Chopped: Volume 1

A Prickly Situation

Things get prickly when the competitors open up the appetizer baskets to discover a spiny surprise. In the entree round, the judges sympathize when one chef faces a serious snapper snafu after everything literally falls apart. And when one of the finalists takes liberty with the rules when finishing up a complex dessert, the transgression could mean the difference between victory and disgrace.

Salty Veggies and Heated Battles

An unusually salty vegetable presents the chefs with a quandary in the appetizer round. Then a red-hot battle ensues in the entree round, where Thai chilies threaten to overpower the dishes. And when two finalists with very different cooking methods take on Mexican-inspired desserts, the judges face one of their most difficult decisions ever.

High Hopes

The judges have high hopes for this group of up-and-coming chefs, but there is some sloppy work in the appetizer round when the contestants must work with whole calamari. In the entree round, the three remaining chefs have various degrees of success with bison meat. And in the last round, the two finalists make ambitious plans to create difficult ancho chile desserts within the 30-minute time limit.

Floundering Around

A challenging cut of meat in the mystery basket ups the level of difficulty in the appetizer round. For the entree course the chefs must devise big plans for some miniature produce and a whole flounder. Then, in the dessert round, the finalists wrestle with the do's and don'ts of combining doughnuts and tomatillos.

Pride On The Plate

Pride is on the plate as the chefs seek to represent their cultural heritage through distinctive duck appetizers. Then in the entree round, when one chef invents a very creative use for Serrano ham, will it be outstanding enough to get the judges to forgive a serious mistake?

Pretty Please With A Pepper On Top

For the appetizer course, the judges get an earful of philosophy and a mouthful of piquillo peppers. In the entree round two of the three remaining chefs make an amateur mistake with snap peas. And when the finalists open up the dessert basket and find an Indian sugar product they have never seen before, they scramble to make it work.

Pods, Grills and Sticky Fingers

In the appetizer round, the chefs are challenged by edamame, shrimp and problems with time management. Then, when the three remaining chefs put their signature styles into flank steak entrees, the judges have a difficult choice to make.

A Wish Upon A Starfruit

The judges are impressed when one of the contestants falters in the appetizer round but, nonetheless, sticks to a bold plan for a Merquez sausage dish. With liquor in the entree basket, the flames fly high, but when the adrenaline rush is over, it's the artful presentations that garner attention. Then in the final round, finding a way to make a dessert with honeydew would be no problem, except that the three other items in the mystery basket make it one of the most difficult challenges in Chopped history.

Buckwheat Blunders and Twists Of Fate

After unpacking a challenging appetizer basket, the chefs get creative using buckwheat flour to make crepes, crusts and fritters. Then, in the entree round, the judges are troubled when one chef successfully incorporates an exotic fruit from the basket but takes another mandatory item and simply places it on the plate. And the two final chefs tackle black olives in dessert with no fear, but the judges are disappointed when one of the competitors fails to learn from an earlier mistake.

Champions: The Ultimate Face-Off

Don't miss this ultimate face-off! In this first installment in a special four-part series, previous Chopped champions return to compete again. When a Southern seafood specialty appears in the appetizer basket, two of the returning chefs have the added pressure of skillfully representing their roots. Then, in the entree course, leafy greens meet Japanese noodles, but not every chef's dish meets the mark in terms of portion size. And in the dessert round the finalists have to work with one of the world's most expensive spices, but will their efforts be priceless or careless?

Champions: Best Of The Best

Gotta tune-in to find out who has the chops to be the Chopped Champion again! In this second installment in a special series, four winners return to battle for superiority in the kitchen. When the chefs present their cockles appetizers, the judges must do some investigating; one of the chefs may or may not have gotten every mystery item into the dish. Then, for the entree course, along with ground chicken and apples, the judges find a disgusting shocker on one of the chefs' plates. And when The Big Cheese of La Mancha finds its way into the Dessert Basket, who will be the Big Winner? One of the finalists makes a napoleon, while the other chef takes a more avant-garde approach.

Champions: All Stars Showdown

In this must-watch third installment in a special four-part series, the reigning Chopped champion and three other previous winners return to compete. In the appetizer round, the judges are baffled, but curious, when one of the chefs chooses a very unusual method of cooking squab. And in the entree round, one contestant struggles to stay calm after discovering that three of the four items in the mystery basket are unfamiliar. Then, in the dessert round, the chefs are dumbfounded by what they must combine with grapefruit. But the judges can't wait to taste the intriguing results!

Champions: Bring It!

You won't believe what happens in the final competition in the all-stars series, when four Chopped champions face off for a chance to reclaim the title and bank another $10,000. But when the chefs open up the appetizer basket and find bananas, endives and a whopper of a surprise, it becomes clear that to win it, these champs will have to bring it! Then, in the entree round, a melon mishap has the judges wondering how forgiving they should be. And in the dessert round, the finalists know if they are as slow as the molasses in the mystery basket they don't stand a chance!

When Chefs Collide

In the appetizer round, kumquats and croissants collide, as well as two super enthusiastic chefs racing for the fridge. Then, in the entree round, green beans and ground pork prove a surprisingly difficult challenge. And in the dessert round, when one chef makes a grits dish reminiscent of childhood, it's up to the judges whether the jaunt down Memory Lane will lead to the Winner's Circle.

Oh My Goshy, Umeboshi

A slippery shocker in the appetizer basket starts things off on a terrifying note. Then, in the entree round, the judges are stunned by the oh-my-gosh mistake one chef makes with an umeboshi-arugula salad. Good gracious -- parsnips and soda crackers for dessert? The finalists have to act quickly to make it work.

Judge Knows Best

In the appetizer round, when two of the chefs attempt to cook a fish that is traditionally used for sushi, the results are questionable. Then, after doing their best with an unfamiliar condiment in the entree basket, the contestants get an angry reception at the Chopping Block for not following the judges' advice. And the bubbly is flowing in the dessert round when the chefs must incorporate prosecco into their final dishes. But the celebratory mood is broken by a heart-stopping, emotional ending to the round.

A Nori Story

Out of the gate one chef decides to take a familiar route with beef but is challenged by an unfamiliar mystery ingredient. Will it work? Then in the entree round the chefs must break a fundamental rule by combining fish and cheese. And following the first elimination, the chopped chef has angry words for the judges. Then when the two finalists go with a similar approach to dessert, the judges ponder which pumpernickel and curry creation will prevail.

Sticking To It

Just how the graham cracker crumbles in the appetizer round depends on how the chefs can recover from setbacks. One contestant struggles to plate after suffering a cut, while an opponent learns that flashy knife work may not yield the best results. In the entree round, one chef breaks a plate and another chef breaks with cultural tradition by incorporating puffed rice cereal into a typical chorizo dish. Then, the two finalists endeavor to make coffee bean desserts that are good to the last bite.

Season's Choppings

Tis the season to shake things up! The chefs learn that as an added challenge, their dishes must have a holiday theme. In the appetizer round, the first opportunity to see who's got game, they get venison. And a heated debate ensues over a borrowed blender. Then, in the entree round, marshmallows don't marry well with the huge surprise in the mystery basket. And in the dessert round the remaining chefs "say cheese," but will they be smiling when their final festive dishes take shape?

Flower Power

In the appetizer round flower power rules as the contestants find ways to incorporate zucchini blossoms into their first dishes, and more than one of the chefs must explain major failures with the mystery ingredients. Then, watching from the sidelines in the entree round, the judges are upset by how one chef disrespects the kitchen and an unusual ingredient, burdock root. And in the dessert round, the judges are intrigued to see fresh chickpeas in the mystery basket, while the chefs are inspired by family.

Sweet Redemption

In this must-watch, unprecedented event, four previous runners-up return to see who can save face and finally become the Chopped Champion. But in the appetizer round one chef makes a mistake with potatoes that is surprising for someone who has competed before, while another chef gets reprimanded for some questionable behavior. In the entree round, problems with butchering bass lead one contestant to a creative cooking method. Will it work? And the two finalists are thrilled to make a triumphant return to the dessert round, where the mystery ingredients promote colorful presentations. No Chopped winner has ever been so happy to come out victorious!

Winging It

The 20-minute clock is the chefs' worst enemy in the appetizer round, as they race to get chicken wings cooked in time. Then, in the entree round, it looks like the chefs have caught a break with catfish in the basket, until hard-to-find pantry items and inadvisable spice combinations make things interesting. For the dessert round, cherries would be no problem; but try cherry tomatoes! The finalists laugh it off and courageously take on the toughest challenge of the competition.

In A Pinch

When the chefs make some unusual choices in composing soft-shell crab appetizers, the judges give them a chance to defend their dishes or graciously accept criticism. And, digging into the entree plates, the judges are perplexed that two chefs had completely opposite problems with a challenging piece of meat. Then, peppermint sticks in the dessert basket have the chefs stuck.

Raw Enthusiasm

The stoves are underutilized in the appetizer round as the chefs show their raw enthusiasm for oysters. Then, the entree dishes have the judges debating who successfully incorporated a funky-flavored fruit and whether good taste can trump drab presentation. And the two finalists know that so-so miso desserts will not be good enough.

Against The Tide

The chefs find themselves swimming against the tide when they have to combine fish with chocolate in the appetizer round. Then, for the entree course, the remaining contestants pull from their cultural backgrounds to work with a trendy root vegetable and an old favorite fruit. And, in the dessert round, the judges ponder two big questions: What does violet mustard taste like, and which of these two passionate finalists deserves the win?

Chopped Liver

Hate it or love it, liver is the centerpiece of the appetizer dishes. And the first chef chopped expresses strong disappointment at the judges' decision. For the entree round the contestants have some trouble with pasta sheets and an intensely flavored fish. How forgiving will the judges be? Then the finalists get a little "desert" in the dessert round, in the form of cactus pears, plus another mystery ingredient that is guaranteed to make their dishes pop.

Rattle and Roll

Watch out, there is a big surprise in the appetizer basket! The chefs are shaking in their boots when they discover rattlesnake meat must be included in their first course. After finding another very unexpected ingredient in the entree basket, and making a major mistake, one of the competitors makes an emotional plea at the chopping block. And when two finalists face off for the $10,000 prize, they attempt to make red-hot desserts out of red jalapenos.

My Froggy Clementine

Jump back! The chefs leap into the appetizer round to find frog legs in the first basket. Then, stumped by a fizzy Caribbean staple in the entree basket, the chefs struggle to make their dishes pop. In the end, with clementines and scotch in the dessert basket, the finalists have to douse flames to make it through a difficult final challenge.

Jitters and Giant Eggs

Panic threatens to paralyze one of the competitors who is overwhelmed by first round jitters, as all the chefs fight to find imaginative ways to use ground turkey in their appetizers. Then, in the entree round, when one of the chefs uses a modern scientific technique to turn snap peas into a gel, will the high-tech food be highly rated by the judges? In the dessert round, tiny tomatoes and a giant egg make for one interesting and difficult final challenge.

Dr. Deckle and Mr. Fried

Things get off to a rough start when three of the four chefs make a jumbo mistake with the jumbo shrimp in the appetizer basket. Then, in the entree round, an unusual cut of beef presents a challenge for the competitors, and the judges must consider whether a creative element on one chef's plate is executed well enough. When the last two chefs appear stumped by tofu skin in the dessert basket, will the judges be pleasantly surprised with the final product?

Mussels Mastery and Cotton Candy Can-Do

The chefs have to muscle through to come up with terrific mussels appetizers in just 20 minutes. Then, in the entree round, a humble breakfast food must be combined with a high-brow delicacy. And with a favorite childhood treat in the final mystery basket, the judges are expecting whimsical desserts, but will the chefs deliver?

