LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Kentucky Derby Festival's 12th annual Derby Burger Challenge came down to the cook-off. 

WDRB's Keith Kaiser hosted the competition again this year in search of a champion.

Dozens of recipes have been narrowed down to 4:

  • Brian Capps, Louisville, KY, Pesto Provolone Burger (Also won the 2021 Derby Burger Challenge with Bourbon Blueberry Brie & Bacon Cheeseburger Recipe and 2023 with the G.O.A.T.)
  • Stacy Hoehle, La Grange, KY, Derby P.L.T. Burger
  • Ira Mowman, Louisville, KY, Jamaican Jerk Burger
  • Grant Ruble, Louisville, KY, Candy Dan

These 4 finalists created their Derby Burgers LIVE on WDRB Mornings at Kroger Middletown.

The Derby Burger Challenge has been a great way for the Bluegrass to express their love for a great burger through innovative burger recipes.

A panel of judges chose the Derby Burger Champion based on taste, appearance, creativity and ease of preparation. At the end of the competition, the votes came in for Stacy Hoehle from LaGrange, Ky., who is the new Derby Burger Champion.

Her recipe for her P.L.T. Burger was selected as this year’s winner after a cook-off this morning between the top four finalists. Hoehle’s 2024 Derby Burger was stacked with Kentucky Cattlemen's ground beef, fried green tomato slices, remoulade and pimento cheese.

"These are things I eat individually all of the time and you can find me snacking on at home every weekend," Hoehle said. "So, I thought why not put them all in one place?" she said in a written news release. 

Other finalists included: 2nd place – Grant Ruble of Louisville with the Candy Dan Burger; 3rd place – 2023 Derby Burger Champion Brian Capps of Louisville with the Pesto Provolone Burger; and 4th place – Ira Mowman of Louisville with the Jamaican Jerk Burger.

As the winner, Hoehle received:

  • A featured spot at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront during Derby Festival, as well as inside Kroger stores.
  • A 2024 Official Derby Festival Poster
  • Two VIP tickets to the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport Thunder 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
  • A year’s supply of Dan-O’s Seasoning
  • Click here to see past winning Derby Burger recipes.

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