Chopped Season 43: Episode Guide & Ratings

When the ovens and fryers are turned off, four chefs have no choice but to get their grill on! A rare meat hits the heat in round one, and a frozen food favorite in the second basket might not thrill the competitors. The final two grillers must contend with double-smoked bacon in the dessert basket, and each chef tries to smoke the other in this fiery contest.

Four talented chefs are ready to compete in the Chopped Kitchen, but there's something peculiar about the huge, elaborate cake in the appetizer basket: It's made of beef! In the second round, a strange twist on a classic Italian dish tests the competitors' creativity, and the two remaining chefs are challenged to make desserts using a mayo that may be tricky to incorporate.

The chefs battle it out to see who can build the most epic burger masterpieces. An awe-inspiring tower kicks off the first round of hamburger hustling. An old-school lunchbox favorite adds a bite of yummy, kitschy fun to the entree round, and a sweet challenge is in store for the two remaining chefs who must make epic burgers suitable for dessert.

The chefs gear up for an epic hot dog battle in a nonstop celebration of the phenomenal frankfurter. In the appetizer basket, they discover a hot dog creation that takes the prized piece of Americana to another level. A state fair treat with a twist awaits the three contenders in the entree round, and an intriguing dessert basket contains the mysterious "wieners in a quilt."

The competitors get the surprise of their lives when they find out that three original cast members of the legendary 70s sitcom will be tasting their food! Christopher Knight, Maureen McCormick and Susan Olsen -- famous for playing siblings Peter, Marcia and Cindy Brady -- take on the role of Chopped judges. In all three rounds, the baskets feature ingredients inspired by the groovy show, including pork chops and applesauce.

Three stars from the legendary TV show The Brady Bunch are perched at the Chopping Block as guest judges, and they're eager to enjoy a meal prepared by some of their biggest fans. Barry Williams, Eve Plumb and Mike Lookinland -- famous for their roles as Greg, Jan and Bobby Brady -- share stories from their time as fictional siblings. Meanwhile, the starstruck competitors open the first basket to find Hawaiian ingredients in a tribute to the Brady family's notorious vacation to the Aloha State. A creepy-crawly finds its way into the entree basket, and popcorn and a tropical drink keep the Brady bash going in the dessert round.

The chefs take on a melted cheese theme with the hope of giving the judges stretchable, craveworthy dishes. A platter of comfort food yumminess is at the center of a decadent first basket, and the ultimate melty cheese dish -- fondue -- finds its way into the second basket. In the dessert round, the remaining chefs have to get creative with the strange, colorful cheese snacks in the basket.

Kicking off a first-of-its-kind, high-stakes desserts tournament, four chefs compete in a series of chocolate challenges. Spicy booze and a book filled with bonbons are in the mix in round one, and an oversize beverage meets a stinky cheese in the entree basket. The dessert basket features a can of something that could be cause for concern as the chefs make chocolatey showpieces to earn a spot in the grand finale and a shot at the $50,000 prize.

It's much ado about doughnuts in this exciting heat of the $50,000 Sweets Showdown. The chefs must demonstrate doughnut dexterity as they create sweet, savory and filled varieties that incorporate challenging ingredients such as onions and grasshoppers. Only one tenacious chef will conquer all and win the chance to return for the finale.

With their eyes on the Sweets Showdown $50,000 prize, four top-tier dessert chefs strive to bake their way into the judges' hearts in this all-cakes preliminary battle. A beautifully bare edible art piece is at the center of the first basket, and a soup and a leafy green threaten to hinder the competitors' progress in the entree round. In round three, only one chef can win ultimate baking bragging rights and a trip to the finale.

The $50,000 Sweets Showdown continues with a preliminary battle that shines the spotlight on ice cream. Each round challenges the competitors to churn out a different frozen treat: milkshakes, ice cream sandwiches and sundaes. But after the judges sample all the cool creations, only one chef can advance to the finale.

In the thrilling culmination of a five-part tournament, four dessert dynamos return to the Chopped Kitchen in pursuit of the $50,000 prize, but the ultimate sugar high and the prestigious title of Chopped Grand Champion can only go to one extraordinary chef. A wild-looking citrus fruit and some syrupy flowers are part of the challenge in the first round. A colossal cocktail is all the buzz in the entree round, and an edible candelabra is a bright surprise for the two chefs left in the dessert round.

Four bold contenders stride into the Chopped Kitchen with winning on their minds. If the tri-tip in the first basket doesn't trip them up, the edible bird's nest just might. Stinging nettles threaten to hurt the competitors' chances for success in round two, and the two finalists must make good use of a dairy delicacy in their desserts.