2025 Derby Burger Challenge
Kentucky Beef Council and Kentucky Derby Festival have crowned the winning recipe, the 2025 Derby Burger Challenge champion.
The 2025 Derby Burger Champion is the Kentucky Fiesta Cheeseburger from Ira Mowman of Louisville, KY. The following ingredients and directions will help you prepare this delicious burger!
- 1 pound Kentucky Cattlemen’s Ground Beef
- 2 tsp Dan-O’s Chipotle Seasoning
- 1 tsp Sea Salt
- 1 tsp Rosemary
- 4 tbsp Pico de Gallo
- 4 tbsp Avocado Spread
- 2 oz Chihuahua Cheese
- ½ cup 80 Acres Farms Romaine Calm Blend Mix
- 2 Sesame Seed Buns
Directions:
1. Combine ground beef with Dan-O’s, Salt, and Rosemary, and form circular patties.3. Just before removing from heat, top burger with chihuahua cheese and allow it to melt.
4. Assemble burger. Spread Avocado spread on the bottom bun, followed by the cooked patty, then top with the Pico and Romaine Calm Blend, spread more Avocado spread if desired, and place the top bun on top
5. Enjoy!
Challenge Details
The judges had more than 50 entries, and selected the top 8 burgers to be in the running for the 2025 Derby Burger Challenge! Online, public voting took place, then the final four were announced and competed via live cookoff.
Preliminary Judging Guidelines
- Creativity
- Appearance
- Ease of Preparation
Winning Prize
The 2025 winner won prizes from Kentucky Beef Council, Kentucky Derby Festival and Kroger:
- A grilling prize pack from Kentucky Beef Council including a grill
- One 2025 Kentucky Derby Festival Poster
- Local Brewery Tour for two
- $100 Kroger gift card
- Featured inside Louisville Kroger stores, including the recipe ingredients and recipe card
- Your recipe will be promoted on Kentucky Beef Council and Kentucky Derby Festival websites and social media
Top 3 Finalists will receive a Kentucky Beef Council prize pack and one 2024 Kentucky Derby Festival Poster
Test Kitchen Tips
Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness.
