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The Best 27 Recipes for Your Kentucky Derby Watching Party!

Get ready for your Kentucky Derby watch party with these delicious recipes! From savory appetizers to sweet desserts, discover easy-to-make dishes that will delight your guests and bring festive flair to the event. Perfect for any Derby celebration!

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For your Kentucky Derby party or watch party, you'll want to offer a variety of crowd-pleasing, flavorful dishes that bring the spirit of the race to the table. Whether you're hosting an intimate gathering or a larger bash, the right food can set the tone for an unforgettable event. From savory appetizers to decadent desserts, these recipes will help you capture the excitement of the day while keeping your guests well-fed and satisfied. Expect a mix of Southern-inspired bites, finger foods, and creative takes on classic party staples—perfect for noshing while cheering on your favorite horses!

As you prepare for the big day, consider recipes that are easy to make and perfect for a Derby party atmosphere. Appetizers like mini sandwiches, dips, and skewers are ideal for grazing, while vibrant sides and unique desserts add a touch of elegance to the affair. Don't forget drinks—cocktail recipes, especially bourbon-based ones, can elevate your gathering. Browse through these Derby-ready recipes for inspiration, and get ready to impress your guests with delicious flavors and festive flair!

1. Mint Julep: the best recipe for the refreshing Kentucky Derby cocktail
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With its sweet, fresh minty flavor, the mint julep is a refreshing cocktail to sip this summer. This classic bourbon cocktail is famous for being the trademark drink of the Kentucky Derby.
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2. Southern Pimento Cheese: the quick, easy dipping sauce recipe
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Southern pimento cheese is a quick, easy dipping sauce recipe that is very popular in Southern homes. Enjoy it during a barbecue with crunchy appetizers like chips, tortillas, vegetable sticks, or as a spread for grilled sandwiches or meat.
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3. Fried Mac and Cheese Balls: the effortless recipe for a tasty party appetizer
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Fried mac and cheese balls are a tasty, bite-sized appetizer to enjoy during the holidays. They're cheesy and creamy on the inside, crispy on the outside texture.
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4. Chocolate Pecan Pie: the fudgy, dreamy dessert for the perfect Thanksgiving
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Chocolate pecan pie is a rich, decadent dessert recipe perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. It's made of a pecan, fudgy-chocolate filling, and a toasted pecans topping, all set in a buttery pie crust.
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5. Candied Pecans: the delicious snack recipe to enjoy during holidays
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Candied pecans are an easy snack recipe perfect as holiday DIY gift. Sweet yet salty, and with a great crunchy texture, they're made with egg whites, sugar and flavorings.
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6. Cheese Sauce: the flavorful dipping sauce recipe
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Cheese sauce is a very easy and quick dipping sauces to make at home in no time. Creamy, smooth and delicious, this homemade recipe is a kid favorite as it is so richer and tastier than the store-bought.
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7. Obatzda: the mouthwatering recipe for Bavarian beer cheese dip to serve at parties
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Obatzda is a Bavarian beer cheese dip served as appetizer at German beer gardens. It's made of white aged soft cheese mixed with butter, beer, onion, and paprika.
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8. Crispy Fried Chicken: The Recipe To Make Your Chicken Crunchy And Delicious
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Crispy Fried Chicken made with a buttermilk brine and cornstarch-flour breading is the easiest and most delicious homemade fried chicken recipe you’ll find. This recipe uses chicken drumsticks and thighs. They’re both dark meat cuts of chicken that are more flavorful and tender than chicken breasts. Plus, they’re larger and meatier than the wings, so you have more to sink your teeth into.
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9. Kentucky bourbon balls
kentucky bourbon balls
Kentucky bourbon balls are little balls prepared with cookies and chocolate, they are prepared small and look like little candies, they are delicate and simpler to prepare than it seems.
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10. Moscow Mule: the ultra-refreshing vodka-based cocktail to sip year-round
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The Moscow Mule is a classic vodka-based cocktail recipe. Citrusy, spicy ginger flavor, it's made with vodka, ginger beer and lime juice mixed directly in copper mugs with ice.
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11. Macaroni Salad: the ultimate recipe for the beloved summer side dish
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Macaroni salad is a tasty recipe perfect to enjoy at a barbecue or potluck. It's made of tender macaroni, celery, bell pepper, and onion, all tossed in a creamy mayo-based dressing.
