More Chopped Junior
Help Is on the Way 12 Videos
When the kids need a hand, they always call one man.
10 Secrets of the Show 12 Videos
Find out what happens on set before the competition begins.
Behind the Scenes
Behind the Scenes 12 Videos
Ted gives a personal tour of the Juniorized set and pantry.
Selfie Expressions 35 Photos
The kids aren't the only ones to have some fun on set.
Junior-Inspired Lunchboxes 13 Photos
These packable, snackable dishes take a cue from the mystery basket ingredients.
Family Mealtime
These kid-friendly recipes are sure to make your mealtime prep fun for the whole family.
Kitchen Basics Infographics
Go Inside Chopped
Judges Cook After Hours
When the show's over, the judges try out the baskets.
Basket Mysteries, Revealed
Have you asked yourself, "How do they come up with that?"
Episodes
See Episode GuideBasket Bon Voyage
Four talented kid chefs set out on a virtual culinary tour, with each mystery basket containing ingredients from a European country. The junior chefs begin their tour with a stint in Italy in round one, and German adventures in the entree round challenge the kids to figure out what to do with apfelstrudel. In the dessert round, the remaining young chefs try to awaken the judges' senses with English breakfast tea.
Slime the Competition!
Anything can happen in the Chopped Junior Kitchen -- including close encounters of the reptilian kind! Alligator tenderloin in the appetizer basket is a bit of a shock, but it's nothing these clever young competitors can’t handle as they try to impress the judges, including guest Clinton Kelly. Edible slime in the entree basket brings a giggle and hopefully something nice to the cooks' main dishes. Finally, milk and cereal with a twist make for a whimsical, tasty dessert round.
Smoothie Operators
Four young cooking dynamos try to impress the judges, including guest Jessica Alba, with their appetizers that include beef tongue. The entree basket pairs a sweet orange cream smoothie with some savory favorites, and the last two competitors try to turn a giant lollipop and an odd sandwich into a winning dessert.
Cookie Jar Spar
When the junior chefs unpack pickle-flavored cotton candy in their appetizer baskets, it's anyone's guess how the round will unfold. In the second round, they must dip into cookie jars to discover sweet ingredients for their entrees and impress the judges, including guest Nikki Bella. Finally, a stinky soda and a crunchy treat await the feisty final competitors in the dessert round.
Toast Boast
Ambitious young chefs put their skills to the test, starting with an appetizer round featuring Texas toast. In round two, guest judge Anthony Anderson keeps the kids laughing as they contend with wacky ingredients like corn on the cob lemonade. The two competitors left standing in the final round go all out to make show-stopping desserts with movie theater popcorn.
Rise and Cook!
Four young cooks set out to make judges Cliff Crooks, Bethenny Frankel and Geoffrey Zakarian the most important meal of the day: breakfast! French toast and cereal are remixed in the first basket. Then, the kids struggle to make perfect eggs against the clock in the entree round. The two finalists in the dessert round get to work with an extravagant breakfast-themed cake and a grown-up breakfast beverage.
Heads Will Roll
Chefs Maneet Chauhan and George Mendes and actor Kevin McHale step in to judge the next round of talented junior chefs. First, the kids open the appetizer basket to find something staring right back at them! A cute candy creation and a twist on garlic bread spice things up in the entree round. Then, vegetables make their way into brownies in the dessert round, but the finalists have no problem repurposing them.
Chocoholics
A lucky batch of junior chefs gets to cook with chocolate in all three rounds to win over the judges: chef Scott Conant, model Ashley Graham and Food Network Star contestant Jernard Wells. It starts with a fancy boxed assortment in the appetizer round, then the kids must figure out how to pair chocolate with a stinky cheese for their entrees. And in the dessert round, the finalists are startled by what they think are chocolate-covered bugs.
Turn Up the Beet
A new group of kid competitors bond over their love of music and food as they prepare dishes for the judges: Food Network's Valerie Bertinelli, ballerina Misty Copeland and chef Chris Santos. First, they find themselves working with beets and octopus in block form in the appetizer round. A salmon-like fish filet in the entree round presents challenges, then the finalists must figure out how to work edible piano keys into their desserts.
Why So Blue?
A fun twist on a classic comfort food is paired with pricey truffles in the appetizer round. In round two, the junior chefs must roll up their sleeves to deal with a large blue squash. Then, the two finalists find creative ways to make desserts with of out-of-this-world lollipops and green fruit. Food journalist Michelle Park, chef Chris Santos and singer Ruben Studdard take over the judging panel.
Pizza Party
Chef Amanda Freitag, YouTube star Harley Morenstein and actress Anika Noni Rose preside over an all-pizza competition! Three courses of pizza begin with appetizers comprised of exotic looking mushrooms and a creamy Italian sauce. The fun continues as the junior chefs battle against some challenging dough and more sauce in the entree round. Then, the finalists tackle pizza dessert using cheese with a funny name and a wild assortment of fruit!
Three Ring Kitchen
In a circus-themed competition, a new bunch of 10- and 11-year olds dare to make appetizers using corn and playful cookies. The entree basket reveals a finger food and some beautiful produce, then in the dessert round, the chefs tackle a baked good and a something covered in caramel. Actor Ryan Guzman joins The Kitchen's Sunny Anderson and Geoffrey Zakarian on the judging panel.
Fry Fans
The young competitors celebrate fried food in each round and whip up some deep-fried delights for the judges, chefs Alex Guarnaschelli and Rebecca Lang and actor Zachary Quinto. The first round kicks off with a popular Southern beverage and seafood. The heat builds in the second round, when the kids get to pair the "caviar of the South" with a savory batter. Then, the dessert round reveals that almost everything can be fried, including ice cream!
Mac and Cheese, Please!
A new batch of kids celebrate mac and cheese in all three rounds, beginning with appetizers containing the ready-to-make version. A bright orange snack and fancy cheese must work their way into entrees, then in the final round, even the judges -- actress Betsy Brandt and chefs Marc Murphy and Nguyen Tran -- are surprised to see how mac and cheese can be interpreted in dessert form.
Rescue Mission!
The young cooks tackle baskets of leftover and often-wasted food, starting with cheese rinds and takeout leftovers in the appetizer round. Then, they find some unwanted produce that must be worked into an entree. For dessert, the finalists find creative uses for forgotten fruit and baking leftovers to win over judges Amanda Freitag, Sam Kass and Marc Murphy.
Dinner Is Served
The junior chefs get to cook three meals -- breakfast, lunch, and dinner -- for the judges, actor J.B. Smoove and chefs Alex Guarnaschelli and Geoffrey Zakarian. In round one, the basket contains Middle Eastern pancakes and special cotton candy. For lunch, they have to try their hand with frozen fast food and raw burgers. Then, the finalists must make dinner with a tender cut of lamb and an Arabic dessert.
Let's Taco 'Bout It
The junior chefs must integrate the mystery basket ingredients into taco-inspired dishes, starting with pork and tropical flavors in the appetizer basket. A prickly plant must find its way onto the plates for the entree, then a cake in the third basket contains a sweet surprise! Chef Scott Conant, Food Network Star finalist Martita Jara and actress Kym Whitley serve as judges.
About the Host
