The series was confirmed for a fifteenth season renewal on May 13, 2024.[2] On April 8, 2025, it was announced that the season's theme would feature contestants competing as pairs for the first time ever for the trophy, the title, and $250,000. It was also revealed that Tiffany Derry would replace judge Aarón Sánchez, alongside returning judges Gordon Ramsay and Joe Bastianich.[3] It was later revealed that the season would premiere on May 21, 2025.[4]
Ramsay and Bastianich welcome the contestants and introduce new judge Tiffany Derry. They explain that this will be the first season the contestants will be competing as pairs for the prize. For the qualifying round, pairs will compete against each other with only one pair advancing to the competition. In the first contest, dating couple Jesse & Jessica compete against married couple Zach & Michelle, with Zach & Michelle advancing. Next up, aunt and niece Tina & Aivan compete against cousins Shanda & Asa, with Tina & Aivan advancing. In the third and final battle of the day, divorced exes Azu & Javier compete against newlyweds Athena & Timothy, and Athena & Timothy qualify for the next round.
The audition battles begin tonight with two teams of best friends, Courtney & Darce who are both ER vets and best friends and Ryan Kate & Kayla who became best friends after meeting in season three of MasterChef Junior. Ryan Kate & Kayla are awarded aprons. Best friends Kevin & Trey and firefighters Javi & Luis audition next. Kevin & Trey win the aprons. In a highlight reel, mother and daughter Tonna & Cait defeat 'Glammas' Lisa & Milah and married couple Julio & Rachel defeat another married couple, Spencer & McKenna. The final audition battle is between two sets of siblings: Ashley & Ricky and Adam & Joel. In a close decision, the judges choose Ashley & Ricky.
The top eight are surprised to learn that the other eight duos that failed their audition have been given a second chance. They will have 45 minutes to make any dish of their choice, and three identical plates must be served. Four pairs of aprons will be given, and the other four duos will be eliminated for good. After tasting, the judges decide Azu & Javier, Adam & Joel, Courtney & Darce, and Jessica & Jesse made the best dishes, earning them aprons, leading to the second eliminations of Javi & Luis, Lisa & Milah, Shanda & Asa, and Spencer & McKenna.
Elimination Challenge: The top 12 duos are challenged to make their best dish that would be served at a dinner party in 60 minutes. Joe announces the top three and bottom three dishes would be tasted; the winning duo will receive an advantage in the next challenge. During the challenge, Kayla severely cut herself and had to be removed from the kitchen to go to the ER after the challenge. The top three duos are Tina & Aivan, Michelle & Zach and Adam & Joel. The judges decide that Michelle & Zach are the winning duo, earning them the advantage. The bottom three dishes belong to Kevin & Trey, Darce & Courtney, and Tonna & Cait. Kevin & Trey are eliminated.
Challenge winners: Zach & Michelle Lamb
Bottom three: Kevin Fuller & Trey Wade, Darce Orlund & Courtney Fraley, and Tonna & Cait Jacobson
Mystery Box Challenge: The top 11 duos find two mystery boxes on their station, and discover that one box contains sweet ingredients while the other contains spicy ingredients. The teams must combine at least two ingredients from each box into their dish, with the winning team getting an advantage in the next round. For their advantage, Michelle & Zach get to assign the proteins for each team; each team gets 60 minutes to prepare their dish. The top three dishes belong to Jessica & Jesse, Rachel & Julio, and Tina & Aivan. The winning dish goes to Rachel & Julio. The bottom three dishes belong to Azu & Javier, Ashley & Ricky, and Zach & Michelle. The team of Ashley & Ricky are eliminated.
Challenge winners: Rachel Sanchez & Julio Figueredo
Bottom three: Azu & Javier Cierco, Ashley & Ricky Napoli, and Zach & Michelle Lamb
Team Challenge: The top 10 duos face their first team challenge where they have to make a hearty lunch for 101 fishermen and their families at Gem Pier in Williamstown. Rachel and Julio have the advantage of choosing their teammates. They choose Adam & Joel, Tina & Aivan, Jessica & Jesse, and Zach & Michelle, forming the Red Team with Rachel & Julio as the team captains, leaving the other five duos as the Blue Team with Timothy & Athena as the captains. Toward the end of the cook, Ryan Kate collapsed due to dehydration and had to be removed from the challenge, therefore was unable to hear the results as well. The Red Team are declared the winners, leaving the Blue Team to face the dreaded pressure test.