First Things Worst

When time runs out on a frantic appetizer round, two of the chefs are unhappy with what did not make it on to their calf liver dishes in the final moments, while one chef is upset that a little something extra accidentally did. Then in the entree round, it is up to the judges to determine who fell short with the long beans and whose cuttlefish was a cut above the rest. And the two finalists devise ambitious plans for using a salty condiment and a sweet fruit in their desserts.

Fired Up!

The competitors get fired up when they discover this particular competition is all about grilling! Only to find some strange basket fellows in the appetizer round: striped bass and strawberries. In a smokin' entree round the chefs try to glean ideas from one another on how to handle a tricky ingredient. And in the last course, a classic American food, perfect for the grill but peculiar in dessert, complicates the judges' final decision.

Quahog Quandaries and Pickle Puzzles

When panic sets in at the end of the appetizer round, the judges cheer on a competitor who appears to be giving up on making a completed cookies and clam dish. Then in the rush to get a tantalizing venison entree finished, one chef makes a dangerous mistake. And even though they find peanuts in the dessert basket, the finalists know that they are competing for so much more. The two remaining chefs take the intensity level in the kitchen up a notch as they face off for $10,000.

Turbot Powered

A super bitter ingredient in the appetizer basket leaves the chefs in a quandary and the judges with a sour first impression. In the entree round, filleting and cooking turbot correctly becomes key to the chefs' success. And when the two finalists come up with the same idea for their English muffin desserts, it's anybody's guess whose will taste better.

Keep On Cook'n On

All eyes are on one very exuberant competitor in the appetizer round, as the judges are hoping that everyone's fresh pasta and half-sour pickle dishes are not half bad. And at the chopping block, one chef talks about overcoming some difficult personal obstacles in order to continue cooking as a career. Then in the entree round, a simple cut of meat causes more trouble than expected. Finally, in a dramatic dessert round, one of the finalists suffers an injury as he attempts to accomplish a Chopped first.

Green Apps And Lamb

With mint liqueur and canned fish in the appetizer basket, the judges have concerns about how the first course will taste. Then, in the entree round, after raiding the pantry for a plethora of ingredients to complement lamb, one chef endeavors to prepare a very complicated sauce. And when the finalists find an unfamiliar grain in the dessert basket, they boldly present it as the main component in their desserts.

Crunch Time

The ingredients in the appetizer basket get some of the chefs thinking about ballgame fare. Will they strike out, or hit one out of the park? In the entree round, the competitors must marry shredded wheat crackers with an unusual fish. Then it's crunch time for the two remaining finalists, who attempt to make fantastic desserts with potato chips.

Rowdy With A Chance Of Meatballs

There is chaos and confusion in the appetizer round, as the chefs race to get their perch plated. Then, in the entree round, one chef is taken to task for undercooking meatballs, while another is left to explain how her plan for cheese crackers from the mystery basket went wrong. And the two remaining chefs go all out in the final round, after discovering hard candy and hard liquor in the Dessert Basket.

Dream'n Of Redeem'n!

Rematch on! With pride at stake and determination in their eyes, four previously defeated competitors return to the Chopped kitchen to prove that they are not second-best, after all. As they set out to redeem themselves, the chefs are challenged by a tough cut of meat and a pungent English condiment in the appetizer basket. And the 20-minute time limit coupled with some very eager chefs leads to a rowdy round. Then, as they hustle to assemble the entrees, the chefs have to fight harder than ever to stay in the competition, but with cookies and fish in the basket, impressing the judges is no sure thing. And in the quest to finally become a "Chopped" champion, blueberry jellybeans stand in the way of two very determined previous losers.

Wok This Way

The judges are curious to see what is in store for them when one of the competitors breaks out the wok. And some of the chefs appear less than confident when they present the appetizers made using trout and white chocolate. Then, creativity abounds in the entree round, when the chefs get a whole new set of mystery ingredients including whole coconuts. Alas, two Japanese ingredients appear in the dessert basket, and the judges hope the final course will be as impressive as the previous two.

Squashed

For the first time, four talented women set out to claim the title of Chopped Champion. But one chef's dream is squashed by her kabocha and sardines appetizer. In the entree round, when the chefs take too long getting the beef cooking, the judges worry that the food will not be ready to serve. In the end, when two super sweet childhood favorites appear in the dessert basket, will the final dishes leave the judges nostalgic or nauseous?

$50,000 Tournament: Part 1

Bring on the Champions for the $50,000 prize! Four previous winners return to compete in the first leg of an extraordinary, five-part Chopped event. A repeat win will mean a berth in the Grand Finale competition with $50,000 at stake! But when the champs discover Rocky Mountain oysters in the appetizer basket, it looks like things might get off to a bumpy start. Then, in the entree round, when one chef seems overly worried about cooking fish and one chef makes a careless mistake with herbs, the judges wonder if the big money on the line is taking no small toll on the competitors' nerves. And when the finalists open the dessert baskets to find sticky candy bars and potatoes, creative ideas do come to mind, but will their sugary spuds be sweet gems or duds?

$50,000 Tournament: Part 2

Ready to repeat?! Four new returning champs compete for one of the prized spots in the $50,000 Grand Finale fight. Feeling the pressure of this potentially life-changing opportunity, the chefs set off with record speed and exceptional confidence. But the judges must debate whose catfish appetizer will get one champ chopped. Then a frightening entree basket, which includes alligator meat, has one of the chefs running scared. Will he let the gator get the best of him? And opening up the dessert basket, one of the finalists is thrilled to see a mystery ingredient that is a personal favorite. When the other chef is unfamiliar with the ingredient does present a problem and impact who wins?

$50,000 Tournament: Part 3

Four previously unbeatable chefs compete to see who will win the chance to return to fight for $50,000! But in the appetizer round, will the sweetbreads be the not-so-sweet surprise that unhinges a proven champ? Then, when the competitors find chicken in the entree baskets, it seems like a cinch. That is until they spy the spiny seafood ingredient hidden in the basket too! And with pickles in the dessert basket, the judges wonder if the chefs will find themselves in a pickle when both finalists decide to bake.

$50,000 Tournament: Part 4

One spot left! Four returning champs compete to see who can secure the very last place in the Grand Finale champions' contest. With their minds on the $50,000 grand prize, the chefs open the appetizer baskets to find something fishy and something fizzy. Approaching the Chopping Block, the competitors know that serious errors in execution could mean the difference between moving on and going home after just one course. Then, in the entree round, will a gamey meat be a game-changer for the three remaining competitors? And when the two finalists find a Tex-Mex staple and a Thai condiment in the dessert basket, the judges must ultimately decide if the sweet fusion creations are championship caliber.

$50,000 Tournament: Grand Finale

Who is the unstoppable, un-"choppable" champion? Four tenacious repeat winners fight it out for the three-peat and the biggest cash prize in "Chopped" history! Ready for anything, the chefs open the appetizer baskets to find an over-sized sea creature and a scoop-shop treat. Then a wild combination in the entree basket makes an extremely intense round even more outrageously difficult. And when the two remaining champions find champagne in the mystery basket, just whose victory the judges will be toasting is the $50,000 question.

Spouting Off

It is raining beer! One competitor shakes things up in the appetizer round when a sudsy spout of brew splashes over his cooking area. Then, when a grain praised by an ancient civilization appears in the entree basket, will the judges revere the food the way the chefs have prepared it? And with a global grab bag of ingredients in the dessert basket, it is a mystery what the chefs might decide to create.

When Octopuses Attack!

Octopus attack! Given just 20 minutes to cook everyone's favorite cephalopod, the chefs scramble to get a leg up on the competition by drawing from their personal backgrounds. Then, the competitors take a meat and potatoes approach to the entree round when challenged to combine flank steak and granola bars. And when Japan meets Greece in the dessert round, the finalists find it a rocky culinary courtship. But they know that a successful food fusion marriage could unite the winner with a $10,000 check.

Fright Bites

It's Halloween, Chopped style! The mystery baskets are filled with treats, and the trick is on the four brave competitors. In the appetizer round, the chefs labor to unite a disturbing combination of ingredients, including a very daunting piece of meat. Then, when the remaining chefs dare to go on to the entree round, they find themselves up against more super scary ingredients, but it is fear of the clock that causes the most serious problems. And just when they thought it was safe to go back in the kitchen ... jeepers creepers! The finalists are in for a stunner.

Cornuchopia

The chefs are asked to create a meal with Thanksgiving in mind. But will they be counting their blessings when they open the first mystery basket and see a lowly cheese spread? Then in the entree round, when the remaining chefs find a sweet scrumptious fall favorite and a bitter vegetable in the basket, they have to work hard to achieve harmonious holiday flavors. And with mushrooms and a Chinese condiment in the final basket, tradition goes out the window, but the door is open for some totally original desserts.

Yes, Virginia, There Is A Chopping Block

In honor of the holidays, the chefs are asked to keep with a seasonal theme. But gauging from the first basket, the competitors quickly learn they will need to veer from tradition. Gingerbread oysters, anyone? Things get kind of loosey-goosey in the entree round when the chefs must butcher a big bird and figure out what to do with a cloyingly sweet jarred fruit. When both finalists want to use the only microwave to speed things along in the dessert round, some holiday bickering ensues.

Victory On The Brain

A basket bombshell! The chefs must stretch their minds to figure out what to do with goat brains in the appetizer round. And when the competitors find an ingredient that often ends up in the trash pile in the entree basket, they must work to turn scraps into something scrumptious. Then both of the finalists think they can smell a victory, until they get a whiff of the very stinky surprise in the last basket.

Marrowly We Roll Along

Got to get it done! But will the chefs know what to do to marry marrow bones with the other ingredients in the appetizer basket? Then in a challenging entree round, one chef uses avant-garde cooking techniques to try to prove a point, and everyone wrestles with a very labor-intensive mystery ingredient. And with a frozen ingredient in the dessert basket, the finalists might be headed for a meltdown before this competition is over.

Prove It On The Plate

Keep an eye on the clock! The appetizer round ends with a last-minute dash to get mussels and waffles on the plate. And, come tasting time, the judges find some interesting surprises lurking in the dishes. Then with a lean meat and a delicate flower in the entree basket, getting the entree dishes just right is a demanding task. And things get sticky in the final round when a nostalgic candy gives one chef some serious trouble.

Doughs And Don'ts

Never give up! In the midst of preparing her trout appetizer, a feisty chef faces a big setback. Then in the entree round, the competitors have a heck of a time cooking deckle of beef, and one chef's behavior brings up safety concerns. Then, fighting it out for all the marbles, the two finalists find marble-sized coconuts in the dessert basket. Will they know what to do with coquitos?

Step Right Up!

Go fish! The competitors reel in a peculiar combination in the appetizer round: catfish and marshmallows. The tough challenge is made even tougher when first-round nervousness becomes a factor. And in the entree round, the chefs are intent on infusing mouthwatering flavor into pork country ribs. Then the judges watch to see which of the two finalists will step up and deliver the better dessert from a basket with Latin flair.

All-Stars Tournament: Part 1

The superstar chefs are here! Sixteen celebrity chefs have accepted an invitation to come to the Chopped kitchen to compete in an extraordinary five-part event! In this premier competition, fan favorites from The Next Food Network Star battle it out to see which one can emerge victorious and move on to the finale for a chance at scoring $50,000 for a favorite charity. The first basket packs a punch, with pound cake and calves liver. Then, with an unusually bitter vegetable and a small game bird as mandatory ingredients in the second round, the competitors face a learning curve if they want the chance to face off in the dessert round. And when the two finalists find two dairy foods in the last basket, they set out to make creamy, dreamy, winning dishes.

