The Delicious History of Cabarrus Burger Madness

March is the tastiest time of the year in Cabarrus County! Plan to bring your appetite and indulge in brand-new burger creations featuring everything from secret sauces to locally sourced ingredients.

What is Cabarrus Burger Madness?

Cabarrus Burger Madness is a month-long celebration featuring specialty burger creations from participating local restaurants across Cabarrus County, NC.

Held annually from March 1-31, this friendly competition showcases the creativity of our chefs and gives diners exciting new dishes to try. Using the free Cabarrus Burger Madness mobile pass, diners can track their culinary adventure and unlock the opportunity to vote for their favorite by checking in at that location.

How It Started

Developed by the Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Cabarrus Burger Madness was created in 2021 to support local restaurants and highlight our community’s offerings as the hospitality industry continued to endure the devastating effects of the pandemic. As the official destination marketing organization of Cabarrus County, the CCCVB shifted its usual out-of-market efforts inward.

“Dining is essential to the destination experience and Cabarrus County is fortunate to have culinary artists who make the experience here one of a kind,” said Donna Carpenter, Cabarrus County CVB President and CEO. “As the pandemic continued to impact the hospitality industry, we wanted to give our community and visitors yet another reason to keep supporting Cabarrus County’s independent restaurants.”

“Dining is essential to the destination experience and Cabarrus County is fortunate to have culinary artists who make the experience here one of a kind.”

Donna Carpenter, Cabarrus County CVB President and CEO

The CCCVB launched the program inviting Cabarrus County’s locally owned restaurants to participate by developing a brand new burger and adding it to their menu throughout March. Diners were invited to join the fun by tasting the limited-time burgers and voting for their favorite. At the end, a winner would be crowned and bragging rights awarded for the most popular burger.

Burgers Through the Years

Over the years, Michael A. Anderson Photography has captured every burger to enter the competition — 82 to be exact. A special thanks goes out to Michael and Dylan Anderson for providing plenty of mouthwatering motivation for diners to race over to each restaurant and savor the exclusive creations.

Feast your eyes on every entry in the photos below.

Cabarrus Burger Madness 2021
Winner: The Candied G.O.A.T. Burger from Johnny Roger’s BBQ & Burgers

Cabarrus County’s local restaurants set the burger bar high during the competition’s inaugural year. Twelve towering creations made up the very first lineup, all featuring an appetizing array of ingredients.

At Johnny Roger’s BBQ & Burgers, Chef Barrett Dabbs crafted his dream burger by pairing Certified Angus Beef with goat cheese, candied bacon, crispy onion frizzles, and smokehouse aioli, creating a harmonious blend of flavors that delighted patrons.

“The enthusiastic response from our customers has been truly humbling, and their support has been instrumental in our continued success,” he said. “Customers still come in daily asking for this award-winning burger!” He adds, “This accolade not only recognized our dedication to culinary excellence but also deepened our connection with the vibrant Cabarrus County community.”

Cabarrus Burger Madness 2022
Winner: Smoke & Spice Burger from 2 Gals Kitchen

The tasty new initiative proved to be a success and the challenge gained momentum in 2022. In the second year, Cabarrus Burger Madness drew 17 participating restaurants which sold a combined total of more than 4,500 burgers.

“After experiencing the culinary creativity and tremendous community support that resulted from the celebration’s inaugural year, we knew Cabarrus Burger Madness had to return,” said Carpenter. 

The top dish in 2022 was the Smoke & Spice Burger from 2 Gals Kitchen. It featured a juicy, lean beef patty topped with house-smoked brisket, caramelized onions, cowboy candy from Green Leaf Farms, melted cheddar cheese, and house-made BBQ sauce on a toasted brioche bun.

Cabarrus Burger Madness 2023
Winner: The Mexican Street Corn Burger from 2 Gals Kitchen

The 15 burgers featured in year three continued to wow.

