[s12e1] Back To Win: Audition Battles Apr 2026

: The season notably included former MasterChef Junior contestants now competing as adults, such as Dara Yu , who ultimately went on to win the season .

: This round saw Amanda Saab (S6), Christian Green (S5), Lexy (S11), and Wuta (S10) compete. [S12E1] Back to Win: Audition Battles

The episode featured three intense four-way battles, grouping contestants by their past performance or season history: : The season notably included former MasterChef Junior

Despite their history, both and Shanika delivered standout dishes—Emily with crab tortellini and Shanika with a "curveball" strawberry arancini—to advance together. wowed the judges with a "rockin'" bourbon-glazed salmon

wowed the judges with a "rockin'" bourbon-glazed salmon.

In the premiere of , titled " Back to Win: Audition Battles ," the stakes were higher than ever as 40 legendary former contestants returned for a second chance at redemption. Judges Gordon Ramsay , Aarón Sánchez , and Joe Bastianich set the tone immediately: only 20 white aprons were available, meaning half the field would go home after the opening head-to-head battles. The Opening Battles