The BEST episodes of MasterChef (US)

#1 - Winner Revealed (2)

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 9/15/2010

The winner is revealed.

#2 - Winner Revealed (1)

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 9/15/2010

After enduring pressure tests and grueling challenges, the remaining chefs compete for $250,000 and a cookbook-publishing deal.

#3 - 6 Chefs Compete (2)

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 9/8/2010

The contestants go fishing, and use their catches for their entrees. Another chef is eliminated.

#4 - Winner Revealed

Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired 8/16/2011

One contestant wins the grand prize of $250,000.

#5 - Winner Revealed

Season 4 - Episode 25 - Aired 9/11/2013

The final two cooks prepare three-course meals; the judges choose the winner.

#6 - Top 10 Compete

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 7/10/2013

The contestants must prepare fish tacos for hungry surfers; in a pressure test, contestants must prepare a perfect chicken breast three different ways.

#7 - 9 Chefs Compete (2)

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 9/1/2010

The contestants must cater a high-end wedding, and things go awry when the main course goes missing. The losing team goes back to the MasterChef kitchen to face a pressure test, and one more chef is eliminated.

#8 - Top 7 Compete

Season 4 - Episode 17 - Aired 7/31/2013

The cooks create dishes inspired by loved ones; tag-team sushi challenge.

#9 - The Finale (2)

Season 8 - Episode 21 - Aired 9/20/2017

#10 - Top 9 Compete

Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 7/26/2011

The contestants try to impress the judges and advance to the next round.

#11 - Top 5 Compete (1)

Season 4 - Episode 21 - Aired 8/28/2013

The judges are joined by their sons, who help critique a mystery box challenge; re-creating a dish.

#12 - Auditions (1)

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/6/2011

Hopefuls prepare signature dishes in hope of impressing the judges.

#13 - Finale Part 2 - Special Guest Christina Tosi

Season 12 - Episode 20 - Aired 9/14/2022

The three remaining chefs rush against the clock to complete their final entree and whip up a gourmet dessert with the help of former judge Christina Tossi; a new champion is crowned.

#14 - Winner Revealed

Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 9/10/2012

The remaining cooks make a final effort to impress the judges; one contestant wins the grand prize.

#15 - Top 8 Compete

Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 7/24/2013

The cooks compete in an overnight challenge; the losing team faces a spun sugar dessert pressure test.

#16 - 9 Chefs Compete (1)

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 9/1/2010

In their first challenge of the day, the chefs are asked to make a dish with dungeness crab

#17 - Top 3 Compete

Season 2 - Episode 19 - Aired 8/16/2011

The remaining cooks compete.

#18 - Top 7 Compete

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 7/17/2012

Chef Paula Deen selects items for the mystery box challenge, which includes Southern staples and a surprise for the contestants; the challenge winner pairs the remaining contestants, who must prepare a Japanese dish as a team.

#19 - Top 14 Compete

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/28/2011

#20 - The Finale (2)

Season 9 - Episode 23 - Aired 9/19/2018

The home cook with the best overall menu is crowned the winner wih a prize of a quarter of a million dollars and the coveted title of MasterChef.

#21 - Top 7 Compete

Season 4 - Episode 19 - Aired 8/14/2013

The cooks must prepare a T-bone steak dish; the challenge winner assigns a type of poultry to the other contestants.

#22 - Bake to Win

Season 12 - Episode 9 - Aired 7/27/2022

One chef selects a dessert for each of his or her fellow competitors to bake to perfection. Anything less will force the contestants to face elimination.

#23 - Top 11 Compete

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 7/10/2013

Restaurateur Eva Longoria selects Mexican-inspired ingredients for a mystery box challenge.

#24 - Top 3 Compete

Season 4 - Episode 24 - Aired 9/4/2013

The remaining three contestants cook more sophisticated versions of the dishes they made in their initial auditions.

#25 - Top 8 Compete

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 7/16/2012

The eight finalists must prepare, cook and serve a hearty meal to 101 cowboys; the challenge losers must prepare six eggs four different ways in only 20 minutes.