All-Stars Tournament: Part 2

More star-studded Chopped! In this second installment of a super special celebrity tournament, four famous Food Network personalities compete for a chance to win $50,000 for their favorite charity! Creativity and skill are at a premium as the chefs cut their teeth on teething biscuits and an off-putting canned product in the appetizer basket. And big personalities and old rivalries shape a very exciting first round. Then, the chefs are in for a rude awakening in the second round when they find a kids' breakfast favorite in the basket and have to come up with something delicious. But the judges are amazed by the results. And in a very competitive final round, the two remaining VIP chefs set out to create some stunning desserts using jelly beans and baby fennel.

All-Stars Tournament: Part 3

Celebrity Chopped! Four VIP chefs compete to see who can claim a spot in the All-Stars finale for a chance at winning $50,000 for their favorite charitable organization. The other competitors hope that a famous pastry chef will get tripped up in one of the first two rounds and fail to make it to dessert. And when one of the other chefs makes a very original choice with the fresh pasta sheets in the appetizer basket, it is clear that these stars will be pushing the limits of creativity. Then, in the entree course, a big fish and some little crackers are mandatory, and the chefs are extraordinarily focused. And with a Mexican sugar and a Chinese spice in the dessert basket, the all-stars must think globally if they want to win decisively.

All-Stars Tournament: Part 4

The tables have turned! Chopped judges become Chopped competitors, in this fourth semi-finals fight of the All-Stars tournament. The stakes have never been higher. When a sweet strawberry powder meets a smoked fish in the appetizer basket, creating perfect flavor harmony will be a huge challenge. Then, in the entree round, the remaining three competitors are given a little extra time to deal with a labor-intensive protein, and emotions run high at the Chopping Block. And when both finalists embark on the same ambitious plan for the dessert round, these judges-turned-chefs put on an amazing show to try to prove who can execute the idea better.

All-Stars Tournament: Grand Finale!

The All-Stars championship is on! The four celebrity chefs who won the chance to advance to the finale competition of this $50,000 tournament finally face off for their favorite charities. The first round is bound to be awfully challenging, with offal in the basket. And when two of the chefs decide to make comfort food that speaks to their heritage, will they be able to transform their dishes using the mystery ingredients in a way that works? Then, with trail mix in the entree round, the remaining chefs must make amazing dishes if they want to be on the path to victory. If they don't succeed they will be asked to take a hike. And when two incredibly skilled finalists find themselves back in the dessert round at last, and find a tangy fruit in the basket, the judges hold their collective breath to see which one will become the Chopped All-Stars Grand Champion!

A Cornish Mess

The chefs struggle to create perfect Peking duck appetizers, and then are very chatty about their philosophies at the Chopping Block. In the entree round the competitors have some huge problems dealing with a seemingly simple protein, and emotions run high when the second chef is eliminated. Then the finalists try to put the low points of the competition behind them and come up with some inspired desserts made with cheese crackers and an unusual fruit.

Chefs On A Mission

Rivals face off! Four solid competitors from rival cities enthusiastically jump into the first round. But will they be able to settle on a firm idea of what to do with firm tofu and recover from some absentminded mistakes? Then one chef shows incredible speed moving around the kitchen, and a sugary surprise in the entree basket poses a creative challenge. And once the finalists open up the dessert baskets, they make it their mission to make delicious mission fig dishes and to make the judges decision very difficult.

The Icing On The Steak

Ready? Go! Confidence abounds in the first round when four determined chefs try to get a leg up on the competition through their smoked turkey leg dishes. Then, when the chefs are challenged to use beef and chocolate frosting in the entree round, one competitor makes a big splash, but not intentionally. And after the two finalists present battling banana desserts, it is up to the judges to decide which chef will not survive the third chop.

Canned Cheese, Please!

Say canned cheese! The chefs are not all smiles when they see the first-round basket: Can canned cheese make for delicious appetizers? Then the competitors who move on to the entree round must figure out how to work with two ingredients that are entirely new to them. And when a crunchy vegetable and a frozen treat meet in the dessert basket, will the finalists be able to push their creative limits to make some great dishes?

Saying Sayonara

Ah, shucks! Oysters in the first basket cause some problems, leading up to an emotional ending to the round. Then the competitors gain momentum in the entree round when they're challenged to work with two Japanese ingredients. And the judges have to say sayonara to one last chef, after tasting the finalists' passionately prepared passionfruit desserts.

Gotta Grill!

It is a Chopping Block block party! The chefs are surprised to learn they must grill as part of this special competition. With a classic condiment in each round's basket, it should be easy to get into the cookout spirit. Yet, which competitor will be fired up enough to make it all the way to the final round and win the $10,000 prize?

Have A Heart

Have a heart! Duck heart starters are the chefs' ticket to the second round. But will every competitor know how to make this organ meat delicious? Will anyone just give up? Then a super slimy surprise awaits the chefs in the entree basket, but it may not end up being the most challenging ingredient of the round. And when the finalists find an English tea treat and gelatin candy in the dessert basket, they push themselves to create final dishes sweet enough to propel them to victory.

Get It Together!

With canned fruit and a seafood delicacy in the appetizer basket, the chefs have to get it together fast, to get a cohesive dish made. Then, in the entree round, when the chefs set out to make snapper dishes in a snap, two of the competitors run out of time to do exactly what they planned. Will it hurt their chances? Then, after two very driven finalists tackle the dessert round, the judges face a difficult choice.

Bite Your Pickled Beef Tongue

With tongue in the first basket, the chefs attempt to lick their competition. Sadly, proper cleaning technique, creativity, and the 20-minute timeframe pose problems. Then, in a highly competitive second round, the chefs must take a colorful vegetable and a lean meat and make hearty main dishes. And when the two finalists move on to the dessert round, the judges are on pins and needles, wondering which chef will edge ahead.

Go For It!

With a Frenchman and an Irishman in the mix, the competition could take on a European edge. When one of the chefs goes for plates with less than two minutes left on the clock in the appetizer round, the judges urge him to get all of the ingredients onto the dishes. The competitors are given tequila to give their entree dishes a kick, and another ingredient could make them scream. Second thoughts on what to do with the corn tortillas in the dessert basket, cause some problems for one of the finalists.

Thyme Flies

Double trouble! With two proteins in the appetizer basket, the chefs struggle to marry flavors, and the judges caution competitors against cooking to please instead of cooking from their hearts. Then, as the clock ticks down on the entree round, the chaos in the kitchen ramps up: Will the chefs be able to get out of the woods in time to make their hen-of-the-woods mushroom dishes delicious? With cookie dough in the final basket, it seems like the chefs have a head start with dessert. The judges wonder if the competitors will take advantage of the opportunity to create some exceptional dessert surprise.

Nopales, No Problem

Cooking with Cacti! The chefs must stay sharp as they carefully navigate a first basket that includes prickly nopales; and in talking about the texture of the food, the judges must consider the slime factor. Then, in the entree round, a colorful Chinese ingredient and a less popular pork product make for an intense challenge. Finally, in the last round when things suddenly go all wrong for one of the competitors, the judges watch breathlessly to see if the chocolate dessert can be salvaged.

Easy Peasy?

British invasion! Four English chefs face off to see who will be headed back over the big pond with the big money. In the first basket, an American staple and a Japanese snack get the food festivities started: Will the judges be impressed by the visiting Brits appetizer plates? The chefs find a crunchy, cheesy surprise in the entree basket, and one competitor sets out to make a very complex dish -- but is it too complicated a dish for the allotted 30 minutes? And when the two finalists discover a distinctly British biscuit in the dessert basket, they attempt to make the familiar extraordinary. The judges are on the edge of their seats watching to see whether one competitor's cakes will make it onto the plates.

Ladies First!

Four women compete for the $10,000 prize. Wait until they see the outrageous ingredients in the first basket! Then, in the entree round, will there be a party on the plates when the chefs must cook with sherry? In a very competitive dessert round, the two finalists get a premade dough and a canned vegetable, and the judges challenge them to stand tall at the Chopping Block.

Sweet Second Chance!

Chopped, no more! Four previously defeated chefs get a second chance at the $10,000 prize! Coming into this competition they could not have wanted a victory more, but will they want to call it quits once they see the mystery ingredients in the appetizer round? Then, in the entree round, the competitors' own hearts skip a beat at the sight of lamb hearts in the basket. And with just minutes left in the round, a frightening kitchen accident has everybody shaken. With an off-the-wall mystery ingredient in the mix in the final basket, the chefs are totally floored. And in a very physical dessert round, the finalists both yearn desperately to achieve sweet success at last.

Chard and True

Octo-tastic! The four chefs take on an eight-armed mystery ingredient in the appetizer round. And the judges wonder if the cooperative behavior they see in the kitchen will continue after someone is chopped. Then, in the entree course, more seafood surprises make the 30-minute time limit seem extraordinarily difficult. And following the final round -- in which the chefs had to incorporate some ballpark favorites into their desserts -- the judges ponder how sportsmanship and preconceived game plans factored in.

My Way

Time starts now! In the first round, the chefs try to figure out how to make a pretty fruit work with two different seafood ingredients. And the judges wonder how the chefs' unique experiences will come into play. Then, time is not on the competitors' side in the entree round. Two competitors are unhappy that they undercooked one of the mystery ingredients, while the other chef says it was a deliberate choice to have undercooked a second basket item. And in the dessert round, a "Chopped" first: soup in the mystery basket! There is no way to make borscht desserts boring. But will they be good?

A Is For Apple. U Is For Udon

The chefs find some beautiful ingredients in the first basket, including yummy udon noodles and a brightly colored veggie. Then, in the entree round, the judges hope that the chefs can up the level of creativity, but a seemingly straight-forward basket poses some difficulties. And the chefs must resist the urge to cry when they learn they must use onions in their desserts. But some delicious apples, also in the mix, could save the finalists from despair.

Trick Or Treat, Chicken Feet!

It's Halloween! The chefs step bravely into the first round and find candy and ... chicken feet! But it turns into a "nail-biter" at the Chopping Block when the judges discover claws in their appetizers. Then more sweets and uncommon meats in the entree round keep the competitors cooking creatively. And in the last round, the chefs must adjust their plans when their dreams of perfect desserts threaten to turn into Halloween nightmares.

Give It Your All

It's Thanksgiving in the Chopped kitchen and four chefs are giving it all they have. Things start off on a sweet note, with maple syrup in the appetizer basket. Then when the chefs get an ingredient in the entree round that is more popular as a decoration than as a food, will they be able to make the beautiful, edible? And after cooking with some traditional turkey day favorites in the last round, the two finalists hope the judges will want to gobble, gobble up their desserts.

Can't Catch Me, I'm The Gingerbread Lobster!

It's holiday time on Chopped! The competitors are challenged to stay in the spirit of the season throughout the meal. In the appetizer round the chefs, not-so-gingerly, take down some gingerbread houses. And adrenaline runs so high that one chef does not realize that something has gone very wrong with his dish until it is too late. Then, in the entree round, a prized piece of meat and a beautiful vegetable have the makings of a great main dish, but a sweet surprise in the basket may present "ye old yuletide" pitfall for the chefs. And when the finalists find an often-disparaged holiday classic in the dessert basket, who will be able to elevate the ingredient and be on their merry way with $10,000?

Champions' Tournament: Part 1

Welcome back, champs! Four Chopped heroes return to action to see who can go up against the very best and win again. But this time, time becomes a very big challenge in the first round. Then with the sting of the judges' harsh criticisms fresh on their minds, the competitors face stinging nettles and antelope in the entree round. And in the decisive last round, it is clear that both chefs are craving a chance to move on to the finale, but only one will prevail once the judges taste the pie crust desserts.

