Chunky Guacamole Cheeseburger with Candied Bacon by Neil Daniell with Team Kirby G’s Diner. Photo World Food Championships

Summer may be winding down, but there are still plenty of weekends left to fire up the grill. If you’re searching for a show-stopping burger to close out the season, here’s one that’s a true champion: the Chunky Guacamole Cheeseburger with Candied Bacon as featured in Burgers & Bacon Cookbook: Over 250 World’s Best Burgers, Sauces, Relishes & Bun Recipes published by Fox Chapel in an excerpt from our full feature in Healthy Aging® Magazine.

This crave-worthy creation isn’t just any backyard burger—it was a past winner at the World Food Championships (WFC), often dubbed the “Super Bowl of Food.” Crafted by Neil Daniell and his KirbyG’s Diner team, it fuses hearty Angus beef, candied bacon, pepper jack and Havarti cheeses, creamy avocado aioli, and chunky guacamole into one bold, flavor-packed bite.

Sound over-the-top? Maybe. Delicious? Absolutely. And it offers a taste of what’s cooking at the 2025 World Food Championships, happening October 16–19, 2025, at the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion, part of the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. This marks the 13th annual competition.

Scene from World Food Championship

What Makes the World Food Championships So Intense?

The WFC isn’t your average cook-off—it’s high-stakes culinary sport. The Kitchen Arena pulsates with adrenaline: Cheferees (chef-referees), 20 contestants per category, and a merciless countdown clock push competitors to beat the buzzer—or go home.

The stakes are steep: competitors battle for a total prize purse of $450,000. The tournament spans four key days of cooking, packed with tension and creativity.

Even if you can’t make it to Indianapolis, you can still taste the winning edge—with top recipes featured in the Burgers & Bacon Cookbook: Over 250 World’s Best Burgers, Sauces, Relishes & Bun Recipes published by Fox Chapel and sample in our exclusive magazine feature. This burger recipe is just an excerpt from that full article.

Why Fans Keep Tuning In

The WFC is more than a competition; it’s a culinary spectacle with:

• Spectator-friendly sampling at the Tasting Village.
• Live demos and cook-alongs with celebrity chefs.
• VIP experiences offering behind-the-scenes access and meet-and-greets.
• A festival atmosphere—complete with music, interactive zones, and foodie fun.

You will witness 12 category champions emerge (think bacon, burger, dessert, seafood, and more), each earning a spot at “The Final Table” to compete for the title of World Food Champion. Rest assured, only the boldest—and most delicious—take it all.

Make the most of the remainder of the summer and celebrate a winning burger like this one from a previous year’s event and featured in the book and our article.

Recipe Spotlight: Chunky Guacamole Cheeseburger with Candied Bacon

Ingredients

BURGERS:

5 slices pepper jack Havarti cheese

5 buns, buttered and toasted; approximately 4″ diameter

5 ea. 1/2 lb. Angus beef patties (I used Bo’s Angus Beef Burger patties)

Seasoning, to taste (Note: I used a steak rub of equal parts garlic powder, salt, and fine ground pepper.)

AVOCADO AIOLI:

1/4 cup olive oil mayonnaise

1/2 cup chunky avocado spread

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 tablespoon fajita seasoning

1 tablespoon fresh cracked pepper

1/2 cup guacamole (I used Sabra)

CHUNKY GUACAMOLE: TIP: You can substitute the avocado spread with 1 cup of guacamole.

3 avocados, peeled and diced

1/4 cup onion (red and/or white)

2 medium Roma tomatoes, diced

1 tablespoon jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped

2 tablespoons cilantro, diced

2 tablespoons lime juice

Salt and pepper, to taste

CANDIED BACON:

1 pound sliced bacon

1 cup pure maple syrup

1 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning (I used Slap Ya Mama Hot Cajun Seasoning)

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon pepper

GARNISH: (Optional)

1/2 cup of tri-color tortilla strips

Directions

CANDIED BACON:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Whisk together the syrup and dry ingredients to make candied bacon topping.

3. Line a baking pan with parchment paper. Lay out your bacon on the lined pan.

4. Brush the syrup mixture onto both sides of the bacon for best results.

5. Bake for approximately 20 minutes total at 350°F. The time will vary depending on elevation and oven type.

6. At approximately the 10-minute mark, you will flip the bacon over and cook the opposite side.

7. Around the 15–18-minute mark, you should begin to watch the candied bacon closely because it burns easily. You want the bacon to look brown and somewhat pliable. It may even look slightly undercooked. However, it will firm up nicely after it cools. If it’s dark and crispy, you’ve cooked it too long and the sugars will taste burnt.

8. Once you remove the bacon from the oven, place the candied bacon strips immediately place on cooling racks.

AVOCADO AIOLI AND CHUNKY GUACAMOLE:

1. While bacon is cooking/cooling, prepare the aioli and guacamole using the ingredients above.

2. Once complete, lightly butter and toast buns to golden brown. (Note: I recommend using butter on the top bun only to prevent sogginess.)

BURGERS:

1. Preheat pan/grill to 400°F.

2. Season outside of patty to taste. Using my steak rub or something equivalent.

3. Cook the burger patties to your desired temperature. ServSafe recommends 155°F, which is medium-well.

4. Top each patty with 1 slice of pepper jack Havarti when the patty is approximately 10 degrees below your desired final temp. Melt cheese. (Note: A spritz of water will help it melt faster.)

ASSEMBLY:

1. Bottom bun (toasted, no butter)

2. 1 tablespoon avocado aioli

3. Burger patty with melted cheese

4. 2 slices candied bacon; place in X pattern

5. 1/4–1/2 cup chunky guacamole

6. Top bun (toasted, with butter)

7. Optional: Garnish plate with tri-color tortilla strips to make a colorful presentation

(Excerpt from the full feature in Healthy Aging Magazine. Reprinted with permission from Burgers & Bacon Cookbook: Over 250 World’s Best Burgers, Sauces, Relishes & Bun Recipes published by Fox Chapel, 2024)

Final Bites

Whether you’re trying this burger at home or witnessing the action live in Indianapolis, one thing’s for sure: the WFC blends competition, creativity—and culinary courage.

Summer may be ending, but your grilling adventures are just heating up. Fire up that grill, savor this excerpted recipe, and get inspired by top-tier food sport. Just remember to circle October 16–19, 2025 on your calendar for the most intense kitchen showdown of the year!