MasterChef Junior — Season 1

On the new "Junior Edition" of MASTERCHEF, 24 of the best junior home cooks in the country between the ages of eight and 13 will create their tastiest seafood, pasta or dessert dish in the auditions round and present it to the renowned MASTERCHEF judging panel: host and award-winning Chef Gordon Ramsay, restaurateur and winemaker Joe Bastianich (Del Posto, Eataly) and acclaimed chef Graham Elliot (Graham Elliot, Graham Elliot Bistro). 12 kids who impress the judges will continue in the competition and move one step closer to becoming America's youngest MASTERCHEF.

The Top 12 junior home cooks compete in the season's first mystery box challenge and must create an impressive dish using only the mystery ingredients. Later, the judges task the kids to each create an elevated, restaurant-quality burger in only 60 minutes. Find out which kids made the most delicious burger and advance to the next round.

The junior home cooks test the laws of physics by whipping liquid cream by hand, and to determine the stiffness of the whipped cream, they each hold their bowl of whipped cream over the judges' heads. The contestant whose whipped cream remains in the bowl gets an advantage in the next round, while the others get to slime the judges! Later, the contestants pair up in a tag-team Beef Wellington challenge, during which they take turns to prepare Gordon's classic recipe and two sides. Find out which dishes impress the judges.

In the next mystery box challenge, the junior home cooks must create a dish using "food kids hate," including liver, sardines and blue cheese. The winner of the challenge earns a sweet advantage in the next round. Later, in the elimination round, the kids have 90 minutes to create an impressive layer cake with at least three layers. Find out which desserts impressed the judges.

In the season's first field challenge, the remaining six kids split into two teams to take over the kitchen at a fine-dining restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. The two teams have limited time to prep, cook and serve a three-course meal for a packed room of diners, who are unaware that pint-size cooks are preparing their meal. The judges will determine the winning team based on their performance in the kitchen, as well as the diners' and head chef's feedback. Find out which contestants impress.

The top four cooks create dishes featuring chicken, with the cooks of two best dishes moving to the final round.

The two remaining cooks prepare three-course menus; the winner is chosen.