Season 2013 - Episode Guide

The chefs must combine cocoa mix with Japanese peppers in challenging fish-course round. Then in the entree round -- a big, big, oops! -- one chef accidentally drops pork belly onto the floor! But it's what happens when the chef picks the meat up off the floor that shocks the judges most. Then can an ice-cream-truck treat go well with wheat grass? The two finalists attempt to make great, green desserts.

In this special episode, all the baskets are full of leftover foods, and the four competitors demonstrate some tricks and recipes you might want to try at home. In the first round, one chef makes a very daring soup using pieces of a sub sandwich, and the judges do not know whether to be impressed or frightened. Then in the entree round, two competitors think of a similar idea, and the other chef tries to make the argument that creativity with the leftover rib-eye steak is higher in his alternative concept. And the two finalists endeavor to create fresh, fun desserts from flat soda, mushy bananas and a melting sundae.

Four champions return to try to win a chance to compete for the $50,000 grand prize, and the baskets are far from simple. Hating haggis will get the champs nowhere in the first round, where they must find creative approaches to the much-maligned meat dish in order to pass the judges' scrutiny. Then in the entree round, sweet dough and an unnerving protein put the pressure on the competitors. And with unripe plantains in the final basket, the kitchen is rife with creativity. Both finalists pull from the pantry to make innovative wrapped dessert, but how will the competition wrap up?

Vying for one of three remaining spots in the Chopped Champions $50,000 grand finale, four returning chefs open the first basket to find a seafood delicacy and a traditional holiday food/gift. In the second round, a slip of the knife threatens to slow one champion down, as the chefs put together entrees using peanut butter and jelly ... and squab. Then, with just two chefs left fighting in the dessert round, patience might be the most important ingredient, as one competitor seems overly eager to take his baked concoction out of the oven.

With just two spots left in the tournament's $50,000 grand finale, four winners return to try to beat the odds and be victorious again. As time runs out in the first round, one chef struggles to get every ingredient onto every plate of his smoked eel appetizer: Will he do it? The champs leap into an entree round, featuring frog legs and gin. Two very different styles are represented in the dessert round, featuring araucana eggs and coconut macaroons, leaving the judges with a complex final decision to work out.

Four new returning winners battle for the single place remaining in the $50,000 Chopped Champions grand finale. In the first round, the chefs must shake things up with sour apple martini mix in the basket. Then with an imposing cut of meat and a sweet wine in the entree round, the champions aim to keep the creativity level high. And after the judges taste two very different desserts made from corn nut and Marashino cherry desserts, which champion will you be cheering for?

In the grand finale of the Chopped Champions tournament, four two-time winners stride into the kitchen with their eyes on the big prize: $50,000! Some fresh surprises and a baked good challenge the champs in the first round. Then after saying goodbye to the first chef, the competition takes a slimy turn with sea snails in the basket. And with expectations and pressure sky-high, what will the two chefs who have managed to make it through nine rounds of cooking manage to do with carrot juice and honeycomb for dessert?

Four returning losers -- chefs who made big mistakes in their first competition -- are dead set on not repeating history in the Chopped Kitchen. Having practiced and prepared to do better, the chefs open up the appetizer basket and fight to stay in it: but one pulpo and fava bean appetizer will not be good enough. Then, in the entree round, the chefs have to stay sharp to cook with cactus and manage their time well. And when the two finalists find a classic cookie and a tangy fruit in the dessert basket, make no mistake both of these former losers really want to win it!

Four amateur cooks step into the Chopped Kitchen, believing that they can show the pros how it's done. First, the cooks' raw talent is put to the test with a sushi platter in the appetizer basket. Then in the entree round, do the home chefs have what it takes to take ostrich fillets and blueberry wine and create remarkable dishes? Lastly, after the dessert round, the judges are left to compare two very similar plates.

