Amateur Cooking Competition

Do you have what it takes to be king or queen of hot chicken?

Is your fiery flair for hot chicken more than fabulous? Here is your chance to prove it by becoming one of six amateur contestants in the 18th annual Hot Chicken Festival Amateur Cooking Competition. There will be celebrity judges crowning the king and/or queen of hot chicken!

So, who will be the 2024 King/Queen of Hot Chicken??

2024 Applications Have closed.

The 2024 competition will be held during the Hot Chicken Festival on Thursday, July 4. The winner of the contest will be presented with a trophy on the Festival stage at 1:30 p.m. Portions of the contest will be broadcast on News Channel 5’s Talk of the Town.

Contestants will be selected based on the creativity and fiery flare of their written application. Words matter, chickens, so now is not the time to Cluck Up! Based on applicant creativity and fiery flare, the Hot Chicken Festival committee will choose teams to cook and serve Hot Chicken to our expert judges!

Selected contestants will be invited to cook for our exclusive panel of judges. Contestants will be provided with a table, electricity, and a residential frier. Contestants will furnish their own spices, serving dishes, cooking utensils, etc.

*All participants must be at least 18 years of age. All participants must agree to the use of your name/image for Festival promotional purposes. 

Please read the official contest rules and guidelines before applying - contest rules