Champions' Tournament: Part 2

Four returning winners fight for a spot in the $50,000 grand finale competition. In the first round a pre-made breakfast food prevents some of the competitors from being as creative as they should, and presentation flaws plague the champs. The remaining competitors are left trying to figure out what to do with an expensive fish and an unusual snack food in the entree round. And the two champs who move on to the dessert round have to do their best with a dough that they don't know well.

Champions' Tournament: Part 3

With only two spots remaining in the $50,000 Chopped Champions Grand Finale competition, four champs attempt to elbow their way to victory. In the appetizer round, the chefs are unsure how to treat a pretty fruit and a succulent seafood product. Whose choices will leave the judges impressed? Then the champs try to balance out the flavors of a great big fish and a little cookie in the entree round. And with two champs left champing at the bit to cook dessert, the judges wonder if either one can turn duck fat and guava paste into sweet perfection.

Champions' Tournament: Part 4

Four returning winners fight for the last remaining spot in the Chopped Champions Grand Finale! The heat is on when the chefs discover hot cross buns and a shocking meat in the appetizer basket. Then in the entree round, will anyone make a wreck of the wreck fish? And the last two chefs must make delectable desserts using a box of something familiar plus a can of something sweet.

Champions' Tournament: Grand Finale

This is it! The $50,000 Chopped Champions Grand Finale! Only one two-time champ can become a "three-peater" and claim the prize. The chefs think they've caught a break when they find catfish in the first basket, but will the cherry soda sink them? Then, in the entree round, the chefs face a little pig, as they fight for the big money. And the ingredients in the dessert basket seem surprisingly simple. But as the two remaining champs push themselves to make a dish to clinch the win, they take some risky chances.

Time & Space

Can openers are in order for the opening round, when the chefs find a shocker of a protein in the basket. Then, the remaining competitors blast into the entree round to find astronaut ice cream. But will the mission go awry for one chef after he asks a competitor for a generous favor? And a gritty grits battle in the dessert round reveals the finalists' creative strengths.

Everything's Rosy

A seafood surprise in the mystery basket plus four distinct cooking styles keep things lively in the appetizer round. And things take a rosy turn in the entree round, with edible flowers in the basket. But when one chef attempts to create something very special using the flowers, will he get it on the plates in time? Then, both finalists jump into crisis mode when things go wrong in the dessert round.

Make A Splash!

With sea urchin and cranberry juice in the first basket, the chefs have to dive deep to try to imagine and then create the perfect appetizers. Then, in the entree round, can canned fruit and pork hock come together well on the plates? The three remaining competitors try to make it work when they deliver three very different main dishes. And it's a gingerbread dough showdown in the dessert round!

One In A Hundred

The first round has the competitors combining a sweet bread and a scrumptious melon. And the chefs tell the judges about their very different reasons for wanting to win. Then, in the entree round, not used to working with almonds in their unripened, fuzzy form, the remaining chefs struggle to make that mystery ingredient tasty, while also filleting and cooking fish. And after dealing with French donut dough in the dessert round, it will be "au revoir" for one finalist.

Blood Orange Sorbet, Sweat and Tears

The chefs hope that their breakfast sausage appetizer will awaken the judges' senses. And as he explains why he loves to cook, one competitor breaks down. Then in the second round, a frozen dessert puts a chill in the chefs' plans to create delicious fish entrees. And the finalists must make sweet fruit work with sour beer in their desserts.

Class Acts

Class is in session in the Chopped kitchen! Four school cafeteria chefs compete to raise awareness about the importance of good meals for kids. With White House chef Sam Kass as a guest judge, the ladies seek to make a big impression with their first dishes, made with dill pickles and canned tuna. Then in the entree round, quinoa is a new ingredient for two out of the three chefs. Will they be able to take something unknown and create something great? The two finalists pour their hearts into making fantastic desserts that include grapes and cream cheese. And an emotional victory brings an incredible competition to its conclusion.

Yakety Yak, Yak, Yak

The appetizer basket is packed with sardines, rice cakes and an unusual fruit, but self-confidence may prove to be the most valuable ingredient for the chefs. In the entree round the competitors have to take yak and dried shrimp and design a delicious main course. Then with $10,000 on the line and chamomile flowers in the basket, creativity blooms in the dessert round, with the judges moved by the personal growth they see from the finalists.

Duck for Dinner

The judges are pleased to see duck confit, a heavenly food, in the first basket. But in just twenty minutes, will the competitors be able to pull off divine appetizer dishes? In the entree round, a trend with the mystery ingredient emerges. Then, each determined to claim the $10,000 prize, the two finalists face off in the dessert round. And one lucky duck takes it.

The Big Scoop

One, two, three, four mystery ingredients in the appetizer basket! One competitor loses count in the first round and misses getting marmalade on the plates. When there is no confession highlighting the mistake, can the judges' investigative tasting skills reveal it? Then, the chefs hop into action with rabbit in the entree round. What a surprise when the big scoop in dessert is vanilla ice cream! Hold on for a chilling finale where one competitor heads for a meltdown.

Chop On Through

With a fruit and a root in the first basket, two of the chefs go with a similar approach for their appetizers. Will one dish turn out better than the other? Then, in the entree round, a cut of meat with a peculiar name gives the judges something to talk about, while the chefs rush to get the main dishes made. And Camembert is the fromage of choice in the dessert basket. Whose cheesy, sweet creation will be most pleasing to the panel of experts?

Far Far Out!

A very lively group of competitors go after the $10,000 prize with gusto. In the appetizer round, distaste for a processed food in the basket inspires some creativity and some defiance. In the entree round, chefs try to find success combining the Indian snack food known as far far and the bird known as squab. While one chef appears to have a clearer plan than the other in the final round, whose corn flakes dessert will taste better?

Frozen Fries with That?

When the chefs, including two previous co-workers, find a classic but still-frozen ingredient in the appetizer basket, they must both heat it up and up the creativity level to impress the judges. Then, in the entree round, a strange meat and a strong drink make for interesting basket fellows. In the dessert round, vinegar is in the mix. Will things go sour for the finalists?

Redemption Competition

Back to take it! Four previous Chopped runners-up compete to see which one can finally walk away the winner. The competition gets off to a sweet start, with sweetbreads. But in the entree round, root beer schnapps in the basket proves very problematic for one chef. And the judges are on the edge of their seats for a very tense dessert match-up.

On The Line

Competitors hailing from different countries bring their international know-how to the "Chopped" kitchen. With $10,000 on the line, the chefs are surprised to find fish in both of the first two baskets. Who will catch a break and make it all the way to the final round to make the best desserts possible with cheese wedges and clove candies?

Viewers' Choice!

Let's hear it for fan participation! Chopped viewers finally get their chance to weigh in on a weighty question: What should go into the mystery baskets? In the first round of this special competition, the chefs must figure out how to make the fans proud by cooking a dish made with a favorite regional meat product. Then for the entree round, the viewers have chosen a jarred ingredient that few professional chefs are likely to like. Will one chef's ambitious plans backfire as the clock runs out? Then, while trying to figure out how to combine black licorice root with a salty snack food, one of the final two chefs uses a clever time-saving technique in the dessert round.

All-Stars: Iron Chefs Do Battle

Iron Chefs in the Chopped kitchen! Four world-class Food Network chefs go head-to-head in the first competition of the $50,000 All-Stars tournament. In the appetizer round the Iron Chefs race into action to make amazing dishes out of beef tendon and crawfish. Then in the entree round a very challenging protein has all the Iron Chefs using a different cooking technique. Who will be successful? And the two remaining Iron Chefs must tackle a dessert round, featuring black beans and queso fresco.

All-Stars: Prime Time Vs. Day Time

Globe-trotting gourmets! Four sensational series' hosts bring international flavors to the All-Stars tournament. But chicken feet in the first basket force them to step out of their comfort zones, and the pressure of the Chopped kitchen affects the caliber of the appetizers. Another difficult protein makes the entree basket a huge challenge. Can these All-Stars hit their stride? When the final two open the dessert baskets and see a giant surprise, will they know what to do with it?

All-Stars: Food Network Star Contestants

Food Network Star fans, this Chopped is for you! Four chefs from the hit casting competition attempt to excel in an entirely new arena. First, they try to impress the judges by exhibiting razor sharp skills in the razor clams appetizer round. In a meat-and-potatoes entree round, standing out is the challenge for the chefs. Established rivalries make the fight to get into the final round even more intense. And following the dessert round, featuring white apricots and bacon bits, the judges have some stern words for the chefs.

All-Stars: Judge Remix

No fear! Vying for the last remaining place in the $50,000 All-Stars finale, four Chopped judges head to the kitchen to prove that they know whereof they speak and really know how to cook. Brawn and brains -- goat brains that is -- are requirements of the appetizer round. At the Chopping Block, we see how the judges feel about being judged themselves. Then, after one judge-turned-competitor is chopped, three go on to the entree round where they must create main dishes using Berkshire pork and preserved duck eggs. Who will represent the judges in the All-Stars grand finale?

All-Stars: Grand Finale

This is it! Four Chopped All-Stars champs face off for $50,000 for a good cause! With so much on the line, the celebrity chef who wins it will have to have heart, and guess what is in the appetizer basket? Beef heart! After an excruciatingly difficult first decision, anything can happen in the exciting entree round, featuring a beautiful fish, some beautiful greens and some less-than-beautifully plated dishes. Panforte and pancetta must be included in the finalists' desserts, and the judges must designate just one winner.

Grilltastic!

It's a grilling spectacular! Four pros set out to show how good cooking over extreme heat in a short period of time can be. But what will these meat-loving competitors do with an unwelcome surprise in the appetizer basket? In the entree round, the judges hope that the chefs are able to coax some big flavors out of some dream ingredients, including wagyu steak. And when one of the final two competitors attempts to wow the judges with a signature recipe in dessert, will the tried-and-true specialty turn out to be truly delicious with mystery basket items like marshmallow spread and stout beer?

I'm Your Huckleberry

In the first round four competitors try to make octopus and huckleberry into dishes that will make them stand out as Chopped Champ material. Then in a high-energy second round, champagne corks and hammers go flying. After two finalists create desserts with a Peruvian drink and a Mexican cheese, one walks away with all the dinero while the other gets nada.

Chewing the Caul Fat

As the clock ticks down on the first round, one chef gets into a pickle with the pickle juice. Then in the entree round the chefs must figure out something savvy to do with Savoy cabbage and a curious web of fat. And a very competitive final round -- featuring edible flowers -- results in a daring dash for the ice cream machine.

Good Chop, Bad Chop?

With canned spiced ham in the first basket the chefs must stay determined if they want to elevate their dishes. Lake perch is the catch of the entree round. What will the judges think of one chef's unorthodox decision with the avocados? A French bakery staple makes for a buttery surprise in the final basket.

Leftovers Extravaganza!

It's a leftovers extravaganza! In this special competition, every basket contains some "leftover" ingredients. For an appetizer, the chefs race to make something fun and tasty out of slices of leftover pizza. A takeout container holds a surprise in the entree basket. The final two chefs shock the judges with their cold refried beans dessert creations.

Plenty Of Fish

In the first round, the chefs do their best to delicately cook a familiar fish, as they struggle to decide what to do with a tiny, Indian gourd. A smelly fish product in the second basket leaves the competitors taking risks with lutefisk that they hope will pay off. Then, the two remaining chefs hustle to put together their final dishes, but can they create genuine desserts out of Chinese sausage and baby eggplants?

