The BEST episodes of MasterChef (US)
Every episode of MasterChef (US) ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of MasterChef (US)!
Award-winning chef Gordon Ramsay, acclaimed chef Aarón Sánchez and renowned restaurateur Joe Bastianich put a new batch of talented home cooks through a series of challenges and elimination rounds.
#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.
#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 - 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.
#11 - Top 9 Compete
Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 7/26/2011
The contestants try to impress the judges and advance to the next round.
#12 - Auditions (1)
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/6/2011
Hopefuls prepare signature dishes in hope of impressing the judges.
#13 - 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
#14 - 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.
#15 - 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.
#16 - 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.
#18 - 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.
#20 - 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.
#21 - 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.
#22 - Top 11 Compete
Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 7/10/2013
Restaurateur Eva Longoria selects Mexican-inspired ingredients for a mystery box challenge.
#23 - 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.
#24 - Top 14 Compete
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/28/2011
#25 - Top 6 Compete
Season 4 - Episode 20 - Aired 8/21/2013
The cooks must re-create popular dishes served at a fine-dining restaurant in downtown Los Angeles; the losing team must prepare a perfect plate of fried calamari with a side of marinara sauce.