The BEST Food Network shows of all time
Every Food Network show, ranked
We've compiled the average episode rating for every Food Network show to compile this list of best shows!
#1 - Iron Chef
Iron Chef is an innovative cooking competition from Japan. Originally produced by Fuji TV, Iron Chef combined the excitement of a one on one sports competition with gourmet cooking. The title Iron Chefcomes from the original Japanese title, Ironmen of Cooking. This innovative game show was always popular in its native Japan, but it found international success when the Food Network bought the series and began airing English dubbed episodes. It became a cult classic as viewers were treated to exotic ingredients and innovative cooking techniques. No expense was spared. Chefs seemed to have almost limitless supplies of the most exotic and expensive gourmet ingredients. The competition is hosted by Chairman Kaga, an over-the-top master of ceremonies. He introduced a "secret ingredient" that the challenger and the chosen Iron Chef had to incorporate into every dish. Originally, the program was 30 minutes long, but it was soon expanded to an hour format. Each chef presented his/her dishes to a panel of 3-4 judges who rated the dishes to crown a winner. All of the competitions occurred in a specially designed "kitchen stadium". The New York Times once described Iron Chef as "kamikaze cooking". Iron Chefs and their competitors became celebrities in their own right. Storylines developed between groups determined to defeat the Iron Chefs. The show was so successful in English speaking countries that several spin-offs, specials, and updated versions were produced.
View Episode Rankings#2 - Unwrapped
Ever wondered where the tiny marshmallows in your breakfast cereal came from? Have we got a show for you! Each week, Unwrapped uncovers behind-the-scenes details on classic American food, from peanut butter and chocolate syrup to French fries and bubblegum. Join host Marc Summers as he explores the test kitchens and the secrets behind lunch box treats, soda pop, movie candy, and more. Unwrapped--the show for everyone who's ever worn a pair of wax lips. Specials run times are 60 minutes.
View Episode Rankings#3 - A Cook's Tour
The #1 food writer and television host in the world, Anthony Bourdain reinvented the food travel genre. In his groundbreaking first series, Bourdain travels around the world indulging his taste for local cuisine and eccentric characters.
View Episode Rankings#4 - Ace Of Cakes
Ace of Cakes is a reality series that follows a group of eclectic cake decorators in Baltimore, led by Food Network Challenge star Duff Goldman. With an attitude and personality more suited for rock stardom than running a specialty cakes business, Duff shuns the traditional approach to cake making and decorating. Using power tools and with the help of his artistic staff, Duff creates some of the most amazing cakes ever seen. From abstract wedding cakes to a cake shaped as a Jeep so detailed it looks like it could actually run, these cakes are more than delicious – they're works of art.
View Episode Rankings#5 - Chopped
Hosted by Ted Allen, Chopped is a high energy, fast paced cooking competition that challenges four up-and-coming chefs to turn a selection of everyday ingredients into an extraordinary three-course meal. After each course, a contestant gets "chopped" by our panel of esteemed culinary luminaries until the last man or woman left standing claims victory.
View Episode Rankings#6 - Cutthroat Kitchen
Just how far is a chef willing to go to win a cooking competition? Cutthroat Kitchen hands four chefs each $25,000 and the opportunity to spend that money on helping themselves or sabotaging their competitors. Ingredients will be thieved, utensils destroyed and valuable time on the clock lost when the chefs compete to cook delicious dishes while also having to outplot the competition. With Alton Brown as the devilish provocateur, nothing is out of bounds when money changes hands and we see just how far chefs will go to ensure they have the winning dish.
View Episode Rankings#7 - Halloween Wars
Teams of cake decorators, candy-makers and pumpkin carvers compete to see who can make the biggest, wildest and spookiest edible Halloween creations. They may end up walking home with a big cash prize and scare viewers' pants off with some of the most amazing horror tales, all made from cake, candy and pumpkins. A sister show to "Holiday Wars" and an annual favorite, "Halloween Wars" has had new seasons every year since 2011. While the judges and hosts may change each year, the creativity never does.
View Episode Rankings#8 - Dinner Impossible
Robert Irvine is ready for any challenge he is challenged to overcome culinary obstacles and deliver a delicious meal before his time runs out. With new challenges from this exciting, fun-loving chef, viewers will see if Robert can make dinner, possible!
View Episode Rankings#9 - Diners, Drive-ins and Dives
Host Guy Fieri travels across America in search of the best diners, drive-ins and dives. He visits classic "greasy spoon" restaurants and talks to staff and customers about the food. Episodes often feature eateries linked by a common theme, such as burgers or comfort food.
View Episode Rankings#10 - Iron Chef America
Based upon the Japanese cult sensation, Iron Chef America carries on the legend of Kitchen Stadium and the famed "secret ingredient." Each week, world-class chefs battle the legendary Iron Chefs of America: Bobby Flay, Mario Batali, Masaharu Morimoto, Jose Garces, Alex Guarnaschelli, Michael Symon and Marc Forgione. Alton Brown serves as Commentator, Kevin Brauch as Floor Reporter and Mark Dacascos is Chairman.