Winner of the 2022 challenge, downtown Concord’s 2 Gals Kitchen scored their second victory in 2023 with the Mexican Street Corn Burger which included two smash patties, Mexican street corn, green chili queso cheese, guacamole, and chipotle mayo.

Participating restaurants sold a combined total of more than 4,800 delectable burgers throughout the month generating positive economic impact. As friends began to challenge each other and try the burgers together, the competition also generated plenty of community spirit.

Cabarrus Burger Madness 2024
Winner: Life’s Gouda With Bacon Burger from The Eatery at Southern Strain Brewing Company

The fourth consecutive year of the competition brought a new, interactive element. The Cabarrus Burger Madness mobile pass was introduced in 2024 and guided diners through a culinary journey across Cabarrus allowing them to check in at each restaurant along the way.

With the 2024 competition ending in a tie between The Eatery at Southern Strain Brewing Company and 2 Gals Kitchen, the two restaurants decided the winner would be determined based on the most check-ins, making The Eatery at Southern Strain a Cabarrus Burger Madness champion.

Still available on their menu today, the “Life’s Gouda With Bacon” burger features a double smash pattie topped with hickory smoked bacon strips, bacon jam, smoked gouda, pickles, a red onion slice, and roasted garlic citrus aioli on a toasted brioche bun.

Throughout the month, the 18 participating restaurants sold a combined total of almost 4,000 specialty burgers and the program saw passholders from nine different states. One hungry diner even checked in at all 18 locations!

Cabarrus Burger Madness 2025
Winner: Beer and Bourbon Burger from Lee’s Sandwich Shop

The Cabarrus Burger Madness mobile pass returned in 2025, helping passholders navigate each delicious destination. New for 2025, voting was available exclusively through the mobile pass and diners were required to check in at a restaurant to vote for their burger.

The 2025 competition featured the largest lineup to date with 20 participating restaurants. Among the contenders vying for votes and bragging rights were two returning champions, as well as seven restaurants taking part for the first time. Collectively, participating restaurants sold more than 5,000 specialty burgers!

In the end, Lee’s Sandwich Shop took the title with their Beer and Bourbon Burger, a delicious combo of bourbon and brown sugar seasoning, scratch-made beer cheese and jalapeno bacon on a pretzel bun.

Passholders from seven states utilized the free mobile pass to track their culinary adventure and two passholders checked in at every participating restaurant.

Along with many dedicated food fans, four local restaurants have been part of the madness from the very beginning– 73 & Main, Cabarrus Brewing Company, Johnny Roger’s BBQ & Burgers, and The Smoke Pit have participated in all five years of the competition.

“The Smoke Pit looks forward to participating each year because it gives us a chance to show that we do more than just BBQ,” said the restaurant’s Director of Catering, Alan Bishop. “We feel Burger Madness helps us gain new customers.”

Chef Dabbs of Johnny Roger’s says participating in Cabarrus Burger Madness continues to be a rewarding experience, allowing the restaurant to showcase their culinary creativity and contribute to the rich tapestry of local cuisine. “We are grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a dynamic food scene and look forward to delighting our guests with innovative and delicious offerings in the years to come,” he said.

How to Participate

Cabarrus Burger Madness 2026
Winner: You Decide!

Cabarrus Burger Madness will return March 1-31, 2026! Stay tuned to ExploreCabarrus.com/BurgerMadness for details on the next competition including how to sign up for the free mobile pass, a full list of participating restaurants, and instructions on casting your vote for the next burger champ!

The Culinary Adventure Continues

Savor even more of Cabarrus County at any time of year! May is National Barbecue Month and this destination has plenty of reasons to celebrate. Don’t miss National Pie Day in January or National Donut Day in June. Craft beverage enthusiasts can embark on the Explore & Pour trail or opt to sip expertly made mocktails. Cabarrus is for coffee lovers, brunch-goers, dessert connoisseurs, and anyone craving ice cream.

Whatever meal you’re in the mood for, find details on all of Cabarrus County’s local restaurants here.