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Kentucky Derby Recipes To Win The Day (9 Recipes, 1 Article)

Published On: 6/28/2019 Last Modified: 6/16/2025

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Almost everybody knows at least one Kentucky Derby menu item—mint juleps! That’s because the Kentucky Derby has become a national treasure. That’s pretty surprising for a two-minute horse race. Nonetheless, “the most exciting two minutes in sports” and its $3 million purse have attracted more than 16 million television viewers nationwide. This thoroughbred horse race is the first leg of the prestigious Triple Crown, which also includes the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. As of 2018, American Pharoah and Justify are the only living horses to have won the Triple Crown, and millions of American tune in to watch who will become the next winner.

But this short race at Churchill Downs has taken on even greater significance. The event itself is now the culmination of a rollicking two-week festival that overtakes the entire town of Louisville (pronounce LOU-uh-ville) with a grand parade, fireworks, and many other sporting events from basketball and a running marathon to a steamboat race and balloon race.

Kentucky Derby foods and drinks

Maybe it’s the horses. Maybe it’s the traditions. Either way, the Kentucky Derby has captured our national attention. 

Maybe it’s the mint juleps! These cold, boozy cocktails are a mainstay at Derby Day parties, and they’re super easy to make. Check out our recipe for making mint juleps as a batch cocktail for a crowd, or just as a single drink for yourself. The choice is yours. If you’re watching the race, be sure to serve some barbecue. Kentucky is a dark horse in the BBQ world but no slouch by any means. The state’s claim to fame, especially in western Kentucky, is mutton cooked over hickory wood and basted with a deep dark savory sauce heavy on Worcestershire, black pepper and allspice. Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn made this dark sauce famous and sells it nationally, but you can make a very faithful version with our easy “Sunlite” recipe below. It’s fantastic on any cut of smoked or grilled lamb. 

Most Kentucky BBQ joints also serve pulled pork with a vinegar-based sauce, and our recipe for perfect pulled pork will not do you wrong on Derby Day. What other meats show up in Kentucky barbecue? Hickory smoked ham is popular, thinly sliced for sandwiches. At Derby parties, the humble ham sandwich has found fame in the form of country ham biscuits. On Derby Day, slice up some salty, country ham, split a biscuit (using our tried and true recipe below), and sandwich the ham with a good slathering of melted butter. If you’re feeling really crazy (too many mint juleps?), slather some mustard in there too! No, it’s not traditional. But this is how traditions are born!

No matter how you slice it, enjoy your Derby Day in style. Gather your friends, share some nibbles and drinks, and watch the most exciting two minutes in sports. Don’t forget to wear a stylish hat!

mint julep cocktail

Kentucky Mint Juleps: The Ultimate Recipe

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Here is the ultimate recipe for mint juleps, a refreshing beverage made from Kentucky Bourbon and mint. Click here to read.
cocktail with smoked ice

Smoked Ice Recipe Amps Up Any Cocktail

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Add an unexpected twist to your bourbon, Bloody Marys, and cocktails with this simple recipe for smoked ice.
lamb chops in kentucky black sauce

Sunlite Kentucky Black BBQ Sauce And Dip Recipe For Lamb and Mutton

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Here's a recipe for black BBQ sauce inspired by Moonlite Bar-B-Q Sauce & Dip. This thin tart sauce cuts the rich fat.
grilled leg of lamb

Dolly’s Rub Is The Only One You Ever Need For Lamb

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Dolly's lamb rub recipe is perfect when looking to amp up the flavor for smoked and grilled lamb. Click here to get the details.
bbq baked beans

Bourbon BBQ Baked Beans, A Simply Amazing Side

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Step up your next cookout with this recipe for the ultimate barbecue baked beans featuring a kiss of Bourbon.
Biscuits

Easy Southern Biscuits That Just Can’t Fail

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Southern biscuits are not as hard as some folks want to make them. These biscuits can be served plain, with butter and/or jam, with turkey and the fixings, with ham, smothered in sausage gravy, and as sandwiches. They can be used as a topping for fruit cobblers, pot pies, or chili baked in a Dutch oven.
double smoked ham

You Have Stumbled Across The Ultimate Double Smoked Ham Recipe

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Create the best ham you've ever tasted with this ultimate double smoked ham recipe. The true star of the show is the sweet and savory glaze!
pulled pork sandwich with sauce

An Easy BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe With Mouthwatering Results

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

This easy pulled pork recipe skips the slow cooker to create authentic low-and-slow smoked pulled pork on a smoker or grill.
Frying chicken

Make This Fried Chicken Recipe On The Grill And Skip The Mess!

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Fried chicken is easy to do on the grill with no mess, no smell, and no smoke alarms. Plus, the grill grate serves as a rack for drip drying the fried chicken. Give it a try with this recipe roughly based on KFC fried chicken!
Fried green tomato burger with comeback sauce

Fried Green Tomato Burgers That’ll Make Any Southerner Swoon

By:

Clint Cantwell, AmazingRibs.com President And BBQ Personality

Take a trip to the south thanks to this burger recipe featuring fried green tomatoes and comeback sauce. Green tomatoes are sliced, breaded, and deep fried to golden perfection. Crunchy with just a hint of tartness, the fried green tomatoes pair perfectly with the burger patty and a classic Southern comeback sauce.

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