Plot Synopsis

Hosted by Ted Allen, CHOPPED: GRUDGE MATCH is a five-episode tournament that features 16 chefs, made up of CHOPPED judges and former CHOPPED champions, competing for $100,000 grand prize and bragging rights. The competitors must create unforgettable meals from a basket of mystery ingredients with a limited amount of time over three rounds -- appetizer, enteee, and dessert -- to prove to a rotating panel of judges -- including Michelle Bernstein, Nilou Motamed, Christian Petroni, and Geoffrey Zakarian -- that they have what it takes to earn the largest cash prize awarded on CHOPPED: $100,000!

Battle 1 (Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 9pm): In this preliminary battle, four defeated culinary heavyweights from the BEAT THE JUDGE series returning with a score to settle. One ambitious champion runs into two major problems toward the end of the first round, while something stinky in the entrEe basket has the competitors nervous. Then, after both remaining champs cook their hearts out with the dessert basket, the judges have a gut-wrenching decision to make.

Battle 2 (Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at 9pm): Four CHOPPED deities -- Amanda Freitag, Marcus Samuelsson, Chris Santos and Tiffani Faison -- open the appetizer basket and find a strange fish dish and some tiny exotic fruits. A pizza topped with something wild is the star ingredient in the entree basket, and a vegetable disguised as a meat is a treat in the dessert basket. A riveting final elimination leaves only one CHOPPED titan jubilant.

Battle 3 (Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 9pm): Four champions who were previously defeated by CHOPPED judges return to the kitchen, hungrier than ever to take down everyone in their paths and win a $100,000 grand prize. Big stakes, little fish: sardines are the main protein in the champs' appetizer basket, and a jiggly mustard-flavored surprise threatens to throw the chefs off their game in the second round. Then, in the dessert round, two chefs must try to make something magical using unicorn milkshakes.

Battle 4 (Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 9pm): CHOPPED legends Scott Conant, Maneet Chauhan and Marc Murphy are joined by smack-talking champ Stephen Coe to face off for a chance at the $100,000 finale! In the first round, incorporating a sweet, doughy breakfast item into an amazing appetizer is part of the challenge. A clever fusion food in the entree basket has the potential to bring crunch and flavor to the dishes, and will the edible Zen garden in the final basket bring peace and tranquility to the dessert round? With such fierce competitors gunning for victory, it's doubtful!

Finale (Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at 9pm): The winners from each heat meet in this historic Grudge Match finale, featuring judges vs. champions! With two separate knockout rounds to determine which genius judge and brilliant champ make it to the $100,000 title fight, the stakes have never been higher. Who will score the biggest prize in CHOPPED history, and who will be chopped?