Sound The Alarm!

Four firefighters battle to become the Chopped Champ! The kitchen is abuzz with camaraderie and competition, as the brothers jump into the first round. They must find a way to take hot dogs and smoked mozzarella and create an elegant appetizer. Then, in the entree round, the firefighters/chefs try to make the perfect main dish of bison steaks and fire-roasted tomatoes. And when it is time to cook desserts, will the instructions on the crescent roll dough package give the competitors the edge they need to bake something delicious for the judges?

Ready, Set, Escargot!

Snails are the first order of business in the "Chopped" kitchen. Can the competitors make escargot go with red jalapenos? A mishap with a paper towel leads to a dangerous situation at one chef's station. With Chinese eggplant and ground lamb in the entree basket, three chefs all choose a similar direction for their dishes. Then, two very driven finalists compete to make great desserts from garnet yams and roasted noodles.

Own It!

Four chef/entrepreneurs have something to prove in the Chopped kitchen. In the first round, will their hearts sink when they see hearts of palm and rabbit escabeche in the basket? And a curious ingredient substitution leaves the judges perplexed. Then, three chefs fight to make goat chops a great main dish ... or risk being chopped. And it's crunch time for two finalists, when they must make dessert using blue corn tortilla chips.

Yuzu Never Know

Does yuzu juice go with sturgeon? That's part of the first-round riddle that the competitors face. One chef's recollection of what he did with a mystery ingredient comes into question when facing the judges. In the second round, something orange and something green color the chefs' choices. And the two finalists find a spicy surprise in the dessert basket.

Reversal of Fortune

The chefs struggle to make composed, elegant dishes with green goddess salad dressing in the first round. The second round brings about a reversal of fortune, when the competitors impress the judges with what they can do with fortune cookies and branzino. Two finalists go full steam ahead into the last round; but when the chefs realize they are making the exact same dessert, using sourdough bread, will either competitor change course?

A Very Piggy Halloween

Getting piggy with it for Halloween, the chefs have to cook with snouts in the first round. Then with fear in their Halloween-loving hearts, the competitors open up the second basket to find a dangerously hot ingredient and popping candy. The judges are in for a main course that is both frightening and delightfully surprising. The finalists pull out all the stops to make lollipops and cereal bars into devilishly delicious desserts.

Happy Turkey Gizzards Day!

Gobble, gobble, it's Turkey Day in the Chopped Kitchen! When the chefs are given gizzards in the first basket, will they feel thankful? The competitors step up their games when everyone's favorite -- pumpkin pie -- shows up in the entree basket. In the end the challenge is to compose some chocolatey desserts as part of the final Thanksgiving offering.

Chopping in a Winter Wonderland

Holiday time is here! The chefs open up the first basket to find spiral ham and beautiful Italian cookies. Family memories influence decisions in their first dishes. Santa Claus melons come to town for the entree round, and one of the competitors makes a big holiday mess in the kitchen. Then in the dessert round, the two remaining chefs must turn eggnog and Hanukkah gelt into the perfect final gift for the judges.

Sunny Side Apps

The chefs get an unusual wake-up call in the appetizer basket: gummy fried eggs. Will they be able to successfully transform this novelty candy into something that tastes good with corned beef? Then a sweet-and-sour surprise in the entree round sends the chefs running to the pantry to find suitable complementary ingredients. The two chefs who make it to a fiercely competitive dessert round must make do with knodel and almond flour.

A Guts Reaction

The chefs need to have guts when they discover poultry intestines and red miso in the first basket. The ingredients are less daunting for the entree round, but some big technical flaws are disappointing to the judges. And two talented competitors advance to the dessert round with something to prove with candied nuts and kombucha as mystery ingredients.

Chocolate Challenge

It's a chocolate lover's dream competition: Chocolate in every course! Will the chefs take well to this sweet challenge? The appetizer round is a heart-stopping affair with a romantic gift as the centerpiece of the basket. The three chefs who advance to cook the second course have a love/hate response to the thematic ingredient. And when the chefs are given a molded chocolate novelty item in the dessert round, they battle to prove who can finish strong.

Pride of New Orleans

Four chefs from the Big Easy take on the big challenge of excelling in the Chopped Kitchen. In the first basket, half of the ingredients are very familiar, while the other mystery items just might throw the competitors off their game. In the entree round, the chefs make some very original choices with chai tea powder, and a judge makes a very surprising discovery on one of the plates. When both finalists take similar approaches to the dessert course, whose dish will the judges prefer?

All-American Competition

It's a special All-American Chopped! Fierce competition is a matter of national and personal pride, as four chefs face off to see who will be the champ. From apple pie in the appetizer basket to bourbon for dessert, the patriotic theme makes for some yummy, original dishes. And $10,000 dollars will go to the one chef who bests the others.

Orzo It Seemed

Three of the chefs go in a very similar direction with the first course, and yet the judges find creativity in the variety of flavors in their seafood sausage appetizers. In the entree round, the chefs must integrate tiny pasta and a powerful liqueur into their dishes. In the dessert round, when one competitor's plans fall apart, will there be enough time to redirect?

Food Network Stars!

Winners of the hit series Food Network Star compete to see who can beam brightest in the Chopped Kitchen! Cooking for the powerhouse panel of Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentiis and Alton Brown, the competitors must be ready for whatever they might find in the notorious baskets, if they want to win $10,000 for their charity. It is a bubbly first round with sparkling cider as a mystery ingredient. Then a black cloud hovers over the entree round, in the form of black chickens. In the dessert round, it all comes down to which Star crafts the better dessert from frozen peas and cinnamon cereal.

Grill Masters: Part One

In this first-of-its-kind Chopped tournament event, the competition goes west for a fierce five-part showdown, where the greatest griller of them all will walk away with $50,000. In the appetizer round, what will the first four grill masters make for the judges with cookies and yak steaks? A giant surprise awaits the competitors in the entree basket, as one chef must muster up the confidence to create a dish using an ingredient he has never prepared and another ingredient he cannot stand. Chocolate meets fruit in a desert dessert duel; will everything go peachy for the competitors?

Grill Masters: Part Two

Four new master grillers step up to the challenge, fighting for a chance to compete in the $50,000 finale. But who will be able to hatch a successful plan in the first round with hatch chile taffy and Hawaiian blue prawns in the basket? Then, after the remaining competitors serve up their rack of boar entrees, the judges debate the relative complexity of flavors in the three dishes. Some delicious Italian surprises await the finalists, but perfect desserts will be difficult to execute in a windy, intense final round.

Grill Masters: Part Three

Four masters of the open flame compete for a chance to make it to the $50,000 finale fight. Advancing past the first round will require a lot of hard work in just 20 minutes, including opening oysters and defrosting blocks of creamed spinach. A tropical fruit lightens things up in the entree basket. Then, with marshmallows in the dessert basket, s'mores come to mind for one of the last two chefs. Will the judges enjoy the campfire-inspired creation?

Grill Masters: Part Four

Four grill masters face off for the last slot in the $50,000 finale. Will anybody lose their cool when they spy something called speculoos in the first basket? During the entree round, the competitors strive to make kick-butt pork butt dishes, which also include fruit leather. Can the two remaining chefs grill up some terrific desserts using every meat-lover's worst nightmare?

Grill Masters: Finale

The champions of the first four Chopped Grill Masters competitions return to compete for $50,000. The fierce fight to the finish begins with an appetizer basket of sardines and canned Sloppy Joe filling. Steaks are served up in the entree course, but the chefs' success with the other ingredients gives the judges much to think about. The final two chefs draw from family memories when they open up the last basket of the tournament and must grill some do-or-die desserts.

Belly Dance!

When the chefs confront the first basket, their degrees of expertise with tuna belly comes into play. Lamb top round is round two's mystery protein, and it's a mystery whose dish the judges like least, until the cloche is lifted. With cayenne pepper and canned pumpkin desserts in the works, one chef has some serious difficulties and races to get everything onto the plate.

Cake Walk?

The chefs find carrot cake in the first basket, along with an unusual seafood product: Will they be able to pull together cohesive appetizers? In the entree round, the competitors take three different approaches with a familiar protein, but the judges are disappointed by the chefs' scant usage of a prized ingredient. Pop goes the dessert round, with caramel corn in the basket.

Oui, Oui, Confit

The judges are pleased to see duck confit in the first basket. But when it comes time to taste, they're disappointed that they must consider a competitor's very minimal use of one of the other ingredients. Then in the entree round, a jar of peanut butter and a can of shrimp are two of the puzzling items that the chefs discover in the baskets. As the competition wraps up, will wonton wrappers and grape jelly beans stump the finalists?

Drawing a Flank

When the first basket contains licorice, licking the competition on creativity becomes the chefs' main challenge in the appetizer round. The competitors get a jolt of energy in the form of espresso powder, which they must match with flank steak for their entree dish. When it becomes clear that neither finalist's polenta and sherry dessert is a sure thing, who will become the Chopped Champion?

A Bunny Thing Happened

A pink candy surprise in the appetizer basket prompts the chefs to make some very creative choices. Then in the entree round, the chefs have to hop to it with a chocolate bunny and an imposing cut of meat as ingredients. A sweet baked good seems like a good start for some delicious desserts, but will the chefs' final dishes be inventive enough to impress the judges?

Charge!

With pluck aplenty, four chefs charge into the competition. But will spaghetti in a can spell trouble for them in the first round? In the entree course, everybody raids the pantry for potatoes that they think will complement the tile fish from the basket. A very tough final basket, which includes cocktail franks, has the two final chefs puzzled. Can they come up with creative, delicious desserts?

For Sake's Sake

Ostrich tenderloin appetizers are on the menu for the judges after a dramatic first round of cooking. And then, for creativity's sake, the chefs must work hard to make terrific entrees with sable fish and sake. When one of the final competitors uses a rolling pin to compress hot dog buns, the judges wonder what kind of dessert they will get.

Stacking Up

The competition starts off strongly with four chefs, cooking with gusto, as they attempt to make delicious jumbo shrimp appetizers. Then, in the entree round, with less than a minute remaining, one of the chefs has yet to get one of the mystery ingredients on the plates! The judges watch on the edge of their seats to see if the competitor will remember before time runs out. When the two finalists find frozen pancakes in the final basket, whose dessert will stack up to a $10,000 victory?

Class Acts, Too

Class is once again in session in the Chopped Kitchen, with ladies from America's school cafeterias competing and sharing their stories. In the first round, ground turkey and frozen yogurt test the chefs' skills. Then the ladies must sweat out a 30-minute entree round with sweet potatoes and hoisin sauce as ingredients. The final two competitors advance to dessert round to find a basket of healthy items. And when one chef's plans literally fall apart, she must decide whether to rethink her idea or try, try again.

No Kidding!

Teenagers are taking over the Chopped Kitchen! Four talented young cooks bravely attempt a challenge that often throws off trained professionals. Watching the first round, featuring fish filets and a sugary frozen treat, the judges are amazed by the level of maturity, poise and skill: And it's a very difficult choice deciding which rising culinary star will not get a chance to move on. There are some fun items in the second round baskets: cotton candy and French-fried onions. Then the two terrific teens who make it to the dessert round, and find movie-theater popcorn in the basket, put on a great show.

Pigging Out

The chefs learn that they have come to the Chopped Kitchen for a special competition where they will be cooking with unusual cuts of meat, embracing the philosophy that almost every part of an animal can be considered food. The big surprise for the competitors in the first basket, a whole pig's head! The chefs who make it to the second round open the basket to find out how the nose-to-tail theme will play out, and the task looks three-times more difficult than imagined. When the last basket is opened, the competitors' faces say it all: it's going to be a very tough round.

