Whether you're hosting a Kentucky Derby party this year or you want to make a simple meal at home to celebrate and watch the races on TV, these easy Kentucky Derby recipes have you covered! From the very best mint julep recipes to a new take on the traditional Kentucky hot brown, you and your gang will love these festive ideas.
Table of Contents
- Kentucky Derby Appetizers
- Kentucky Derby Dinners
- Kentucky Derby Sides
- Kentucky Derby Desserts
- Kentucky Derby Drink Recipes
Kentucky Derby Appetizers
Hot Brown Bites
Hot Brown Bites
Whether you plan on having an impromptu Kentucky Derby bash or you simply plan on watching it quietly at home, we've got just the thing to serve...and it's always a winner. Our Hot Brown Bites feature layers of turkey, creamy cheese sauce, and smoky bacon on top of crispy, party rye bread. You just can't go wrong!
Hush Puppies
Hush Puppies
Every Kentucky Derby party menu needs a little taste of the South. These Hush Puppes are just that!In the Old South, they used to make these yummy cornmeal balls so they'd have something to throw to the hounds to keep them from howling when Yankee soldiers approached. So if you've always wondered how Hush Puppies got their name, now you know!
Fried Mac 'n' Cheese Balls
Fried Mac 'n' Cheese Balls
The next time you invite your friends and family over to watch the big race, set out a platter with Fried Mac 'n' Cheese Balls and get ready to watch them dive, dip, and lunge for these munchies! They're going to love the crispy coating and cheesy goodness in every bite!
Deviled Eggs
Deviled Eggs
The Deviled Eggs make the perfect appetizer for any party! But they're old-fashioned flavor will make them absolute perfection at your Kentucky Derby get together. Everyone loves a good appetizer while they're waiting for the race to start, and these will be gone before the horses cross the finish line!
Wrapped Up Kielbasa
Wrapped Up Kielbasa
In fancy restaurants they wrap tenderloin in bacon and call it filet mignon, and scallops in bacon to create a seafood brochette. In our recipe for Wrapped Up Kielbasa we wrap kielbasa in bacon for an hors d'oeuvre we call yummy!
Hot Rye Rounds
Hot Rye Rounds
These pint-size ryes are a favorite finger food for parties. And they're so easy to whip up ahead of time without any hassle. Spend more of your time enjoying the Kentucky Derby with family and friends, and less time in the kitchen!
Kentucky Derby Dinners
Orange Bourbon Ham
Orange Bourbon Ham
Our to-die-for easy homemade glaze that's brushed on to a bone-in smoked ham will make your holiday entertaining memorable. Our Test Kitchen's favorite recipe for Orange Bourbon Ham is so simple yet so elegant
Easy Kentucky Burgoo
Easy Kentucky Burgoo
Burgoo is a big favorite for Kentucky Derby-watching parties, and our version of Easy Kentucky Burgoo make this hearty stew even simpler to pull off. And whether for the big race or anytime at all, it's a one-pot that always satisfies.
Grilled Bourbon Steak
Grilled Bourbon Steak
Our bourbon-laced homemade marinade can turn any steak from ho-hum to wow! With a smoky richness that tenderizes our meat, as well, it's an unbeatable grilling recipe that'll please your gang or impress your company!
Crazy-Good Rosemary Chicken
Crazy-Good Rosemary Chicken
You can serve up a restaurant-worthy dinner while sticking to your budget, with this easy recipe for Crazy-Good Rosemary Chicken. These juicy chicken breasts are topped with a flavor-packed sauce made with some onions, a little lemon juice, a splash of wine, and a bit of mustard. The results are amazing!
Banquet Brisket
Banquet Brisket
It doesn't matter what the get-together is called, a buffet, a celebration, a party, this entrée should be on the guest list! Your Kentucky Derby party goers will love feasting like kings and queens of the track. With the juicy flavors in this dish, we feel the same way.
Champion Chili
Champion Chili
This will definitely be the grand champion at your dinner table! Our Champion Chili is a hearty, one-pot recipe that's packed with ground beef and veggies. Every bowl will be brimming with all sorts of goodness.
Kentucky Derby Sides
Caramel-Glazed Sweet Potatoes
Caramel-Glazed Sweet Potatoes
Enjoy delicious holiday-style sweet potatoes any time. These Caramel-Glazed Sweet Potatoes are easy because the bottled butterscotch topping does so much of the home-style flavoring for us.
Country Corn Bread
Country Corn Bread
This is the best homemade corn bread recipe around! Made in a skillet, this corn bread comes out of the oven so hot and delicious it screams, "butter, please!" Our Country Corn Bread is a traditional recipe that's perfect for the holidays or anytime!
