COOK-OFF TEAMS

The Pfall Chili Pfest Cook-off Competition is open to families, friends, businesses – anyone who wants to enter! There are two parts of the competition: the Judged Competition and the People’s Choice. Read more below to find out about each competition and its rules. All participating teams must enter at least one category in the Judged Competition and participate in the People’s Choice.

Apply Here
Download Contest Rules Here
Download Food Guidelines Here

Judged Competition

Teams are required to submit one pint of chili (container is provided) by noon to the judging headquarters for this competition.

Chili submitted for judging must be cooked onsite – The pint of chili you submit to the judges must be cooked from scratch on site the day of the cook-off. Preparation must follow the City of Pflugerville’s food handling guidelines.

There are four categories for competition. Teams can enter chili in up to two categories. Please indicate which categories you intend to enter on the Cook Team application.

What are the different categories?

  1. Texas Chili – Defined by the International Chili Society as any kind of meat or combination of meats, cooked with red chili peppers, various spices and other ingredients. Texas Chili is not allowed to have any fillers (pasta and beans).
  2. White Chili – Chicken, pork or turkey chili (may have white beans).
  3. Experimental Chili – Experiment with meats, fillers, veggies or gourmet items, anything goes!
  4. Vegetarian Chili – No meat, chicken or fish in this chili.

People's Choice

Cooks are asked to prepare an additional fifteen (15) gallons of chili to serve to the public. The public can buy tasting cups, spoons and voting tickets from the Pflugerville Downtown Association’s booths and vote for their favorite chili. The top three teams will be awarded People’s Choice awards.

Chili for tasting/People’s Choice may be cooked ahead of time – The fifteen (15) gallons of chili served to the public may be cooked offsite and reheated. This chili may be different from your competition chili. No electricity (onsite or generators) is allowed.

Rules & Reminders

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  • Check-in

    Check in time is Saturday morning from 7:30 – 9:30 am. At check-in you will receive your name badges, parking passes and “We Have Chili” flag. Once you have unloaded your gear, please move your car immediately to the designated parking area.

  • Booth

    Each team receives a 12’ x 12’ or 24’ x 12’ booth space. An orange cone with your team name will be set up in the middle of your booth. Teams must provide their own tent, table, chairs, trash bags and other items for food preparation (no electricity allowed). The competition is on concrete – so bring weights and/or tarps if there is a chance of wind or rain. We are a rain or shine event.

    Please keep all supplies and decorations inside your booth. You may hand out leaflets or items from your booth, but you may not sell anything.

  • Booth Flags

    At check-in you will receive a “We Have Chili” flag to display at your booth. Please take this flag down when all of your tasting chili has been handed out.

  • Head Cooks Meeting

    A Head Cooks meeting will be held at 10 am, at which time teams are given an official “turn-in” container for judged chili contest entry. Judged chili must be turned in at noon – no exceptions.

  • Inspection of Cook Area

    Cooking stations are subject to inspection by food inspectors. All cook teams must comply with the City of Pflugerville’s food handling guidelines. Teams that do not meet these guidelines will be asked to leave the competition.

  • Electricity

    Cook-off teams are not allowed to use generators for any type of power for the cook site. Battery-powered, charcoal or propane gas stoves are allowed. Teams must have a fire extinguisher at the tent to douse open flames in case of emergency.

  • Tasting

    Chili tasting is from noon to 3:30 pm. Packages of tasting cups and spoons are sold at the event. Due to Health Department rules, the public may not use their own cups and bowls for chili.

  • People's Choice Judging

    The public votes for People’s Choice by submitting tickets for their favorite chili. Plastic bags will be provided, but you may bring an additional container to collect tickets. At 3:30 pm, staff will come around to pick up People’s Choice tickets. No additional tickets may be turned in after that time. Tickets must be turned in using the plastic bag provided at the cooks meeting. Any team bag found to contain any object other than dry tickets will be disqualified.

  • Awards

    Chili Cook-off awards will begin at 4:30 pm, following the Heat Wave Car Show awards at the Main Stage. Awards are given for first through third place for each category (Texas Chili, White Chili, Experimental Chili, Vegetarian Chili and People’s Choice).

  • Hours

    Chili Pfest is from noon to 5 pm. Please do not tear down before 4:30 pm. The streets will reopen by approximately 6:30 pm. All booths must be cleaned up before that time.