Plot Synopsis

Hosted by Ted Allen, CHOPPED JUNIOR showcases the talents of girls and boys between the ages of 9 and 15 years old, who make meals from the mystery ingredients under the infamous ticking clock of the CHOPPED kitchen. As in the original series, each one-hour episode features four cheftestants competing in three elimination rounds -- appetizer, entree and dessert -- with one chef winning the $10,000 prize. The young cooks are judged throughout the season by a rotating panel of recurring CHOPPED judges joined by special guest judges along the way including Laila Ali, Camila Alves, Valerie Bertinelli, Billy Gardell, Sam Kass, Mila Kunis, Tia Mowry, Hayden Panettiere, Martha Stewart and more.

The sophomore season of CHOPPED JUNIOR premiered on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at 8pm ET/PT on Food Network. In the season opener, "Dough Business," a weird hot dog and a cheese that doesn't want to melt are two of the tricky ingredients that the young competitors face in the appetizer round, then retro candies result in some surprising pops in the entree plates. And the cookie dough in the dessert round is perfectly safe to serve raw, but will the finalists opt to cook it before serving it to judges Monti Carlo, Scott Conant and actress Sarah Michelle Gellar? Other season 2 special guest judges include Jerome Bettis, Ayesha Curry, Haylie Duff, Jennie Garth, Carla Hall, Tony Hawk, Eddie Jackson, Ali Larter, Kelsey Nixon, Andrew Rannells, Rico Rodriguez, Debby Ryan, Alison Sweeney, Christine Taylor and more.

Season 3 of CHOPPED JUNIOR premiered on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at 8pm ET/PT on Food Network, immediately following a six-hour marathon (2-8pm) of encore episodes. In the season opener, "Sloppy Apps," neatness is always important in plating, but with sloppy joes as a mandatory ingredient in the first round, the judges -- food blogger Siri Daly, actress Cheryl Hines, and chef Geoffrey Zakarian -- must excuse some sloppiness! A red pesto and some white turnips keep things interesting in the entree round, then a yummy bacon apple pie is found in the dessert basket. Other Season 3 guest judges include David Arquette; Chris Colfer; Justine "iJustine" Ezarik; David Alan Grier; Katie Lee; Sandra Lee; Austin Mahone; Angie Martinez; Debbie Matenopoulos; Brandi Milloy; Bridget Moynahan; Chelsea Peretti; Jake Smollett; Alan Thicke; Daphne Oz; Danica Patrick; Michelle Trachtenberg, Laura Vitale; DeMarcus Ware and more.

Season 5 of CHOPPED JUNIOR premiered on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 from 8-10pm ET/PT, as Food Network debuted back-to-back new episodes. In the season opener (8pm), "Pizza Party," chef Amanda Freitag, YouTube star Harley Morenstein and actress Anika Noni Rose preside over an all-pizza competition! Three courses of pizza begin with appetizers comprised of exotic looking mushrooms and a creamy Italian sauce. The fun continues as the junior chefs battle against some challenging dough and more sauce in the entree round. Then, the finalists tackle pizza dessert using cheese with a funny name and a wild assortment of fruit! Then, in the night's second episode (9pm), "Chicken and Do-Nots," chefs Daniel Churchill and Marcus Samuelsson and actress Allison Williams serve as the judges for a new group of junior chefs, who are thrilled when the appetizer basket reveals an exciting twist on chicken and waffles. In the entree round, a sweet, tropical icing must be paired with pork, and in the dessert round, it's a race to the ice cream machine when both finalists are inspired by a coconut beverage.

The six-episode eighth season of CHOPPED JUNIOR premiered on Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at 9pm ET/PT on Food Network, as the series returned from a 22-month break. Still hosted by Ted Allen, these young cooks must prove they are wise beyond their years with their culinary chops. Recurring CHOPPED judges determine who is eliminated and they are joined at the table by a different special guest in each episode, including Jessica Alba, Anthony Anderson, Nikki Bella, Kardea Brown, Clinton Kelly, and Bailee Madison. During the season the junior chefs must contend with the wackiest of ingredients, including alligator tenderloin for the appetizer basket and corn on the cob lemonade in an entree round; and in another episode the four talented kids must embrace their inner superheroes as they take on baskets inspired by the movie Spider-Man: Far From Home. Each mystery basket contains ingredients from a particular country that Spider-Man visits during his action-packed European adventure in the film. The tour for the junior chefs' taste buds begins with a stint in Italy for the appetizer basket. German adventures in the entree round challenge the kids to figure out what to do with apfelstrudel. And will English breakfast tea in the dessert basket awaken the judges' senses?

CHOPPED JUNIOR returned for its ninth season on Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at 8pm ET/PT on Food Network. Guest judges this season include David Dobrik, Alanna Masterson, Gina Torres, Daniel Breaker, Rashad Jennings, Corey Fogelmanis and Vanessa Marano. In the season opener, "Turkey Day! Hooray!," turkey-themed baskets keep the kid chefs in the right state of mind as they try to make a meal that guest judge David Dobrik will gobble up, starting with a bucket of turkey meatballs in round one. A rare form of mashed potatoes makes for a hearty hurdle in the entree round, but will the two remaining kids be thankful for or fearful of the dessert goodie in the third basket?
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On Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at 8pm ET/PT, Food Network premiered "Bet the Ranch Dressing," the Season 9 finale of CHOPPED JUNIOR. Brave kid cooks set out to prove they have what it takes to thrive in the kitchen and impress guest judge Vanessa Marano. They get creative with wild doughnuts in round one and stinky cheese in the entree round. Creamy and colorful desserts are in order after the junior chefs open the last basket.