Complete season guide
Complete season breakdown
MasterChef US season 11 spans 18 documented competition episodes. This guide follows the actual episode briefs and featured dishes from auditions through the finale.
Episode 1 · Audition
Legends: Emeril Lagasse - Auditions Round 1 is built around signature audition dish.
Audition
Signature audition dish
Home cooks presented signature dishes while competing for a place in the MasterChef kitchen.
Episode 2 · Audition
Legends: Curtis Stone - Auditions Round 2 is built around signature audition dish.
Audition
Signature audition dish
Home cooks presented signature dishes while competing for a place in the MasterChef kitchen.
Episode 3 · Audition
Legends: Paula Deen - Auditions Round 3 is built around signature audition dish.
Audition
Signature audition dish
Home cooks presented signature dishes while competing for a place in the MasterChef kitchen.
Episode 4 · Elimination Test
Legends: Chef Morimoto - Monkfish Challenge is built around legends: Chef Morimoto - Monkfish Challenge elimination challenge.
Elimination Test
Legends: Chef Morimoto - Monkfish Challenge elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for legends: Chef Morimoto - Monkfish Challenge elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Episode 5 · Elimination Test
Legends: Sherry Yard - Dessert Challenge is built around dessert of their choice.
Elimination Test
Dessert of their choice
The elimination brief called for dessert of their choice; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks 90 minutes.
Episode 6 · Mystery Box Challenge
Legends: Michael Mina - Meat Roulette is built around legends: Michael Mina - Meat Roulette Mystery Box.
Mystery Box Challenge
Legends: Michael Mina - Meat Roulette Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on legends: Michael Mina - Meat Roulette Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Episode 7 · Elimination Test
Legends: Nancy Silverton - Pasta Challenge is built around legends: Nancy Silverton - Pasta Challenge elimination challenge.
Elimination Test
Legends: Nancy Silverton - Pasta Challenge elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for legends: Nancy Silverton - Pasta Challenge elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Episode 8 · Mystery Box Challenge
Legends: Jonathan Waxman - California Mystery Box is built around legends: Jonathan Waxman - California Mystery Box.
Mystery Box Challenge
Legends: Jonathan Waxman - California Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on legends: Jonathan Waxman - California Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Episode 9 · Episode brief
Legends: Roy Choi - Elevated Street Food is built around legends: Roy Choi - Elevated Street Food.
Episode brief
Legends: Roy Choi - Elevated Street Food
The cited episode table identifies this installment by challenge title but does not provide enough detail to name a separate dish.
Episode 10 · Elimination Test
Legends: Cook for Your Legend is built around legends: Cook for Your Legend elimination challenge.
Elimination Test
Legends: Cook for Your Legend elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for legends: Cook for Your Legend elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Episode 11 · Team Challenge
Legends: Dominique Crenn - The Wall is built around legends: Dominique Crenn - The Wall service menu.
Team Challenge
Legends: Dominique Crenn - The Wall service menu
Teams handled legends: Dominique Crenn - The Wall service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Episode 12 · Elimination Test
Legends: Niki Nakayama - Kaiseki is built around legends: Niki Nakayama - Kaiseki elimination challenge.
Elimination Test
Legends: Niki Nakayama - Kaiseki elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for legends: Niki Nakayama - Kaiseki elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Episode 13 · Team Challenge
Legends: Dinner is built around two-course meal consisting of an appetizer and entree.
Team Challenge
Two-course meal consisting of an appetizer and entree
Teams handled two-course meal consisting of an appetizer and entree, with the service result deciding who stayed safe. The source gives the cooks 45 minutes.
Episode 14 · Mystery Box Challenge
Legends: Ludo Lefebvre - Timed Out Mystery Box is built around legends: Ludo Lefebvre - Timed Out Mystery Box.
Mystery Box Challenge
Legends: Ludo Lefebvre - Timed Out Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on legends: Ludo Lefebvre - Timed Out Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate. The source gives the cooks 75 minutes.
Episode 15 · Episode brief
Legends: Semi Final - 3 Chef Showdown is built around legends: Semi Final - 3 Chef Showdown.
Episode brief
Legends: Semi Final - 3 Chef Showdown
The cited episode table identifies this installment by challenge title but does not provide enough detail to name a separate dish.
Episode 16 · Elimination Challenge
Legends: Semi Final Pt 2 - 3 Chef Showdown is built around legends: Semi Final Pt 2 - 3 Chef Showdown elimination challenge.
Elimination Challenge
Legends: Semi Final Pt 2 - 3 Chef Showdown elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for legends: Semi Final Pt 2 - 3 Chef Showdown elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 17 · Finale
Legends: Finale - Curtis Stone moves from three-course finale menu to finale appetizer course.
Finale
Three-course finale menu
The late-stage cook-off centered on three-course finale menu and determined who advanced or won. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Appetizer
Finale appetizer course
The documented challenge centered on finale appetizer course.
Episode 18 · Dessert
Legends: Finale Pt 2 - Michael Cimarusti moves from finale dessert course to final cook-off menu.
Dessert
Finale dessert course
The documented challenge centered on finale dessert course.
Final three
Final cook-off menu
The late-stage cook-off centered on final cook-off menu and determined who advanced or won.
Challenge details verified 2026-07-18. en.wikipedia.org.
The winner stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
Kelsey Murphy
Indianapolis, Indiana
Everyone recorded for Season 11, listed alphabetically without result spoilers.
| Baker | Age | Hometown |
|---|---|---|
| Alejandro Valdivia | 39 | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Autumn Moretti | 27 | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Kelsey Murphy | 32 | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Suu Khin | 30 | Houston, Texas |