The competing chefs are given mystery basket ingredients, that cost less than $10, and are expected to transform them into winning dishes. Included: a meatless appetizer round; ham steaks as entrées; and chocolate chips for dessert.

Four distinct groups of champs will return to the Chopped Kitchen: professionals, amateurs, heroes and celebrities, all leading up to a grand finale where one chef will seize the biggest prize in Chopped history: $50,000 and a new car! In this initial battle, four stellar professionals fight to see who will represent the pros in the finale. They have to wrangle and cook eels and figure out what to do with a super salty veggie for their appetizers. Then in the entree round, the champs have to work with a bird and a soda. And a special cheese and a creepy chocolate item appear in the dessert basket.

In this finale of the Chopped Teen Tournament, four amazing champs from the preliminary competitions return to see which one will take the tournament and the huge grand prize: $25,000 and a culinary school scholarship! In the first round, there's a spectacular sea creature shocker in the basket. A classic kids' snack in the basket adds to the fun in the entree round. And when the last two remaining teen chefs face off in their second dessert round, the ice cream maker stirs up an interesting encounter between the competitors.

Some of the most beloved amateur winners return to the Chopped Kitchen for a shot to compete in the $50,000 finale. In the appetizer round the competitors must use salsa and cheese blintzes in their culinary masterpieces. Then as the entree round gets started, an off-balance tug-of-war over a piece of equipment has everybody laughing, except for the chef who loses the fight. And grapefruit is among the loot the last two champs find in the dessert basket.

Four Chopped Champions from the world of entertainment and sports compete for the last spot in the $50,000 finale. In the appetizer round, the celebrity champs find a peculiar type of flour and sweet tea in the baskets. Then a can of soup in the entree round causes various issues for the competitors. And the judges taste banana paste and cream cheese desserts before deciding on the last finalist.

Fourth and fifth graders compete; the first basket contains cotton candy; the second round features entrees made from pizza dough and a bitter green; the dessert round basket contains brownie mix.

With two spots left in the $50,000 Ultimate Tournament Grand Finale, the Chopped Kitchen welcomes back four incredible cooking heroes — two firefighters, a police officer and an army vet. In the appetizer round, the hero champs must get creative in order to make savory dishes with pineapple and fruit and nut bars. Then in the entree round, the champs find some lovely stalks of spring garlic in the basket, as well as some beautiful lamb chops. And an unpleasantly purple ingredient that the cooks must work into a dessert makes for a challenging last round.

Intensity and energy abound in the second competition of the Teen Tournament! Cleaning shrimp and slicing jalapenos are the first order of business in the appetizer round. The teen chefs have to hop to it when they find out they have to cook frog leg entrees. And in the dessert round, an iconic New York cookie must be combined with a popular nut.

Four new teen chefs enter the Chopped Kitchen with their sights set on winning a spot in the Grand Finale. Will they think dandelion greens are a dandy ingredient for the first round? The fryer is in high-demand in the entree round, featuring Cornish hens. Then in the dessert round, the ice cream machine is the kitchen toy of choice.

In a Chopped first, three not-at-all-average "Joes" fight it out against one outstanding pro, with $50,000 and a new car on the line! When the competitors get risotto in the first round, they have to decide whether to completely transform it or to greatly enhance its flavor. Then in the entree round, there's a huge surprise in the basket that not all of the champs are excited to see. And with the grand prize looming large, the last two competitors open the basket to find some booze and some baked goods.

For the first competition in the first ever Chopped Teen Tournament, four very talented young cooks compete for a chance to move on to the finale and win $25,000 and a culinary school scholarship. In the appetizer round, the cooks must work with lamb loin chops and kale chips. Perhaps surprisingly, the teen chefs seem less than happy to get French fries and cookies in the main course round. Then when the final two cooks open the dessert baskets to find a frozen treat, will they transform the ingredient into something new and delicious?

Food-truck and food-cart pros, on a roll, fight it out for Chopped Kitchen dominance. The mandatory appetizer round ingredients range from a cheap, sweet treat to a fine-dining indulgence. The three chefs who move on to the entree round find a pork delicacy and a Mexican staple. And when the finalists take on the dessert round, there is potential for confrontation over a key piece of equipment.

Four more very skilled teen chefs fight it out in the Chopped Kitchen for the last remaining place in the Grand Finale. In the appetizer round, salsa verde is a very fresh surprise. Then in an intense entree round, the competitors do their best with couscous and buffalo, and one teen chef must stay strong to finish the round after a big setback. And popcorn balls and gummy fish are paired up in a sweet dessert round.