Chopped: Castaways (2026)
Synopsis
Battling the elements across two grueling cooking rounds each week, competitors must build a working kitchen from basic supplies, earn their signature Chopped ingredient baskets through intense physical challenges, and cook entirely over open fire.
First Air Date: 2026-05-12
Last Air Date: 2026-06-23
Number of Seasons: 1
Number of Episodes: 8
Networks: Food Network
Top Cast
- Ted Allen as Self - Host
- Marcus Samuelsson as Self - Judge
- Maneet Chauhan as Self - Judge
- Gabriele Bertaccini as Self - Judge
Seasons
Season 1 (2026)
No overview available for this season.
Episodes:
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Ep. 1: Welcome to the Island
Twelve chefs are split into teams on a remote island and must create three-course meals with no electricity; in round one, a venomous threat in the basket tests their nerve; the lowest-performing chefs are sent to the Gauntlet for a head-to-head battle
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Ep. 2: Dig In or Go Home
The remaining 11 chefs dig up their basket ingredients and must transform the mix of high-quality and low-quality items into five family-style dishes. One team rallies together, while the other begins to crack as individual agendas take over
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Ep. 3: Dive Deep
For a high-risk challenge, the 10 remaining chefs must dive into choppy waters to retrieve their basket ingredients. In the head-to-head elimination Gauntlet, a delicate protein meets unexpected flavors, and relentless smoke pushes precision to the limit
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Ep. 4: Choose Your Weapon
The nine remaining chefs must choose their weapons and hit their targets to earn high-value ingredients. In a relay-style cook, each team creates one cohesive dish built around a showstopping basket, and the losing team is sent to a brutal Gauntlet
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Ep. 5: You're on Your Own, Kid
The competition shifts, and every chef is forced to rely on themselves like never before. To locate their baskets, the chefs must navigate the dense jungle using only a compass, where every wrong turn costs valuable time in the kitchen. In round one, each chef is pushed to define their point of view, creating a dish that reflects both creativity and independence under pressure. In the Gauntlet, the two lowest-performing chefs face off in a high-stakes elimination where early obstacles slow their momentum, and a demanding protein tests their control. Who will rise to meet the moment, and who will be chopped?
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Ep. 6: Catch Me If You Can
The final six Castaways are fighting for their individual survival, and as fatigue sets in, the chefs are pushed to prove they can rise above the competition. In a test of primitive skill, they wade into the lagoon to secure their protein. Back at camp, they're tasked with elevating their fresh catch using only what the island provides. As the clock winds down, even the strongest competitors begin to falter, struggling to execute at this stage of the competition. In the Gauntlet, the bottom two chefs face a prickly crustacean in a fiery showdown where control, precision, and composure are pushed to the limit. Which Castaway will stand out when it matters most, and who will be chopped?
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Ep. 7: Stay Afloat
Five chefs remain, and the competition intensifies as strategy becomes just as critical as culinary skill. In a high-risk, high-reward challenge, the Castaways race into open water to retrieve their main protein, with the most desirable ingredients waiting far from shore. Some push into deeper waters, while others play it safe, but only the strongest dishes will rise to the top. The two lowest-performing chefs are sent to the Gauntlet for a head-to-head elimination. Battling tough competition, harsh conditions, and a deceptively simple ground meat, they must execute under intense pressure to stay in the game. Which Castaway will earn a place in the finale, and who will be chopped?
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Ep. 8: Escape the Island
Four Castaways remain, and the competition returns to a classic three-round Chopped format, which has always been the ultimate test of skill, ingenuity, and resourcefulness. In round one, each chef must tackle a refined ingredient, utilizing smoke to elevate their dishes. In round two, they transition from open flame to an outdoor oven, shifting from rugged fire management to precise, controlled cooking. The last two chefs face off in a final Gauntlet for the title, where they must utilize the fire dome and take on an unfamiliar predator. With $100,000 on the line, everything comes down to execution. Which Castaway will be crowned the champion, and who will be chopped?
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