Which Dish Will Be Named ‘The Great American Recipe’?

PBS

We’ve had barbecue chicken, Korean tacos, spicy Sriracha pasta, lasagna and so much more.

As our stomachs and emotions are gratefully satisfied after indulging in PBS’ summer-long series The Great American Recipe, we now await a winner. Everything comes down to Friday, Aug. 12, at 9pm ET/PT (check local listings) when the three remaining cooks go head-to-head to win the title of The Great American Recipe.

The winner’s dish will grace the cover of The Great American Recipe Cookbook. The cookbook includes all of the amazing recipes from the series, from the contestants’ favorite go-to quick meals that win over a crowd to family recipes that have been passed down through generations, along with internationally influenced recipes that are quickly becoming American mainstays.

This uplifting and emotional eight-episode cooking competition series celebrates the multiculturalism that makes American food unique and iconic, embarking on a nationwide search for the Great American Recipe. And it’s a different sort of TV cookoff that might have you tearing up at times from more than just any onions used in the recipes.

Hosted by Alejandra Ramos, a chef, food writer, and food and lifestyle contributor for the Today show, and with a judging panel comprised of chefs Leah Cohen, Tiffany Derry and Graham Elliot, The Great American Recipe mixes camaraderie with competition. It welcomes 10 talented home cooks, each of whom brings their distinctive flavor to every new challenge as they go head-to-head with their signature dishes while also sharing heartfelt personal stories and the inspiration behind these recipes.

The finale will feature the finalists preparing an entire meal for the judges to make their ultimate decision, and the winning dish will grace the cover of The Great American Recipe Cookbook, which will also feature recipes from all the contestants and the show’s host and judges.

“This is a show that’s about love and family and connection,” says executive producer Jilly Pearce. “The recipes tell the story of who we are. That was sort of the criteria that we were looking for when we were casting. … I have never seen casting like this or had the response to casting that I had, and I know everybody else had. There were tears, and I think that speaks to the type of show that we’re doing and the people that we’re casting that I just don’t think you see on other cooking competitions.”

“This was a fantastic group,” Derry agrees. “You have to have people who not only understand food and are great cooks, but [are] also great storytellers. … It takes very special people to do what we did.

“Also, at the end of the day, you will be inspired to cook, that’s for sure. You will be inspired. If not, you will be inspired to go find food at your local restaurants.”

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