View Episode Rankings#11 - Holiday Baking Championship
The search to find the greatest holiday baker begins as eight amateur bakers enter the kitchen, where they show off their family traditions and superb baking skills. To survive the challenges from week to week, they must prove their abilities in front of our tough-love judges: Duff Goldman, Nancy Fuller and Lorraine Pascale. Hosted by Bobby Deen, this baking championship is the sweetest way to celebrate this holiday season.
View Episode Rankings#12 - Kids Baking Championship
In Food Network’s series Kids Baking Championship, hosts and judges Duff Goldman and Valerie Bertinelli will lead eight talented kid bakers through challenges designed to find the most-impressive and creative young baker. In each challenge the contestants, ranging in age from 10 to 13, will be tested on their baking skills and originality as they whip up delectable desserts, including creative cakes, mouthwatering cookies and pastries.
View Episode Rankings#13 - The Great Food Truck Race
Seven food trucks in a competition to see who earns the most money, with the lowest earning truck kicked off at the end of each episode.
View Episode Rankings#14 - Halloween Baking Championship
John Henson hosts the country's top bakers as they battle it out to create Halloween's spookiest and most-irresistible treats. From spider cupcakes, cheesecake coffins and witch finger cookies to towering confections of terror, these bakers must prove their skills to judges Carla Hall, Zac Young and Stephanie Boswell to land the $25,000 prize and the title of Halloween Baking Champion!
View Episode Rankings#15 - Tournament of Champions
A culinary competition hosted by Guy Fieri where 16 of the nation's most celebrated chefs face off. During the five-part tournament, the chefs' skills will be pushed to the limit, as they go head-to-head in a single elimination bracket-style competition, where a randomizer machine determines the protein, produce, equipment, cooking style, and time for each of the cook-offs.
View Episode Rankings#16 - Restaurant: Impossible
After combating countless "impossible dinners," Chef Robert Irvine faces a daunting new challenge: save America’s most desperate restaurants from impending failure in just two days with only $10,000. In his new prime-time Food Network series, Restaurant: Impossible, Robert uses creativity and resourcefulness along with a lot of muscle in his fight to rescue these restaurants and give hope to the owners and their employees. Day one of the extreme mission begins with a thorough business assessment as Robert launches the restaurant into full service, closely observes the staff and kitchen, and determines their weakest spots. Then, he springs into action by updating the menu, retraining the staff and implementing aesthetic changes with the help of his design team. To ensure a packed house for the grand re-opening at the end of day two, Robert hits the streets to tell the community about the improved restaurant. Will the ruthless schedule, tight budget and ambitious task overcome Robert’s lofty goals, or will this tall order result in restaurant triumph?
View Episode Rankings#17 - Guy's Grocery Games
Guy Fieri sends four talented chefs running through the aisles in a high stakes, high skills, grocery store cooking competition. The chefs are hit by real-world challenges like finding workarounds when all the essential ingredients are suddenly "out-of-stock" or having to create a masterpiece when you can only cook with "5 items or less" or on a $10 budget. In the end, the food does the talking, as the last chef standing has the chance to make some serious dough!
View Episode Rankings#18 - Spring Baking Championship
Eight bakers compete, preparing delicious springtime desserts for the chance to win the grand prize of $50,000.
View Episode Rankings#19 - Mystery Diners
What happens in the food world when a bad employee starts to take down an otherwise thriving establishment or when restaurant owners suspect someone of not doing their job appropriately? They call in the Mystery Diners. These undercover operatives go into restaurants, bars and food service establishments with hidden cameras to find out what's really going on when the boss isn't around.
View Episode Rankings#20 - Beat Bobby Flay
Two talented chefs go head-to-head for the chance to Beat Bobby Flay. To get to Bobby the chefs must first face off against each other, creating a spectacular dish with a secret ingredient of Bobby's choice. Judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Jeff Mauro know Bobby's strengths and his weaknesses. Their goal: Pick the chef who has the skills to take down Bobby Flay in his own arena. The winning chef gets to challenge Bobby with his or her surprise signature dish. If Bobby goes down, the winner can tell the world, "I beat Bobby Flay!"
View Episode Rankings#21 - The Next Iron Chef
The world's greatest culinary artists come together to compete for the prestigious title of Iron Chef America in this Alton Brown-hosted series. Catch all the yummy intensity on the Food Network.
View Episode Rankings#22 - Holiday Wars
Three teams of master cake and sugar artists face off in two jolly challenges to produce mind-blowing holiday displays that are just as festive as they are delicious.
View Episode Rankings#23 - The Next Food Network Star
The Next Food Network Star is a reality television series produced by and aired on the Food Network in the United States which awards the winner his or her own series on the Food Network.
