18 Kentucky Derby Food Ideas For Your Next Party (2024)

Did you know that the Kentucky Derby is one of America’s oldest sporting events? With over 150 years of history, Derby-watching is a national pastime that’s steeped in significance. And the key to any good Derby party is having grub that’s as good as the show! Like any good Southern state, Kentucky is famous for having great comfort food. So that’s what you should be serving. We at Peerspace have collected some of the best Kentucky Derby food ideas, saving you time for planning other aspects of the party, like choosing a party venue near you!

1. Kentucky pecan pie

Pecan pie is one of the most iconic flavors of the American South. Bring the taste of Kentucky to your upcoming Derby party with this incredible Kentucky Pecan Pie recipe! You’ll be making everything from scratch, including the crust. But you’ll come to see that homemade pie knocks the socks off of frozen store-bought ones. Plus it’s a creative endeavor that takes less time and fewer ingredients than you think! 

2. Hot brown party rolls

Warm and savory, hot brown party rolls are a dish that can find a place at the table of any celebration! Best of all, they take less than an hour to make, heat, and serve, so they are wonderfully fast party food ideas to prepare. Once you have a tray of hot brown party rolls, take them to a Derby-watching party venue like the kind Peerspace has in plenty! Amenity-filled event spaces like this warm and inviting 3,000 sq. ft. party hall in Louisville, KY, are just a few of the options you have when booking with us!

3. Mint julep

Mint Juleps are one of those drinks that truly make the event; did you know that Churchill Downs serves over 120,000 of these on race day? You probably won’t be making nearly so many for your own Derby party but it will feel like it since mint juleps are as tasty as they are iconic. Fortunately, you only need three ingredients to make them: Kentucky bourbon, sugar (powdered is best since it dissolves easier), and fresh mint leaves!

4. Kentucky butter cake

Add some desserts to your party table with this luscious Kentucky butter cake recipe! We love this Kentucky Derby food idea because most of the ingredients are probably already inside your kitchen cabinets. The total preparation time is about two hours, so plan accordingly for your upcoming party.

Don’t have tons of space at home for baking and entertaining? Don’t worry, our how and where to rent a kitchen for a day guide will help you scout the perfect setting!

5. Deviled eggs

Deviled eggs are a traditional party snack that finds a place at bridal showers, birthdays, and Kentucky Derby parties alike! They are also deceptively simple as there are so many ways to flavor the yolks once you’ve mashed and seasoned them! Paprika, salt, and pepper are the most common ways to make deviled eggs but you can try sweet pickle or dill relish for a more unique flavor!

6. Buttermilk ranch angel biscuits

We don’t think we’ve ever had a better biscuit than these buttermilk ranch angel biscuits! They take light and fluffy biscuits and elevate them further with herb-rich, creamy buttermilk ranch flavors. They are the perfect side for burgers, fried chicken, and other Kentucky Derby food ideas!

7. Kentucky Fried Chicken

No list of the best Kentucky Derby food ideas would be complete without Kentucky fried chicken! One of the most successful recipes in the United States, KFC is a global phenomenon whose true recipe is a secret. Fortunately, you can come close using a copycat Kentucky fried chicken recipe for your upcoming derby party. You will need a pressure fryer to create KFC just like the restaurant does. But you can include the spices listed in the recipe shared here for pan-fried chicken as well!

8. Kentucky bourbon pie

Is there any Southern dessert as decadent as a Kentucky bourbon pie? It includes pecans, bourbon, and chocolate, all of which would be amazing alone. But combined into a single dish? Absolute dessert heaven. Best of all, Kentucky bourbon pie (also known as a Derby pie) has its culinary roots in a restaurant just outside of Louisville, making it a true local KY dish.

9. Southern sweet tea

Sweet tea is the best non-alcoholic drink to serve at a Kentucky Derby party. Cold and satisfying, it goes so well with biscuits and Kentucky fried chicken! Even though Southern sweet tea has just a few ingredients there is a lot of care involved in making it right. For example, it’s better to use granulated sugar rather than simple syrup, which adds volume to the tea, diluting the brew.

