Kansas’s Burnt Ends BBQ Sandwich Comes in Second

On Tuesday, August 12, 2026, Hellmann’s crowned the Philly Cheesesteak America’s favorite sandwich after a nationwide vote. The mayo brand created a “March Madness” 50-state bracket tournament celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday.

(Hellmann’s Philly Cheesesteak Official Recipe is below.)

The bracket rounds narrowed 50 sandwiches down to 16, then eight, then four – after five rounds and more than 100,000 votes. Pennsylvania’s Philly Cheesesteak edged out Kansas’s Burnt Ends BBQ Sandwich.

The winner gets bragging rights and Hellmann’s title of “America’s Sandwich”. One early upset in the brackets was the classic BLT that didn’t make it past the first round. Who the heck was voting here?

While Hellmann’s did not release an exact 1-to-50 numerical ranking for every single state, the results of the 250th-birthday tournament bracket clearly rank the top-performing regional sandwiches based on how far they advanced through the voting rounds:

The Championship Finalists

• 1st Place (Winner): Pennsylvania’s Philly Cheesesteak
• 2nd Place (Runner-up): Kansas’s Burnt End BBQ Sandwich

The “Flavorful Four” (semifinalists) of the tournament were decided by the four regional brackets:

• Pennsylvania: Philly Cheesesteak (Northeast Champion & Overall Winner).
• Kansas: Burnt End BBQ Sandwich (Midwest Champion & Overall Runner-up).
• Texas: Chopped Brisket Sandwich (South Champion).
• Nevada: Patty Melt (West Champion).

The “Exquisite Eight” Quarterfinalists – The remaining top-tier state sandwiches that successfully advanced to the Elite Eight before being knocked out include:

• Nevada’s Patty Melt
• Texas’s Chopped Brisket Sandwich
• New Jersey’s Italian Sub (Official Recipe Link) My favorite #1
• Illinois’s Italian Beef (Official Recipe Link)
• Alabama’s Pulled Chicken with White Sauce (Official Recipe Link)
• California’s Tuna Salad (Official Recipe Link)

Other Notable State Contenders

A total of 50 distinct sandwiches entered the bracket. Some of the other state representatives featured in the opening rounds included:

• New York’s Pastrami on Rye
• Maine’s Lobster Roll
• Iowa’s Loose Beef
• Maryland’s Crab Cake Sandwich
• Minnesota’s Juicy Lucy Burger
• Connecticut’s Lobster Roll
• Florida’s Cuban Sandwich

Hellmann’s Philly Cheesesteak Official Recipe Winner

Print Recipe

Hellmann's Philly Cheesesteak Official Recipe Winner

Hellmann's official, elevated spin on the traditional Philly classic, celebrating Pennsylvania's tournament victory with their signature mayonnaise stirred in for extra richness.

Prep Time45 minutes mins

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Total Time55 minutes mins

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American, Philadelphia-style

Keyword: philly cheesesteak, steak sandwich, tournament winner

Servings: 2 sandwiches

Ingredients

• 1 lb Ribeye steak shaved or sliced wafer-thin
• 2 tbsp Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise spread inside the bread
• 1 large Sweet onion thinly sliced
• 1 Green bell pepper chopped (optional)
• 4 slices Provolone cheese or Cheez Whiz
• 2 Hoagie rolls or fresh baguettes
• 1 tbsp Olive oil or butter

Instructions

• Prep the Steak: Freeze the ribeye for 30-45 minutes to easily slice it into paper-thin strips.
• Saute the Veggies: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the onions and peppers until soft and caramelized, then clear them to the side of the pan.
• Sear the Meat: Add the sliced steak to the screaming hot empty side of the pan. Cook fast for 2-3 minutes until browned, shredding it further with your spatula. Mix the meat and veggies together.
• Melt the Cheese: Divide the meat mixture into two row portions in the pan. Lay the cheese over the top and let it melt completely.
• Build and Serve: Slather the inside of your hoagie rolls generously with Hellmann's Mayonnaise. Scoop the cheesy, steaming meat directly into the bread and serve immediately.