The Kentucky Derby race is famous for being over in just two minutes, but the race is held on the first Saturday in May and is an afternoon of food and drinks. Start things off with a Mint His Julep (which boasts a more complicated history than you might expect) or a Vodka Rose His Punch, perfect for a Run for the Roses, while nibbling on spiced pecans and deviled eggs with country ham. And don’t forget the pimiento cheese. There’s a classic recipe, a vegan version, and even a recipe for Oysters Rockefeller with pimiento cheese. No Derby party is complete without Southern Fried Chicken or Kentucky Hot Brown Mac and Cheese. Chocolate pecan pie with bourbon (also known as Derby pie) is the traditional dessert of the day, but red velvet cake has its own fans. Or maybe bacon bourbon brownies? This is a Kentucky Derby favorite food that’s perfect for entertaining.
mint julep
To make this Derby Day favorite, you’ll need mint, simple syrup, bourbon, and finally, crushed ice. As for equipment, be sure to have a chilled julep cup or fizz glass, as well as a stirrer and swizzle stick or bar spoon to mix the drink. Take a sip of it and read more about this drink’s interesting history.
classic pimiento cheese
Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling: Barrett Washburn
Pimiento cheese, also known as “Southern patty,” is a classic dip served throughout the South, especially at events such as the Kentucky Derby. The three essential ingredients to make pimiento cheese are cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, and pimiento. Justin Chapple adds a little grated onion for a more complex flavor.
Kentucky Hot Brown Macaroni & Cheese
The Kentucky Hot Brown is a classic open-faced sandwich created by Fred Schmidt at Louisville’s Brown Hotel in 1926, featuring roasted turkey, tomato, bacon slices, and Mornay sauce on thick Texas toast. Here, we’ve combined Hot Brown’s key elements to create a non-traditional macaroni and cheese with an original soul.
chocolate pecan pie and bourbon
Cookbook author and pastry chef David Leibovitz’s chocolate pecan pie with bourbon is everything you could want in a dessert. A sip of sweet, caramel-scented bourbon adds depth to the traditional super-sweet filling. Chocolate takes it to the next level with its rich texture and slightly bitter balance.
vegan pimiento cheese
Pimiento cheese is an iconic snack of the South and loved all over the world. This vegan version features a creamy, flavorful base made with firm tofu and sprinkled with sweet pimientos. Serve with fried saltines, pickled green tomatoes and fresh celery.
Burgoo
Food & Wine / Photography: Jen Causey / Food Styling: Emily Nabor Hall / Prop Styling: Tucker Vines
Food & Wine Test Kitchen took this classic Kentucky dish and created a three-hour version with chicken, pork, beef, and vegetables that feeds a crowd and can be made ahead of time.
bourbon balls
Food & Wine / Photography: Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling: Julian Hensaring / Prop Styling: Julia Bayless
These no-bake chocolate treats are a traditional, sweet Southern snack that’s especially popular during the Kentucky Derby in May. Your party will be ready within an hour.
kentucky mule
Food & Wine / Photography: Jen Causey / Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling: Claire Spollen
A cross between a Moscow Mule and a mint julep, this whiskey-based mix replaces vodka with bourbon and combines ginger beer and fresh lime juice.
buttermilk biscuits
Made with a combination of grated cold butter for flavor and vegetable shortening for softness, Chef Carla Hall’s biscuits are made using her traditional lamination technique to achieve towering, crispy layers. I am.
Oyster Rockefeller with pimiento cheese
Jennifer Causey / Food Styling: Emily Neighbors Hall / Prop Styling: Shel Royster
These oysters are Chef John Ondo’s Lowcountry take on the classic Oyster Rockefeller. He uses shredded collard vegetables, pimiento cheese and melted bacon instead of the usual pureed vegetables. The oysters are topped with buttery cracker crumbs and are the perfect appetizer for parties.
Macaroni and cheese with butter crumbs
Small chunks of cheddar and colby cheese are dispersed throughout this macaroni and cheese, creating the perfect flavor and wonderful gooey texture. The end result is a bubbly, golden, cheesy pasta that you’ll want to make again and again.
ultimate southern fried chicken
This fried chicken from chef Sean Doty of Atlanta’s Bantam + Biddy is a no-fail, no-fuss version of classic fried chicken, with perfectly crispy seasoned skin (the trick is cornstarch) and juicy meat. This is a version that doesn’t cost anything. If you want to pair your food with wine, try pairing chicken with Champagne, Lambrusco, or Pinot Noir.
kentucky hot brown
Star chef Bobby Flay creates his own version of the beloved Louisville classic with an open-faced turkey sandwich with cheese sauce and bacon. If you want to start the recipe early, you can make the sauce the day before, refrigerate it overnight, and reheat it before eating.
fresh corn grits and shrimp
Try Southern Favorites best chef Season 5 contestant Jeff McInnis, owner of Yardbird, a Southern-style restaurant in Miami.
Served with deviled eggs and country ham
Chef Ford Fry’s deviled eggs get great flavor from goat cheese, Dijon mustard, and cornichon, then topped with country ham. Sprinkle fresh chives at the end of the hors d’oeuvre.
blackberry mint julep
Adding blackberries to a mint julep adds fruity flavor to a classic warm-weather cocktail. Shaking blackberries in a cocktail shaker with other ingredients will add a pop of color to your drink.
pig in blanket
Jen Pelka, co-founder of Une Femme Wines, loves serving Champagne with playful bite-sized foods like pigs in a blanket. To take it up a notch, she brushes a delicious mix of honey, mustard, and fresh black pepper onto the pie crust before rolling it into the hot dog and baking it.
pimiento cheese grits
This clever dish by Bobby Flay mixes the classic ingredients of pimiento cheese into warm, creamy grits, replacing the smoky Spanish piquillo with bottled pimiento.
vodka rose punch
Cookbook author and TV presenter Padma Lakshmi uses rose syrup in this beautiful pink punch. “I love the floral accents and the ruffled pink hue it brings to mixed drinks,” she says. The punch is ready in just 10 minutes, making it the perfect low-lift option for entertaining.
red velvet cake
This towering dessert is made with deep red cake layers and a generous amount of cream cheese frosting. Unsweetened cocoa powder and red food coloring give the cake its unique color.
Bacon bourbon brownie with pecans
F&W Executive Features Editor Kat Kinsman tops a rich brownie with bacon and pecans. Stir some of the bacon fat into the batter to enhance the smoky flavor.