The chefs open the appetizer basket and find exciting ingredients from Mexico, including pigs' feet and tres leches cake. Then the chefs are presented with a second basket of surprises from South of the Border, including goat chops. And one chef sees the chance of a carefree round literally go up in flames when a pan gets much too hot. Nothing is yucky about yucca and coconuts. But when one of the finalists runs into all sorts of trouble getting through the round, will the judges like the end results?

The chefs hope the basket ingredients speak to them and inspire them to create some delicious appetizers from smoked beef tongue and garbanzo beans. Then the competitors have a heck of a time making halibut work with aquavit in their entree dishes. And the judges are eager to see what the last two chefs can do with banana chips and almond butter in the dessert round.

Back for the victory! Four Chopped runners-up courageously return to the competition, intent on redeeming their previous defeats. Will a pre-cooked protein and a slimy sea creature in the first basket throw anybody off their game? The chefs who make it to the entree round cannot duck a very difficult basket, featuring poultry tongue and pineapple.

The chefs are alarmed to see one of the ingredients in the appetizer basket staring back at them. Yet, that "heady" ingredient is not the challenging item for some of the competitors. Then in the entree round, one chef finds himself unexpectedly playing with fire, creating a dangerous situation. In the end, two finalists must find a way to combine yellow rice and persimmon.

In this first competition of the celebrity tournament, fans of Food Network and Cooking Channel get to see some of their favorite stars in action in the Chopped Kitchen. One chef's dash to deliver a creative appetizer before the clock runs makes for a very exciting first round. Then in the second round, something's fishy in the basket, and one chef's dish is at risk when two competitors bump into each other. And with a spot in the $50,000 All-Stars finale and a favorite charity on the line, two finalists go head-to-head in the dessert round. Will their creations from marshmallow and coconut flakes make the judges happy?

Chopped fans logged on to Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter and suggested the ingredients for this Viewers' Choice competition, resulting in possibly the cruelest baskets ever. In the appetizer round the chefs are stunned and stumped to see two brightly colored manmade items and one of nature's most odious foods. Then for the entree basket, the viewers chose a canned product that became infamous in a previous competition. In the end, the last brutal basket proves very difficult for the finalists.

In this second fight of the All-Stars $50,000 tournament, contenders with considerable competitive prowess take each other on in the Chopped Kitchen. The judges are eager to see what the chefs can do with sea bass and cream soda in the first round. Then in the entree round, the competitors must get their tails in gear to make oxtail and labaneh into delicious dishes. And it is no piece of cake for the finalists, figuring out how to transform a classic snack cake into an elegant dessert.

The chefs open the first basket to find ingredients inspired by Australia, including one that has everybody's jaw dropping. Then in the entree round, one competitor makes very ambitious plans; will everything come together for him as time runs out? And the finalists better not lollygag with lollies and lemon verbena in the dessert basket.

What will happen when the tables are turned and four friends and colleagues compete in the Chopped Kitchen? In the first round, the judges-turned-competitors must crack the code of the basket after cracking open diver scallops. Then in the entree round, can the chefs make a beautiful bird fly with canned pizza sauce? And with bragging rights and a shot at making it to the $50,000 finale on the line, the last two chefs bravely tackle the dessert basket.

Four celebrities with different backgrounds, and a shared love of cooking, charge into the Chopped Kitchen. Plain vanilla is something that none of the competitors can relate to, but can they skillfully use vanilla cupcakes to create appetizers as one-of-a-kind as they are? Then something crispy and something jiggly make the main course a study in contrasts. And when two entertaining cooks proceed to the final round, they put on a performance with circus peanuts and curry powder.

With a pre-grilled protein and a dried fruit in the appetizer basket, the chefs attempt to make an amazing first impression in the first round. Jitters in the second round cause one chef to drop something on the floor: Will she be able to pull herself together to put together a decent entree? In the final round, the last two chefs are in a hurry to make curry desserts that the judges will love, but one chef runs into serious trouble in the final seconds.

