May 1 kicks off the 141st Kentucky Derby [1]! Watching the horse race is a great excuse to host a party and an even better excuse to enjoy some delicious Southern cuisine. Doesn't drinking a mint julep and nibbling on pimento-cheese-topped biscuits sound like an ideal way to spend a Spring afternoon? If you're ready to take a culinary trip (without the airline ticket), browse the best of our Southern recipes now.
Mint Juleps
In classic Derby style, serve guests a refreshing mint julep [2] made with your Kentucky bourbon of choice.
Carriage House Biscuits
You don't have to make a trip to The Carriage House [3] in Natchez, MS, to enjoy these buttery short biscuits.
Stuffed Mushrooms
Combine sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, and herbs, and you've got one heck of a filling for stuffed mushrooms [4].
Whiskey Bundt Cake
With its butterscotch flavor, we have a feeling this whiskey bundt cake [5] won't last long.
Spinach-Artichoke Dip
No Southern party is complete without spinach-artichoke dip [6]. This one comes together in five minutes!
Peppery Ranch Cheese Ball
Every Southern party and occasion calls for an herby cream cheese ball [7] rolled in spices, nuts, or dried fruit.
Lemon Bars
There's something nostalgic and comforting about lemon bars [8], especially when topped with plenty of powdered sugar.
Pepper Jelly on Cream Cheese
Spread addictive, spicy-sweet pepper jelly [9] and cream cheese on water crackers.
Pimento Cheese and Prosciutto Biscuits
One bite of these stunning pimento cheese and prosciutto biscuits [10], and you'll be obsessing over them just like we are.
Bourbon Milk Punch
This slushy bourbon milk punch [11] is made of exactly what it sounds like — try it for a taste of the true South.