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12. Oyster Pie: the easy Thanksgiving dish from the South
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Oyster pie is an easy Southern main dish recipe. Perfect for Thanksgiving, it's savory and buttery with a creamy texture on the inside and a crunchy topping.
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13. Shrimp and Grits: the best recipe for a mouthwatering, iconic Southern dish
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Few things are better than authentic Southern shrimp and grits. It's an easy recipe that's popular throughout the American South. The grits boast a rich, creamy cheesy flavor while the shrimp are perfectly seasoned with paprika, oregano, and garlic. Bacon adds another dimension to this dish, making each bite heavenly.
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14. Classic Deviled Eggs Recipe – Creamy and Flavorful!
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Deviled eggs are a timeless classic, perfect for parties, picnics, and holiday gatherings! Made with creamy mayonnaise, tangy mustard, and a hint of vinegar, these bite-sized delights are packed with flavor. Garnished with paprika and chives, they are as beautiful as they are delicious.
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15. Pigs in blankets: how to make them perfect in no-time
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How to make the best appetizer with honey dijon dip.
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16. Grilled Avocado Caprese Crostini: the light appetizer recipe
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Sometimes you just need a recipe in your repertoire that’s quick to assemble and is a general crowd-pleaser. These Grilled Avocado Caprese Crostini are quick and easy appetizers.
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17. Fudgy Brownie Bites
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While traditional brownies are already perfect as they are, these brownie bites are extra decadent and fudgy, and perfect for chocolate lovers.
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18. Red Velvet Cupcakes: the irresistible recipe for delicious, tender cupcakes
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Red velvet cupcakes are delicious baked sweet treats with a velvety soft texture and a bold red color. The've a chocolatey vanilla taste with a rich, tangy cream cheese frosting.
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19. Kentucky Butter Cake
Kentucky butter cake
Just as the name suggests, Kentucky Butter Cake is super buttery and moist. When soaked with a butter sugar sauce, this is one of the most decadent and mouth watering cakes you can find! Similar in texture to a pound cake, Kentucky butter cake is dense, vanilla flavored and oh so sweet.
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20. Pecan Pie Cheesecake: the delicious dessert recipe you need to try
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Pecan Pie Cheesecake is a great fall dessert inspired by the classic pecan pie. It's made of a crunchy pecan crust, creamy cheesecake filling and gooey pecan pie topping.
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21. Pecan Pralines: the easy Southern dessert recipe for old-fashioned New Orleans pralines
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Pecan pralines are an old-fashioned dessert from New Orleans. Pecan pralines are amazingly buttery, sweet, and nutty, with the perfect amount of crunch.
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22. How to Make the Perfect Prawn Cocktail Appetizer
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This prawn cocktail recipe makes an easy appetizer for when you are serving guests for a dinner party.
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23. Hot Corn Dip: a mouthwatering party appetizer for feeding a crowd
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Hot corn dip is an easy, tasty dip to serve as appetizer during a game day or party. It's packed with tender sautéed corn and bell peppers mixed into a creamy, cheesy, spicy dip.
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24. 4-Ingredient Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
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When you're craving something warm, cheesy, and effortlessly delicious, ham and cheese rolls are the answer. With just a few basic ingredients, puff pastry, ham, cheese, and an egg wash, you've got a snack that feels like a celebration in every bite.
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25. Easy Pull Apart Cheeseburger Sliders
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Well then, look no further than our delicious Cheeseburger Sliders—a crowd-pleasing dish that's perfect for any occasion, from game day gatherings to casual family dinners.
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26. Bellini Cocktail: the Recipe for the Fruity, Sweet and Fresh Drink Ready in Just a Few Minutes!
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The Bellini Cocktail is an ideal long drink for the spring and summer that is part of the sparkling cocktail family, i.e. those made with fresh fruit and sparkling wine or Champagne.
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27. BLT Sandwich: the best recipe for the classic American club sandwich
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BLT sandwich is a popular American club sandwich to serve with fries or a salad. It gets its name from the starring ingredients: bacon, lettuce, and tomato, but you need bread too.
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