The WORST episodes of MasterChef (US)
Every episode of MasterChef (US) ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst 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.
#1 - Backyard BBQ
Season 15 - Episode 12 - Aired 8/13/2025
The MasterChef garden is decked out for a sunny backyard BBQ and the Top 6 duos feel the burn. Split into two teams, they must serve a garden full of BBQ aficionados. The losing team will go straight into a pressure test, where one couple will be eliminated.
#2 - From Train to Table
Season 15 - Episode 9 - Aired 7/23/2025
The Top 8 duos are halfway through the competition and the challenges are getting tougher by the week. Today, the duos face another intimidating team challenge outside of the MasterChef kitchen. This time, two teams must prepare a VIP dining experience aboard a moving steam train. It's a race against the clock and an intense test of the duo's teamwork, to see which partners can keep from running off the rails. The team with the fewest votes from the diners will face elimination in the dreaded Pressure Test.
#3 - Top 8 Compete (1)
Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 8/1/2011
The remaining contestants try to impress the judges.
#4 - Bring Home the Bacon
Season 6 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/24/2015
In the next challenge, it's proven that Breakfast is indeed the most important meal of the day when the home cooks are each tasked to create an elevated breakfast dish in 45 minutes. Not only does the winner have immunity in the next mystery box challenge, but they also receive two additional advantages. Later, in the mystery box challenge, contestants must create TV dinners.
#6 - Let the Battle Commence: Top 40
Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/20/2015
Forty of the best home cooks in America travel to Los Angeles to present their signature dishes to the distinguished judging panel: Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot, and new judge Christina Tosi.
#7 - Recipe Telephone
Season 15 - Episode 8 - Aired 7/16/2025
In a MasterChef first, the Top 9 duos face a brand-new challenge of 'Recipe Telephone'. In a culinary relay, each duo is split up: one teammate begins cooking while the other waits in a separate room. Halfway through the challenge, the duo's swap places, and the second teammate must complete the dish. It's a high-stake, high-pressure challenge that tests just how well each duo really knows each other. Teamwork and intuition will need to be enough for the duos to plate a winning dish.
#8 - Top 15 Compete
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/27/2011
The contestants hope to impress the judges and advance to the next round.
#9 - The Audition Battles
Season 15 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/21/2025
Gordon Ramsay and Joe Bastianich welcome new judge, award-winning chef Tiffany Derry, as they embark on their search for America’s best home cook duos. And it all starts with Audition Battles, as eight pairs of home cooks go head-to-head fighting to win legendary white aprons.
#11 - Getting A-Head in the Competition
Season 6 - Episode 14 - Aired 8/12/2015
In the next team challenge, the remaining home cooks split into teams to prepare vegetarian meals for guests of the MasterChef restaurant. Teams have access to any ingredients that they choose in the MasterChef pantry, as long as the dishes are vegetarian. The winning team is safe from elimination, while the losing team must cook in the next pressure test and create delicious well-composed meals using various cuts from an animal head.
#14 - Top 8 Compete (2)
Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 8/2/2011
After being spared from elimination, the eight remaining cooks again vie for a spot in the next round; two contestants are eliminated.
#15 - Cinnamon Roll-er Coaster
Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/3/2015
The remaining 20 home cooks face their first team challenge of the season at an amusement park. Once teams are decided, each team is tasked with creating its version of an amusement park burger and fish & chips dish for thousands of amusement park guests. The winning team is safe from elimination, while the losing team has to face the first pressure test of the season, during which the home cooks make 12 cinnamon rolls.
#16 - Top 16 Compete
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/21/2011
The contestants form two teams that must cook a five-course meal for hundreds of diners; one contestant is sent home.
#17 - The Sweet Escape
Season 15 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/9/2025
The five duos on the losing team from the previous challenge face the first Pressure Test of the season. The pairs enter the MasterChef kitchen to find a Mystery Box with a mallet inside. Gordon reveals the Mystery Box IS their ingredient. The box is made completely out of chocolate! In this first dessert challenge of the season, each duo must smash up their box and use the chocolate to make a stunning sweet dish to avoid elimination.
#18 - The Great Ingredient Bid Off
Season 15 - Episode 10 - Aired 7/30/2025
The four duos on the losing team last week fight for survival in a new Pressure Test challenge. In a Gordon Ramsay-style food auction, the duos must bid for their ingredients for their dish. But instead of bidding with money, tonight they are bidding with time. The more minutes they give up to 'buy' their preferred ingredients, the less time they will have to make their dish. Find out who can hold their nerve and who will pay the highest price for failure, in the most strategic challenge yet.
#20 - Happy Birthday MasterChef
Season 6 - Episode 8 - Aired 7/1/2015
Each team prepares a two-course menu for the 100th episode celebration, during which VIP guests dine on oyster and caviar appetizers and a duck breast entrée, followed by a special surprise dish by judge Christina Tosi. The losing team faces the next pressure test, in which contestants must create a three-layer birthday cake.
#21 - Top 19 Compete
Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/29/2013
The top 19 contestants face a mystery box challenge; the contestants face elimination.
#24 - Waste Not Want Not
Season 9 - Episode 17 - Aired 8/29/2018
The 7 remaining contestants face a Mystery Box challenge filled with waste – literally. The home cook who makes the best dish from food scraps will be safe in the elimination challenge, during which they’ll take on another Mystery Box Challenge, but this time with all the best and freshest ingredients. Find out whose time has come to an end.
#25 - Top 18 Compete
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/5/2013
The cooks must create a healthy meal for over 300 school children.