MasterChef (American TV series) season 15

MasterChef: Dynamic Duos
Season 15
Promotional poster for season 15, featuring (L to R) judges Joe Bastianich, Gordon Ramsay, and Tiffany Derry
Judges
No. of contestants12 pairs (24 total)
No. of episodes7
Release
Original networkFox
Original releaseMay 21, 2025 (2025-05-21) –
present
Season chronology

The fifteenth season of the American competitive reality television series MasterChef (also known as MasterChef: Dynamic Duos[1]) premiered on Fox on May 21, 2025. Gordon Ramsay and Joe Bastianich returned as judges, while Tiffany Derry joined the cast as the third judge, replacing Aarón Sánchez.

Production

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]

The season was filmed from November to December 2024, with production being moved to Melbourne, Australia from its previous MasterChef soundstage in Los Angeles, utilizing the set of the Australian series at the Melbourne Showgrounds in Ascot Vale, Victoria for the first time.[5]

Contestants

Note: Contestant details are as shown in graphics in the show except where cited.

Contestants[6] City[6] Relationship Status
Adam & Joel Head[7] Athens, Georgia Brothers Top 9
Azu & Javier Cierco[8][9] Miami Beach, Florida / Miami, Florida Divorced Exes
Jessica Bosworth & Jesse Rosenwald[10] Boston, Massachusetts Long Term Relationship
Kayla Mitchell & Ryan Kate Brandenburg[11] Moriches, New York / Grapevine, Texas MasterChef Junior Besties
Rachel Sanchez & Julio Figueredo[12] Naples, Florida Married
Timothy Cartwright & Athena Phillips[13][14] Bowie, Maryland Newlyweds
Tina Duong & Aivan Tran[15] Fountain Valley, California / Fairplay, Colorado Aunt & Niece
Tonna & Cait Jacobson[16] Brandon, South Dakota Mother & Daughter
Zach & Michelle Lamb[17] Minneapolis, Minnesota Married
Darce Olund & Courtney Fraley[18] Chicago, Illinois Animal ER Nurses Eliminated July 9
Ashley & Ricky Napoli[19] Orlando, Florida / Buffalo, New York Siblings Eliminated June 18
Kevin Fuller & Trey Wade[20] New Bern, North Carolina / Charlotte, North Carolina Best Friends Eliminated June 11

Elimination table

Place Duos Episodes
4 5 6 7
TBA Adam & Joel HIGH IN WIN IMM
TBA Azu & Javier IN LOW LOW PT
TBA Jessica & Jesse IN HIGH WIN IMM
TBA Kayla & Ryan Kate IN IN LOW PT
TBA Rachel & Julio IN WIN WIN IMM
TBA Timothy & Athena IN IN LOW LOW
TBA Tina & Aivan HIGH HIGH WIN IMM
TBA Tonna & Cait LOW IN LOW PT
TBA Zach & Michelle WIN LOW WIN IMM
10 Darce & Courtney LOW IN LOW ELIM
11 Ashley & Ricky IN ELIM
12 Kevin & Trey ELIM
  (WINNERS) This duo won the competition.
  (RUNNERS-UP) This duo finished as a runner-up in the finals.
  (WIN) The duo won the individual challenge (Mystery Box Challenge/Skills Test or Elimination Test).
  (WIN) The duo was on the winning team in the Team Challenge and directly advanced to the next round.
  (HIGH) The duo was one of the top entries in the individual challenge but didn't win.
  (HIGH) The duo was one of the top entries in the Team Challenge.
  (IN) The duo wasn't selected as a top or bottom entry in an individual challenge.
  (PT) The duo was on the losing team in the Team Challenge, competed in the Pressure Test, and advanced.
  (NPT) The duo was on the losing team in the Team Challenge, but was exempt from the Pressure Test.
  (IN) The duo wasn't selected as a top or bottom entry in a team challenge.
  (IMM) The duo didn't have to compete in that round of the competition and was safe from elimination.
  (IMM) The duo had to compete in that round of the competition but was safe from elimination.
  (LOW) The duo was one of the bottom entries in an individual challenge, and was the last person to advance.
  (LOW) The duo was one of the bottom entries in the Team Challenge and they advanced.
  (ELIM) The duo was eliminated from MasterChef.

Episodes

No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [21][22]Original release date [21][22]Prod.
code [21]		U.S. viewers
(millions)
2831"The Audition Battles"May 21, 2025 (2025-05-21)MCH-15011.31[23]
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.
2842"The Audition Battles Continue"May 28, 2025 (2025-05-28)MCH-15021.72[24]
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.
2853"Second Chance Battles"June 4, 2025 (2025-06-04)MCH-15031.73[25]
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.
2864"Dinner Party Dish"June 11, 2025 (2025-06-11)MCH-15041.69[26]

  • 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
  • Eliminated: Kevin Fuller & Trey Wade
2875"Mister-y & Mrs. Box"June 18, 2025 (2025-06-18)MCH-15051.90[27]

  • 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
  • Eliminated: Ashley & Ricky Napoli
2886"Pier Pressure"June 25, 2025 (2025-06-25)MCH-15061.81[28]

  • 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: Rachel Sanchez & Julio Figueredo, Adam & Joel Head, Tina Duong & Aivan Tran, Jessica Bosworth & Jesse Rosenwald, and Zach & Michelle Lamb
2897"Mystery Box"July 9, 2025 (2025-07-09)MCH-15071.81[29]

  • 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
  • Eliminated: Darce Orlund & Courtney Fraley
2908"Recipe Telephone"July 16, 2025 (2025-07-16)MCH-1508TBD
2919"Train to Table"July 23, 2025 (2025-07-23)MCH-1509TBD
29210"The Great Ingredient Bid Off"July 30, 2025 (2025-07-30)MCH-1510TBD

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