Held at the Chicago Illuminating Company on May 21, 2017, the Championship BBQ and Cookout benefitted José Andrés' World Central Kitchen and the Chicago Food Depository. The event was hosted by Barbara Mathias and Beverly Stephen of Flavor Forays, and by the Food News Media publishing group, which includes FSR and QSR.

Chefs from 14 of Chicago's top restaurants faced off over flames to produce a winning dish. Marcos Ascencio (Bar Lupo) placed first with his "Lupo Bolognese Dog" and took home a Lynx Grill donated by Jade. Cory Morris (Ronero) was first runner-up for his Latin-inflected grilled lamb chop with black mint and Peruvian potato, and was rewarded with an iSi Rapid Infusion Starter Set. Grills were fired up with pork aplenty, but lines formed for fried chicken and shucked oysters, too.