At an age when many kids have never even tasted lamb, the junior chefs competing must create dishes with it in round one. A creamy soup and a pretty pasta are two of the entree basket ingredients that the young cooks must conquer. Then, the judges -- chef Amanda Freitag, actor David Alan Grier and TV host Brandi Milloy -- fret over the gray color of the chia pudding in the dessert basket.
Some creatively-presented cheese and a spreadable protein are part of the round one challenge. A strange pink pickle and a crispy, house-made snack food keep the kids on their toes in the entree round, and in the dessert round, a marshmallow mishap has the judges -- chef Maneet Chauhan, TV host Daphne Oz and actor Tyrel Jackson Williams -- wishing they could jump in and help.
Chefs Maneet Chauhan and Andrew Gruel and actress Meghan Markle preside over a competition that begins with a three and a half-pound peanut butter cup and a too-hot griddle that creates problems for one of the young chefs. An enviable cut of pork and a strong-flavored candy are two of the gifts in the entree basket, then the finalists take on a gooey skillet of pink sweetness along with a healthy, crunchy snack in the dessert round.
Creepy-crawly kabobs in the first basket kick things off on an adventurous note -- will the junior chefs find a good way to incorporate the bites of crunchy protein? In the entree round, the kids are happy to get fish fillets and a colorful cereal. Then, the young cooks must find creative ways to use some little sprinkles and a giant egg in their desserts. The judging panel features actors David Arquette and Jake Smollett and chef Scott Conant.
The young cooks get some expensive seafood in the first basket and struggle to make the most of valuable time in order to impress the judges, actress Ta'Rhonda Jones, restaurateur Sabin Lomac and chef Aaron Sanchez. Then, bacon is discovered in an odd place in the entree basket. Finally, some figs and fancy peaches must make it to the dessert plates.
Chefs Tiffany Derry and Alex Guarnaschelli and actress Jennette McCurdy are on hand to judge this round of junior chefs, who must first deal with a peculiar hot dog pasta in their appetizer baskets. The odd combos continue in the second round with s'mores French fries, plus a difficult-to-prepare protein that is definitely new to the young cooks. Then, some adorable dumplings and some fancy fruit are two of the ingredients in the mix for dessert.
Remodeling the Chopped kitchen into the set for Chopped Junior requires a large team and a variety of painstaking work. Watch the details and processes behind this amazing transformation!