LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Grill masters and burger enthusiasts alike will soon have a chance to get recognized as part of this year’s Kentucky Derby Festival. 

What You Need To Know

  • Grill masters and burger enthusiasts have until next Wednesday, Jan. 31 to submit their entries for this year's Derby Burger Challenge 

  • The winning burger will be featured at Kroger's Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront during the festival and inside Kroger stores 

  • The winning chef will also receive multiple prizes, including two VIP tickets to Thunder Over Louisville and a $100 Kroger gift certificate 

  • This is the competition's 12th year

For the 12th year, the Derby Festival and Kentucky Beef Council are partnering to find the next “Derby Burger” champion. Interested applicants have until next Wednesday, Jan. 31 to submit their burger recipes on the Derby Festival’s website for a chance to win.

The winning burger will be featured at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront during the festival and inside Kroger stores, according to the festival. Other prizes for the winning chef include:

  • 2024 Official Derby Festival Poster
  • Two VIP tickets to Thunder Over Louisville
  • Two VIP tickets to Republic Bank Louisville
  • A $100 gift certificate to Kroger
  • A grilling prize package courtesy of the Kentucky Beef Council
  • A year’s supply of Dan-O’s seasoning 

“Burgers are one of the most popular foods in America, and they’re even better made with 100% beef,” said Carey Brown, chief operating officer of the Kentucky Beef Council. “With the many ways burgers can be prepared, seasoned and dressed, we always look forward to the unique recipes that are submitted from around the state.”

The festival said it encourages entrants to include a creative burger name, description and photo as part of their submission. Burgers must be 100% beef and include Dan-O’s seasoning. Recipes are judged based on taste, appearance, creativity and ease of preparation.

According to the festival, it will announce preliminary finalists from all submissions Feb. 8. Voting will then open online to Derby Festival and burger fans, which will help narrow the field to four contestants for a cook-off in March before selecting a final winner.

Brian Capps' winning Derby Burger from 2021 (Kentucky Derby Festival)

Louisville’s Brian Capps won last year’s Derby Burger Challenge with the recipe for “The G.O.A.T.” The winning burger was stacked, seasoned with Dan-O’s Seasoning, spicy goat cheese, fig spread, hot honey and spring mix served on a toasted roll. Capps also won the challenge in 2021 with his “Bourbon Blueberry & Brie Bacon Cheeseburger.”

Fans can learn more about the challenge and see past winners on KDF’s website.

To stay up-to-date with everything related to the Kentucky Derby Festival, the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby, visit Spectrum News 1's special Derby section. 

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