Four returning All-Stars champs compete for $50,000 for charitable causes that are very meaningful to them. Two of the surprises in the first basket are a super salty veggie and a super fresh seafood item. Then cheddar-filled pretzels help make it a fun-filled entree round. And the judges cannot wait to taste a couple of creative desserts made from freeze dried grapes and marcona almonds.

Four talented moms, who are not professional chefs, take on the mother of all kitchens, the Chopped kitchen. In the first round, the competitors have a lot of work to do, including breaking down an uncommon protein and figuring out how to make coffee a key part of their appetizers. Then in the entree round, a grain and a green must make it onto the plate. And when the last two moms find themselves facing off in the dessert round, they must make nutty and fruity flavors work together.

Four amateur chefs who have been yearning to compete in the Chopped Kitchen get their chance! Yet, will they be sorry when they open up the first basket and find a daunting sea creature? Then in the entree round, an unfamiliar tuber challenges the competitors as the energy level peaks. The two amateurs remaining in the final round must create desserts using crackers and red wine.

The usual rounds of appetizer, entree and dessert are replaced with breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the judges are hoping for pure decadence! In the first round, black forest bacon and prune juice are two of the mystery ingredients that the competitors must manage to transform. Then in the lunch round, some colorful surprises are in the basket. Finally, when the chefs find some dream ingredients in the dinner basket, will they successfully rise to the occasion and make a final plate that the judges will adore?

Hup, two, three ... four chefs who have served in the Army or Navy bring military precision to the Chopped Kitchen! In the appetizer round, a freeze-dried surprise in the basket has the chefs scrambling to add much-needed flavor to their plates. A large loaf, getting a perfectly grilled chop and a tough candy make for a challenging second round. The last two military chefs go head-to-head in the dessert round, both badly wanting the win.

Four chefs with incredible weight-loss stories charge into the Chopped Kitchen to compete. In the first mystery basket they find a fatty protein that challenges them to stick to their healthier-food philosophies. In the entree round, there's a fish to breakdown and a snack food to transform. And when the final two physically fit competitors dash into the dessert round, the judges watch eagerly to see if their angel food cake creations will be heavenly.

The chefs are given pots of bubbling oil, so that they can create crispy, delicious additions to their dishes. Catfish catches the chefs by surprise in the first round. In the entree basket, the competitors find a cheese and a cherry preserve. Will the mandate to make a fried dessert unnerve the two finalists?

A deaf chef shares the Chopped kitchen with three hearing chefs to face off in the appetizer round, resulting in four unique interpretations of mussels with saffron. In the entree round, the baskets contain a particularly daunting protein: Will the competitors have the knowledge or experience to treat it correctly and make it work with blackberries? And pasta sheets make for a good blank canvas for dessert.

In the appetizer round, the chefs discover various creative ways to combine peppers and pork, and the judges wonder why one competitor makes a strange, last-minute decision. Then in the entree round, the chefs must wrestle with a heart-stopping protein. And the challenge in the dessert basket seems to be taming some super sweet ingredients.

To avoid the judges' cleaver fever, the competitors have to work with bacon popcorn in the first round. In the entree round, an injury causes one chef to lose valuable time on his lamb dish. A mashed treat meets floral syrup in the dessert basket.

An odd mix of ingredients in the first basket, including mache and pickled sausage, has the four chefs working hard to complete unique appetizer plates: And one chef is up against a personal challenge, defending his dish while trying to control a life-long speech impediment. Then in the entree round, the chefs must make squid dishes that impress the judges. And will a hard to pronounce ingredient in the final basket be hard to incorporate into desserts?

The chefs' first challenge is to see what they can do with a very earthy first basket, including chia seeds and dandelion greens. Then in the entree round, tempeh is the tempting center of every plate. And the two finalists get a local sweetener and a fresh berry from which to make delicious desserts.

