Sixteen former Chopped Junior winners return to prove that they have what it takes to beat the odds and be victorious in the five-part tournament, Chopped Junior: Champions, premiering Tuesday, May 30 at 8|7c. These young hot shots must take on mystery baskets in three rounds – appetizer, entree, dessert – and create dishes that impress a rotating panel of judges, including Maneet Chauhan, Alex Guarnaschelli, Kristen Kish, Marc Murphy, Marcus Samuelsson and Dale Talde. The winners from the individual heats will meet to compete in the grand finale on Tuesday, June 27 to determine which junior chef walks away with a cash prize of $25,000 to jump start their dreams!

In the first battle of this five-part tournament, the champs get a French delicacy and a crunchy snack for the appetizer round. In the second round, one competitor has never cooked pork tenderloin before, but finds it in the entree basket. Finally, the champs' pantry picks in the dessert impact the judges' critiques.

Judges: Alex Guarnaschelli, Kristen Kish, Marcus Samuelsson

A new group of former junior champs compete to see who will advance to the $25,000 grand finale! An infamous Chopped ingredient appears in the appetizer basket, then steak could be a gift or a challenge for the kid cooks who make it to the entree round. The junior chefs who get to make dessert must use a tangy fruit and a deep-fried treat.

Judges: Alex Guarnaschelli, Marc Murphy, Marcus Samuelsson

In the third preliminary battle, the youngest group of champions yet gets a delicate seafood and a tasty pork product in the appetizer round. Chocolates in disguise cause the junior chefs to do a double take when they open the entree basket. Then, coffee with dessert makes sense, but where will the competitors use chili flakes in their final sweet dishes?

Judges: Maneet Chauhan, Marc Murphy, Marcus Samuelsson

Four outstanding junior chefs compete to see who will earn the last spot in the grand finale. Some slender peppers and scrumptious rolls are part of the puzzle in the appetizer round. The junior chefs must figure out a way to make a guilty pleasure snack work in their venison entrees. And some serious mistakes in the dessert round leave the judges with much to consider.

Four of the most talented Chopped Junior competitors have made their way to the finale to compete for a third win, the title and $25,000! The basket powers-that-be throw them a whopper of a first basket that includes a rather wild jerky and a protein that most Americans have never eaten. The second basket is a doozy as well, with cream puffs and a strange ketchup. Then, the final round of the tournament calls for some kid-friendly bubbly.

Judges: Maneet Chauhan, Marc Murphy, Marcus Samuelsson

To catch up on the action, browse photo galleries of the top moments and watch video highlights, visit FoodNetwork.com/Chopped Junior. Who do you think should be the first Chopped Junior Champion? Tell us using #ChoppedJunior.