Bird in the Pan

In the appetizer round, three out of the four chefs make a similar choice with a tricky basket ingredient: Will the fourth chef's different approach work in his favor? Then for the entrees, the competitors attempt to make delicious Cornish hen dishes, knowing that a nicely cooked bird in the pan could be worth a trip to the final round. And in the dessert round, neither the judges nor the chefs have any idea what to expect on the plates after a wild fiasco with the ice cream machine.

Thirsty for Victory

The chefs start off moving very fast in the appetizer round, trying to make stellar dishes from lump crabmeat and ice cream cones. But in the rush, one competitor forgets something important in the oven. Then thirsty for victory, the chefs find a sports drink in the basket in the entree round. And with carob syrup and spaghetti squash, what unusual dessert recipes will the final two competitors create on the fly?

Trout Bout

With brook trout in the first basket, the chefs try to reel the judges in with some amazing appetizers. Then candy and kale in the entree round keep the chefs' creativity on overdrive. And as the finalists attempt to make sesame seed buns into tasty desserts, they make some intriguing choices.

Belly Up

The chefs must combine cocoa mix with Japanese peppers in challenging fish-course round. Then in the entree round -- a big, big, oops! -- one chef accidentally drops pork belly onto the floor! But it's what happens when the chef picks the meat up off the floor that shocks the judges most. Then can an ice-cream-truck treat go well with wheat grass? The two finalists attempt to make great, green desserts.

Unsung Heroes

Four culinary heroes, who use their talents to do-good in their communities, arrive at the Chopped Kitchen to compete. In an impressive first round, the chefs pull from their varied skill sets to create four beautiful plates of food. Then in the entree round, something gamey and something fizzy make for an interesting mix of mystery ingredients. And when the final two chefs advance to the last round, they make desserts layered with sugary surprises. Which chef's final dish will complete the winning meal?

Hecho en the Chopped Kitchen

The chefs open the appetizer basket and find exciting ingredients from Mexico, including pigs' feet and tres leches cake. Then the chefs are presented with a second basket of surprises from South of the Border, including goat chops. And one chef sees the chance of a carefree round literally go up in flames when a pan gets much too hot. Nothing is yucky about yucca and coconuts. But when one of the finalists runs into all sorts of trouble getting through the round, will the judges like the end results?

Make No Mistake

Four returning losers -- chefs who made big mistakes in their first competition -- are dead set on not repeating history in the Chopped Kitchen. Having practiced and prepared to do better, the chefs open up the appetizer basket and fight to stay in it: but one pulpo and fava bean appetizer will not be good enough. Then, in the entree round, the chefs have to stay sharp to cook with cactus and manage their time well. And when the two finalists find a classic cookie and a tangy fruit in the dessert basket, make no mistake both of these former losers really want to win it!

Untrained, Undaunted

Four amateur cooks step into the Chopped Kitchen, believing that they can show the pros how it's done. First, the cooks' raw talent is put to the test with a sushi platter in the appetizer basket. Then in the entree round, do the home chefs have what it takes to take ostrich fillets and blueberry wine and create remarkable dishes? Lastly, after the dessert round, the judges are left to compare two very similar plates.

Leftovers Overload

In this special episode, all the baskets are full of leftover foods, and the four competitors demonstrate some tricks and recipes you might want to try at home. In the first round, one chef makes a very daring soup using pieces of a sub sandwich, and the judges do not know whether to be impressed or frightened. Then in the entree round, two competitors think of a similar idea, and the other chef tries to make the argument that creativity with the leftover rib-eye steak is higher in his alternative concept. And the two finalists endeavor to create fresh, fun desserts from flat soda, mushy bananas and a melting sundae.

Chopped Champions: Part 1

Four champions return to try to win a chance to compete for the $50,000 grand prize, and the baskets are far from simple. Hating haggis will get the champs nowhere in the first round, where they must find creative approaches to the much-maligned meat dish in order to pass the judges' scrutiny. Then in the entree round, sweet dough and an unnerving protein put the pressure on the competitors. And with unripe plantains in the final basket, the kitchen is rife with creativity. Both finalists pull from the pantry to make innovative wrapped dessert, but how will the competition wrap up?

Chopped Champions: Part 2

Vying for one of three remaining spots in the Chopped Champions $50,000 grand finale, four returning chefs open the first basket to find a seafood delicacy and a traditional holiday food/gift. In the second round, a slip of the knife threatens to slow one champion down, as the chefs put together entrees using peanut butter and jelly ... and squab. Then, with just two chefs left fighting in the dessert round, patience might be the most important ingredient, as one competitor seems overly eager to take his baked concoction out of the oven.

Chopped Champions: Part 3

With just two spots left in the tournament's $50,000 grand finale, four winners return to try to beat the odds and be victorious again. As time runs out in the first round, one chef struggles to get every ingredient onto every plate of his smoked eel appetizer: Will he do it? The champs leap into an entree round, featuring frog legs and gin. Two very different styles are represented in the dessert round, featuring araucana eggs and coconut macaroons, leaving the judges with a complex final decision to work out.

Chopped Champions: Part 4

Four new returning winners battle for the single place remaining in the $50,000 Chopped Champions grand finale. In the first round, the chefs must shake things up with sour apple martini mix in the basket. Then with an imposing cut of meat and a sweet wine in the entree round, the champions aim to keep the creativity level high. And after the judges taste two very different desserts made from corn nut and Maraschino cherry desserts, which champion will you be cheering for?

Chopped Champions: Finale

In the grand finale of the Chopped Champions tournament, four two-time winners stride into the kitchen with their eyes on the big prize: $50,000! Some fresh surprises and a baked good challenge the champs in the first round. Then after saying goodbye to the first chef, the competition takes a slimy turn with sea snails in the basket. And with expectations and pressure sky-high, what will the two chefs who have managed to make it through nine rounds of cooking manage to do with carrot juice and honeycomb for dessert?

Just for the Halibut

The chefs hope the basket ingredients speak to them and inspire them to create some delicious appetizers from smoked beef tongue and garbanzo beans. Then the competitors have a heck of a time making halibut work with aquavit in their entree dishes. And the judges are eager to see what the last two chefs can do with banana chips and almond butter in the dessert round.

Redemption Intention

Back for the victory! Four Chopped runners-up courageously return to the competition, intent on redeeming their previous defeats. Will a pre-cooked protein and a slimy sea creature in the first basket throw anybody off their game? The chefs who make it to the entree round cannot duck a very difficult basket, featuring poultry tongue and pineapple.

Chopped All-Stars: Food Network vs. Cooking Channel

In this first competition of the celebrity tournament, fans of Food Network and Cooking Channel get to see some of their favorite stars in action in the Chopped Kitchen. One chef's dash to deliver a creative appetizer before the clock runs makes for a very exciting first round. Then in the second round, something's fishy in the basket, and one chef's dish is at risk when two competitors bump into each other. And with a spot in the $50,000 All-Stars finale and a favorite charity on the line, two finalists go head-to-head in the dessert round. Will their creations from marshmallow and coconut flakes make the judges happy?

Chopped All-Stars: Mega Chefs

In this second fight of the All-Stars $50,000 tournament, contenders with considerable competitive prowess take each other on in the Chopped Kitchen. The judges are eager to see what the chefs can do with sea bass and cream soda in the first round. Then in the entree round, the competitors must get their tails in gear to make oxtail and labaneh into delicious dishes. And it is no piece of cake for the finalists, figuring out how to transform a classic snack cake into an elegant dessert.

Chopped All-Stars: Judges

What will happen when the tables are turned and four friends and colleagues compete in the Chopped Kitchen? In the first round, the judges-turned-competitors must crack the code of the basket after cracking open diver scallops. Then in the entree round, can the chefs make a beautiful bird fly with canned pizza sauce? And with bragging rights and a shot at making it to the $50,000 finale on the line, the last two chefs bravely tackle the dessert basket.

Chopped All-Stars: Celebrities

Four celebrities with different backgrounds, and a shared love of cooking, charge into the Chopped Kitchen. Plain vanilla is something that none of the competitors can relate to, but can they skillfully use vanilla cupcakes to create appetizers as one-of-a-kind as they are? Then something crispy and something jiggly make the main course a study in contrasts. And when two entertaining cooks proceed to the final round, they put on a performance with circus peanuts and curry powder.

Chopped All-Stars: Finale!

Four returning All-Stars champs compete for $50,000 for charitable causes that are very meaningful to them. Two of the surprises in the first basket are a super salty veggie and a super fresh seafood item. Then cheddar-filled pretzels help make it a fun-filled entree round. And the judges cannot wait to taste a couple of creative desserts made from freeze dried grapes and marcona almonds.

Heads Up

The chefs are alarmed to see one of the ingredients in the appetizer basket staring back at them. Yet, that "heady" ingredient is not the challenging item for some of the competitors. Then in the entree round, one chef finds himself unexpectedly playing with fire, creating a dangerous situation. In the end, two finalists must find a way to combine yellow rice and persimmon.

Viewers' Choice Baskets

Chopped fans logged on to Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter and suggested the ingredients for this Viewers' Choice competition, resulting in possibly the cruelest baskets ever. In the appetizer round the chefs are stunned and stumped to see two brightly colored manmade items and one of nature's most odious foods. Then for the entree basket, the viewers chose a canned product that became infamous in a previous competition. In the end, the last brutal basket proves very difficult for the finalists.

Aussie Awesome

The chefs open the first basket to find ingredients inspired by Australia, including one that has everybody's jaw dropping. Then in the entree round, one competitor makes very ambitious plans; will everything come together for him as time runs out? And the finalists better not lollygag with lollies and lemon verbena in the dessert basket.

Without Missing a Beet

With a pre-grilled protein and a dried fruit in the appetizer basket, the chefs attempt to make an amazing first impression in the first round. Jitters in the second round cause one chef to drop something on the floor: Will she be able to pull herself together to put together a decent entree? In the final round, the last two chefs are in a hurry to make curry desserts that the judges will love, but one chef runs into serious trouble in the final seconds.

Momumental

Four talented moms, who are not professional chefs, take on the mother of all kitchens, the Chopped Kitchen. In the first round, the competitors have a lot of work to do, including breaking down an uncommon protein and figuring out how to make coffee a key part of their appetizers. Then in the entree round, a grain and a green must make it onto the plate. And when the last two moms find themselves facing off in the dessert round, they must make nutty and fruity flavors work together.

Amazing Amateurs

Four amateur chefs who have been yearning to compete in the Chopped Kitchen get their chance! Yet, will they be sorry when they open up the first basket and find a daunting sea creature? Then in the entree round, an unfamiliar tuber challenges the competitors as the energy level peaks. The two amateurs remaining in the final round must create desserts using crackers and red wine.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner!

The usual rounds of appetizer, entree and dessert are replaced with breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the judges are hoping for pure decadence! In the first round, black forest bacon and prune juice are two of the mystery ingredients that the competitors must manage to transform. Then in the lunch round, some colorful surprises are in the basket. Finally, when the chefs find some dream ingredients in the dinner basket, will they successfully rise to the occasion and make a final plate that the judges will adore?

Military Salute

Hup, two, three ... four chefs who have served in the Army or Navy bring military precision to the Chopped Kitchen! In the appetizer round, a freeze-dried surprise in the basket has the chefs scrambling to add much-needed flavor to their plates. A large loaf, getting a perfectly grilled chop and a tough candy make for a challenging second round. The last two military chefs go head-to-head in the dessert round, both badly wanting the win.

Cook Your Butt Off!