Another intense competition in the Chopped Kitchen starts when the chefs get gyro meat and hearts of palm in the first basket! Then in the second round, the remaining three chefs must pair steak and donuts. When the finalists find a classic American finger-food and a sticky surprise in the last basket, what will they put together?

The competitors leap into action and come out strong with four impressive appetizers, made with seitan and mezcal. In the second round, pre-made sauce and a sizable fish are in the basket. When the two finalists proceed to dessert, they must make a pastry and a pork product play nicely on their plates.

Four amazing teenaged chefs invade the Chopped Kitchen for Chopped's second teen competition. The judges are in awe of what the teen chefs do with tuna and cereal in the first round. In the entree round, will the young cooks be taken aback when they open the basket to find something that requires some skilled butchery? The last two teens standing must make dessert with a snack food and an Asian condiment.

In the first round, the competitors must very quickly compose dishes from escargot and biscuit dough. Then in the entree basket, the chefs find an unfamiliar produce and an unappealing pate. And will the judges be much obliged to eat two mochi and mango desserts?

The chefs are surprised to discover a decadent sweet creation along with every basket. In the first round a towering cake threatens to topple the chefs' chances at producing perfect plates. Then in the second round, a very colorful dessert ingredient makes for a very stressful challenge. And the two lucky competitors who make it to the last round are happy to see a fabulously chocolatey treat -- a sweet surprise that may finally work in their favor.

Four energetic chefs hit the ground running in the appetizer round, but the one chef who runs into the worst trouble with their currywurst dish must be chopped. The big curveball in the entree round -- popcorn balls! Berries and oats meet in the final basket. Will the chefs be able to make this culinary pairing work?

Some of the ingredients in the first basket are difficult to identify and even more difficult to incorporate into proper appetizers. In the second round, the chefs open the basket to find a gargantuan seafood surprise. And when the final two chefs move on to the dessert round, they must waste no time inventing dishes using jicama, but a hiccup with the ice cream machine leaves one competitor unsure of how to carry on.

A wild first basket, including whelk snails and lemon bars, has the chefs battling the clock to create delicious dishes. And in the entree round, the chefs all bring their personal styles to their plates in a notable way in their lamb shawarma dishes. Then cucumber salad is a cumbersome ingredient for the finalists' desserts.

In a Chopped first, two pairs of brothers compete to see which chef family prevails. In the first round, the competitors must come up with oodles of ideas for falooda noodles. In the entree down, the judges watch eagerly to see how the three plates of steak and cinnamon rolls will turn out. With family pride and bragging rights looming large, the last two chefs must make desserts from a Greek pudding and a Japanese candy.

In this competition, the baskets are full of usually-discarded food scraps. In the first round the chefs must contend with herb stems and what is left of a filleted fish. Then the competitors open the baskets to find eyes on potatoes looking back at them. And the two chefs left in the dessert round must make yummy sweets from the least desirable part of the bread and the least juicy part of the orange.

Four chefs with connections to the booming truck-food business motor into the Chopped Kitchen. And the first basket with two assertively-flavored meats makes for a challenging appetizer round. In the second round, the competitors must make dishes that include a sugary powder and a leafy vegetable. Then guanabana is going into the ice cream machine in the dessert round!

Four athletes who feel right at home in the kitchen battle it out for charity. The judges are presented with four salmon dishes to taste for the first course. In the second round chocolate-covered marshmallows seem to be the most stress-inducing ingredient. And figuring out how to transform olive oil cake is the challenge for dessert.

These four extraordinary chefs all serve their communities with their culinary talents. In the first round they must combine chicken soup and barbecue sauce. The second round has the chefs creating scallop dishes with two unusual produce items. And the finalists have to get their buns in gear in the last round, when they are given hamburger buns to cook with.

All leftovers in the baskets today, and some of the chefs are not happy to hear the news. In the first round the competitors must work with what is left in a casserole dish and at the bottom of a takeout bag. The second round has the chefs wondering what to do with something soggy and something sweet. In the final round — featuring a leftover party beverage — one chef beats the other to the ice cream machine, leaving his competitor scrambling for a new plan.

