We have the finalists for the 2025 Derby Burger Challenge, and it’s time to vote!
The Kentucky Derby Festival wants you to help pick the new Derby Burger Champion out of the eight finalists remaining. The top four will advance to the 2025 Derby Burger Challenge Cook-off, set to take place on Monday, March 10th. Sponsored by 80 Acres Farms, Dan-O’s Seasoning, Kentucky Beef Council and Kroger, many original recipes were submitted before the elite eight were chosen, and festival foodies can vote online now through Friday, February 28th.
Prizes for the winning chef include: a 2025 Official Kentucky Derby Festival Poster, two VIP tickets to the Thunder Over Louisville VIP Rooftop Party, two VIP tickets to Republic Bank BourbonVille, a $100 gift certificate to Kroger, a grilling prize package courtesy of the Kentucky Beef Council, which includes a grill, a prize package from Dan-O’s Seasoning, and an 80 Acres Farms Swag Pack. The winning burger also lands a featured spot inside Kroger stores and at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville during the Derby Festival.
Recipes will be reviewed based on Taste, Appearance, Creativity, and Ease of Preparation, and burgers must be 100 percent Cattleman’s ground beef as well as include Dan-O’s seasoning (Official Seasoning of the Kentucky Derby Festival) and greens/herbs from 80 Acres Farms (Official Greens of the Festival). Official competition rules are also online at www.kdf.org/beef.
Which burger do you want to see make it to the cook-off? See the finalists below and visit KDF.org/DerbyBurger to vote!
Press release provided by KY Derby Festival Press Office.
Brielicious Burger
brie, caramelized onion jam, tomato, butter lettuce, original seasoningGreg Yopp, LaGrange, KY KY Derby Festival, 2025 Burger Challenge Top 8
Kentucky Fiesta Cheese Burger
pico, avocado spread, chihuahua cheese, romaine blend, chipotle seasoningIra Mowman, Louisville KY Derby Festival, 2025 Burger Challenge Top 8
The Cowboy
boursin cheese, candied jalapeno, pepper jack, fried red onions, sweet bacon jam, spring mix, original seasoningSteve Rossell, Louisville KY Derby Festival, 2025 Burger Challenge Top 8
The Kiss Me Now Maybe Later Garlic Burger
garlic, mayonnaise, lemon, balsamic or apple cider vinegar, bourbon, Coca-Cola, arugula mix, original and sea seasoningBrian Finneran, Louisville KY Derby Festival, 2025 Burger Challenge Top 8
Burnham’s Beer Cheese Bourbon Bacon Jam Bom-Diggity Burger
bacon jam, bourbon, beer cheese, thyme, original seasoningWilliam Burnham, Louisville KY Derby Festival, 2025 Burger Challenge Top 8
Italian Stallion
garlic toast, provolone, roma tomato, pepperoni, marinara, basil, cheesoning seasoningJeremy Fleitz, Louisville KY Derby Festival, 2025 Burger Challenge Top 8
Perfect Peppery Prosciutto Burger
havarti, prosciutto, red pepper jelly, garlic, arugula, basil, everything bagel crunchy seasoningBette Niemi, Louisville KY Derby Festival, 2025 Burger Challenge Top 8
Cameron’s Kickoff Derby Burger
hickory smoked bacon, apple butter, summer lettuce, cajun seasoning, maple bourbon seasoning, preem-o seasoningCameron Myers, Taylorsville, KY KY Derby Festival, 2025 Burger Challenge Top 8
This article appears in Feb 14-27, 2025.
