Cornbread, Cook-Offs, and Recipes
lodge national cornbread cook-off
Come out and see the 2025 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 28th 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 26th, 2025 in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
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.
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 27th, 2025 on the Lodge Cast Iron Cook-Off stage.
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!
