LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Christmas season is upon us, but it's never too early to start thinking about the Kentucky Derby Burger Challenge.
This year marks the 14th year for the annual KDF event, sponsored by Kroger, The Beef Council and Dan O's Seasoning, as they once again look for the best "Derby Burger" recipe.
There's still plenty of time to come up with a killer recipe for your best, beefiest and tastiest burger. Recipes can be submitted online at KDF.org/Beef starting Monday, Nov. 24, through Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026.
Whether you're a professional chef or a home cook, all are welcome to compete. Give your entry a jazzy name and include a description and photo as part of your submission.
Contest Requirements
All burgers must be made using 100% Kentucky Cattlemen's Ground Beef and include Dan-O's seasoning (Official Seasoning of the Kentucky Derby Festival) in the recipe. Recipes are judged based on taste, appearance, creativity and ease of preparation.
Judging
Finalists will be chosen by burger fans and KDF members. Eight preliminary finalists will be announced from all submissions in February. After the finalists are chosen, online voting will begin. Based on the votes, four finalists will be chosen to take part in a March cook-off where the winner will be crowned.
The winner's burger will be featured at Kroger's Fest-a-Ville during Derby Festival, as well as inside Kroger stores.
Official Rules
Official rules of the competition can be found online at KDF.org/Beef.
Prizes
The 2026 "Derby Burger" champion will receive the following prizes:
- 2026 Official Derby Festival Poster
- Two tickets to the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport 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, and a prize package from Dan-O's Seasoning.
In a written statement, Kelly Baird, Director of Communications and Events for the Kentucky Beef Council suggested that everyone "keep it simple, creative and tasty. Let the beef shine and your burger will do the talking!"
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