Complete season guide
Complete season breakdown
MasterChef US season 6 spans 20 documented competition episodes. This guide follows the actual episode briefs and featured dishes from auditions through the finale.
Episode 1 · Auditions Round 1
Let the Battle Commence (Top 40) is built around signature audition dish.
Auditions Round 1
Signature audition dish
Cooks presented a signature audition dish to compete for a place in the MasterChef kitchen.
Episode 2 · Auditions Round 2
The Battle Continues (Top 40) moves from signature audition dish to signature audition dish.
Auditions Round 2
Signature audition dish
Cooks presented a signature audition dish to compete for a place in the MasterChef kitchen.
Auditions Round 3
Signature audition dish
Cooks presented a signature audition dish to compete for a place in the MasterChef kitchen. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Episode 3 · Mystery Box Challenge
You're the Apple of My Eye (Top 22) moves from you're the Apple of My Eye (Top 22) Mystery Box to apple pie.
Mystery Box Challenge
You're the Apple of My Eye (Top 22) Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on you're the Apple of My Eye (Top 22) Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate. The source gives the cooks 60 minutes.
Elimination Test
Apple pie
The elimination brief called for apple pie; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks 90 minutes.
Episode 4 · Team Challenge
Cinnamon Roll-er Coaster (Top 20) moves from cinnamon Roll-er Coaster (Top 20) service menu to cinnamon Roll-er Coaster (Top 20) pressure test.
Team Challenge
Cinnamon Roll-er Coaster (Top 20) service menu
Teams handled cinnamon Roll-er Coaster (Top 20) service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Cinnamon Roll-er Coaster (Top 20) pressure test
The pressure test focused on cinnamon Roll-er Coaster (Top 20) pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks 45 minutes.
Episode 5 · Mystery Box Challenge
Clawing to Victory (Top 19) moves from dish with three types of live crabs to veronica dish.
Mystery Box Challenge
Dish with three types of live crabs
The Mystery Box brief centered on dish with three types of live crabs; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate. The source gives the cooks 60 minutes.
Elimination Test
Veronica dish
The elimination brief called for veronica dish; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks 60 minutes.
Episode 6 · Team Challenge
What Happens in Vegas Steaks in Vegas (Top 18) moves from what Happens in Vegas Steaks in Vegas (Top 18) service menu to what Happens in Vegas Steaks in Vegas (Top 18) pressure test.
Team Challenge
What Happens in Vegas Steaks in Vegas (Top 18) service menu
Teams handled what Happens in Vegas Steaks in Vegas (Top 18) service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
What Happens in Vegas Steaks in Vegas (Top 18) pressure test
The pressure test focused on what Happens in Vegas Steaks in Vegas (Top 18) pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks 20 minutes.
Pressure Test
Gordon a rare filet mignon
The pressure test focused on gordon a rare filet mignon, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks 15 minutes.
Episode 7 · Mystery Box Challenge
Bring Home the Bacon (Top 16) moves from bring Home the Bacon (Top 16) Mystery Box to salisbury steak meal dish.
Mystery Box Challenge
Bring Home the Bacon (Top 16) Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on bring Home the Bacon (Top 16) Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Elimination Test
Salisbury steak meal dish
The elimination brief called for salisbury steak meal dish; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks 15 minutes.
Episode 8 · Team Challenge
Happy Birthday MasterChef (Top 14) moves from happy Birthday MasterChef (Top 14) service menu to three-layer birthday cake.
Team Challenge
Happy Birthday MasterChef (Top 14) service menu
Teams handled happy Birthday MasterChef (Top 14) service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Three-layer birthday cake
The pressure test focused on three-layer birthday cake, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks 90 minutes.
Episode 9 · Team Challenge
Gordon's Greatest Hits (Top 12) moves from gordon Ramsay's signature Beef Wellington dish to of Ramsay's most well-known appetizers.
Team Challenge
Gordon Ramsay's signature Beef Wellington dish
Teams handled gordon Ramsay's signature Beef Wellington dish, with the service result deciding who stayed safe. The source gives the cooks 60 minutes.
Pressure Test
Of Ramsay's most well-known appetizers
The pressure test focused on of Ramsay's most well-known appetizers, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks 30 minutes.
Episode 10 · Mystery Box Challenge
Rice Rice Baby (Top 11) moves from rice dish and the best dish would also be featured in the September issue of Family to peanut butter and jelly dish.
Mystery Box Challenge
Rice dish and the best dish would also be featured in the September issue of Family
The Mystery Box brief centered on rice dish and the best dish would also be featured in the September issue of Family; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Elimination Test
Peanut butter and jelly dish
The elimination brief called for peanut butter and jelly dish; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 11 · Team Challenge
Moo-vers and Bakers (Top 10) moves from moo-vers and Bakers (Top 10) service menu to moo-vers and Bakers (Top 10) pressure test.
