Plot Synopsis

Hosted by Ted Allen, CHOPPED: DESPERATELY SEEKING SOUS CHEF is a five-episode competition that features 16 sous chefs competing for the title of grand champion and a job offer by one of the judges -- judges Maneet Chauhan, Scott Conant and Chris Santos -- to join their restaurants as a sous chef. Each episode of the tournament features four chefs showcasing their culinary skills over three rounds -- appetizer, entree, and dessert -- as they are challenged to utilize the mystery basket of ingredients and create breathtaking dishes to impress judges. The judges are critiquing the chefs' cooking skills along with their attitude, leadership, and ability to multitask to determine who has what it takes to make it to the finale. The winners of the first four episodes compete in the fifth and final episode. After the final elimination, the victorious chef gets to choose which enticing path to take from either Scott, Maneet and Chris. Throughout the competition the hungry chefs bring everything they have to the kitchen to show off their culinary techniques for their dream job. During the preliminary battles, the chefs must tackle an appetizer basket that includes fish-shaped cakes and a whole plant-based chicken, while a cut of meat proves problematic to work with in the entree round that have the chefs scrambling to get dinner on the table for a potential future boss. In a dessert round, the judges wonder what to expect when they bite into caponata and galaxy gelatin cake as ingredients. Tensions are high as the four chefs who make it to the finale open the appetizer basket and find a fusion pasta and a delicacy from the sea. A specialty of Naples is the curveball ingredient of a difficult entree basket, then, in the dessert round, a stinky fruit and a spicy ice cream are a part of the culinary puzzle. Episodes include:

"Battle 1" (Tuesday, May 31, 2022): In the first preliminary battle of this five-part event, four hopeful candidates must tackle an appetizer basket that includes some fish-shaped cakes and some plant-based chicken. Major clock concerns make for some dramatic moments. In the entree round, a flavorful, carb-y snack and an intimidating piece of poultry challenge the chefs. And as the two remaining contenders fight it out for a spot in the finale, they must make desserts using something Sicilian and something gelatinous.

"Battle 2" (Tuesday, June 7, 2022): With their sights set on joining a Chopped judge's restaurant empire, four new motivated chefs arrive to give everything they've got to land their dream job. Judges Maneet Chauhan, Scott Conant and Chris Santos will be watching the competitors' every move and tasting every plate to see which candidate deserves a chance to become one of their sous-chefs. In the first round, emotions run high as the clock ticks down. Then, in the entree round, the chefs are challenged to break down whole chickens, and with one of Scott's favorite dessert ingredients in the final basket, it would behoove the chefs to do it justice. The winner will advance to the Desperately Seeking Sous-Chef finale, where one champion will score the opportunity of a lifetime.

"Battle 3" (Tuesday, June 14, 2022): Four more enterprising chefs try to ace the most difficult job interview imaginable and score the chance to work for a Chopped judge. In round one, offal is an awfully shocking surprise, and judge Maneet Chauhan will be watching to see who stumbles and who shines. Then, in the entree round, when a cut of meat proves problematic, can the chefs figure out the best approach in time to get dinner on the table for a potential future boss? And in the dessert round, judge Chris Santos is excited to see what the chefs can do with deep-fried champagne. The winner of this battle moves on to the tournament's finale, where one champion will conquer all to seize the opportunity of a lifetime.

"Battle 4" (Tuesday, June 21, 2022): Four chefs are aiming high as they attempt to impress Chopped judges Maneet Chauhan, Scott Conant and Chris Santos, who are desperately looking for sous-chefs, but they won't settle for anything less than the perfect candidate. In this fourth preliminary battle of the tournament, the chefs open the appetizer basket and find a special seafood item that Scott knows very well. In the entree round, the chefs gain some confidence as they work with an Asian street food and a sugary soft drink. In the dessert round, Maneet is eager to see how the chefs use one of her favorite ingredients. If they can balance flavors, they might win her favor. The victorious chef from this battle will move on to the tournament's finale.

"Finale" (Tuesday, June 28, 2022): Excitement is in the air as four champions return to the Chopped kitchen on a mission to become a sous-chef for a Chopped judge and start a new chapter in their career. Expectations and tensions are high as the candidates open the appetizer baskets and find a fusion pasta and a delicacy from the sea. A specialty of Naples is the curveball ingredient of a difficult entree basket, and, in the dessert round, a stinky fruit and a spicy ice cream are a part of the challenge. After the final elimination, one chef will win the title of Chopped Grand Champion and the opportunity of a lifetime. Judges Maneet Chauhan, Scott Conant and Chris Santos will spell out their respective job offers, and the victorious chef gets to choose which enticing path to take. There has never been a moment like this in Chopped history.