View Episode Rankings#24 - Worst Cooks in America
Recruits with poor cooking skills go through an eight-week culinary boot camp to earn a cash prize of $25,000. The recruits are trained on the various basic cooking techniques including: baking, knife skills, temperature, seasoning and preparation. The final challenge is to cook a restaurant quality three-course meal for three food critics.
View Episode Rankings#25 - Buddy vs. Duff
Buddy Valastro and Duff Goldman compete in a series of bake-offs that test their dessert skills. The judges will crown one winner, putting an end to the greatest feud in baking history.
View Episode Rankings#26 - Cake Wars
Four expert bakers aim to win their jaw-dropping cake a spot at a major party or special event. With Jonathan Bennett hosting, each of the bakers will bake one-of-a-kind creations with the hopes of impressing well-known pastry chef Ron Ben-Israel, Fonuts co-owner Waylynn Lucas and some very special guest judges. Each week, only one contestant will take the cake to headline the main event, and take home the sweet grand prize of $10,000. Each of the bakers will compete in two rounds during the competition. In the first, they will be given a surprise ingredient that they must incorporate into the recipe. And in the second, they must make a cake that contains three special features that match the event’s theme. In both rounds, their skills will be tested as they race to get dessert on the table before time runs out. At the end of the second round, they will be judged on taste and presentation, but only one baker will seize the sweet grand prize. The events that will feature these over-the-top cakes are themed for The Simpsons, DC Comics, Nintendo’s Mario Maker, Hello Kitty, LEGO®, Girl Scouts, The Knot Dream Wedding, and the 50th anniversary of The Sound of Music. Don’t miss all of the sweet action!
View Episode Rankings#27 - Cupcake Wars
It’s cupcake vs. cupcake in Food Network’s tastiest competition yet! Each week on Cupcake Wars, four of the country’s top cupcake bakers face off in three elimination challenges until only one decorator remains. The sweet prize: $10,000 and the opportunity to showcase their cupcakes at the winning gig. Whether a special Ace of Cakes anniversary celebration, a star-studded magazine party or an A-list celebrity golf tournament, these Cupcakes Wars really heat up. Candace Nelson (owner of Sprinkles Cupcakes) and Florian Bellanger (chef and co-owner of online macaroon company MadMac) serve as permanent judges with a third rotating judge each week, and Justin Willman hosts.
View Episode Rankings#28 - The Pioneer Woman
Take one sassy former city girl, her hunky rancher husband and a band of adorable kids, an extended family, cowboys, 3000 wild mustangs, a herd of cattle and one placid basset hound and you have The Pioneer Woman. The Pioneer Woman is an open invitation into Ree Drummond's life: The award-winning blogger and best-selling cookbook author comes to Food Network and shares her special brand of home cooking, from throw-together suppers to elegant celebrations. The series, set against the incredible story of life at home on the range, is the next best thing to actually sitting on a stool in Ree's kitchen.
View Episode Rankings#29 - Iron Chef Gauntlet
Seven chefs from across America face each other in culinary battles each week until only one is left standing. This chef will battle three iron chefs: Bobby Flay, Masaharu Morimoto and Michael Symon.
View Episode Rankings#30 - Cooks vs. Cons
Professional chefs and home cooks compete to impress a rotating panel of judges, who make their decisions based solely on taste and presentation. And it's only after a winner is declared that the contestants reveal their true identities.
View Episode Rankings#31 - Restaurant Stakeout
There are shows on TV, including Food Network's own ``Restaurant: Impossible,'' in which chefs help struggling restaurateurs turn their businesses around. ``Restaurant Stakeout'' takes that format to another level by using hidden cameras to surreptitiously watch the crew to see what really goes on when waiters, bartenders, kitchen staff and other employees think no one is watching. Analyzing that hidden-camera footage is restaurateur Willie Degel, who owns a chain of steakhouses in New York. After seeing how the staff acts, Degel uses his tough-love approach to improve the employees' work ethic and, ultimately, turn around the restaurant's fortunes. If employees don't improve their poor working habits, Degel shows them the door because his goal is making things better for the struggling eatery's owner.
View Episode Rankings#32 - The Kitchen (2014)
Spend a fun and food-filled morning in The Kitchen with hosts Sunny Anderson, Katie Lee, Jeff Mauro, Marcela Valladolid and Geoffrey Zakarian. From simple supper ideas, food trend discussions and family meal tips to trivia games and viewer questions, they'll cover all things fun in food.
View Episode Rankings#33 - Amy Schumer Learns to Cook
Amy and Chris are quarantined at home in Martha's Vineyard with their nanny, who looks after baby Gene and runs the camera during naptimes. Chef Chris is on a mission to use this quarantine to teach his wife to cook and Amy is ready, and for the most part willing, to learn.
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