Team Challenge
Moo-vers and Bakers (Top 10) service menu
Teams handled moo-vers and Bakers (Top 10) service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Moo-vers and Bakers (Top 10) pressure test
The pressure test focused on moo-vers and Bakers (Top 10) pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks 90 minutes.
Episode 12 · Team Challenge
Family Reunion (Top 10) moves from family dinner consisting of an entrée to gnocchi dish finished in brown sage butter sauce.
Team Challenge
Family dinner consisting of an entrée
Teams handled family dinner consisting of an entrée, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Gnocchi dish finished in brown sage butter sauce
The pressure test focused on gnocchi dish finished in brown sage butter sauce, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks 25 minutes.
Episode 13 · Mystery Box Challenge
A Little Southern Flare (Top 9) moves from flambéed dish using any of five different spirits to chicken and waffles for the remaining contestants to coo dish.
Mystery Box Challenge
Flambéed dish using any of five different spirits
The Mystery Box brief centered on flambéed dish using any of five different spirits; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate. The source gives the cooks 45 minutes.
Elimination Test
Chicken and waffles for the remaining contestants to coo dish
The elimination brief called for chicken and waffles for the remaining contestants to coo dish; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks 60 minutes.
Episode 14 · Team Challenge
Getting A-Head in the Competition (Top 8) moves from getting A-Head in the Competition (Top 8) service menu to getting A-Head in the Competition (Top 8) pressure test.
Team Challenge
Getting A-Head in the Competition (Top 8) service menu
Teams handled getting A-Head in the Competition (Top 8) service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Getting A-Head in the Competition (Top 8) pressure test
The pressure test focused on getting A-Head in the Competition (Top 8) pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks 60 minutes.
Episode 15 · Mystery Box Challenge
A Storm's a Brewing (Top 7) moves from a Storm's a Brewing (Top 7) Mystery Box to a Storm's a Brewing (Top 7) service menu.
Mystery Box Challenge
A Storm's a Brewing (Top 7) Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on a Storm's a Brewing (Top 7) Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Team Challenge
A Storm's a Brewing (Top 7) service menu
Teams handled a Storm's a Brewing (Top 7) service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Team Challenge
A Storm's a Brewing (Top 7) service menu
Teams handled a Storm's a Brewing (Top 7) service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Episode 16 · Team Challenge
The Restaurant Takeover (Top 6) moves from the Restaurant Takeover (Top 6) service menu to the Restaurant Takeover (Top 6) pressure test.
Team Challenge
The Restaurant Takeover (Top 6) service menu
Teams handled the Restaurant Takeover (Top 6) service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
The Restaurant Takeover (Top 6) pressure test
The pressure test focused on the Restaurant Takeover (Top 6) pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Episode 17 · Mystery Box Challenge
Return of the Champions (Top 5) moves from return of the Champions (Top 5) Mystery Box to return of the Champions (Top 5) elimination challenge.
Mystery Box Challenge
Return of the Champions (Top 5) Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on return of the Champions (Top 5) Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Elimination Test
Return of the Champions (Top 5) elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for return of the Champions (Top 5) elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 18 · Team Challenge
Think Inside the Box (Top 4) moves from think Inside the Box (Top 4) service menu to think Inside the Box (Top 4) pressure test.
Team Challenge
Think Inside the Box (Top 4) service menu
Teams handled think Inside the Box (Top 4) service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Think Inside the Box (Top 4) pressure test
The pressure test focused on think Inside the Box (Top 4) pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks 90 minutes.
Episode 19 · Individual Challenge
Team Gordon Ramsay (Top 3) moves from team Gordon Ramsay (Top 3) individual challenge to team Gordon Ramsay (Top 3) service menu.
Individual Challenge
Team Gordon Ramsay (Top 3) individual challenge
The documented challenge centered on team Gordon Ramsay (Top 3) individual challenge. The source gives the cooks 75 minutes.
Team Challenge
Team Gordon Ramsay (Top 3) service menu
Teams handled team Gordon Ramsay (Top 3) service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Three classic dishes in only one hour with the winner of this pressure test joining
The pressure test focused on three classic dishes in only one hour with the winner of this pressure test joining, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Episode 20 · Season finale
The Finale (Top 2) 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.
Claudia Sandoval
La Mesa, California
Everyone recorded for Season 6, listed alphabetically without result spoilers.
| Baker | Age | Hometown |
|---|---|---|
| Claudia Sandoval | 31 | La Mesa, California |
| Derrick Peltz | 28 | Fort Myers, Florida |
| Nick Nappi | 31 | San Diego, California |
| Stephen Lee | 47 | Palm Springs, California |