Derby Days
Bring out your hats, horse bits and silver cups...
As Spring arrives we find ourselves looking for any reason to host a party. Cue a Kentucky Derby Party! The Derby is classy, exciting and oh so chic. Break out the hats, spring dresses, silver platters and make sure to go a little overboard with the roses. This menu has so many fun party food takes on the traditional Kentucky Derby favorites, but is also perfect for any Southern inspired spring get-together! We know you’ll enjoy scrolling through our menu, party tips and derby essentials. And don’t forget to become a paid subscriber so you’ll have access to our perfect slow cooker pulled pork and corn muffin recipes. These two recipes will be in your rotation for weeknight dinners, summer cookouts, casual get togethers and game day celebrations to come. A true go-to recipes!
Kentucky Derby Menu
Watermelon Mint Juleps
Pimento Cheese & Crackers
Deviled Eggs with Maple Bourbon Bacon
Kentucky Hot Brown Party Sandwiches
Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Bars
‘Elegant yet Easy’ recipe (subscribers only): Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork & Cornbread Muffin Sandwiches
Derby Hosting Tips:
Celebrate the Run for the Roses with vases filled with roses- they are the official flower of the Kentucky Derby!
Silver mint julep cups are the perfect touch for a Derby party cocktail, but if hosting a crowd you can find affordable stainless steel ones that exude the same vibe - see our essentials list for more details.
Encourage guests to dress in classic Derby attire - big hats, seersucker anything, florals and pastels suggested!
Mint juleps are easy to batch out, float a few mint sprigs in your pitcher for a beautiful presentation. Set up your pitcher alongside an ice bucket filled with crushed ice and a little dish with additional mint leaves.
Have guests pick from a hat a piece of paper with the horses names on them. Whomever picks the winning horse gets a prize! Maybe their own silver cup to take home?!
Kentucky Derby Essentials:
For Subscribers Only:
NEW ‘Elegant yet Easy’ Recipe- Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork & Cornbread Muffin Sandwiches
Kentucky Derby Shopping List & Prep Timeline
Our April Elegant yet Easy recipe is one for your recipe box! Everyone always loves the idea of slow cooker pulled pork, but this recipe produces pulled pork that tastes like it was cooked in the oven, and has crispy bits just like you would find if you had cooked it on the grill. These cornbread muffin “sandwiches” make a fun and festive presentation for a derby party! But, theses recipes are a staple for so many occasions. BBQ pork bowls for dinner, BBQ sandwiches for game day - its my daughters’ request for dinner with our whole family for her upcoming birthday! You will use both the BBQ pork and Cornbread recipes over and over again!