Episode 1 · Audition
Back to Win - Audition Battles
Back to Win - Audition Battles is built around signature audition dish.
Audition
Signature audition dish
Home cooks presented signature dishes while competing for a place in the MasterChef kitchen.
Complete season guide
MasterChef (US) Season 12
- Episodes
- 20
- Premiere
- May 25, 2022
- Finale
- Sep 14, 2022
- Country
- United States
Complete season breakdown
Every episode and bake
MasterChef US season 12 spans 20 documented competition episodes. This guide follows the actual episode briefs and featured dishes from auditions through the finale.
Episode 2 · Audition
Back to Win - Audition Battles (Part 2)
Back to Win - Audition Battles (Part 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
Back to Win - Audition Battles (Part 3)
Back to Win - Audition Battles (Part 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 Challenge
Dish That Sent You Home
Dish That Sent You Home is built around dish That Sent You Home elimination challenge.
Elimination Challenge
Dish That Sent You Home elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for dish That Sent You Home elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Episode 5 · Mystery Box Challenge
Winners Mystery Box - Spirit of Vegas
Winners Mystery Box - Spirit of Vegas is built around winners Mystery Box - Spirit of Vegas.
Mystery Box Challenge
Winners Mystery Box - Spirit of Vegas
The Mystery Box brief centered on winners Mystery Box - Spirit of Vegas; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Episode 6 · Team Challenge
Back to Win: Feeding the U.S. Coast Guard
Back to Win: Feeding the U.S. Coast Guard is built around back to Win: Feeding the U.S. Coast Guard service menu.
Team Challenge
Back to Win: Feeding the U.S. Coast Guard service menu
Teams handled back to Win: Feeding the U.S. Coast Guard service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Episode 7 · Elimination Challenge
Gordon Ramsay Loves Vegans!
Gordon Ramsay Loves Vegans! is built around gordon Ramsay Loves Vegans! elimination challenge.
Elimination Challenge
Gordon Ramsay Loves Vegans! elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for gordon Ramsay Loves Vegans! elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Episode 8 · Elimination Challenge
Southern Fusion with Guest Chef Tiffany Derry
Southern Fusion with Guest Chef Tiffany Derry is built around fusion dish combining Southern cuisine with an international cuisine chosen randomly.
Elimination Challenge
Fusion dish combining Southern cuisine with an international cuisine chosen randomly
The elimination brief called for fusion dish combining Southern cuisine with an international cuisine chosen randomly; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 9 · Elimination Challenge
Bake to Win
Bake to Win is built around of 14 desserts.
Elimination Challenge
Of 14 desserts
The elimination brief called for of 14 desserts; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks 90 minutes.
Episode 10 · Team Challenge
Cooking for Horse Town U.S.A
Cooking for Horse Town U.S.A is built around cooking for Horse Town U.S.A service menu.
Team Challenge
Cooking for Horse Town U.S.A service menu
Teams handled cooking for Horse Town U.S.A service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Episode 11 · Mystery Box Challenge
Winners Mystery Box - Christine Ha
Winners Mystery Box - Christine Ha is built around winners Mystery Box - Christine Ha.
Mystery Box Challenge
Winners Mystery Box - Christine Ha
The Mystery Box brief centered on winners Mystery Box - Christine Ha; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Episode 12 · Team Challenge
Tag Team
Tag Team is built around three of Gordon's signature dishes.
Team Challenge
Three of Gordon's signature dishes
Teams handled three of Gordon's signature dishes, with the service result deciding who stayed safe. The source gives the cooks 90 minutes.
Episode 13 · Elimination Challenge
GrubHub Challenge
GrubHub Challenge is built around take-out dish dish.
Elimination Challenge
Take-out dish dish
The elimination brief called for take-out dish dish; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks 45 minutes.
Episode 14 · Elimination Challenge
Gas Station Gourmet
Gas Station Gourmet is built around gas Station Gourmet elimination challenge.
Elimination Challenge
Gas Station Gourmet elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for gas Station Gourmet elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks 45 minutes.
Episode 15 · Mystery Box Challenge
Winners Mystery Box - Gerron Hurt
Winners Mystery Box - Gerron Hurt is built around dish highlighting chili peppers.
Mystery Box Challenge
Dish highlighting chili peppers
The Mystery Box brief centered on dish highlighting chili peppers; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate. The source gives the cooks 45 minutes.
Episode 16 · Team Challenge
The Wall
The Wall is built around the Wall service menu.
Team Challenge
The Wall service menu
Teams handled the Wall service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Episode 17 · Team Challenge
Restaurant Takeover - Spago
Restaurant Takeover - Spago is built around and serving two appetizers and two entrees from the menu.
Team Challenge
And serving two appetizers and two entrees from the menu
Teams handled and serving two appetizers and two entrees from the menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Episode 18 · Pressure Test
Semi Finals
Semi Finals moves from semi Finals pressure test to semi Finals pressure test.
Pressure Test
Semi Finals pressure test
The pressure test focused on semi Finals pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks 75 minutes.
Pressure Test
Semi Finals pressure test
The pressure test focused on semi Finals pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation.
Episode 19 · Finale
Finale Part 1 - Special Guest Graham Elliot
Finale Part 1 - Special Guest Graham Elliot moves from three-course finale menu to finale Part 1 - Special Guest Graham Elliot Appetizers.
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.
Appetizers
Finale Part 1 - Special Guest Graham Elliot Appetizers
The documented challenge centered on finale Part 1 - Special Guest Graham Elliot Appetizers.
Episode 20 · Entree
Finale Part 2 - Special Guest Christina Tosi
Finale Part 2 - Special Guest Christina Tosi moves from finale entree course to finale dessert course.
Entree
Finale entree course
The documented challenge centered on finale entree course.
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.
Episode guide sources
Challenge details verified 2026-07-18. en.wikipedia.org.
Season result
The winner stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
Reveal the Season 12 winner
Dara Yu
Los Angeles, California
Full cast
Everyone recorded for Season 12, listed alphabetically without result spoilers.
| Baker | Age | Hometown |
|---|---|---|
| Christian Green | 36 | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Dara Yu | 20 | Los Angeles, California |
| Emily Hallock | 31 | Neenah, Wisconsin |
| Michael Silverstein | 34 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Shanika Patterson | 38 | Miami, Florida |