Complete season guide
Complete season breakdown
MasterChef US season 7 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
Battle for a White Apron, Part 1 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
Battle for a White Apron, Part 2 is built around signature audition dish.
Auditions Round 2
Signature audition dish
Cooks presented a signature audition dish to compete for a place in the MasterChef kitchen.
Episode 3 · Mystery Box Challenge
Wolfgang Puck moves from wolfgang Puck Mystery Box to wolfgang Puck elimination challenge.
Mystery Box Challenge
Wolfgang Puck Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on wolfgang Puck Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Elimination Test
Wolfgang Puck elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for wolfgang Puck elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 4 · Team Challenge
A MasterChef Wedding is built around service for season six contestant nick nappi's wedding.
Team Challenge
Service for season six contestant nick nappi's wedding
Teams handled service for season six contestant nick nappi's wedding, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Episode 5 · Mystery Box Challenge
Mexican Mystery moves from mexican Mystery to christina's pies as the task of the elimination challeng dessert.
Mystery Box Challenge
Mexican Mystery
The Mystery Box brief centered on mexican Mystery; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Elimination Test
Christina's pies as the task of the elimination challeng dessert
The elimination brief called for christina's pies as the task of the elimination challeng dessert; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 6 · Skills Test
Gordon Ramsay Masterclass moves from gordon Ramsay Masterclass Skills Test to gordon's lobster tortellini served in a seafood broth.
Skills Test
Gordon Ramsay Masterclass Skills Test
The skills round tested gordon Ramsay Masterclass Skills Test, with advancement tied to clean, accurate execution. The source gives the cooks 20 minutes.
Elimination Test
Gordon's lobster tortellini served in a seafood broth
The elimination brief called for gordon's lobster tortellini served in a seafood broth; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 7 · Team Challenge
Jets, Vets, and Home Cooks moves from meal for 101 U.S. military veterans to jets, Vets, and Home Cooks pressure test.
Team Challenge
Meal for 101 U.S. military veterans
Teams handled meal for 101 U.S. military veterans, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Jets, Vets, and Home Cooks pressure test
The pressure test focused on jets, Vets, and Home Cooks pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation.
Episode 8 · Mystery Box Challenge
The Good, The Bad, and The Offal moves from four entrées to the Good, The Bad, and The Offal elimination challenge.
Mystery Box Challenge
Four entrées
The Mystery Box brief centered on four entrées; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate. The source gives the cooks 45 minutes.
Elimination Test
The Good, The Bad, and The Offal elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for the Good, The Bad, and The Offal elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 9 · Team Challenge
A Piece of Cake moves from a Piece of Cake service menu to a Piece of Cake pressure test.
Team Challenge
A Piece of Cake service menu
Teams handled a Piece of Cake service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
A Piece of Cake pressure test
The pressure test focused on a Piece of Cake pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation.
Episode 10 · Team Challenge
The Weakest Links moves from service for 101 farmers to the Weakest Links pressure test.
Team Challenge
Service for 101 farmers
Teams handled service for 101 farmers, with the service result deciding who stayed safe. The source gives the cooks 75 minutes.
Pressure Test
The Weakest Links pressure test
The pressure test focused on the Weakest Links pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks 60 minutes.
Episode 11 · Mystery Box Challenge
Sweet Surprise moves from sweet Surprise Mystery Box to sweet Surprise elimination challenge.
Mystery Box Challenge
Sweet Surprise Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on sweet Surprise Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Elimination Test
Sweet Surprise elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for sweet Surprise elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks 45 minutes.
Episode 12 · Mystery Box Challenge
5 Star Food moves from 5 Star Food Mystery Box to 5 Star Food elimination challenge.
Mystery Box Challenge
5 Star Food Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on 5 Star Food Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Elimination Test
5 Star Food elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for 5 Star Food elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks 60 minutes.
Episode 13 · Skills Test Part 1
Hot Potato moves from hot Potato Skills Test Part 1 to hot Potato Skills Test Part 2.
Skills Test Part 1
Hot Potato Skills Test Part 1
The skills round tested hot Potato Skills Test Part 1, with advancement tied to clean, accurate execution.
Skills Test Part 2
Hot Potato Skills Test Part 2
The skills round tested hot Potato Skills Test Part 2, with advancement tied to clean, accurate execution.
Skills Test Part 3
Hot Potato Skills Test Part 3
The skills round tested hot Potato Skills Test Part 3, with advancement tied to clean, accurate execution.
Episode 14 · Mystery Box Challenge
Tag Team moves from tag Team Mystery Box to tag Team elimination challenge.
Mystery Box Challenge
Tag Team Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on tag Team Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate. The source gives the cooks 60 minutes.
Elimination Test
Tag Team elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for tag Team elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 15 · Team Challenge
Pop-Up Restaurant moves from pop-Up Restaurant service menu to pop-Up Restaurant pressure test.
Team Challenge
Pop-Up Restaurant service menu
Teams handled pop-Up Restaurant service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Pop-Up Restaurant pressure test
The pressure test focused on pop-Up Restaurant pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Episode 16 · Mystery Box Challenge
Family Drama moves from family Drama Mystery Box to family Drama elimination challenge.
Mystery Box Challenge
Family Drama Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on family Drama Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Elimination Test
Family Drama elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for family Drama elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 17 · Team Challenge
Critics Choice moves from critics Choice service menu to critics Choice pressure test.
Team Challenge
Critics Choice service menu
Teams handled critics Choice service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Critics Choice pressure test
The pressure test focused on critics Choice pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation.
Episode 18 · Appetizer
The Finale, Pt. 1 is built around finale appetizer course.
Appetizer
Finale appetizer course
The documented challenge centered on finale appetizer course.
Episode 19 · Entrée
The Finale, Pt. 2 moves from finale entrée course to finale dessert 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.
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.
Shaun O'Neale
Las Vegas, Nevada
Everyone recorded for Season 7, listed alphabetically without result spoilers.
| Baker | Age | Hometown |
|---|---|---|
| Brandi Mudd | 27 | Irvington, Kentucky |
| David Williams | 35 | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Shaun O'Neale | 33 | Las Vegas, Nevada |