The American version of MasterChef has wowed fans and given a chance for home cooks to shine for over a decade, but while some MasterChef seasons are remembered fondly, others can do without a rewatch. Since MasterChef season 1 premiered in 2010 with Hells Kitchen's Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich, and Graham Elliot at the reins, the series has expanded into a franchise with spin-offs like MasterChef Junior and MasterChef Celebrity Showdown. Over the years, hundreds of people with no professional experience in the kitchen have grown from basic home cooks to qualified chefs, with some alumni having gone on to open their own businesses.
Most recently, a group of former contestants returned for a second shot at the title and $250,000 grand prize when MasterChef season 12, titled MasterChef season 12, premiered in mid-2022. With Gordon and Joe now joined by Aarón Sanchez, MasterChef season 12 was the series' latest success despite some detrimental mistakes made. Although the show wrapped in September, fans of MasterChef can revisit every season if they're subscribed to Hulu. Here are a few MasterChef seasons that deserve a rewatch, and a few that viewers could do without.
4. Worst: MasterChef Season 9
There have been several twists introduced on MasterChef as later seasons have progressed, but one that negatively affected the series occurred throughout MasterChef season 9. For MasterChef season 9 in 2018, Next Level Chef host Gordon, Joe, and Aarón handpicked eight home cooks each to mentor, but with so many contestants and double eliminations, the season seemed to drag on. Besides more unnecessary focus being placed on the judges instead of the home cooks, MasterChef season 9 also featured several polarizing contestants who frequently bickered, such as Shanika Patterson and Emily Hallock. While MasterChef season 9 introduced viewers to a large group of home cooks, it fell flat compared to the other seasons.
3. Best: MasterChef Season 3
MasterChef season 3 had one of the biggest reactions among viewers when it aired in 2012, and has remained one of the best MasterChef seasons since. Fans of the series may fondly remember the emotional moment Gordon described Christine Hà's apple pie to her; Christine, who is blind, rightfully walked away with the title and has become one most successful MasterChef contestants since. Although Christine's journey stole the show, MasterChef season 3 featured plenty of other talented home cooks such as Frank Mirando, Food Network star Monti Carlo, and the late Josh Marks. With a diverse group of contestants whose individual talents shined in different ways, MasterChef season 3 doesn't get old.
2. Worst: MasterChef Season 5
While MasterChef season 3 has continued to stand the test of time, however, MasterChef season 5 hasn't aged well. Although there was plenty of talent to go around when MasterChef season 5 premiered in 2014, the judges faced a lot of criticism from viewers and home cooks alike. The MasterChef judges, especially Joe, were accused multiple times on-camera of being biased towards eventual winner Courtney Lapresi. If that wasn't bad enough, MasterChef season 5 featured several home cooks who arguably overstayed their welcome such as Joshua "Cutter" Brewer and Francis Biondi, which offered more frustration than entertainment.
1. Best: MasterChef Season 8
Although MasterChef season 4 introduced viewers to one of the greatest home cooks to compete, Luca Manfe, MasterChef season 8 had it all: skilled contestants, hours of entertainment, varying degrees of arguments, and interesting challenges. From the start, MasterChef season 8 captured attention with memorable characters like eventual winner Dino Angelo Luciano, the wholesome Reba Billingsley, and football-obsessed Mark Togni. MasterChef season 8 was also Aarón first season as a full-time judge, who will return alongside Gordon and Joe when MasterChef season 13 returns in 2023.