Complete season guide
Complete season breakdown
MasterChef US season 5 spans 19 documented competition episodes. This guide follows the actual episode briefs and featured dishes from auditions through the finale.
Episode 1 · Auditions Round 1
Top 30 Compete moves from signature audition dish to signature audition dish.
Auditions Round 1
Signature audition dish
Cooks presented a signature audition dish to compete for a place in the MasterChef kitchen.
Auditions Round 2
Signature audition dish
Cooks presented a signature audition dish to compete for a place in the MasterChef kitchen.
Episode 2 · Mystery Box Challenge
Top 22 Compete moves from top 22 Compete Mystery Box to meatloaf dish.
Mystery Box Challenge
Top 22 Compete Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on top 22 Compete Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate. The source gives the cooks 90 minutes.
Elimination Test
Meatloaf dish
The elimination brief called for meatloaf dish; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks 60 minutes.
Episode 3 · Team Challenge
Top 20 Compete moves from meal consisting of one grilled meat to top 20 Compete pressure test.
Team Challenge
Meal consisting of one grilled meat
Teams handled meal consisting of one grilled meat, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Top 20 Compete pressure test
The pressure test focused on top 20 Compete pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks 75 minutes.
Episode 4 · Mystery Box Challenge
Top 18 Compete moves from using a collection of live seafood to donuts dish.
Mystery Box Challenge
Using a collection of live seafood
The Mystery Box brief centered on using a collection of live seafood; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Elimination Test
Donuts dish
The elimination brief called for donuts dish; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 5 · Team Challenge
Top 17 Compete moves from scallop starter and a sea bass entrée to portion of steak frites.
Team Challenge
Scallop starter and a sea bass entrée
Teams handled scallop starter and a sea bass entrée, with the service result deciding who stayed safe. The source gives the cooks two hours.
Pressure Test
Portion of steak frites
The pressure test focused on portion of steak frites, putting technical control ahead of improvisation.
Episode 6 · Mystery Box Challenge
Top 16 Compete moves from top 16 Compete Mystery Box to top 16 Compete elimination challenge.
Mystery Box Challenge
Top 16 Compete Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on top 16 Compete Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Elimination Test
Top 16 Compete elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for top 16 Compete elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 7 · Team Challenge
Top 15 Compete moves from surf and turf dish with one hour of cooking time to six spring rolls with a dipping sauce.
Team Challenge
Surf and turf dish with one hour of cooking time
Teams handled surf and turf dish with one hour of cooking time, with the service result deciding who stayed safe. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Pressure Test
Six spring rolls with a dipping sauce
The pressure test focused on six spring rolls with a dipping sauce, putting technical control ahead of improvisation.
Episode 8 · Team Challenge
Top 14 Compete moves from top 14 Compete service menu to three-layer red velvet cake.
Team Challenge
Top 14 Compete service menu
Teams handled top 14 Compete service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Three-layer red velvet cake
The pressure test focused on three-layer red velvet cake, putting technical control ahead of improvisation.
Episode 9 · Mystery Box Challenge
Top 13 Compete moves from dish using Alaskan king salmon in sixty minutes to top 13 Compete elimination challenge.
Mystery Box Challenge
Dish using Alaskan king salmon in sixty minutes
The Mystery Box brief centered on dish using Alaskan king salmon in sixty minutes; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Elimination Test
Top 13 Compete elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for top 13 Compete elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 10 · Team Challenge
Top 12 Compete moves from romantic dinners for seventeen couples to nine chocolate truffles with at least three different flavors.
Team Challenge
Romantic dinners for seventeen couples
Teams handled romantic dinners for seventeen couples, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Nine chocolate truffles with at least three different flavors
The pressure test focused on nine chocolate truffles with at least three different flavors, putting technical control ahead of improvisation.
Episode 11 · Mystery Box Challenge
Top 11 Compete moves from top 11 Compete Mystery Box to graham's caramelle dish.
Mystery Box Challenge
Top 11 Compete Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on top 11 Compete Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Elimination Test
Graham's caramelle dish
The elimination brief called for graham's caramelle dish; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Episode 12 · Team Challenge
Top 10 Compete moves from top 10 Compete service menu to top 10 Compete pressure test.
Team Challenge
Top 10 Compete service menu
Teams handled top 10 Compete service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Top 10 Compete pressure test
The pressure test focused on top 10 Compete pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Episode 13 · Team Challenge
Top 8 Compete moves from top 8 Compete service menu to top 8 Compete pressure test.
Team Challenge
Top 8 Compete service menu
Teams handled top 8 Compete service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test Part 1
Top 8 Compete pressure test
The pressure test focused on top 8 Compete pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation.
Pressure Test Part 2
Top 8 Compete pressure test
The pressure test focused on top 8 Compete pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation.
Pressure Test Part 3
Cheese soufflé. Jaimee had the better soufflé
The pressure test focused on cheese soufflé. Jaimee had the better soufflé, putting technical control ahead of improvisation.
Episode 14 · Mystery Box Challenge
Top 7 Compete moves from top 7 Compete Mystery Box to top 7 Compete service menu.
Mystery Box Challenge
Top 7 Compete Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on top 7 Compete Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Team Challenge
Top 7 Compete service menu
Teams handled top 7 Compete service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Episode 15 · Team Challenge
Top 6 Compete moves from top 6 Compete service menu to croquembouche.
Team Challenge
Top 6 Compete service menu
Teams handled top 6 Compete service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Croquembouche
The pressure test focused on croquembouche, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks 90 minutes.
Episode 16 · Mystery Box Challenge
Top 5 Compete moves from top 5 Compete Mystery Box to top 5 Compete elimination challenge.
Mystery Box Challenge
Top 5 Compete Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on top 5 Compete Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Elimination Test
Top 5 Compete elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for top 5 Compete elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 17 · Team Challenge
Top 4 Compete moves from appetizer and an entrée based on what was in their box to all three dishes in ninety minutes.
Team Challenge
Appetizer and an entrée based on what was in their box
Teams handled appetizer and an entrée based on what was in their box, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
All three dishes in ninety minutes
The pressure test focused on all three dishes in ninety minutes, putting technical control ahead of improvisation.
Episode 18 · Individual Challenge
Top 3 Compete moves from top 3 Compete individual challenge to three different cakes from three different regions in America.
Individual Challenge
Top 3 Compete individual challenge
The documented challenge centered on top 3 Compete individual challenge. The source gives the cooks 90 minutes.
Pressure Test
Three different cakes from three different regions in America
The pressure test focused on three different cakes from three different regions in America, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks two hours.
Episode 19 · Season finale
Winner Chosen moves from final cook-off menu to finale appetizer course.
Season finale
Final cook-off menu
The late-stage cook-off centered on final cook-off menu and determined who advanced or won.
Appetizer
Finale appetizer course
The documented challenge centered on finale appetizer course.
Entrée
Finale entrée course
The documented challenge centered on finale entrée course.
Dessert
Finale dessert course
The documented challenge centered on finale dessert course.
Challenge details verified 2026-07-18. en.wikipedia.org.
The winner stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
Courtney Lapresi
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Everyone recorded for Season 5, listed alphabetically without result spoilers.
| Baker | Age | Hometown |
|---|---|---|
| Courtney Lapresi | 25 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Cutter Brewer | 33 | Beaumont, Texas |
| Elizabeth Cauvel | 31 | Brooklyn, New York |
| Leslie Gilliams | 56 | Malibu, California |