The quest for perfect fried chicken is not for the faint of heart. To complete the journey to fried chicken nirvana, we went through over 20 iterations of the recipe so that you won't have to. The final result is a simple formula: a seasoned buttermilk brine + a dip in batter + a shake in flour + a dunk into a pot of hot oil = the only fried chicken recipe you'll ever need.
Get the Crispy Fried Chicken recipe.
Southern Potato Salad
Tender Yukon Gold potatoes paired with hard-boiled eggs, celery, sweet pickles, and red onion make this Southern-style potato salad the perfect sidekick for your next BBQ.
Get the Southern Potato Salad recipe.
Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken
Craving BBQ pulled chicken? Good news—this slow-cooker recipe makes it easier than ever to create delicious, tender, and extra-flavorful pulled chicken right at home with minimal effort. To really take this recipe over the top, we added brown sugar, some Italian dressing, and bourbon to create a slightly sweet, smoky sauce that you just might want to add to all your BBQ staples. You can definitely leave it out, but we think it's the best part. 😉
Get the Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken recipe.
Copycat Popeyes Biscuits
Aside from mouth-watering chicken and sandwiches that make people line up around the block, Popeyes is known for their iconic, fluffy, crisp, salty, and buttery biscuits. Made for sopping up gravy or shuttling red beans and rice from point A to point B, these copycat biscuits come crazy close to the original using a few classic biscuit baking techniques and tips.
Get the Copycat Popeyes Biscuits recipe.
Bourbon Balls
If you’re looking for a boozy treat to get the party started, these bourbon balls are calling your name. Made with finely chopped pecans, crushed vanilla wafer cookies, and of course, bourbon, these no-bake cookie truffles highlight the flavor of the bourbon while taming its typical burn. Warning: You won’t be able to stop at one!
Get the Bourbon Balls recipe.
Steak With Bourbon Garlic Cream Sauce
Seared until deeply browned, basted in garlicky butter, and served with a dreamy pan gravy, this steak is the perfect centerpiece for any special occasion dinner, especially for all the bourbon-lovers out there.
Get the Steak With Bourbon Garlic Cream Sauce recipe.
Banana Pudding
Banana pudding is one of our all-time favorite desserts. It's a classic Southern recipe, and for good reason; luscious layers of pudding, whipped cream, ripe bananas, and wafer cookies are completely impossible to resist.
Get the Banana Pudding recipe.
Old Fashioned Cocktail
Oaky and sweet, with a hint of citrus on the finish, the classic whiskey Old Fashioned is truly a bourbon lover's drink. You only need a few ingredients to make this classic cocktail—sugar, bitters, and a large ice cube—so you’ve really got to make them count. Check out all our top tips to making your Old Fashioned the best it can be.
Get the Old Fashioned Cocktail recipe.
Pecan Pralines
A classic Southern dessert, pecan pralines are the melt-in-your-mouth candy perfect to bring for any party. The perfect cross between a cookie and a candy, these soft and chewy bites make for an ideal food gift anytime of year—who wouldn’t want homemade candy? If you’ve never tried your hand at making pralines, don’t stress! They’re not as difficult to make as you may think, and if you follow our top tips, you’ll ace this homemade sweet in no time.
Get the Pecan Pralines recipe.
Pimiento Cheese Corn Muffins
The flavor squad is here to provide standard corn muffins with a mega boost which takes its cues from classic Southern pimento cheese. Packed with shredded cheddar, diced pimiento peppers, garlic powder, and a generous amount of cayenne, the result is a savory delight.
Get the Pimiento Cheese Corn Muffins recipe.
Spicy Fried “Chicken” Sandwich
Crunchy, spicy, creamy, and tart—this "chicken" sammie is total bliss. We replicated spicy fried chicken with protein-packed tofu and added cornmeal to the batter for extra crunch.
Get the Spicy Fried “Chicken” Sandwich recipe.
Southern-Style Cornbread
Southern-style cornbread starts with bacon fat and is (almost) always baked in a cast-iron skillet. Don't be intimidated by baking in your cast iron—here's how we like to season ours to guarantee it won't stick.
Get the Southern-Style Cornbread recipe.
Waffle Batter Fried Chicken
Chicken and waffles is a classic brunch dish, but have you ever thought about turning your chicken into a waffle? Don’t worry, no waffle maker required! Instead, you’ll combine the two dishes by coating chicken cutlets in waffle batter before pan-frying them to crispy, crunchy perfection. To serve, sprinkle the chicken with a touch more salt, then generously drizzle with maple syrup and hot sauce. For extra credit, finish off your stacks with a pat of butter just like you would with waffles. It’s indulgent, but so worth it.
Get the Waffle Batter Fried Chicken recipe.
Gold Rush Cocktail
Fans of the whiskey sour to the front, please! The Gold Rush cocktail is the whiskey drink you’re already in love with. Very similar to a whiskey sour, this shaken bourbon cocktail calls for honey syrup instead of simple syrup. Half of the fun of making a cocktail is putting your spin on an old favorite. Try this with hot honey instead if you’re a spicy cocktail person!
Get the Gold Rush Cocktail recipe.
Cherry Bourbon Glazed Ham
A spiral ham as the centerpiece for a Kentucky Derby party is a no-brainer, and we think this one is truly a winner all year-round. Get ready to plan a dinner party around this ham alone! It's got a tart, smoky, sweet glaze going that gives a fun twist to the traditional pineapple glazed ham. The tart cherries and bourbon work together to bring a slight sour and oaky tartness to the spiral ham while the glaze has just enough cayenne pepper to bring a smoky subtle heat.
Get the Cherry Bourbon Glazed Ham recipe.
Bourbon Bacon Brussels Sprouts
We already know that bacon, maple, and Brussels sprouts make magic together, so why not add in a dash of bourbon? Whether it's the holidays or any old weekday, these candied sprouts make for a well-seasoned and flavorful vegetable side.
Get the Bourbon Bacon Brussels Sprouts recipe.
Hush Puppies
Hush puppies—or fried balls of savory cornmeal batter—are a welcome addition to any seafood spread or fried food feast. These golden, crispy bites are so easy to make, they're the perfect last-minute appetizer or anytime snack. Trust us, once you try them, you won't be able to keep hushed about 'em!
Get the Hush Puppies recipe.
Cheese Straws
Crunchy, flaky, and cheesy. What's not to love? These are studded with cheddar, green onions, and sesame seeds for the most flavor-packed cheese straws we've ever had. Using store-bought puff pastry makes them extremely easy to pull together for game day too.
Get the Cheese Straws recipe.
Slow-Cooker Barbecue-Bourbon Chicken Wings
When you want to take a break from buffalo, reach for barbecue sauce—and bourbon for good measure!
Get the Slow-Cooker Barbecue-Bourbon Chicken Wings recipe.
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