The essential episodes of MasterChef Junior
Watch these 15 in order and you've got MasterChef Junior — each pick states its reason.
- 01
On the new "Junior Edition" of MASTERCHEF, 24 of the best junior home cooks in the country between the ages of eight and 13 will create their tastiest seafood, pasta or dessert dish in the auditions round and present it to the renowned MASTERCHEF judging panel: host and award-winning Chef Gordon Ramsay, restaurateur and winemaker Joe Bastianich (Del Posto, Eataly) and acclaimed chef Graham Elliot (Graham Elliot, Graham Elliot Bistro). 12 kids who impress the judges will continue in the competition and move one step closer to becoming America's youngest MASTERCHEF.
- 02
In the next mystery box challenge, the junior home cooks must create a dish using "food kids hate," including liver, sardines and blue cheese. The winner of the challenge earns a sweet advantage in the next round. Later, in the elimination round, the kids have 90 minutes to create an impressive layer cake with at least three layers. Find out which desserts impressed the judges.
- 03
In the season's first field challenge, the remaining six kids split into two teams to take over the kitchen at a fine-dining restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. The two teams have limited time to prep, cook and serve a three-course meal for a packed room of diners, who are unaware that pint-size cooks are preparing their meal. The judges will determine the winning team based on their performance in the kitchen, as well as the diners' and head chef's feedback. Find out which contestants impress.
- 04
The top four cooks create dishes featuring chicken, with the cooks of two best dishes moving to the final round.
- 05
The two remaining cooks prepare three-course menus; the winner is chosen.
- 06
On the Season Two premiere of MASTERCHEF's "Junior Edition," America's first-ever MASTERCHEF JUNIOR, Alexander Weiss, returns to the kitchen as a special guest. Alexander presents the mystery box challenge, and the 16 junior home cooks will be tasked with preparing impressive dishes using the special guest's favorite ingredients, including pork chop, pork tenderloin, green apples, hazelnuts, Brussel sprouts, filo dough, fingerling potatoes, wild rice, whole grain mustard and artichoke. The winner of the challenge will have a significant advantage and select which of the judges' favorite proteins the remaining contestants will prepare in the elimination round. Later, the 12 junior home cooks with the best dishes will advance in the competition.
- 07
In a flipping awesome pre-challenge, the junior home cooks will race to see who can flip and stack the most pancakes, and the winner will put the judges in a very sticky situation. The judges then task the kids to create their best citrus cream pie. Find out which kids make the most successful cream pies and advance to the next round.
- 08
On the all-new "Junior Edition" of MASTERCHEF, America's Top 19 junior home cooks are introduced to their first mystery box challenge, in which they must make a complete restaurant-quality dish using any of the ingredients they are given. The winner of the challenge will have a significant advantage and select which of the judges' favorite pastas the remaining contestants will prepare in the elimination round. Later, the top junior home cooks with the best dishes will advance in the competition.
- 09
New Kids on the Chopping Block
On the new "Junior Edition" of MASTERCHEF, America's top 24 junior home cooks will enter the kitchen for the first time and jump right into their first mystery box challenge. Each junior home cook is tasked with preparing a signature burger and one side. The winner of the challenge will have a significant advantage and will select the main ingredient that the remaining contestants must use in the season's first elimination round. The junior home cooks with the best dishes will advance in the competition in the all-new "Junior Edition: New Kids on the Chopping Block" Season Four premiere episode of MASTERCHEF airing Friday, Nov. 6 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (JRM-401) (TV-PG).
- 10
Sixteen of the country's finest junior home cooks compete for eight of the Top 20 spots on this season's MASTERCHEF. After being split into four groups, each with a distinct signature dish, the kids get started. Only two contestants from each group will find out if they will succeed in moving on to the next round of challenges.
- 11
After a season's worth of challenges that tested the cooking abilities of young contestants from across the nation, only three junior home cooks remain.
- 12
The top 14 junior home cooks face a difficult mystery box challenge where they must learn to butcher an entire duck and make a dish from it; The cooks are paired up and challenged to create a dozen of the tastiest cupcakes they can make.
- 13
The two finalists must create an entrée and dessert that best represent themselves.
- 14
The stakes and stacks could not be higher as the remaining six chefs compete for the top spot in a team-based pancake challenge. Then, four young chefs must face a frosty fight to the final five, whipping up their own ice cream dishes.
- 15
The three pint-sized finalists are one step away from winning the competition as they complete their main courses and whip up a stunning dessert. With a trophy, $100,000 grand prize and the title of MasterChef Junior champion on the line, the chefs have one final hour to showcase their culinary abilities and impress the judges.