10. Pimiento cheese

Pimiento cheese is a magical Southern culinary creation! It’s a delicious spread for crackers but it also works great as a sandwich filler or vegetable dip. You’ll likely need to take a trip to the grocery store for a few ingredients but the dip takes just 15 minutes to prepare, not including chilling time. Serve it with crackers, bread slices, or cut vegetables for an instant Derby party snack!

11. Fried green tomatoes

Crunchy on the outside and soft within, fried green tomatoes are a Southern dish that everyone should try! It’s simple enough to get fresh green tomatoes at a farmers’ market; the rest of the ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen cabinet! Fried green tomatoes are a delightful party appetizer that can be customized further with different seasonings and toppings like a sprinkle of lemon juice or hot sauce added to the buttermilk batter.

12. Black Eyed Susan Slushies

Black-eyed Susan Slushies are another Southern specialty that make a wonderful addition to a Kentucky Derby table. The sweet and sour flavors of orange, pineapple, lemon, and lime are a nice mocktail alternative to the bourbon notes of a mint julep!

13. Bourbon ice cream

Kentucky bourbon is world-famous for good reason! You don’t have to have a drink to get a taste of it, either! Not when you can enjoy a rich scoop of bourbon ice cream over your Kentucky pecan pie. Or eaten as it is; bourbon ice cream is just that good! We recommend adding crushed pecans to the recipe as well for extra texture and flavor.

14. Garlic & cheese grits

Grits are one of those recipes that each state (or even a region within a state) does in its own way! Garlic & cheese grits are a flavorful recipe you might not have tried before. But once you do, you’ll be making them for more than just Derby parties! As a savory grits recipe, you’ll need butter and cheese, which naturally goes well with the earthy, spicy garlic flavors. Baked garlic grits take just 35 minutes to prepare as well, making them a convenient same-day Kentucky Derby party food idea to whip up in a hurry!

Get even more party-planning inspo using these fabulous Kentucky Derby party ideas as your template!

15. Sweet pea & avocado soup

Embrace the fresh spring flavors of sweet pea and avocados! Soup might seem like a strange choice for a Derby party but you won’t regret trying this recipe. You can even make it vegan-friendly by substituting the sour cream for an animal-free alternative like coconut cream! Garnish with edible flowers, hot sauce, or tortilla chips for a bowl that is as beautiful as it is tasty.

16. Grit cakes

Grit cakes are an alternative to garlic grits that have a crispy exterior with the same cheesy gooeyness inside we all love! Grit cakes are also easy to customize; you can mix in shrimp or bacon or top them with a fried egg. We prefer sticking to the recipe as it is for an amazing appetizer you can pair with BBQ ribs, chicken, and pulled pork.

Grit cakes are going to fly off of the plate so make sure you have a party table large enough for multiple trays. Peerspace has venues with multiple party tables, Derby-viewing flat-screen TVs, and other amenities! You could even spring for a screening room like this black box theater in Atlanta, GA. Derby guests can enjoy plush theater-style seats, a movie screen, and a professional sound system for watching America’s oldest sporting event!

17. Slow-cooked BBQ pulled pork

If you want to make a delicious dish but don’t have a lot of time on your hands, whip out the slow cooker and make some BBQ pulled pork! Slow cooker recipes are perfect for folks busy working since you can set and forget these dishes. Once you’re back home, shred the pork with BBQ sauce and serve it up in the pot or onto buns for ready-made pork sandwiches.

18. Southern buttermilk biscuits

Buttermilk biscuits complete the trifecta of sweet tea and fried chicken as some of the most iconic Southern dishes for a Kentucky Derby party. Don’t bother with store-bought dough; not when making your own Southern buttermilk biscuits is so easy to do! A basket of biscuits at the table with butter, honey, and a few of the other Kentucky Derby party recipes outlined here is the key to success!

Kentucky Derby food ideas: conclusion

A Kentucky Derby party is as much about the food as it is about the festivities! So choose iconic Southern classics like the recipes we’ve outlined here for your next Derby party! We hope you’ve found Peerspace helpful; we do love bringing people together to make lasting memories. From viewing party ideas to party halls near you, we are all about Derby parties and other special occasions!

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