LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The top four finalists in the 2025 Derby Burger Challenge have been chosen.

What You Need To Know

  • Four finalists in the 2025 Derby Burger Challenge have been selected

  • A final cook-off on Monday, March 10 will crown a winner

  • The winning burger will be featured at Fest-a-Ville and inside Kroger stores

  • The winner also gets a series of various prizes

This year’s chefs are Ira Mowman with the “Kentucky Fiesta Cheese Burger”; Bette Niemi with the “Perfect Peppery Prosciutto Burger”; Steve Rossell with “The Cowboy”; and Greg Yopp with the “Brielicious Burger.”

Dozens of recipes were submitted to for the competition and featured everything from red pepper jelly to apple butter.

There will be a final cook-off to crown the winning Derby Burger chef on Monday, March 10 at the Kroger in Middletown at 12501 Shelbyville Road.

Every burger must be made with 100% Kentucky Cattlemen’s Ground Beef and include Dan-O’s Seasoning and 80 Acres Farms in the recipe. Each of the items features a sponsor of the competition. The burgers will be judged based on taste, appearance, creativity and ease of preparation.

The winning burger will be featured at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront during the Derby Festival and also inside Kroger stores. The top chef receives a 2025 Official Derby Festival Poster, a pair of VIP tickets to the Thunder over Louisville Rooftop Party, a pair of tickets BourbonVille, a $100 gift certificate to Kroger, a grilling prize package and prize packages from Dan-o’s Seasoning and 80 Acres Farms.

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