6 Derby Recipes That Are Quicker Than A Kentucky Racehorse

Hint: Pick recipes that are easy to pull together.

Southern Living Tomato-Sandwich Toasts
Photo:

Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray

I LOVE it when folks get dressed up real fancy and go all out to celebrate the Kentucky Derby, but let’s get real—who wants to cook for days for an event that lasts 2 minutes? Not me! You can still have a fabulous time without sweating like a racehorse in the kitchen. Just pick out easy recipes with minimal prep time. These are my 6 favorite recipes for an easy, last-minute Kentucky Bourbon party.

01 of 06

Pimiento Cheese Stuffed Peppers

Southern Living Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Peppers on a blue plate to serve

Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray

Simply spoon store-bought pimiento cheese into a ziploc, snip off the tip, and pipe it into your favorite picked peppers or onto sliced pickled okra.

02 of 06

Ranch Snacker Crackers

Southern Living Ranch Snacker Crackers in a bowl to serve

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Deliciously nostalgic, these zesty crackers are the first thing to go at any Southern shindig. Fortunately, this recipe makes plenty.

03 of 06

Tomato Sandwich Toasts

Southern Living Tomato-Sandwich Toasts

Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray

I'd be embarrassed about how much I talk about these simple toasts if they weren't so durn perfect. Brioche, good mayo, fresh tomatoes, done!

04 of 06

Mint Julep Sweet Tea

Mint Julep Sweet Tea
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen

Yes, mint juleps are lovely, but this big-batch sweet tea is easy to make, and guests can pour their own, which gets you out of bartender duty!

05 of 06

Ham Delights

Ham Delights - Southern Living

Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

With all due respect, I do not like Hot Brown sandwiches. I find them too sloppy to enjoy in a civilized manner. These Ham Delights are a lot easier, and in my honest opinion, MUCH tastier.

06 of 06

Kentucky Derby Cheese Hat

Kentucky Derby Cheese Hat - Southern Living

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Life is too short to take your food too seriously. Yes, this recipe is kinda cheesy (HA!), but it makes me laugh. And I think that if food can bring a smile to your face in more than one way, that's a huge win.

No matter how you choose to celebrate, we wish you a fabulous Derby weekend!

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