Plot Synopsis

Sixteen previous winners of CHOPPED return and try to survive the Chopping Block again as they vie for a $50,000 grand prize. This time the Rounds are even more demanding -- an appetizer basket with something fishy and something fizzy; an entree basket that includes alligator meat; and a dessert basket with pickles, to name a few -- and these culinary champs will have to really prove themselves to the judges. In each of the first four episodes, four CHOPPED champions compete against each other, and the winner of each episode advances to the finals and battles in the Grand Finale Champions' contest.
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On Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT, Food Network premiered a new season of CHOPPED CHAMPIONS, with 16 former winners returning to compete against each other for the $50,000 grand prize. In the season opener, "Battle 1, Best of the Best," the five-part tournament kicks off with a stellar group of defending champs, who must first rock a basket that includes pig ears. In the second round, the chefs must navigate the complicated relationship between fish and cheese; then, both the chefs and judges agree that artichokes are a cruel draw for dessert. Judges: Maneet Chauhan, Marc Murphy, Aaron Sanchez

Battle 2, Fighting Shape on April 5 at 10pm ET/PT
Judges: Alex Guarnaschelli, Aaron Sanchez, Marcus Samuelsson
A lively group of returning winners are revved up for more drama and excitement, but when the first basket features deceptively simple sausage and cabbage, will they choke or shine? An organ meat plays the starring role in the second basket, and the final, extremely challenging basket will take some champion swagger and skill to crack.

Battle 3, Chefs in Control on April 12 at 10pm ET/PT
Judges: Geoffrey Zakarian, Christian Petroni, Chris Santos
Four returning champs are ready to give it all they've got, and in the appetizer round, they must endure a hard-to-melt candy and a difficult-to-prep veggie. In the entree round, the champs suffer some surprising execution errors with a seemingly chef-y protein. Then, will the finalists think it was jerky to put bison jerky in the dessert basket?

Battle 4, Kitchen Storm on April 19 at 10pm ET/PT
Judges: Alex Guarnaschelli, Aaron Sanchez, Angie Mar
Geared up for killer cooking and serious drama, a husband and wife are among the returning champs for the fourth round. Crab claws and vanilla frosting are two of the surprises in the first basket, and then the champs must confront a wild boar for their entrees. In the dessert round, a savory mousse causes the competitors some alarm.

Conclusion, $50,000 Payday on April 26 at 10pm ET/PT
Judges: Scott Conant, Angie Mar, Amanda Freitag
It's the $50,000 grand finale, and one of the returning champs is destined to win the grand prize and considerable bragging rights! Some unusual clams and a decadent meat are part of the culinary riddle to be solved in the first round. In the entree round, the protein almost takes up the entire basket. Then, when the last two chefs face each other in the dessert round, will the onions in the basket make them cry?