Every year, The Old Farmer’s Almanac holds a recipe contest with cash prizes. Enter here—and enjoy winning recipes from past contests!
The 2021 Recipe Contest: “Five or Fewer Ingredients”
Update: This year’s contest is now closed! Look for the winning recipes to be announced in the 2022 Old Farmer’s Almanac, which will be published in Fall 2021. In the meantime, enjoy winning recipes from years past!
Past Recipe Contest Winners
As the editors, we certainly all enjoyed tasting these delicious recipes in our test kitchens. Enjoy the “best of the best” recipes shared by Almanac readers below!
The 2020 Appetizers Recipe Content
First Prize: Buffalo Deviled Eggs
Second Prize: Stuffed Jalapeños
Third Prize: Spicy Mexican Shrimp Bites
Honorable Mention: Zippy Potato Balls
The 2019 Pasta Recipe Contest
First Prize: Spinach Artichoke Dip Stuffed Pasta Shells
Second Prize: Quick Southwest Pasta
Third Prize: Bacon Horseradish Penne Pasta
The 2018 Orange Recipe Contest
First Prize: Cran-Orange Couscous Salad
Second Prize: Spicy Orange Salmon Over Edamame and Corn
Third Prize: Brussels Sprouts With Bacon and Orange
Honorable Mention: Orange-Glazed Grilled Chicken With Chunky Orange Salsa
Cran-Orange Couscous Salad. Photo Credit: Lori Pedrick.
The 2017 Sweet Potato Contest
First Prize: No-Churn Sweet Potato Casserole Ice Cream
Second Prize: Sweet Potato Lentil Coconut Curry
Third Prize: Roasted Garlic Sweet Potato Mac-‘N-Cheese
Photo Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner. These three delicious dishes were the winners in the 2017 Sweet Potato Contest.
The 2016 Savory Pie Contest
First Prize: Spiced Lamb Pie
Second Prize: Seacoast Scallop Pie
Third Prize: Tater-Crusted Cheese and Mushroom Pie
The 2015 Dips and Spread Contest
First Prize: Florentine Spinach Dip
Second Prize: Pesto Strata
Third Prize: Dressed-Up Crab Rangoon Dip
The 2014 Carrots Recipe Contest
First Prize: Carrot Ginger Soup
Second Prize: Apple Cider Risotto With Carrot Confetti
Third Prize: Spiced Carrot Biscuits With Salted Caramel Butter
The 2013 Beets Recipe Contest
First Prize: Beets and Potatoes Au Gratin
Second Prize: Raspberry Roasted Beets and Chevre Over Shallow, Walnut, and Beet Greens Couscous
Third Prize: Sweet Cherry Tomato and Beet Crostini
Runners-Up:
The 2012 Bacon Recipe Contest
First Prize: Spicy Bacon Pizza With Caramelized Onions and Blue Cheese
Second Prize: Bacon, Italian Sausage, and Bean Soup
Third Prize: Creamy Spaghetti Torte With Bacon
The 2011 Coffee Recipe Contest
First Prize: Mocha Truffle Loaf
Second Prize: Chocolate Coffee Oatmeal Sugar Cookies
Third Prize: Slow-Cooker Smoky Chili
Honorable Mention: Rich and Spicy Beef Stew
The 2010 Pumpkin Recipe Contest
First Prize: Pumpkin Harvest Soup
Second Prize: Southwestern Pumpkin Hummus
Third Prize: Pumpkin Nutmeg Knots
Honorable Mention: Ginger Thai Pumpkin Bisque
Honorable Mention: Pumpkin Waffles with Butter Pecan Butter
The 2009 Buttermilk Recipe Contest
First Prize: Shrimp and Corn Soup
Second Prize: Crispy-Coated Catfish in Creamy Buttermilk Sauce
Third Prize: Meat Loaf With Buttermilk
Honorable Mention: Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
Honorable Mention: Crispy Buttermilk Chicken Tenders with Tangy Buttermilk Dipping Sauce
Reader Comments
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2020 Contest
for the 2020 contest, does water count as an ingredient, if you need it to boil/poach something
2019 Contest
Hi, I live in Canada and I was wondering if you can tell me the deadline for the contest.
2019 Recipe Contest
The 2019 Recipe Contest (Pasta) has ended; the winners will be announced in The 2020 Old Farmer’s Almanac, which arrives this month! The deadline for the 2020 contest is January 24, 2020.
Am I eligible?
Would love to enter your competition - but I live in the UK. Am I eligible?
recipe contest
No. The Old Farmer’s Almanac is a book printed in North America with distribution to readers in the U.S. and Canada. Only those countries may enter this particular contest (which is featured in the Almanac) but we do often have online contests open to any of our Almanac.com fans.
recipes
How cool that you use themes for this. But I can barely boil water let alone create a recipe! So kudos to all that can whether you win or not.
Clarification of prizes for 2018 contest
This page says the prizes are $300, $200, and $100 for the 2018 contest, but the entry form says $250, $150, and $100.
Could you clarify that and update whichever isn't correct?
Thanks!
cash prize amounts
Thanks, Julie, for letting us know. The correct cash prize amounts are $300, $200, and $100 for the 2018 contest and we updated the form! Thanks, again.
Web site
Have enjoyed this web site so much. So glad I found it. Love the recipes and the good info that you share . Thank so much and keep it up.
Photos of Recipes?
Is there a way to include a photograph in the entry?
Recipe Photos
Hi Shauna, We welcome photos and this often makes a better entry. If you can not enter on the form, you can always send us an image to: AlmanacEditors@yankeepub.com Thank you.
If I am in culinary school,
If I am in culinary school, but I haven't been paid for cooking anything, can I still enter?
Yes, of course, we welcome
Yes, of course, we welcome cooks of all kinds!
Hello. Just want to clarify
Hello. Just want to clarify what you mean by "unpublished" - I have a blog and have published my original recipe there, but apart from that, it has never appeared in any magazine nor have I earned any money for this recipe. Would this be eligible?
As long as you have not
As long as you have not published the recipe in a book or magazine, your recipe is eligible.
Hello, How does the Old
Hello,
How does the Old Farmers Almanac define "amateur cook" for the purpose of this contest?
Thanks!
The Almanac defines an
The Almanac defines an amateur cook as someone who is a home cook and cooks for pleasure and not for money.
Is there a limit to the
Is there a limit to the number of recipes one can enter?
Hi Terri, There is no limit
Hi Terri, There is no limit to how many recipes you can enter! Go for it. Best, the OFA editors
When will the winners be
When will the winners be selected for the carrot recipe contest?
The winners will be announced
The winners will be announced in The 2015 Old Farmer's Almanac which is issued in late August/early September.
Simply Delicious Baked
Simply Delicious Baked Asparagus
Layer a cookie sheet with fresh asparagus.
Spray with cooking spray or brush with cooking oil.
Sprinkle with any desired herbs and spices.*
Bake in preheated 350F oven for 15 mins. Check for tenderness. Bake an additional 15 mins or until desired tenderness is reached. Serve immediately.
*I like to use Italian herbs and fresh ground pepper. Or, alternately, use sesame seeds, soy sauce and other Asian-inspired herbs.
Can amateur cooks of any age
Can amateur cooks of any age from any country enter?