The BEST Episodes of MasterChef (US)
Every episode ever - ranked by fan votes!
Last Updated: Dec 31, 2020
Network: FOX
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.
#1 - Winner Revealed (2)
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired Sep 15, 2010
The winner is revealed.
10.00 
#2 - Winner Revealed
Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired Aug 16, 2011
One contestant wins the grand prize of $250,000.
9.00 
#3 - Top 10 Compete
Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired Jul 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.
9.00 
#4 - Top 3 Compete
Season 5 - Episode 18 - Aired Sep 15, 2014
One chef moves on to the finals after impressing a panel of judges representing all 50 states and a second finalist is determined based on a challenge involving three classic American desserts.
9.00 
#5 - Winner Chosen
Season 5 - Episode 19 - Aired Sep 15, 2014
The two top chefs compete in a final pressure test and the judges choose a winner.
9.00 
#6 - Winner Revealed (1)
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired Sep 15, 2010
After enduring pressure tests and grueling challenges, the remaining chefs compete for $250,000 and a cookbook-publishing deal.
8.70 
#7 - 6 Chefs Compete (2)
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired Sep 8, 2010
The contestants go fishing, and use their catches for their entrees. Another chef is eliminated.
8.60 
#8 - Audition 1
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired Jun 6, 2011
Hopefuls prepare signature dishes in hope of impressing the judges.
8.20 
#9 - 11 Chefs Compete (1)
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired Aug 25, 2010
The contestants are asked to make a single cupcake; chef Cat Cora and the contestants cook at a truck stop.
8.00 
#10 - 9 Chefs Compete (2)
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired Sep 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.
8.00 
#11 - Top 9 Compete
Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired Jul 26, 2011
The contestants try to impress the judges and advance to the next round.
8.00 
#12 - Top 7 Compete
Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired Jul 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.
8.00 
#13 - Top 8 Compete
Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired Jul 24, 2013
The cooks compete in an overnight challenge; the losing team faces a spun sugar dessert pressure test.
8.00 
#14 - Top 7 Compete
Season 4 - Episode 19 - Aired Aug 14, 2013
The cooks must prepare a T-bone steak dish; the challenge winner assigns a type of poultry to the other contestants.
8.00 
#15 - Top 6 Compete
Season 4 - Episode 20 - Aired Aug 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.
8.00 
#16 - Top 5 Compete (1)
Season 4 - Episode 21 - Aired Aug 28, 2013
The judges are joined by their sons, who help critique a mystery box challenge; re-creating a dish.
8.00 
#17 - Winner Chosen
Season 4 - Episode 25 - Aired Sep 11, 2013
The final two cooks prepare three-course meals; the judges choose the winner.
8.00 
#18 - Top 30 Compete
Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired May 26, 2014
Amateur cooks prepare their signature dishes for the judges in hope of earning a white apron.
8.00 
#19 - Top 18 Compete
Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired Jun 16, 2014
The contestants tackle a seafood challenge, with the winner chooses what dessert the others prepare in the elimination round.
8.00 
#20 - Top 4 Compete
Season 5 - Episode 17 - Aired Sep 8, 2014
A final team challenge establishes who moves on to the top three.
8.00 
#21 - 9 Chefs Compete (1)
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired Sep 1, 2010
In their first challenge of the day, the chefs are asked to make a dish with dungeness crab
7.90 
#22 - Top 14 Compete
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired Jun 28, 2011
The cooks compete for a spot in the next round.
7.90 
#23 - Top 14 Revealed
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired Aug 10, 2010
The cooks must prove that they have mastered basic kitchen techniques; the judges reveal which cooks have made it into the top 14.
7.80 
#24 - 14 Chefs Compete (1)
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired Aug 18, 2010
One team is safe from elimination after winning a challenge where they spend the day feeding hundreds of Marines; the losing team faces a pressure test.
7.80 
#25 - 6 Chefs Compete (1)
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired Sep 8, 2010
The contestants undergo a Mystery Box challenge and an Invention Test.
7.80