Plot Synopsis

CHOPPED: CASINO ROYALE is a five-episode CHOPPED event during which competitors are given the chance to replace basket ingredients with new ones by the roll of the dice. Four different chefs compete in each of the first four episodes, with the winner of each battle moving on to the finale in the final episode.

Battle 1 (Tuesday, January 4, 2021 at 9pm): In this first preliminary battle, something slithery is in the original basket, and a Vegas-themed item in round two isn't a big hit with the chefs. When a chef runs into some bad luck in round three, he doesn't seem phased, but will his bold moves with the ice cream machine result in good flavor? The winner moves on the tournament's finale! Competing chefs are: Monique Burns, Kaleena Bliss, Zane Dearien, and Graham Calabria. Judges: Scott, Tiffani & Christian.

Battle 2 (Tuesday, January 11, 2021 at 9pm): In the second battle of this special CHOPPED tournament, the chefs get to gamble for a chance to replace a basket ingredient, and the fish offal in the first basket is begging to be gambled away. In round two, all the remaining chefs have a different least-favorite basket ingredient, and more gambling in round three leads to serious drama. The winner of this preliminary battle advances to the finale, where $25,000 -- or more! -- is at stake. Competing chefs are: Corey Rice, Andrew Foskey, Jenessa Sneva, and Grace Goudie. Judges: Scott, Tiffani & Christian.

Battle 3 (Tuesday, January 18, 2021 at 9pm): In this third battle of the Casino Royale tournament, the chefs can gamble to get lucky or unlucky replacement basket ingredients, and the appetizer basket reveals a notoriously challenging ingredient. Will everyone opt to swap it out? In round two, the chefs are second guessing their choices when they have bad luck with an ingredient. Then, the remaining two chefs in the final round decide to take a chance by baking something. The winner of this battle scores a seat in the Casino Royale finale! Competing chefs are: Nick Dugan, Tajahi Cooke, Raquel Ervin, and Zoe Schor. Judges: Chris, Tiffani & Christian.

Battle 4 (Tuesday, January 25, 2021 at 9pm): In the fourth battle of the Casino Royale tournament, chefs, once again, get to try their luck at replacement basket ingredients, if they dare. When nobody decides to ditch a strange pizza in the appetizer basket, only time will tell if that was a wise move. Before the entree round, a roll of the dice gives one chef two proteins that he must cook, but is there enough time? Then, an interesting gamble and some uncooperative puffed pastry keep things exciting in the final round, and the judges face a difficult decision in selecting the chef who deserves to move on to the finale. Competing chefs are: Tiffani Ortiz, Nichole Armstead, Nicholas Ugliarolo, and Ross Pineda. Judges: Chris, Amanda & Christian.

Finale (Tuesday, February 1, 2021 at 9pm): Four winners return to Chopped's Casino Royale, gunning for the jackpot and the title of grand champion! As in the prelim battles, the chefs will have a choice to gamble away an ingredient before each round, and the $25,000 jackpot will get higher or lower depending on the champs' good or bad fortune. The appetizer round is a frenzy of excitement, as the competitors race to raise the bar and deliver the flavor. Nobody wants to swap out the beautiful rack of lamb in the entree basket, but the level of intensity is sky-high as the intoxicating possibility of a finale win sinks in. It all leads up to the final rolls and the final cooking round! Who will leave the casino with a huge jackpot and an even bigger sense of accomplishment? Competing chefs are: Kaleena Bliss (Battle 1), Grace Goudie (Battle 2), Zoe Schor (Battle 3), and Nichole Armstead (Battle 4). Judges: Tiffani, Amanda & Christian.