Cornbread, Cook-Offs, and Recipes
LODGE NATIONAL CORNBREAD COOK-OFF
Come out and see the 2026 National Cornbread Cook-off! The top ten finalists will be announced and will join us in South Pittsburg to go head to head to determine this year’s champion!
Each year we search the nation for the best original main dish cornbread recipes. This year we will host the 29th Annual Lodge® Cast Iron National Cornbread Cook-Off, sponsored by Lodge® Cast Iron and Bush’s®.
Recipe entries require the original main dish/entree/main course recipe to be prepared and cooked in Lodge® Cast Iron cookware. The ten finalists chosen must compete during the National Cornbread Festival on April 25th, 2026 in South Pittsburg, Tennessee.
The Cook-Off champion will receive a $5,000 cash prize and a 30-inch stainless steel gas range (a $3,250 value) from FiveStar® Professional Cooking Equipment, and special gifts from Lodge® Cast Iron.
Second place wins $1500 and third place receives $1,000! The remaining two finalists walk away with $150. All finalists receive up to $500 travel reimbursement and a gift basket courtesy of Lodge® Cast Iron.
2026 Cook-Off Finalists
Turkish Kafta Kebab Lavash
Amy Smith
Los Angeles, CA
Streetside Korean Cornbread Toasts
Naylet LaRochelle
Miami, FL
Chicken Kafta with Cornbread Soccarat
Felice Bogus
Raleigh, NC
Okonomiyaki Cornbread Cakes with Shrimp & Bacon
Pamela Gelsomini
Miami, FL
Corn Fritter Smash Burger
Gracie Woods
Duncanville, AL
Reuben Skillet Cornbread with Rye Crunch
Sharon Gates
Leicester, NC
Cornbread Angel Biscuits with Shrimp & Cream Sauce
Karen Shankles
Knoxville, TN
Three Sisters Cheesy Cornmeal Stuffed Pasta Shells
Suellen Calhoun
Charlottesville, VA
5C’s Stacked Rustic Tuscan Dinner
Mary Yelland
North Branch, MI
Smokehouse Cornbread Frybread
Teresa Cardin
Pyatt, AR
4-H Cookoff
The 4-H Cook-Off is open to all 4th-grade 4-H youth. Finalists compete to take home a $500 first place prize. The competition takes place on April 26th, 2026 on the Lodge Cast Iron Cook-Off stage.
2026
4-H
Cook Off Finalists
Smokey Hot Honey Bacon Cornbread
Joseph Longtin
Hixson, TN
Ivy’s Kentucky Cornbread
Ivy Skaggs
Smiths Grove, KY
Sourdough Gruyere Jalepeno Cornbread
Adelaida Leonidov
Pigeon Forge, TN
Country Breakfast Cornbread
Henry Buckner
Maryville, TN
Pimento Cheese Stuffed Cornbread Pancakes
Quentin Gardner
Harriman, TN
Charlotte’s Smoking BBCJ Cornrbead
Charlotte Hurst
Maryville, TN
Emma’s Hawaiian Cornbread
Emma Kilgore
Jasper, TN
Apple-A-Day Cornbread
Daisy May
Dandridge, TN
The Thanksgiving Cornbread Experience
Braleigh Vinson
Jasper, TN
Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chip Cornbread
Elliana Deering
Jasper, TN
Cook Off Sponsors
Looking for a taste of the National Cornbread Festival at home? Check out our past years’ recipes from our top National Cornbread Cook-off winners or find your favorite recipes from Cornbread Alley!
