The judges welcome all of the potential contestants and inform them that in addition to the regular prizes of $250,000 and the MasterChef trophy, the winner will also receive training at restaurants owned by the three respective judges. All judges must agree to allow the contestant to earn an apron and advance, but each judge also has one pass they can give a contestant to give them a second chance at the audition process. The auditions are assisted by previous winners Shaun O'Neale, Christine Hà, and Jennifer Behm. Allen and Sabina are the first candidates and neither advances. Dorian is next and she advances. Nick, Liz and Keturah audition and all advance. Some more unnamed contestants fail but Subha advances. Kenny advances next. Jamie and Sam are the next group and they both advance. Sarah becomes the next to advance. Micah is next to compete but only gets Gordon to say yes, but Gordon gives him his pass and Micah will battle again for a shot at an apron.

Only eight aprons are left for the hopeful home cooks to earn so they can pass through the audition rounds, where they have less than 45 minutes to prepare their signature dish and leave the judges wanting for more before the Top 20 are chosen.

Competition kicks off for The Top 20 with a culinary boot camp to weed out the cooks from the chefs. For a chance for immunity, the chef-testants' skills are put to the test in a quick-fire evaluation of their culinary expertise. Then, the home cooks face their first mystery box challenge of the season, in which they will make a dish inspired by Chef Gordon Ramsay or be at risk of elimination.

Team Challenge: The contestants were taken to a mansion in Los Angeles, California where they are split into teams. Noah captains the Blue Team while Sarah captains the Red Team. The contestants assigned to the Blue Team are Bri, Evan, Fred, Keturah, Liz, Nick, Sam and Subha; all other contestants are assigned to the Red Team. Both teams must cook dishes for 100 VIP's and former MasterChef contestants and winners. The Blue Team were voted by the judges as the winners. Challenge Winners: Bri Baker, Evan Tesiny, Fred Chang, Keturah King, Liz Linn, Nick DiGiovanni, Noah Sims, Sam Haaz and Subha Ramiah. Noah is asked to nominate one member of his team to also face elimination along with the Red Team and he chooses Subha. The episode ends before the challenge airs. Immune: Bri Baker, Evan Tesiny, Fred Chang, Keturah King, Liz Linn, Nick DiGiovanni, Noah Sims and Sam Haaz.

The top eighteen battle it out for immunity in an epic team challenge. With only forty-five minutes on the clock, the losing team has to break down a chicken to make a delectable dish in an intensely crucial elimination challenge. Watch as the top eighteen cook for their lives and discover which contestant has to hand over their apron.

Mystery Box Challenge: Alessandra Ambrosio joined the judges to introduce the challenge. The contestants had one hour to cook a dish featuring at least one of Latin American cuisine's staple proteins. After thirty minutes of cooking time, the judges also asked them to make a ceviche to accompany their dish. Fred, Sam, and Liz were declared as having the worst dishes while Evan, Michael, Shari, Nick, Bri, and Wuta were called to the front for having the best dishes of the night. The judges granted Shari, Nick, and Wuta immunity while the rest had to face elimination next episode. Challenge Winners/Immune: Nick DiGiovanni, Shari Mukherjee and Wuta Onda.

The remaining home cooks face another elimination challenge in which they have 60 minutes to closely replicate the dish du jour, tarte Tatin that must be prepared with silky crème anglaise sauce, or risk surrendering their apron and going home.

Team Challenge: The judges select team captains; Michael captains the Blue Team and Nick captains the Red Team. The Blue Team members are Dorian, Liz, Noah, Sam, Sarah, Shari and Subha; while the Red Team members are Bri, Fred, Jamie, Keturah, Micah, Renee and Wuta. The captains are taken to one of Bastianich's restaurants where they are given lessons and instructions on preparing a three-course meal. The captains are then taken back to their teams and they must teach the teams how to make the dishes. The teams must cook three portions of each course within one hour. The Red Team wins the challenge. Challenge Winners/Immune: Bri Baker, Fred Chang, Jamie Hough, Keturah King, Micah Yaroch, Nick DiGiovanni, Renee Rice and Wuta Onda..

