Chopped After Hours - Episode Guide

The Chopped judges take on some of the notorious mystery baskets. Alex Guarnaschelli attempts the impossible with a French puff pastry presentation, Maneet Chauhan and Chris Santos have a battle of fish and chips, and a wine-sipping Ted Allen provides plenty of dramatic narration while the judges prepare dishes from cake pops and quail.

These basket ingredients through the competitors for a loop, but the Chopped judges are ready for anything. Marc Murphy's "chef cam" shows a new angle on the kitchen -- and his fellow chefs, breakfast brings the boys together until Ted Allen starts throwing ingredients at Scott Conant, and Maneet Chauhan's title of Maestro of Spice is put on the line.

The Chopped judges take on some of the best baskets, and in the first round, it's a judges' jam session when they revisit a rock stars competition's dessert basket. In round two, a beautiful rack of lamb offers the chefs a chance to show off their skills. The final round of late-night themed ingredients scares the judges, but they find creative ways to include them.

The judges seize the opportunity to cook together after hours in the Chopped Kitchen, and in round one they attempt to tame down the sweetness of some sugary kid favorites. Churros are transformed and champagne bottles popped in a goofy round two that has Alex Guarnaschelli and Marc Murphy tackling ingredients from a celebrity tournament finale. Once Scott Conant perfects his hairstyle, he's ready to join in for the final round, featuring a whole suckling pig.

The stoves are staying on after hours in the Chopped Kitchen, and this time host Ted Allen gets a chance to cook! In the first round, Geoffrey Zakarian takes over hosting duties as Ted and the judges face a carnival-themed basket full of fried snacks. Alex Guarnaschelli speaks up from the sidelines in round two when she notices someone has forgot an ingredient. Round three finds the chefs tearing into Thanksgiving ingredients.

The Chopped judges are hitting the kitchen after hours, where in the first round, they must work "watermelon brains" and chocolate-covered bugs into some spooky Halloween-themed desserts. Trash-talking leads to ingredient thievery in round two as they attempt to reinterpret grandma's meatloaf, and in round three, a French custard proves very tricky to incorporate into appetizers.

The Chopped judges are creating outstanding plates using the same baskets as former competitors, such as a bizarre foods-themed basket starring goat heads in round one. During the second round, they must make sense of ingredients in disguise, and in the final round, the judges take on ingredients from a barbecue competition and end up going in three very different and original directions.

The Chopped judges are taking their turn attacking some of the most interesting baskets. The ingredients in the first round are creepy, bloody, and slimy, but they can't scare the judges. In the second round, they're cooking up some delicious striped bass decisions. For round three, Aaron Sanchez hosts a pizza party for his fellow judges, but some burned dough threatens to put a damper on the celebration.

After hours, the judges transform Chopped mystery baskets into winning dishes! In round one, vegan lobster sends fear through their hearts, until Ted Allen initiates a friendly game of vegan-meat basketball. In round two, Ted shows his ingenious invention: the "tempura chocolate sandwich cookie." Finally, Geoffrey Zakarian rewards three superbly unusual desserts in round three with seriously strong mystery basket mixed drinks.

When the Chopped competitors leave, the judges stay behind in the kitchen after hours to take on the very same chaotic combinations. Dough flies in round one as Geoffrey Zakarian races to reinvent the calzone and Maneet Chauhan accepts a lucrative bet from Ted Allen. Entrees get fratty in round two as Chris Santos indulges in collegiate amounts of cheese, while Marc Murphy shows his range by sinking pong shots across the kitchen. Marcus Samuelsson and Amanda Freitag manage to conjure up confections from poultry in round three, but Aaron Sanchez's toasted spices take the cake.

After hours, the Chopped judges leave their comfy seats to take over the stoves and demonstrate how brilliantly a basket can be transformed. Leftover Thanksgiving turkey becomes moist finger food and Latin American cuisine in a stunning round one, despite the presence of some angry birds. Round two brings out the mother in Marc Murphy, who makes quick work of carrot baby food and offers wine bottles to the competition as they speedily plate. The final sitcom-themed showdown boasts nostalgia-inducing flavors and unheard-of combos that may well become future staples.

