41st Auxiliary sponsored All American Certified Angus Beef® Cook Off

2024 Cook-Off Information Coming Soon

A lot has certainly changed since 1983 under the trees on the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines when 9 NJAA teams, 3 Adults and 34 contestants participated in the "Great Ground Round Cook Off". In 1985, the products expanded to include other cuts in the "Big Beef Round Up" in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1988, a partnership with Certified Angus Beef began and the Auxiliary Sponsored All American Certified Angus Beef Cook Off was born!

The Cook Off was the first non- showring educational contest at the National Jr Angus Show and it continues to be a popular team competition.

Cooks of all ages should bring their chef's hats, aprons, beef recipes, and flair for preparation to the Certified Angus Beef® Cook-Off this summer. The event, sponsored jointly by the American Angus Auxiliary, National Jr. Angus Association, American Angus Association and Certified Angus Beef LLC, is held annually during the National Jr. Angus Show.

All contestants must be members of the NJAA and each team must consist of two to six members of a state junior Angus association.

There will be steaks, roasts, and other beef item categories. In each category there with be Junior, Intermediate and Senior age divisions. See specific rules in Rules and Guidelines.

The cook-off is judged by a panel of three judges. Each judge scores and rank teams individually. Each team is scored in showmanship (the skit/presentation) and recipe. Using their combined recipe and showmanship score the teams are ranked by each judge to determine rankings. Rankins are used to determine the overall placings in each category/division.

First through third place awards will be given in each category and age divisions. First place winners in showmanship and recipe will be recognized in each category and age division. A champion team will be awarded in each category. The champion team in each category will complete for Black Kettle Award. The 1st place Intermediate steak team will be awarded the Pat Grote LEAD Award. The overall top ranked Junior team will be awarded the Ardyce's Aprons award.

The event is educational, competitive, and fun! Among junior teams in particular, the cook-off has fostered a cooperative spirit. The cook-off is an excellent way to educate and entertain non-participants, while promoting the ultimate end-product- the Certified Angus Beef® brand.

View a sampling of 2022 Cook-Off Videos by clicking here.


Cookbooks and Winning Recipes

2023 Cook-Off Cookbook

The 40th Annual Cook-Off.pdf

2022 Cook-Off Cookbook

The 39th Annual Cook-Off.pdf

2021 Cook-Off Cookbook

The 38th Annual Cook-Off.pdf

2019 Cook-Off Cookbook

The 36th Annual Cook-Off.pdf

2018 Cook-Off Cookbook

The 35th Annual Cook-Off.pdf

2017 Cook-Off Cookbook

The 34th Annual Cook-Off.pdf

2016 Cook-Off Cookbook

The 33rd Annual Cook-Off.pdf

2015 Cook-Off Cookbook

The 32nd Annual Cook-Off.pdf

2014 Cook-Off Cookbook

The 31st Annual Cook-Off.pdf

2013 Cook-Off Cookbook

The 30th Annual Cook-Off.pdf

2012 Cook-Off Cookbook

The 29th Annual Cook-Off.pdf

2011 Cook-Off Cookbook

The 28th Annual Cook-Off.pdf
Includes these delicious recipes: Cheesy Balsamic Steaks; Bully-Free Beef Sandwiches; All-American Roast; Sassy Skirt Steak with Blackberry Corncakes and Vidalia® Onion Jam; Fiesta Fajita Salad.

2010 Cook-Off Cookbook

The 27th Annual Cook-Off.pdf
Includes these delicious recipes: Grilled Ribeye Steak with Onion Blue Cheese Sauce; Gold Rush Roast; Angus Jalapeño Sliders.

2009 Cook-Off Cookbook

The 26th Annual Cook-Off.pdf
Includes these delicious recipes: Old-Fashioned Southern Beef Brisket with Browned Potatoes; Grandma Sylvia's Barbecue Beef Sandwiches; Cola Roast; CAB® Holiday Brisket with Red Cabbage and Creamy Mustard Sauce; Absolutely Sensational Roast; Creole Roast Beef for Po' Boys; College Boy Brisket; Southern Sweet Brisket; Roast Dip Sandwiches; Classic Coca-Cola® Barbecue Beef; Beef Honey Teriyaki Stir Fry; Lime-Grilled Steak and Shrimp Kabobs; CAB Steak Tacos with Corn Relish; Blackened Steak and Horseradish Cream; Grilled Steaks with Peppery Peach Salsa; Bleu Cheese Filets; CAB Tenderloin Steaks with Morel Mushroom Cream Sauce; Bluegrass Country Fried Steak; Louisiana "Sweet Southern" Filets; Southwestern Steak Sandwiches; Showdown Filets; Peppercorn Steaks with Mustard Sauce; Nothing Better Spicy Beef Filets; Kentucky Fried Steak; CAB® Steak with Grandma's Peppercorn Gravy Sauce; Minnesota Grilled Ribeyes; The Honeymooners Night on the Town Filet; Ribeye Steaks with Cumin-Lime Butter; Sensational Sirloin Strips; Grilled Steaks Balsamico; Hunter's Choice Casserole; Sante Fe Soup; Beef Ravioli; Beef Jambalaya; All For One Tortellini Bake; Ranch Chili; CAB® Roast Beef Pita; Beef Rouladen; Poor Man's Philly; NOLA-style Muffuletta.

2008 Cook-Off Cookbook

The 25th Annual Cook-Off.pdf

2007 Cook-Off Cookbook

The 24th Annual Cook-Off.pdf
Includes all competitions: Fresh Meat, Heat-and-Serve and Deli Meat. Thank you to all of our Friends of the Black Kettle!

2006 Cook-Off Cookbook

Fresh-Meat Division.pdf
Tigger's Elegant CAB® Prime Rib Roast; Zesty Steak Empanada; Pit Crew Pasta; Texas Taco Soup; Beef Chuck Stew; Chipotle Steak; Western Way Ribeye; Peppered Ribeye Steaks; Supremette's Strip Steak; Aunt Bee's Filet of Beef; CAB Kabobs with Vegetables; Flat-Iron Steak Supreme; Savory Sirloin Strips; Pepperrock Stuffed Beef Filets; Las Vegas Strip Steak...

Quick-N-Easy Division.pdf
Beans for Real Cowboys; Keep on Truckin' Quick-N-Easy Panini Sandwiches; "Priceless" Philly Beef 'n' Cheese Sandwich; Baked Beef Chimichangas; Cruella's Wickedly Delicious Prim Rib Dinner with Blazin' Sauce; Inside-Out Bacon Cheeseburgers; All-American CAB® Sports Dog; CAB Hot Beef Sandwich; Holiday CAB® Prime Rib with Mushroom Sauce; Quick & Easy Pulled Beef...

Deli Meats Division.pdf
Beefy Pepper Cheese Rolls; Speedy Toasted CAB Sandwich; Western Wrap; Super-Quick Beef Taco Soup; CAB Deli Wrap; CAB Orange Barrel Hoagies; Nebraska Beef Taco Wraps; Beef Taco Wraps Oklahoma Style; Cajun Toast Beef with Pasta & Veggies...

CAB® Cook-off Winners

Read more about the CAB Cook-off winners in these Angus Journal articles highlighting the people behind the recipes.