The Best Kentucky Derby Food to Make at Home, from Pimento Cheese to Deviled Eggs
The Kentucky Derby is referred to as “the greatest two minutes in sports” for a reason. The horse racing is exciting and all…but we’re willing to bet that the real reason people anticipate this two-minute event all spring long is the food. This year, we’re bringing out all the Southern and Southern-inspired stops for the tastiest viewing party imaginable on May 1. Here’s the best Kentucky Derby food to whip up at home, from pimento cheese to Kentucky hot brown sandwiches.
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1. Deviled Eggs, Three Ways
Aka the quintessential hors d’oeuvre for a Derby party. We spiced up the original with roasted garlic, crispy capers and spicy sriracha.
2. Mini Chicken and Waffles
Set down a couple dozen of these toothpicked cuties and they’ll vanish in 30 seconds flat—that’s the easy part. The hard part is choosing between hot sauce and syrup for dipping.
3. Spring Crudités with Romesco Sauce
This stunning mélange of seasonal produce would also taste divine with a side of benedictine spread, a dip that originated in Louisville that’s made with cream cheese and cucumbers.
4. Rodney Scott’s Pimento Cheese
It doesn’t get more authentically Southern than this spicy app, made from freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese and diced pimiento peppers. Follow Scott’s lead by serving them with pork skins and celery.
5. Sweet Corn Spoonbread
Kentucky hosts an annual spoonbread festival every fall, and it’s no surprise why. Think of spoonbread as an airier, moister version of cornbread. (This recipe boasts three types of corn to boot.)
6. Fried Green Tomatoes
Since green tomatoes are picked early, they’re firmer in texture—meaning they can hold their shape in a deep fryer. If you’ve never tried them, fried green tomatoes are tart and soft on the inside and crunchy and savory on the outside. Serve them with a zingy rémoulade.
7. Sriracha Shrimp Skewers with Collard-Peach Salad
Trade cold shrimp salad for a sweet-and-spicy starter that celebrates Southern produce (and screams summer). Fire up the barbecue if it’s warm enough or use a grill pan on the stove instead.
8. Easy Skillet Beer and Cheddar Fondue
Beer cheese is a Kentucky delicacy that’s typically served with crackers and raw veggies. Honor the dish with this elevated fondue that only calls for three ingredients. (P.S.: Use a bottle of dark, flat beer for bolder flavor.)
9. Everything Chicken Wings
Buffalo wings are delicious, but sticky, orange-tinted fingers definitely aren’t. Try this three-ingredient crowd pleaser on for size instead—bonus points for making your own everything bagel seasoning.
10. Hush Puppies
They’re basically little golden-brown morsels of fried cornbread. Need we say more?
11. Kentucky Hot Brown
Invented at the historic Brown Hotel in Louisville, this open-faced sandwich is piled high with turkey breast, bacon and mornay sauce, which is basically a cheese-infused béchamel.
12. Buttermilk-Battered Pan-Fried Fish Fillets
Whether you go with flounder, grouper or trout, one thing’s for sure: You’ll be needing a heck of a lot of homemade tartar sauce to go with it.
13. Slow Cooker 13-Bean Burgoo Stew
In Kentucky, burgoo is usually a communal dish served at social events or fundraisers. Traditionally, each attendee brings an ingredient to contribute to the stew. While the meats and veggies can vary, this take stars chicken, okra, corn, potatoes and all the beans.
14. Yogurt Biscuits with Honey Butter
Southern biscuits are usually all about the butter, but we traded it for tangy Greek yogurt, which will keep the dough incredibly moist. Don’t worry though, they’re brushed with honey butter before baking for good measure.
15. Shrimp Boil Skewers with Corn, Sausage and Potatoes
Not only do these ingenious skewers minimize the mess, but they’re also coated generously with spicy Cajun butter before being grilled.
16. Sweet Tea Fried Chicken
There’s absolutely *nothing* wrong with regular ol’ fried chicken. But using sweet tea in the brine creates a delicious contrast between the sweet meat and salty breading.
17. Grits
Any side that calls for a whole stick of butter is a side after our own heart. Serve the grits with shrimp, salmon croquettes or bacon and eggs at pre-race brunch.
18. Julia Turshen’s Skillet Cornbread with Cheddar and Scallions
Buttermilk, sharp cheddar and spring scallions make this treat a no-brainer. The cast-iron skillet takes it over the top by creating the most drool-worthy crust on the bread’s bottom and sides.
19. Peach Cobbler
A timeless Southern classic if there ever was one. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (but we’re guessing you already knew that).
20. Mini Caramel Pecan Pies with Cinnamon Roll Pie Crust
The only thing better than digging into an ooey-gooey slice of pie is having a bunch of mini pies all to yourself. Don’t forget the whipped cream.
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