Four chefs with incredible weight-loss stories charge into the Chopped Kitchen to compete. In the first mystery basket they find a fatty protein that challenges them to stick to their healthier-food philosophies. In the entree round, there's a fish to breakdown and a snack food to transform. And when the final two physically fit competitors dash into the dessert round, the judges watch eagerly to see if their angel food cake creations will be heavenly.

Better Saffron Than Sorry

A deaf chef shares the Chopped kitchen with three hearing chefs to face off in the appetizer round, resulting in four unique interpretations of mussels with saffron. In the entree round, the baskets contain a particularly daunting protein: Will the competitors have the knowledge or experience to treat it correctly and make it work with blackberries? And pasta sheets make for a good blank canvas for dessert.

Take Heart

In the appetizer round, the chefs discover various creative ways to combine peppers and pork, and the judges wonder why one competitor makes a strange, last-minute decision. Then in the entree round, the chefs must wrestle with a heart-stopping protein. And the challenge in the dessert basket seems to be taming some super sweet ingredients.

Wheatgrass Roots

The chefs' first challenge is to see what they can do with a very earthy first basket, including chia seeds and dandelion greens. Then in the entree round, tempeh is the tempting center of every plate. And the two finalists get a local sweetener and a fresh berry from which to make delicious desserts.

Wurst Case Scenario

Four energetic chefs hit the ground running in the appetizer round, but the one chef who runs into the worst trouble with their currywurst dish must be chopped. The big curveball in the entree round -- popcorn balls! Berries and oats meet in the final basket. Will the chefs be able to make this culinary pairing work?

Fry, Fry Again

The chefs are given pots of bubbling oil, so that they can create crispy, delicious additions to their dishes. Catfish catches the chefs by surprise in the first round. In the entree basket, the competitors find a cheese and a cherry preserve. Will the mandate to make a fried dessert unnerve the two finalists?

Cleaver Fever

To avoid the judges' cleaver fever, the competitors have to work with bacon popcorn in the first round. In the entree round, an injury causes one chef to lose valuable time on his lamb dish. A mashed treat meets floral syrup in the dessert basket.

Mix and Mache

An odd mix of ingredients in the first basket, including mache and pickled sausage, has the four chefs working hard to complete unique appetizer plates: And one chef is up against a personal challenge, defending his dish while trying to control a lifelong speech impediment. Then in the entree round, the chefs must make squid dishes that impress the judges. And will a hard to pronounce ingredient in the final basket be hard to incorporate into desserts?

Gyro We Go Again

Another intense competition in the Chopped Kitchen starts when the chefs get gyro meat and hearts of palm in the first basket! Then in the second round, the remaining three chefs must pair steak and doughnuts. When the finalists find a classic American finger-food and a sticky surprise in the last basket, what will they put together?

Big Fish, Small Basket

The competitors leap into action and come out strong with four impressive appetizers, made with seitan and mezcal. In the second round, pre-made sauce and a sizable fish are in the basket. When the two finalists proceed to dessert, they must make a pastry and a pork product play nicely on their plates.

Teen Invasion

Four amazing teenaged chefs invade the Chopped Kitchen for Chopped's second teen competition. The judges are in awe of what the teen chefs do with tuna and cereal in the first round. In the entree round, will the young cooks be taken aback when they open the basket to find something that requires some skilled butchery? The last two teens standing must make dessert with a snack food and an Asian condiment.

Mochi Obliged

In the first round, the competitors must very quickly compose dishes from escargot and biscuit dough. Then in the entree basket, the chefs find an unfamiliar produce and an unappealing pate. And will the judges be much obliged to eat two mochi and mango desserts?

Sweet Surprises

The chefs are surprised to discover a decadent sweet creation along with every basket. In the first round a towering cake threatens to topple the chefs' chances at producing perfect plates. Then in the second round, a very colorful dessert ingredient makes for a very stressful challenge. And the two lucky competitors who make it to the last round are happy to see a fabulously chocolatey treat -- a sweet surprise that may finally work in their favor.

Break a Crab Leg!

Some of the ingredients in the first basket are difficult to identify and even more difficult to incorporate into proper appetizers. In the second round, the chefs open the basket to find a gargantuan seafood surprise. And when the final two chefs move on to the dessert round, they must waste no time inventing dishes using jicama, but a hiccup with the ice cream machine leaves one competitor unsure of how to carry on.

Walk on the Whelk Side

A wild first basket, including whelk snails and lemon bars, has the chefs battling the clock to create delicious dishes. And in the entree round, the chefs all bring their personal styles to their plates in a notable way in their lamb shawarma dishes. Then cucumber salad is a cumbersome ingredient for the finalists' desserts.

Chopped Family Feud

In a Chopped first, two pairs of brothers compete to see which chef family prevails. In the first round, the competitors must come up with oodles of ideas for falooda noodles. In the entree down, the judges watch eagerly to see how the three plates of steak and cinnamon rolls will turn out. With family pride and bragging rights looming large, the last two chefs must make desserts from a Greek pudding and a Japanese candy.

Extreme Halloween

Halloween means very frightening surprises in the baskets for the chefs. In the first round, they encounter a very troublesome, bloody protein and a can of chips that's more than meets the eye. The three chefs who move on to the second round are in for something gooey and gory -- and something that is just offal. The final two chefs boldly move on to a devilishly difficult dessert round.

A Chopped Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving, football doesn't have anything on Chopped! Four chefs fight ferociously to see who can make the best holiday meal from the bountiful mystery baskets. In the first round, the chefs must make green bean casserole into something more inviting. Then the competitors find a big bird and a frozen orange treat in the second basket. And with both of the last two chefs determined to show all that they can do with desserts, ambition is amped up in the final round.

Wasted!

In this competition, the baskets are full of usually-discarded food scraps. In the first round the chefs must contend with herb stems and what is left of a filleted fish. Then the competitors open the baskets to find eyes on potatoes looking back at them. And the two chefs left in the dessert round must make yummy sweets from the least desirable part of the bread and the least juicy part of the orange.

Keep on Trucking

Four chefs with connections to the booming truck-food business motor into the Chopped Kitchen. And the first basket with two assertively flavored meats makes for a challenging appetizer round. In the second round, the competitors must make dishes that include a sugary powder and a leafy vegetable. Then guanabana is going into the ice cream machine in the dessert round!

Sports Stars

Danica Patrick, Tiki Barber, Chuck Zito and Natalie Coughlin are four athletes who feel right at home in the kitchen battling it out for charity. The judges are presented with four salmon dishes to taste for the first course. In the second round chocolate-covered marshmallows seem to be the most stress-inducing ingredient. And figuring out how to transform olive oil cake is the challenge for dessert.

Hero Chefs

These four extraordinary chefs all serve their communities with their culinary talents. In the first round they must combine chicken soup and barbecue sauce. The second round has the chefs creating scallop dishes with two unusual produce items. And the finalists have to get their buns in gear in the last round, when they are given hamburger buns to cook with.

We Love Leftovers!

All leftovers in the baskets today, and some of the chefs are not happy to hear the news. In the first round the competitors must work with what is left in a casserole dish and at the bottom of a takeout bag. The second round has the chefs wondering what to do with something soggy and something sweet. In the final round -- featuring a leftover party beverage -- one chef beats the other to the ice cream machine, leaving his competitor scrambling for a new plan.

Count Your Chickens

The chefs get a first basket with two chicken surprises: chicken livers and chicken tenders. The trend continue into the second round, where the chefs must make a delicious entree with chicken legs and chicken-flavored crackers? Then in the dessert round, an often-disparaged dessert must be elevated.

Liver and Learn

The chefs receive calves' livers and ranch dressing in the first round, and the judges watch as four appetizers come together in 20 minutes. Then in the entree round, a small bird and a citrusy spice make for an interesting combination. And will hot sauce be a hit in the finalists' desserts?

Brunch Boxes

In this Chopped competition, the baskets are all packed with ingredients you might find on a sophisticated brunch menu. Near the end of a champagne and caviar appetizer round, one chef makes a generous, but potentially costly, choice. How will the chefs pair a seafood extravagance with pancake mix in the entree round? Then turning classic brunch items into dessert is the final, demanding challenge for the last two chefs.

Circus Spectacular

Every basket in this competition features circus-themed ingredients. In the first round the chefs have to make cotton candy and corn dogs doggone delicious. Then in the entree round, one competitor decides to put his nachos -- cheese and all -- into the food processor: Will the judges like the result? And when snow cones and popcorn pop up in the dessert round, what kind of circusy sweetness will end up on the finalists' plates?

Competition Italiano

The chefs are pleased to see a delicious selection of Italian ingredients for the appetizer round, including pasta dough, but time management issues lead to some big problems with the plates. The tasty trend continues in the entree round, with veal chops and bottarga in the basket, and one chef makes a repeat mistake. Then desserts made with figs are the final two dishes the judges will taste.

Redeemed or Re-Chopped?

With the odds stacked against them, four former runners-up seeking redemption return to the Chopped Kitchen. In the first round, a faux meat and a hot mustard must be successfully combined. Then in a competition between chefs who questioned the judges' decision to send them home the first time, sour grapes is an appropriate ingredient in the second basket. And due to an extraordinary chain of events, neither finalist will ever forget the desserts that they prepared from bubble tea and papaya -- or the judges' reactions to them.

Cloche Call

Two cultures collide in the first round, when the chefs must combine kimchi and gefilte fish. The second round has the chefs working with uniquely flavored vodka and a green snack. And when the two finalists find marshmallow cake and citrusy water in the final basket, the judges hope for delicious desserts.

Celebrity Holiday Bash

Four stars who love to cook -- Teri Hatcher, Anthony Anderson, Dawn Wells and Antonio Sabato, Jr. -- compete in the Chopped Kitchen for a favorite charity. The party begins with sparkling cider and doughnuts in the first basket. Wagyu steaks are served up for the entree round. And the final moments of the competition are filled with drama and suspense as the competitors rush to get their plum pudding desserts plated.

No Pain, No Shame

The chefs get a special tool in the basket to help them bust apart a challenging ingredient: a giant jawbreaker. The judges hope the shards-of-candy appetizers do not cause them any harm! Then a trendy pastry meets a North African stew in the second basket. And rosemary and ginger must be combined in the desserts.

Teen Talent

Four talented teenaged chefs bring their energy and ambition to the Chopped Kitchen! With a $40,000 scholarship on the line, the young competitors open up the first basket and find a sweet drink and a juicy fruit. Then in the entree round, the teen chefs are given some super sophisticated ingredients. And breakfast-like ingredients give the final two teens a rude awakening in the dessert round.

Tapas Time

Time to shake things up in a big/small way as the chefs find out that this competition has a tapas theme. In the first round, the baskets contain some beautiful Spanish ingredients, including gazpacho. In the entree round, one chef makes an alarming choice after accidentally starting a small fire. And the two competitors who move on to the dessert round, featuring catalan creme, try to make mini creations bursting with flavor.

Waste Not

The chefs must make use of ingredients that are usually thrown out, for being imperfect, overripe or stale. For example, the first basket includes juicer pulp and tea bags. Then in the second round, the competitors have to get creative with a little bit of salad dressing and some paltry scraps of poultry. And the finalists get some often-tossed portions of a fruit and the peels of a veggie to work into their desserts.

Firefighter Chefs

The firefighter competitors get the meal started with some hearty meat-and-cheese appetizers that would be a hit back at their firehouses, but will the judges enjoy them? Then in the entree round, some big errors with a non-basket-ingredient gets one of the judges inordinately upset. And playing with fire is part of the challenge in the final round.

Hoofin' It!

