Since 1875, the first Saturday of May has been the date for the Triple Crown contenders to race on beautiful Churchill Downs to win the Kentucky Derby.
To keep you a winner, we’ve come up with Kentucky Derby party food like mint julep recipes, Derby pie and other Kentucky Derby desserts as well as classic Southern favorites like fried chicken, grits, ham, biscuits, pimento cheese, bourbon balls and more. Just throw on your hat, get out your binoculars and get ready for your own Run for the Roses. (We’re thinking the wine, not flowers.)
-
RecipeThe Greenbrier’s Mint Julep
The mint julep’s history is about as muddled as the mint in this drink. Some say it was the Virginians who first took this drink, while others believe it originated in Kentucky. Rather than using simple syrup, as most do now, it originally called for sugar and water to be muddled with the mint. The Greenbrier hotel and resort was probably the first to offer the julep, at its lobby bar, and more than likely gussied it up with a silver cup. This is very close to that recipe. -
RecipeBourbon-Orange-Glazed Ham
Make this glazed ham the star of your crowd-friendly buffet. It’s delicious warm or at room temperature and it makes great sandwiches, too. To give your guests that option, serve with biscuits (store-bought or homemade), horseradish cream spread, and orange-maple mustard. -
RecipeFlaky Buttermilk Biscuits
For a few delicious variations on this recipe, check out Cheese Biscuits, Fresh Herb Biscuits, and Caramelized Onion Biscuits. -
RecipeBaked Cheddar Grits with Bacon
Whipped egg whites lighten the grits, giving them a soufflé-like texture. -
RecipeThat Horse Race Pie
“That horse race” is the Kentucky Derby, and this pie is a tradition for Derby Day parties. Can’t call it a Derby Pie, though, because a bakery in Louisville gets real upset. This pie is too good for just one day. The chocolate, bourbon, and nuts just blend to perfection. It travels well, making it great for potlucks and family reunions. -
RecipeDerby Day Mint Julep Cocktail
There are as many variations of the mint julep as there are thoroughbreds that have run in the Kentucky Derby, which is when this sweet concoction is traditionally served. It’s often stirred with ice in a silver cup; this version calls for shaking with a slice of lemon for a frothy, refreshing drink. -
RecipeThe Seelbach Cocktail
This cocktail was invented just before Prohibition at the Seelbach Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. The recipe was lost for many years but later unearthed and once again made at the hotel. The sweetness of the bourbon, Cointreau and champagne is balanced by the big dose of bitters that also give the drink depth. -
RecipeKentucky Hot Browns with Manchego-Jalapeño Mornay Sauce
The history of the Kentucky Hot Brown is rooted in late-night revelry at the Brown Hotel in Louisville. The story goes that following a late night of drinking and dancing, partygoers at this landmark hotel were hungry and needed something to soak up the evening’s alcohol, so the chef whipped up a meal with what he had: thick slices of bread, roast turkey, bacon, cheese, cream, and tomatoes. -
RecipeSouthern Fried Chicken
This recipe uses a dry brine (a spice rub containing ample salt) to add savory flavor without diluting the bird’s inherent chickeny flavor. The salt dries out the skin, so it becomes extra crisp. A dredge in a buttermilk and egg batter gives the pieces a thick crust that snaps and crackles with each bite. Rice flour lightens the coating and prevents bits of the batter from falling off in the hot oil. -
RecipeDeviled Eggs with Crabmeat and Cayenne
Here, the classic deviled egg filling is made even tastier with sweet crab, sherry, Worcestershire sauce and a hit of cayenne. Set these kicked-up nibbles on a platter at your next party and watch them disappear. Luckily for your guests, the recipe is easily doubled or tripled to serve a crowd. -
RecipeSpiced Pecans
Cayenne and maple syrup make a hot-sweet flavor that is addictive. -
RecipeBaked Smithfield Ham with Bourbon, Honey, and Pecan Glaze
Hams dry-cured, hickory-smoked, and aged in and around Smithfield, Virginia, have been legendary since the days Thomas Jefferson and Queen Victoria ordered them special, and today there is still no more ceremonial ham for the formal buffet table. When the ham is slowly baked, and then subjected to a luscious glaze such as this one with bourbon, honey, and pecans, the result is a culinary masterpiece. -
RecipeSlow-Cooker Southern-Style Short Ribs with Pimiento Grits
Tender, meaty beef short ribs are classic cold-weather comfort fare, but these—made in a slow cooker while you tend to the rest of your life—harken back to summer, thanks to their barbecue flavor. Fans of pimento cheese (as well as those who have never heard of this Southern staple) will adore the accompanying grits. -
RecipeBourbon Balls
For some of us, it wouldn’t be Kentucky Derby Day without these rich, potent treats. I like to make them with chocolate or vanilla cake scraps that I’ve saved in the freezer, but you can also use a store-bought pound cake, since saving scraps takes some forethought. But if you happen to have scraps, or even a leftover cake layer, here’s your chance to use them. -
RecipeHot Brown Bites in Turmeric-Black Pepper Pastry
These hors d’oeuvres are a homage to Louisville’s most famous culinary creation. The traditional Hot Brown is an open-face turkey and bacon sandwich topped with cheese sauce and broiled until the bread is crisp and the sauce is puffed and lightly browned. It’s a meal unto itself, but these are smaller and in an easy-to-make black pepper and turmeric-spiced pastry. -
RecipeKentucky Jam Cake
Studded with raisins and nuts, fragrant with nutmeg and cloves, the secret ingredient in this recipe is blackberry jam, which both flavors and colors the cake. -
RecipeBenedictine Dip with Crudités
This bright cucumber spread is often used to make Benedictine sandwiches, a traditional Kentucky Derby snack. I prefer to serve it as a dip with crudités to lighten things up.