It's total anarchy in the Chopped Kitchen when the judges cook after hours and must make use of a dreaded orange powder packet! Aaron Sanchez is prepared for smooth sailing, but will the orange powder leave the others feeling like fish out of water? In round two, the judges share their secrets for making London broil tender in just half an hour. And finally, the judges are the three-ring leaders of a circus-themed round three, with desserts so good they leave Ted Allen skipping numbers in the final countdown!

The judges get their chance to get their hands on the basket ingredients, after hours! Amanda Freitag finds herself in a bit of a pickle in round one, while Alex Guarnaschelli keeps the fryer in business and Marc Murphy manages to find the time to sip wine and shoot the breeze with Ted Allen. Then in round two, Geoffrey Zakarian takes a raw route with some holiday beef tenderloin. Finally, the women of the chopping block have round three in the bag -- the wine-filled bag that is!

After a long day of critiquing food, the Chopped judges love nothing more than to whip up their own motley masterpieces after hours. In round one, Geoffrey Zakarian's secret love of potato crisps emerges in the form of dance, and Maneet Chauhan and Alex Guarnaschelli's boozy dishes only loosen him up further. In a truly bizarre round two, pork bung inspires Aaron Sanchez's new line of breathing apparatuses and plenty of generous seasoning. Marc Murphy does his best to sabotage others in the last round, but Maneet is determined to make the best dessert.

It's always a blast when the judges take over the Chopped Kitchen after hours! In round one, they tackle the mystery basket from a Father's Day competition. Scott Conant aims to tame the whipped cream canister while Mark Murphy turns the pantry into his own personal man cave and Alex Guarnaschelli constructs an impeccable tiramisu. In round two, things heat up when the judges must make entrees using a caddy of hot sauces. Then, in the final round, the judges try their luck with duck and Amanda Freitag gets a surprise visit from a special guest!

When the baskets get tough, the Chopped judges get cooking! In round one Marcus Samuelsson, Scott Conant and Amanda Freitag must use their noodles to make the most of fresh pasta dough. Chumminess and yumminess abound in round two when the judges take on a newlyweds-themed dessert basket featuring cheese and cake and Ted Allen asks the chefs some intimate questions. In round three, Marc Murphy, Alex Guarnaschelli and Scott get cracking on some succulent lobster tail and fresh star fruit from the Star Power finale, and the judges get a taste of the limelight as they're mobbed by paparazzi mid-round.

The judges savor a chance to slip into the Chopped Kitchen to cook after hours! In round one, it's brine time for Marc Murphy, Geoffrey Zakarian and Alex Guarnaschelli, who take on ingredients from a pickle-themed competition. Then, Amanda Freitag, Marcus Samuelsson and Alex peel, smash and sear their way through a potato-themed round two, while Ted Allen has some fun with a tater imitator. In a chocolate-themed round three, Amanda sets out to make a gourmet ice cream sandwich, while Maneet Chauhan has ambitious plans to make baked Alaska -- but will it be possible to plate perfect desserts before the clock runs out?

When the competition is over, the judges stick around to do what they do best: cook incredible food! Round one features three outstanding pork belly and walnut appetizers, plus some light-hearted thievery and spontaneous dumpling delivery. Round two finds Scott Conant uncertain of what to do with hamachi collar -- will inspiration strike with enough time on the clock? Then, round three challenges the judges to turn ugly foods into gorgeous entrees while trying to ignore a frighteningly funny intruder.

On their feet and at the stoves, the judges take on the same confounding ingredients as Chopped competitors! Everybody gets revved up for a food truck-themed round one, and Marcus Samuelsson devises a dish that's just odd enough to be brilliant. In round two, it's game on with Cornish game hen with positively yummy results. Round three finds the chefs revisiting a dessert basket from a Chopped grilling special and Ted Allen finds time to grill up snacks for his busy buds.

The tables are turned as the Chopped judges take to the kitchen and triumph over baskets that had chef contestants flummoxed.