Take-out Tuesday, Kentucky Derby Bourbon Meatballs and Everything Ham & Swiss Sliders
We had a Kentucky Derby watching party on Saturday
The weather forecast had been for rain early in the week,
but by Thursday it had changed and
we ended up having a beautiful 80 degree sunny day,
perfect for a party on the patio!
This year there were 12 of us, 3 families
I set up the food buffet in the kitchen
so we’d have more space on the patio
The food was simple and kid friendly for 6 adults and 6 kids
I purchased the ranch dip and the cupcakes at the grocery store
I had a Pecan Pie in the freezer
I had the chicken nuggets delivered right before the party
A guest brought the fried pickles,
so all I had to do was make the meatballs and the sliders
I also put mini peanut butter crackers
on the lowest level of the tiered tray
for easy grabbing by little fingers
I used paper plates for easy clean up
The meatballs stayed warm in the slow cooker
next to small skewers for guests to use to get them
The meatballs couldn’t be any easier to make
and they were a big hit!
Frozen meatballs, and a sauce made with ketchup,
Worcestershire sauce, bourbon, honey,
brown sugar and black pepper
Put the sauce ingredients in the slow cooker and stir to mix
Add the frozen meatballs and stir to cover them with the sauce
Cover and cook on high for 1 hour,
stir again and turn heat to low for 2 more hours
That’s it!
I timed it so they would be done right before the guests arrived
and then I turned the cooker to the warm setting for the party
The kid friendly sliders are filled with ham and American cheese
and served at room temperature
The everything sliders are filled with ham & Gruyère,
mayonnaise, mustard,
then topped with butter
and everything bagel seasoning and baked
Cut the rolls in half without separating
Spread each half with mayonnaise
Then spread mustard on top of mayonnaise
{I used Honeycup Mustard, it has a nice tang}
Lay on ham slices and cheese on roll bottom
and replace the top, mustard side down
Place rolls in a baking pan
Spread butter on the tops of the rolls
Sprinkle with Everything but the Bagel Seasoning
Cover with foil and bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes,
uncover and bake for 5- 7 more minutes until golden
Cut individual rolls apart before serving
The children had great fun making little skewers of chicken and pickles
and the older kids loved the meatballs~
Don’t worry about the alcohol, it bakes off
and the bourbon adds a nice flavor
Everyone had a grand time nibbling and noshing
and watching the horses “run for the roses!’
This recipe is adapted from Urban Bliss Life
Kentucky Derby Bourbon Meatballs
Equipment
- 1 slow cooker
Ingredients
- 1 bag frozen meatballs, about 2 lbs. I used a bag of 56 1/2 inch meatballs
- 1/2 cup bourbon
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place everything except meatballs into the slow cooker
- Stir well to combine
- Add frozen meatballs and stir to coat them in the sauce
- Cover and cook on high for 1 hour
- Stir, and turn temperature to low. Continue to cook for 2 hours, stirring each hour. Set slow cooker to keep warm for serving if desired
This recipe is adapted from Southern Living
Everything Ham & Swiss Sliders
Equipment
- shallow baking pan
- tin foil
Ingredients
- 1 pkg 12 count, King's Hawaiian slider rolls
- deli ham slices
- Swiss or Gruyère cheese slices
- mayonnaise
- tangy mustard like Honeycup
- soft butter
- everything bagel seasoning
Instructions
- Slice rolls in half horizontally, keeping the rolls together
- Spread cut side up of each half with a generous layer of mayonnaise
- Gently spread mustard on top of mayonnaise
- Layer ham then cheese on the bottom half of the rolls then replace top half of the rolls mustard side down, making one large sandwich
- Place sandwich on baking pan and spread tops with butter
- Sprinkle with everything but the bagel seasoning
- Cover with tin foil and bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes
- Uncover and continue to bake for 5-7 more minutes until golden and melted
- Carefully cut rolls apart with a sharp knife and serve warm
Notes:
Everything but the bagel seasoning is widely available, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Publix …It’s also easy to make, you can see my recipe by clicking on the highlighted title below
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Sundays on Silverado/ Love Your Creativity
What’s for Dinner/ Between Naps on the Porch
All About Home/ Common Ground & Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Turn About Tuesday / Our Tiny Nest / Karin’s Cottage Linky Party
Creative Crafts / Crafty Creators
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I’ll bet everyone enjoyed those meatballs. The loving cup center piece is fabulous.
Thank you Bernadette, it was all very simple but very fun!
Such a tasty menu and buffet for your Derby-watch party Jenna! The “kids” in our family are now in their 20s and we still have Chick-fil-A nuggets at all our get togethers. 🙂 Happy Tuesday ♥
I always get plenty of Chick-Fil-A because the adults eat as much as the kids 🙂
A well-organized and stress-free party!
Thanks Dorothy, not exactly a gourmet spread of fancy food but everybody loved it with very little left over~
That’s always the test, clean plates!
What great party foods!
Thanks Rita, nothing fancy, but enjoyed by all 🙂
I’ve made sliders similar to this but you have a few touches I’d not heard/thought of, especially the bagel seasoning on top. What a great idea. They’re always so popular. You have the best parties!
The everything seasoning really took them up a notch. Thank you Jeanie, we had a lot of fun!
Jenna, your buffet looks wonderful! All of those bites sound so delicious! I know your guests had a fabulous time! Happy Tuesday!
Thanks Shannon, nothing fancy, but everyone loved it!
Those sliders look delicious. I need to find a reason to make a batch. Mmmmm!!!
Thanks Leslie Anne, the everything seasoning really made them!
What a fabulous party that you put together, Jenna. All the food looks delicious. Our Chick-Fil-A closed last week for a three month remodel. Our grands will miss those chicken nuggets. Happy Tuesday!
Thank you Pam, we had such a good time! No Chick Fil-A for 3 months, yikes, my house couldn’t do it 😂
Yummy! Simple yet tasty. My kind of party food! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Thanks Cindy, it was super easy and everyone loved it!
Kentucky Derby Bourbon Meatball – I better try this recipe!
It’s so easy!!!
I’m always amazed at how you are able to put on a big spread, child and adult friendly, and make it appear so easy to put together. You have the gift of hospitality!
Thank you Linda! I really took a lot of short cuts for this one, but everything was gobbled up!
What a beautiful buffet. Simple and elegant, my kind of party!
I have yet to make those sliders. What am I waiting for??
Happy Mother’s Day!
Thanks so much Nancy! The food definitely wasn’t fancy, but there wasn’t much left! The bagel seasoning really kicks the sliders up a notch~
Awesome spread you have put together. Love those sliders.
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Thanks so much Esme!
Your Kentucky Derby party sounds like a lot of fun Jenna. I love the menu and thanks for the recipes.
Thank you Julie! We’ve been having a party for the Derby for the past several years, they are so much fun!
Sounded like such a fun menu for everyone, Jenna. The meatballs sound so good. I’ve made similar sliders and I just love them. You and your family have the best times together. ❤️
Thanks Kitty, we had a great time!
Yummy menu, love the idea of the baked slider with ham and cheese. I have done the meatballs before. A wonderful way to spend with family and watch the Kentucky Derby.
Thanks so much Linda, we had a great time 🙂
Oh my goodness Jenna. Your buffet looks sooo good! The sliders sound delicious and the meatballs look so yummy! I love your recipes because they are generally easy to make which very much pleases this lazy cook’s heart! I hope you had a fantastic party!
Thank you Kim! I am all about easy these days! We had a grand time, the kids had so much fun picking their horses and watching the race and the girls all loved their Derby hat straws 🙂