Wilted Spinach Salad
Wilted Spinach Salad
Pine nuts and olive oil give a basic spinach salad a shot of sophistication. This Wilted Spinach Salad will make even the simplest meal look like you fussed.
Baked Bean Fritters
Baked Bean Fritters
The baked beans you grew up eating take on a whole new flavor and texture in this tasty recipe for Baked Bean Fritters. These are the perfect go-along to just about anything!
Easy Corn Pudding
Easy Corn Pudding
Corn pudding is a dish that's been around since the early days when settlers learned how to cook corn from the Native Americans. Today, it's still a side dish favorite that families love to change up and make their own. Our Easy Corn Pudding recipe is the shortcut way of making this classic dish, and it's very tasty!
Fried Green Tomatoes
Fried Green Tomatoes
Whether they're a childhood favorite or a new discovery, once you've tried Fried Green Tomatoes, it's hard to forget 'em! Our recipe for this down-home Southern classic is so easy and delicious, you'll want to make 'em all year long!
Kentucky Derby Desserts
Mint Julep Brownies
Mint Julep Brownies
Whether you're throwing a Kentucky Derby party or you just love the flavors in a traditional Mint Julep, you're going to love these Mint Julep Brownies. You don't have to be a horseracing fan to know that these homemade brownies are sure to be a winner.
Derby Chocolate Pie
Derby Chocolate Pie
You don't have to be a horse fan, or even be from Kentucky, to enjoy this Kentucky-famous Derby Chocolate Pie. This chocolate pecan pie is perfect from the first bite, till the one in which you're scraping the edges of the pie plate.
Mini Grasshopper Pies
Mini Grasshopper Pies
Girl Scout cookies are amazing on their own, but take those minty delights and use them to make our Mini Grasshopper Pies and now you've got a world-class dessert that you didn't even break a sweat making. This easy dessert recipe is sure to earn you a "Best Dessert" badge for sure!
Mint Julep Balls
Mint Julep Balls
Light and sweet Mint Julep Balls are the perfect treat for a Kentucky Derby party...or any party at all! This recipe yields about three dozen balls, so bring a big appetite!
Southern Peach Fritters
Southern Peach Fritters
When peach season rolls around we like to take those fresh and juicy sweet peaches, and use them to make our Southern Peach Fritters. This recipe is so good, we bet every Southern grannie would approve!
Pecan Cake
Pecan Cake
The South is certainly known for many things, and pecans are near the top of that list. Toss a generous dose of them into this Pecan Cake and you'll know why this is one of our best Bundt recipes!
Kentucky Derby Bars
Kentucky Derby Bars
We've got a Kentucky Derby dessert recipe that combines all the fun of racing day with sweet flavor! These dessert bars have a hint of tipsy fun that will send everyone to the gates on the right note, so we think they're the easy Kentucky Derby recipe that you've been looking for! Just make them ahead of time and, when your guests arrive, give them the ready...set...go!
Minty Ice Cream Pie
Minty Ice Cream Pie
They'll surely scream for ice cream when you serve up this easy Minty Ice Cream Pie. There's no doubt this is a tasty match made in heaven!
Kentucky Derby Drink Recipes
Mojito
Mojito
The popular mojito, a rum drink, gets its zing from fresh mint leaves. Mix these up and add zing to your next adult party.
Secret Ingredient Iced Tea
Secret Ingredient Iced Tea
Ever wondered why the iced tea served at restaurants always seems to taste crisper and more flavorful than your homemade version? Well, there's a simple secret to how that happens, and we're sharing it in our recipe for Secret Ingredient Iced Tea.
Ultimate Strawberry Margaritas
Ultimate Strawberry Margaritas
This strawberry margarita recipe is perfect for a Friday night out, Sunday morning brunch, or really, just any time you you're in the mood for something fun and refreshing! And rather than rimming each glass with salt, we thought granulated sugar would really make these pop. We think our Ultimate Strawberry Margaritas are summer in a glass! Be careful though, they're so sweet and delicious, you might forget they can pack a powerful punch thanks to the tequila.
Party Sangria
Party Sangria
This fruity-tasting, adults-only Party Sangria recipe for the classic Spanish wine cooler will turn any gathering into a fiesta! Mix it up from scratch with a few fresh-tasting ingredients and let the fun begin!
Country Lemonade
Country Lemonade
One sip of this fresh-squeezed lemonade and you'll know exactly why our Country Lemonade is a top choice for backyard barbecues and weekend potlucks!
Frozen Whiskey Sours
Frozen Whiskey Sours
Let the celebrating begin with these yummy Frozen Whiskey Sours! It's easy, too, so you can whip up a batch any time a grown-ups-only party breaks out.
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