Team Challenge/Elimination Test: The remaining eight contestants have 75 minutes to replicate a platter of six dishes and make a dish of their own in pairs with the teammates switching out every ten minutes in a tag team challenge. Nick gets to decide the pairs. Sam is paired with Shari, Dorian with Subha, Noah with Sarah and Liz with Michael. Noah and Sarah along with Dorian and Subha were deemed safe. The remaining pairs were in the bottom four. Bottom four: Liz Linn, Michael Silverstein, Sam Haaz and Shari Mukherjee. Liz and Michael were eliminated. Eliminated: Liz Linn and Michael Silverstein.

Team Challenge: The judges select team captains; Bri captains the Blue Team and Wuta captains the Red Team. Wuta chooses Noah, Jamie, Micah, Sarah, Dorian and Keturah; while Bri chooses Fred, Nick, Shari, Sam, Renee and Subha. The contestants cater for the wedding reception of season nine winner Gerron Hurt to be held in the MasterChef kitchen. They are required to prepare dishes for 45 guests in 90 minutes. The Blue Team wins the challenge. Challenge Winners/Immune: Bri Baker, Fred Chang, Nick DiGiovanni, Renee Rice, Sam Haaz, Shari Mukherjee and Subha Ramiah.

Elimination Test: The remaining contestants have 60 minutes to cook a beef dish using an outdoor gas grill. The winning dish will be featured on the Beef. It's What's for Dinner website. After 30 minutes of cooking time, the judges also asked them to make a grilled dessert to accompany their dish. Sarah's dish was deemed the best. Dorian, Jamie and Micah also did well enough to move on. The bottom three dishes belonged to Keturah, Noah and Wuta. Challenge Winner: Sarah Faherty. Bottom three: Keturah King, Noah Sims and Wuta Onda. Keturah is eliminated. Eliminated: Keturah King.

The Top 13 endure an immunity challenge fit for a king when they are tasked with breaking down Alaskan king crabs. Special guest Chef Masaharu Morimoto enters the MASTERCHEF kitchen, where the contestants will have to craft something magical for him in under 60 minutes. Halfway to the finale, the judges expect nothing but legendary meals from the home cooks. Who will survive the challenge and receive a special surprise?

Mystery Box Challenge/Elimination Test: The remaining ten home cooks had one hour to cook a savory dish and a sweet dish featuring bread. Dorian's dishes were deemed the best. The bottom three dishes belonged to Bri, Renee and Sam. The remaining contestants were deemed safe. Challenge Winner: Dorian Hunter, Bottom three: Bri Baker, Renee Rice and Sam Haaz, Sam is eliminated. Eliminated: Sam Haaz,

The Top 12 are in for a sweet treat in this week's immunity challenge. As the home cooks enter the MASTERCHEF kitchen, they are surprised with an array of gorgeous and delectable cakes. In under 75 minutes, the contestants will have to replicate one of the cakes on display for the judges. Discover whose baking skills will reign supreme.

Elimination Test: Candace Nelson joins the judges for this challenge. The chefs have one hour to make one dozen macarons with at least two different flavors. Noah, Bri, Micah, Nick, Wuta and Subha all fail to impress while the remaining contestants are sent to safety. Bottom six: Bri Baker, Micah Yaroch, Nick DiGiovanni, Noah Sims, Subha Ramiah and Wuta Onda. Bri, Micah, Nick and Noah are all sent to safety. Wuta is sent home. Eliminated: Wuta Onda.

Team Challenge: The contestants were taken to the Irwindale Speedway, where the home cooks themselves have to split into teams. Shari captains the Blue Team and chooses Bri, Fred, Nick and Noah, while Micah captains the Red Team with Dorian, Jamie, Sarah and Subha. Both teams had 75 minutes to cook dishes for 100 race car drivers and crew members. The Red Team were voted by the judges as the winners. Challenge Winners: Dorian Hunter, Jamie Hough, Micah Yaroch, Sarah Faherty and Subha Ramiah. Micah is asked to nominate one member of his team to also face elimination along with the Blue Team. The episode ends before Micah's decision airs..

The contestants face a mystery box challenge with more mystery ingredients than ever before.

The cooks are introduced to Grant Achatz, who shows the them the art of unconventional plating.