Challenge winners/Immune: Adam & Joel Head, Jessica Bosworth & Jesse Rosenwald, Rachel Sanchez & Julio Figueredo, Tina Duong & Aivan Tran, and Zach & Michelle Lamb
Pressure Test: The five losing duos from the previous team challenge find mystery boxes at their stations. When they lift them up there is a mallet in the mystery box. The judges reveal the mystery box is made of golden chocolate and the mallet is so they can smash the chocolate. The duos are tasked to make chocolate desserts which also must include the mystery box chocolate. They will have 75 minutes. After the tasting Tonna & Cait and Ryan Kate & Kayla were announced to have the best desserts. Azu & Javier also did enough to advance. Athena & Timothy and Courtney & Darce were the bottom two teams. Courtney & Darce were the next duo to be eliminated.
Bottom two: Timothy Cartwright & Athena Phillips and Darce Orlund & Courtney Fraley
Elimination Challenge: The top nine duos arrive and the judges announce a new first of its kind challenge: 'Recipe Telephone'. The duos will have 60 minutes to prepare a recipe; however, one half of the duo will conceptualize and start the dish, and the other half will finish it. The non-cooking half of the duo will be brought to a holding room. They will switch with 30 minutes left. The first cooking half of the duo will be responsible for providing 'culinary clues' to set their partner up for success. The second cooking half will be responsible for finishing the dish and interpreting the clues. Adam, Athena, Javier, Jesse, Julio, Michelle, Ryan Kate, Tina and Tonna will start cooking while the other half will sit in the holding room. The top three are Jessica & Jesse, Rachel & Julio and Tina & Aivan. Rachel & Julio win and won a dinner at all three judges' restaurants. The worst dishes belong to Tonna & Cait, Michelle & Zach and Ryan Kate & Kayla. Ryan Kate & Kayla are eliminated.
Challenge winners: Rachel Sanchez & Julio Figueredo
Bottom three: Tonna & Cait Jacobson, Zach & Michelle Lamb and Ryan Kate Brandenberg & Kayla Mitchell.
Eliminated: Ryan Kate Brandenberg & Kayla Mitchell
Team Challenge: The top eight duos face their next team challenge where they are tasked with cooking a two-course fine dining experience consisting of an amuse-bouche and an entrée for over 60 guests. The amuse-bouche will be served to the VIPs onboard a moving train with one duo from each team being responsible for making them. The Red Team consists of Zach & Michelle, Tonna & Cait, Timothy & Athena, and Rachel & Julio with Zach & Michelle as the captains, while the Blue Team consists of Jessica & Jesse, Azu & Javier, Adam & Joel, & Tina & Aivan with Jessica & Jesse as the captains. From each team, Rachel & Julio and Adam & Joel volunteer to serve the amuse-bouche on the train. The Blue Team wins the challenge, sending the Red Team to the pressure test.
Challenge winners/Immune: Adam & Joel Head, Azu & Javier Cierco, Jessica Bosworth & Jesse Rosenwald, and Tina Duong & Aivan Tran
Pressure Test: The losing duos from the previous challenge will face a pressure test. Gordon reveals that the contestants will bid on ingredients with time rather than money. Every duo starts with 90 minutes. They will bid on proteins, produce, and pantry items. The first auction is on proteins; Timothy and Athena buy salmon with 45 minutes, Rachel and Julio buy chicken with 30 minutes, Tonna & Cait buy lamb for 5 minutes, and Michelle & Zach get eggs for free. Next they must bid on produce; Zach & Michelle buy leafy greens and onions with 15 minutes,Tonna & Cait buy root vegetables with 20 minutes, Rachel & Julio buy tomatoes and peppers for 20 minutes, and Timothy & Athena get fruit for free. The final auction is on pantry items; Zach & Michelle buy spices with 20 minutes leaving them with 55 minutes to cook, Timothy & Athena buy herbs leaving them with 20 minutes, Tonna & Cait buy flavor bombs giving them 50 minutes, and Rachel & Julio get grains for free keeping them at 40 minutes. Rachel & Julio and Zach & Michelle made the best dishes and were safe leaving Timothy & Athena and Tonna & Cait as the bottom two. The judges eliminate Tonna & Cait.
Bottom two: Timothy Cartwright & Athena Phillips and Tonna & Cait Jacobson
Elimination Challenge: The top seven duos walk into the kitchen and discover various displays of macaron towers. The judges announce the duos must make macaron towers featuring two flavors and 80 macarons in all in 90 minutes. After cooking the judges announce every duo will have their macarons tasted. Adam & Joel, Azu & Javier and Zach & Michelle are named the top three and Adam & Joel win earning them the final advantage of the season. Tina & Aivan and Athena & Timothy are named the bottom two. Athena & Timothy are sent home.
