Plot Synopsis

Sixteen grilling professionals face off in a five-part tournament, as they compete for a $50,000 grand prize. In each of the first four episodes, four grill chefs compete against each other in a typical CHOPPED format that focuses on grilling, and the winner of each episode advances to the finals in the fifth episode, where a winner is crowned. Chefs in Season 1, which was filmed in an old Western town in the Arizona desert, included: Tom Duncan, Ray Lampe, Jen Duncan & Galen Zamarra (Episode 1); Nicole Davenport, Dushyant Singh, Sam Choy & Carey Bringle (Episode 2); Doug Keiles, Robyn Lindars, Ernest Servantes & Timothy Grandinetti (Episode 3); and Kent Rollins, Corrine Trang, Rick Browne & Chad Ward (Episode 4). On Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at 10pm ET/PT, Food Network premiered the second season of CHOPPED GRILL MASTERS which was filmed on a farm outside of New York City. Hosted again by Ted Allen, Season 2 features recurring CHOPPED judges Scott Conant, Alex Guarnaschelli, Chris Santos, and special guest judges Amy Mills and Tim Love, deciding the fates for each grilling pro. The competitors include: Danielle Dimovski, Chris Hart, Staci Graves Jett & Randy Pauly (Episode 1); Mary Brent Galyean, Stan Hays, Matty Melehes & Candy Sue Weaver (Episode 2); Donna Fong, Leslie Roark Scott, Harry Soo & Tom Spaulding (Episode 3); and Mike Davis, Ash Fulk, Phil Johnson & Angie Mar (Episode 4). Food Network premiered the third season of CHOPPED GRILL MASTERS on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 10pm ET/PT. Hosted again by Ted Allen, and featuring a rotating panel of CHOPPED judges and special guests, each 60-minute episode sees four Grill Masters competing over three rounds -- appetizer, entree and dessert -- as they showcase their exceptional skills, with only charcoal and propane grills, and a smoker at their disposal. The goal is to create unique dishes utilizing the mystery basket of ingredients to impress the judges, while also battling the outdoor elements. The winner from each heat of episode the first four episodes earns a spot in the grand finale, where they compete for the grand prize of $50,000 and a Napa Valley dream vacation. In the season opener, Megan Day (Kansas City, Mo.), Laura Frazee (Dunnellon, Fla.), Andy Husbands (Boston, Mass.), and Craig Verhage (Cleveland, Miss.) compete to impress judges Alex Guarnaschelli, Myron Mixon, and Marc Murphy. First basket out of the gate challenges four determined competitors with a weird pie and a beautiful cut of pork. A vegan product counters the giant beef ribs in the entree basket, and the judges are impressed when they see a chef making a creative choice for their dessert basket, but will the innovative idea result in a tasty plate?
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Season 4 of CHOPPED GRILL MASTERS premiered on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at 9pm ET/PT on Food Network. Over five episodes, four top-notch grill masters from Kansas City, Missouri; North Carolina; Memphis, Tennessee; and Texas compete for a cash prize and hometown bragging rights. Hosted by Ted Allen and featuring a rotating panel of CHOPPED and special guest judges -- including Moe Cason, Scott Conant, Melissa Cookston, Amanda Freitag, Alex Guarnaschelli, Elizabeth Karmel, Myron Mixon, Marc Murphy, Chris Santos, Ernest Servantes and Geoffrey Zakarian -- each regional episode challenges the grill masters to showcase their skills over three rounds -- appetizer, entree and dessert -- as they utilize the mystery basket of ingredients to create unique and delicious dishes that wow the judges. Each episode also includes a hometown specialty in one of the baskets, giving the competitors the opportunity to really bring the competition home. The winner from each regional heat goes on to compete in the finale on Tuesday, August 28 at 9pm for the $50,000 grand prize.

In the season opener, "Kansas City," the best grill masters from Kansas City showcase their skills to see who advances to the finale. Twenty minutes in the appetizer round does not seem long enough to deal with the double cut pork chops in the appetizer basket. A bubbly surprise in the entree basket prompts the chefs to bring the sweet to their dishes. And pineapple and banana are two of the flavors that must be married on the last two competitors' dessert plates. Other episodes during the tournament feature a creepy, crawly, crunchy surprise that challenges the chefs in the appetizer basket; a state-fair treat and an iconic Texas meat in the entree basket; and some Southern favorites in the dessert basket that gives competitors a head start in bringing Carolina flavors to their sweet plates. Then, in the finale showdown, the individual winners from the Kansas City, Memphis, North Carolina, and Texas heats return to compete for ultimate bragging rights. A wild, smoky ingredient in the appetizer basket kicks things off, while the judges expect magnificent meat-and-potatoes entree plates from the three remaining champs. The very last basket of the tournament is packed with sugary, festive ingredients, but which champion can pull off a sweet victory and walk away with the $50,000 prize?