31 Party-Ready Recipes for the Kentucky Derby
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These Kentucky Derby party recipes bring the spirit of Churchill Downs to your house. While anything Southern goes on race day, we like to opt for party foods and appetizers that guests can pick up with their fingers—think buttery roasted pecans, deviled eggs, and shrimp salad on toast. (pimento cheese and buttermilk biscuits are high on the list too.)
It wouldn’t be Derby Day without something to toast with as you watch the most exciting two minutes in sports. Mint juleps, punch, and other bourbon cocktails are all classic choices. As for the ornate headwear, seersucker suits, and profusion of pastels that usually accompany this horse race, well, that’s your call.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Maggie Ruggiero, Prop Styling by Christine Keely1/31Mint Julep
Start with the classic Kentucky Derby party cocktail, then explore more drinks at the end of this collection. Stainless steel julep cups are fun, but you can use a rocks or footed old-fashioned glass if you’d like.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua2/31Pimento Cheese Ball
There’s something delightfully retro about a classic cheese ball. This one twists the formula with the flavors of the storied Southern spread. Too much pimento cheese on your roster? Try a port-and-blue-cheese version.
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Micah Morton, Prop Styling by Christina Allen4/31Extra-Creamy Deviled Eggs
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Ines Anguiano5/31Cornbread Cheddar Biscuits
Flaky, tender, buttery biscuits meet sweet, cheesy cornbread in this all-star recipe. If you’re looking for a classic buttermilk biscuit recipe, we can point you there too.
Alex Lau6/31Bread-and-Butter Pickles
No matter whether you’re serving fried chicken, Kentucky hot browns, or something from your slow cooker, it’s always smart to have pickles on hand—especially when they’re homemade.
Photo by Laura Murray, Food styling by Yekaterina Boystova7/31Pretzel Focaccia
The Derby’s official 2026 menu includes a pretzel board. Make your own with this pretzel focaccia (don’t worry, it’s easy to make), thinly sliced country ham, cheddar, and pepper jelly. Oh, and that pimento cheese from the last slide.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua10/31Cajun Chicken With Peach Salsa
At the track this year, they’re serving honey bourbon chicken with peach chutney. We won’t argue. You can use store-bought Cajun seasoning—and, yes, frozen peaches will do the trick.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Prop styling by Christine Keely, Food styling by Maggie Ruggiero11/31Kentucky Hot Brown
First created by The Brown Hotel in Louisville, hot browns are the stuff of Southern legend. The open-face sandwich is made with roast turkey and crispy bacon and doused with cheese sauce.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Pearl Jones12/31Upside-Down Caramelized Leek Tart
Peak-season leeks and store-bought puff pastry do all the hard work for you in this fancy-looking, but secretly simple appetizer.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Christina Allen13/31Sweet-Tea-Brined Chicken With Alabama White Sauce
You could marinate your chicken in plain buttermilk, or you could add in sweet, tannic black tea. The tea brine leaves a lingering, gentle sweetness and ensures tender, ultra-succulent fried chicken.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon14/31Shrimp Salad on Toast
Toss juicy shrimp with Old Bay seasoning, mayo, diced celery, red onion, and lemon, then spoon onto crostini for an easy party appetizer.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by Stephanie Yeh15/31Shrimp and Grits With Fennel Potlikker
Chef Carla Hall has some secrets for ultra-creamy, flavorful grits without any butter: fennel potlikker, a long cook time, and frequent stirring.
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Alex Lau18/31Grilled Pimento Cheese Sandwiches with Apple-Cherry Chutney
The fruity chutney is the star of this dish. Slick some inside the grilled cheese or serve it alongside your favorite biscuits at the Derby party.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Summer Moore19/31Charred Asparagus and Dates With Goat Cheese
Photograph by Joe Lingeman, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Maggie DiMarco20/31The Gooiest Baked Mac and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese isn’t a one-size-fits-all type of recipe, but this version might just be the Platonic ideal. American and sharp cheddar cheeses make a velvety, luscious base, while Fontina ensures stretch in every serving. Best of all, there’s no need to fuss with a roux for this easy baked mac.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by Stephanie Yeh21/31Lemony Spring Vegetable and Barley Bowl
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca22/31Strawberry Salad With Black Pepper-Feta Croutons
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food styling by Stevie Stewart23/31Kentucky Bourbon Pie
If you’re unfamiliar with the Kern Family’s Derby Pie, this adjacent recipe will get you close. Think of it as a pecan (or walnut) pie studded with chocolate chips and flavored with a glug of bourbon.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime.24/31Apricot Tart With Whiskey-Pecan Frangipane
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Micah Morton, Prop Styling by Christina Allen25/31Strawberry Shortcake Roll
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Shuai Wang, Prop Styling by Megan Forbes and Christina Hussey26/31Miso-and-Maple-Pecan Butter Mochi Cake
This Hawaiian-style butter mochi cake blends the nutty flavors of classic Southern pecan pie with a hint of miso to balance sweetness.
Photograph by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Marc Williams27/31Southern-Style Caramel Cake
Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott28/31Sparkling Julep
If you prefer your mint julep to sparkle, this is the way. If you’re looking for another unconventional spin, try an Orange Mint Julep.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime.29/31Green Tea Arnold Palmer
Photo by Marcus Nilsson30/31Bourbon Fruit Tea Punch
Nashville native Vivek Surti’s fruit tea is intentionally not too boozy (you can even leave the bourbon out). There’s still plenty of flavor from orange, pineapple, and lemon juices and, of course, tea. Stick with Kentucky bourbon (most bourbon is made in the state, but not all) for Derby Day.
Photograph by Rana Düzyol, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni31/31Strawberry-Ginger Limeade
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