The chefs get a first basket with two chicken surprises: chicken livers and chicken tenders. The trend continue into the second round, where the chefs must make a delicious entree with chicken legs and chicken-flavored crackers? Then in the dessert round, an often-disparaged dessert must be elevated.

The chefs receive calves' livers and ranch dressing in the first round, and the judges watch as four appetizers come together in 20 minutes. Then in the entree round, a small bird and a citrusy spice make for an interesting combination. And will hot sauce be a hit in the finalists' desserts?

Halloween means very frightening surprises in the baskets for the chefs. In the first round, they encounter a very troublesome, bloody protein and a can of chips that's more than meets the eye. The three chefs who move on to the second round are in for something gooey and gory -- and something that is just offal. The final two chefs boldly move on to a devilishly difficult dessert round.

In this Chopped competition, the baskets are all packed with ingredients you might find on a sophisticated brunch menu. Near the end of a champagne and caviar appetizer round, one chef makes a generous, but potentially costly, choice. How will the chefs pair a seafood extravagance with pancake mix in the entree round? Then turning classic brunch items into dessert is the final, demanding challenge for the last two chefs.

Every basket in this competition features circus-themed ingredients. In the first round the chefs have to make cotton candy and corn dogs doggone delicious. Then in the entree round, one competitor decides to put his nachos -- cheese and all -- into the food processor: Will the judges like the result? And when snow cones and popcorn pop up in the dessert round, what kind of circusy sweetness will end up on the finalists' plates?

The chefs are pleased to see a delicious selection of Italian ingredients for the appetizer round, including pasta dough, but time management issues lead to some big problems with the plates. The tasty trend continues in the entree round, with veal chops and bottarga in the basket, and one chef makes a repeat mistake. Then desserts made with figs are the final two dishes the judges will taste.

With the odds stacked against them, four former runners-up seeking redemption return to the Chopped Kitchen. In the first round, a faux meat and a hot mustard must be successfully combined. Then in a competition between chefs who questioned the judges' decision to send them home the first time, sour grapes is an appropriate ingredient in the second basket. And due to an extraordinary chain of events, neither finalist will ever forget the desserts that they prepared from bubble tea and papaya -- or the judges' reactions to them.

Two cultures collide in the first round, when the chefs must combine kimchi and gefilte fish. The second round has the chefs working with uniquely flavored vodka and a green snack. And when the two finalists find marshmallow cake and citrusy water in the final basket, the judges hope for delicious desserts.

The chefs get a special tool in the basket to help them bust apart a challenging ingredient: a giant jawbreaker. The judges hope the shards-of-candy appetizers do not cause them any harm! Then a trendy pastry meets a North African stew in the second basket. And rosemary and ginger must be combined in the desserts.

Four stars who love to cook -- Teri Hatcher, Anthony Anderson, Dawn Wells and Antonio Sabato, Jr. -- compete in the Chopped Kitchen for a favorite charity. The party begins with sparkling cider and doughnuts in the first basket. Wagyu steaks are served up for the entree round. And the final moments of the competition are filled with drama and suspense as the competitors rush to get their plum pudding desserts plated.

Four talented teenaged chefs bring their energy and ambition to the Chopped Kitchen! With a $40,000 scholarship on the line, the young competitors open up the first basket and find a sweet drink and a juicy fruit. Then in the entree round, the teen chefs are given some super sophisticated ingredients. And breakfast-like ingredients give the final two teens a rude awakening in the dessert round.

Time to shake things up in a big/small way as the chefs find out that this competition has a tapas theme. In the first round, the baskets contain some beautiful Spanish ingredients, including gazpacho. In the entree round, one chef makes an alarming choice after accidentally starting a small fire. And the two competitors who move on to the dessert round, featuring catalan creme, try to make mini creations bursting with flavor.