When the clock starts ticking down from 20 minutes, the chefs must rush to make appetizers with pickled pigs' feet and sweet potato chips. And one chef doesn't realize they've made a potentially costly mistake until it's too late. Then in the entree round, the competitors must try to make pie work with venison. And the two finalists come up with similar ideas for their desserts, but which dish will the judges prefer?

Pizza Perfect

The chefs learn they will be expected to make a pizza perfect meal. In the first round one of the competitors takes a loose interpretation of the theme: How will the judges react? Then some unusual toppings must make their way onto the entree pizzas. And the finalists must make pizza for dessert, with candied mushrooms and salted caramel sauce.

All-Burger Meal!

The chefs learn that they will be making hamburgers, in some shape or form, for every round, starting with veal burgers for appetizers. Then in the entree round a little quail egg causes a big headache for some of the competitors. And who's ever heard of a dessert burger?

Chocolate Competition

With chocolate in every basket of this themed competition, the chefs must figure out how to make this perennial dessert favorite work in the first two, savory, courses. Then the two competitors who make it to the end must find a way to combine two chocolate ingredients with cherries and a German layer cake.

Bacon Baskets!

The chefs get some great news before the cooking begins: bacon will be in every basket! In the first one, they find Mangalista bacon and apple chips. Then in the second round, the judges watch to see if the competitors will be able to make dried cherries work with their pork entrees. French toast and bacon are a breakfast classic, but can the final two chefs manage to transform these mystery ingredients into dessert?

Beer Here!

Brewing up some serious competition as all three rounds are devoted to beer. For their appetizers, the four chefs must make sausages work with toasted lager. A tasty tripel ale is the beer in the basket for the entree round. And in the final round, the iconic beer and pretzel combination must be made delicious in dessert form.

Burn for the Worse

The chefs have two starchy ingredients to work with in the appetizer round: Chinese dumplings and Middle Eastern noodles. Then in the entree round, the three competitors go in different directions with rack of lamb, and will one chef recover after burning two of the mystery ingredients? And two pawpaw desserts are critiqued as the judges decide which chef will be the Chopped Champion.

An Egg Up

The chefs battle for the lead in the first round, as they try to figure out what to do with a potent ingredient: so-called 100-year-old eggs! Then in the second round, mango pudding must make its way into the competitors' main course dishes. And with waffle cones in the final basket, will either chef make ice cream for dessert?

Ambitious Amateurs

With courage to spare, four home cooks compete in the Chopped Kitchen to prove that they are as good as they think they are: But what will the judges think after tasting their chicken tenderloin appetizers? Then in the entree round, one of the competitors endeavors to pull off a very ambitious hanger steak dish within the 30-minute time limit. And two very unusual ingredients show up in the dessert basket, and the judges watch to see if the amateur cooks can figure out what to do with them.

Return and Redeem

Four chefs who lost in previous competitions return, wanting the win more than ever. A bright green dessert and a seafood snack must be worked into the competitors' appetizers. Then in the entree round, the chefs must contend with quinoa and sour candy. And with one more chance to redeem themselves, the two finalists fight to the end, as they make desserts from palm seeds and dulce de leche.

Grandma vs. Grandma

For the first time, four determined grannies face off in the Chopped Kitchen. In the appetizer basket they find a favorite grandma leftover: a coffee can of bacon grease. The three feisty grandmas who make it to the entree round must make meatloaf mix work with an aptly named cocktail. And the judges can't wait to get some grandmotherly love served up with their oatmeal desserts.

Chopped Tournament of Stars: Sports Stars!

Four athletes, Brandi Chastain, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Greg Louganis and Charles Oakley, bring their fierceness and passion to the Chopped Kitchen for the premiere competition of a five part $50,000 Tournament of Stars. With the charities they are competing for in their minds, they open the first basket to find a scary ingredient: alligator. Then in the entree round, the celebs must cook with strange eggs and tiny limes. The two sports stars who make it to the dessert round put their athleticism and enthusiasm into making great final dishes that include crystallized ginger and wafer cookies.

Chopped Tournament of Stars: Rachael vs. Guy!

The four competitors for this second part in the Tournament of Stars are all cooking-competition veterans, alums of Food Network's Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off. But Coolio, Lou Diamond Phillips, Penn Jillette and Carnie Wilson have never stepped foot in the Chopped Kitchen! How will they do with beef tongue and microwaveable chocolate cake in the appetizer basket? Then the stars have a pizza party in the entree round, after they discover leftover slices in the basket. And with hopes of making it to the $50,000 finale, two competitors must make desserts using chocolate bars and banana chips.

Chopped Tournament of Stars: Comedians!

Bringing the funny to the Chopped Kitchen, four comics (Sinbad, Tommy Davidson, Robert Wuhl and Gillian Vigman) compete for a chance to move on to the $50,000 finale. The stars open up the first basket and get a pork delicacy and a gummy candy. In the entree round, the three remaining comedians must make jalapeno poppers palatable with beer can chicken. And with vanilla cupcakes in the final basket, transforming the ingredient becomes key for the two finalists.

Chopped Tournament of Stars: Actors!

With only one spot left in the $50,000 charity tournament finale, actors Lucas Grabeel, Michael Imperioli, Peter Scolari and Tasha Smith bravely take on the role of chef. In the first round, one competitor tries desperately to figure out the right cooking technique for a tricky ingredient. And a pretty citrus fruit and a spiny lobster are two of the mystery ingredients that the competitors must demystify in the entree round. Then in the final round, the two remaining stars make a mess in the kitchen and some very creative desserts with mascarpone and strawberries.

Chopped Tournament of Stars: Finale!

The four amazing finalists open the first basket and get a drive-thru snack and a cold dessert. $50,000 is destined to go to one of the last three celebrities' favorite charities, but which stars will have good luck with the duck in the entree basket? And the fifteenth and final round of the Chopped Tournament of Stars is bound to be intense: do the competitors have enough culinary stamina left to make something yummy, beautiful and creative from churros and champagne?

Peri Peri Determined

In the first basket, the fryer gets pretty crowded as the chefs race to make crispy chicken wings, and the chefs are challenged to make African peri peri rub work in their dishes. Then in the entree round, a difficult cut of meat and a salty sandwich spread are among the mandatory ingredients. And will either finalist decide to bake a pie from the pie dough in the dessert basket?

Mother's Day

Four mothers who rule their home kitchens attempt to stay composed and confident as they cook in a much larger arena. Among the goodies in the appetizer basket are chicken noodle soup and salsa. Then in the entree round, the moms must contend with a sugary ingredient that kids tend to love but parents often ban from breakfast. And the two ladies who make it to the dessert round find lady fingers in the mystery basket.

Cool, Palm and Perfected

The chefs find blowfish tail in the first basket and hope they can stay cool as they cook up an amazing appetizer in a hurry. Then in the entree round, the competitors find a can of something orange and a jar of something rather unusual: date palm. And when the two finalists take on dessert, aiming for perfect final plates, they must work with basil juice.

There Will Be Bloody Marys

The chefs open up the first basket to find a fancy cake and a Bloody Mary. Then in the entree round, the three chefs try to create excellent dishes from ground chicken and seafood paella. And an ice cream machine blunder causes problems for one of the finalists.

Four Fathers

Making their kids proud, four daring dads take on the pressure cooker that is the Chopped Kitchen, but how will the fathers-turned-competitors fare with fish and salt and vinegar potato chips in the appetizer round? The dads get the gift of a bottle of scotch in the entree basket. And after the two fathers fight it out in the dessert round, the judges debate whose rice pudding and pretzel dessert was more successful.

Dread and Breakfast

The usual rounds are replaced today by breakfast, lunch and dinner. In round one, the chefs attempt to make a glorious morning meal from coffee cake and cream-filled chocolate eggs. Then in the second round, three young, very energetic chefs race to create delicious fish dishes for lunch. But one competitor's recklessness leads to an emergency situation. And the judges are excited to see what the two finalists can do with a divine dinner basket.

Leftovers Rescue Mission

There are mixed reactions from the chefs when they learn that they will be competing with three baskets of leftovers. When time starts in the first round, the chefs frantically dig in to takeout containers from various types of restaurants. Then in the entree round, some forgotten packets of hot sauce find their way in to the basket and one chef realizes a critical error too late. And who knew there was such thing as leftover bacon, one of the ingredients in the dessert round?

G'day, Chefs!

Every basket has a little bit of an Australian slant to it: Will the competitors think this theme makes for a g'day in the kitchen? In the first round, lamb ribs are the Down Under favorite that the chefs must make their own, and a very alcoholic beverage leads some chefs down a dangerously fiery path. Then in the entree round, fans of emu fan fillets will be happy about what's inside the basket. And in the dessert round, the settings on the ice cream machine trip up one of the finalists, while the judges are on the edge of their seats, wondering if the mistake can be corrected in time.

Salt Pearls of Wisdom

Presentation is at the forefront of the judges' first decision, as they compare shrimp and chickpea dishes. In the entree round, the flavor profile of the baklava in the basket might cause the chefs to stumble. And the chefs try to find wise ways to use salt pearls in their dishes. Then the finalists must work booze and cashews into their desserts.

Swai Not?

The chefs open up the first baskets to find falafel mix and date paste, among the four appetizer ingredients. Then in the entree round, the chefs must work with a fish that is new to them. And the chefs get cookies in the dessert round that they are hesitant to transform.

Short and Sweetbreads

The chefs open the appetizer baskets and find sweetbreads, which they must make into a delicious dish in 20 minutes. Then in the entree round, "a little or a lot" comes into play when the competitors have to work with a strong spice blend. And the final two chefs must make chocolaty, salty, fruity desserts.

Fig Out

The chefs find two fishy ingredients in the first basket: Will their appetizer dishes hook the judges? Then in the entree round, some spiny leaves and beef kidneys must be combined. And as the finalists rush to make dessert from figs and lemon verbena, a collision in the kitchen causes a stir.

Big Hitters

Four chefs from America's baseball stadiums arrive in the Chopped Kitchen hoping to be big hitters! In the first basket they get some typical game-day eats, including Italian sausage. Then in the second round, the chefs are pleased to see a beautiful flank steak. And the judges hope that the desserts are delicious, down to the last blueberry.

Offal Surprise

The chefs set out to utilize ramen in a creative way in their appetizer dishes. Then in the entree round, an offal surprise in the baskets is a source of jokes for the judges and stress for the competitors. And a New England treat in the dessert basket might make the final two chefs shout for joy. But can they combine it successfully with the other three ingredients in the basket?

Haricot Flair

Yes, we have no bananas! But we do have banana blossoms in the first basket and four women competing! The three chefs who make it to the entree round must work with a notoriously stinky ingredient. And will a colorful ingredient in the last basket prompt the finalists to sprinkle a little fun on to their desserts?

Frankly Frantic

The chefs open the appetizer basket to find vegan franks and three other meatless ingredients and have to work frantically to compose appetizers in 20 minutes. Then in the entree round, the judges wonder if one chef's strange decision about what to throw into the blender will be a blunder or a surprise success. Then the finalists find a green soda and a Russian sweet in their dessert baskets.

Chopped Chops

Frog leg fest: The chefs open the first basket to find the French delicacy and some fine fungi. Then in the entree round, some little beans and big pork chops cause the competitors difficulties. And one of the finalists decides to take the cheese in the basket and use it in an ice cream. Will it work?

Pesto Change-o

The chefs must work their magic in the appetizer round using pesto sauce and chicken. Then in the entree round, a second basket of beautiful ingredients, including spirulina chips, challenges the chefs to get creative. And a treat from Kazakhstan is the most interesting find in the final basket.