Complete season guide
Complete season breakdown
MasterChef US season 9 spans 23 documented competition episodes. This guide follows the actual episode briefs and featured dishes from auditions through the finale.
Episode 1 · Auditions Round 1
The Judges Do Battle, 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
The Judges Do Battle, 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 · Auditions Round 3
The Judges Do Battle, Part 3 is built around signature audition dish.
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 45 minutes.
Episode 4 · Mystery Box Challenge
Home State Heroes moves from home State Heroes Mystery Box to home State Heroes elimination challenge.
Mystery Box Challenge
Home State Heroes Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on home State Heroes Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Elimination Challenge
Home State Heroes elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for home State Heroes elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 5 · Elimination Challenge
Gordon Ramsay Masterclass is built around ramsay's crab eggs Benedict dish.
Elimination Challenge
Ramsay's crab eggs Benedict dish
The elimination brief called for ramsay's crab eggs Benedict dish; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 6 · Team Challenge
Trouble Brewing moves from trouble Brewing service menu to trouble Brewing pressure test.
Team Challenge
Trouble Brewing service menu
Teams handled trouble Brewing service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Trouble Brewing pressure test
The pressure test focused on trouble Brewing pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks 60 minutes.
Episode 7 · Mystery Box Challenge
World Cup Dishes moves from world Cup Dishes Mystery Box to world Cup Dishes elimination challenge.
Mystery Box Challenge
World Cup Dishes Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on world Cup Dishes Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Elimination Challenge
World Cup Dishes elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for world Cup Dishes elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks 30 minutes.
Episode 8 · Team Challenge
A Gordon Ramsay Wedding is built around service for wedding reception of season seven winner shaun o'neale.
Team Challenge
Service for wedding reception of season seven winner shaun o'neale
Teams handled service for wedding reception of season seven winner shaun o'neale, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Episode 9 · Mystery Box Challenge
The Big Not Easy moves from the Big Not Easy Mystery Box to the Big Not Easy elimination challenge.
Mystery Box Challenge
The Big Not Easy Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on the Big Not Easy Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Elimination Challenge
The Big Not Easy elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for the Big Not Easy elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks 40 minutes.
Episode 10 · Team Challenge
Rise or Fall moves from rise or Fall service menu to rise or Fall elimination challenge.
Team Challenge
Rise or Fall service menu
Teams handled rise or Fall service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Elimination Challenge
Rise or Fall elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for rise or Fall elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks 40 minutes.
Episode 11 · Team Challenge
The Kids are Alright moves from the Kids are Alright service menu to the Kids are Alright pressure test.
Team Challenge
The Kids are Alright service menu
Teams handled the Kids are Alright service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe. The source gives the cooks 90 minutes.
Pressure Test
The Kids are Alright pressure test
The pressure test focused on the Kids are Alright pressure test, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks 75 minutes.
Episode 12 · Mystery Box Challenge
Frying Tonight moves from frying Tonight Mystery Box to frying Tonight elimination challenge.
Mystery Box Challenge
Frying Tonight Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on frying Tonight Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate. The source gives the cooks 45 minutes.
Elimination Challenge
Frying Tonight elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for frying Tonight elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 13 · Skills Test
Just for the Halibut moves from just for the Halibut Skills Test to dish of their choosing using the halibut they had fileted.
Skills Test
Just for the Halibut Skills Test
The skills round tested just for the Halibut Skills Test, with advancement tied to clean, accurate execution. The source gives the cooks 20 minutes.
Elimination Challenge
Dish of their choosing using the halibut they had fileted
The elimination brief called for dish of their choosing using the halibut they had fileted; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks 45 minutes.
Episode 14 · Team Challenge
Sky's the Limit moves from 100 Air Force members a dish to black forest gateau that has at least four layers.
Team Challenge
100 Air Force members a dish
Teams handled 100 Air Force members a dish, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Black forest gateau that has at least four layers
The pressure test focused on black forest gateau that has at least four layers, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks 75 minutes.
Episode 15 · 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 45 minutes.
Elimination Challenge
Tag Team elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for tag Team elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks 60 minutes.
Episode 16 · Team Challenge
American Heroes moves from american Heroes service menu to three pasta dishes.
Team Challenge
American Heroes service menu
Teams handled american Heroes service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Three pasta dishes
The pressure test focused on three pasta dishes, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks one hour.
Episode 17 · Mystery Box Challenge
Waste Not Want Not moves from waste Not Want Not Mystery Box to waste Not Want Not elimination challenge.
Mystery Box Challenge
Waste Not Want Not Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on waste Not Want Not Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate. The source gives the cooks 45 minutes.
Elimination Challenge
Waste Not Want Not elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for waste Not Want Not elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition. The source gives the cooks 45 minutes.
Episode 18 · Team Challenge
Restaurant Takeover moves from restaurant Takeover service menu to three desserts that each featured chocolate.
Team Challenge
Restaurant Takeover service menu
Teams handled restaurant Takeover service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Pressure Test
Three desserts that each featured chocolate
The pressure test focused on three desserts that each featured chocolate, putting technical control ahead of improvisation. The source gives the cooks 60 minutes.
Episode 19 · Mystery Box Challenge
Cooking with Heart moves from cooking with Heart Mystery Box to cooking with Heart elimination challenge.
Mystery Box Challenge
Cooking with Heart Mystery Box
The Mystery Box brief centered on cooking with Heart Mystery Box; contestants had to turn the revealed constraint into an original plate.
Elimination Test
Cooking with Heart elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for cooking with Heart elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Episode 20 · Episode brief
Battle of the Beef is built around battle of the Beef.
Episode brief
Battle of the Beef
The cited episode table identifies this installment by challenge title but does not provide enough detail to name a separate dish.
Episode 21 · Team Challenge
The Semi Final moves from the Semi Final service menu to final cook-off menu.
Team Challenge
The Semi Final service menu
Teams handled the Semi Final service menu, with the service result deciding who stayed safe.
Finalists
Final cook-off menu
The late-stage cook-off centered on final cook-off menu and determined who advanced or won.
Elimination Challenge
The Semi Final elimination challenge
The elimination brief called for the Semi Final elimination challenge; the weakest result risked leaving the competition.
Finalist
Final cook-off menu
The late-stage cook-off centered on final cook-off menu and determined who advanced or won.
Episode 22 · Finale
The Finale, Pt. 1 moves from final cook-off menu to finale appetizer course.
Finale
Final cook-off menu
The late-stage cook-off centered on final cook-off 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 23 · 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.
Gerron Hurt
Louisville, Kentucky
Everyone recorded for Season 9, listed alphabetically without result spoilers.
| Baker | Age | Hometown |
|---|---|---|
| Ashley Mincey | 28 | Opa-locka, Florida |
| Cesar Cano | 33 | Houston, Texas |
| Gerron Hurt | 25 | Louisville, Kentucky |