The series begins with a burger battle, judged by Graham Elliot and Daphne Oz, who are kept in the dark as to who the pros and amateurs are, when tasting their dishes.

Burger Battle

Heavyweight chefs battle it out with amateur cooks for a big cash prize as judges Scott Conant and Daphne Oz attempt to separate the cooks from the cons! The lasagna challenge is layered with twists, as contestants must incorporate the surprise ingredient: condiments. Then, round two keeps rolling as the surprise ingredient doughnuts has the remaining cooks colliding between sweet and savory.

Doughnut Derby

Professional chefs and home cooks compete through a sticky situation, when the surf and turf challenge must utilize syrup as the surprise ingredient. Then, will the amateurs crumble in round two trying to work chips into a winning dish? Judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Daphne Oz attempt to sift out the chefs from the pretenders!

Surf and Turf Showdown

Judges Richard Blais and Daphne Oz know their shrimp and grits, but do they know how to tell a cook from a con? Working chefs and home cooks hide their identity as bacon makes a glorious appearance in the first round. In round two, the remaining contestants put their skills to the test in the battle of the cherries. The taste of defeat may be tart, but the winner gets a huge cash prize with a cherry on top!

Shrimp and Grits Gridiron

The playing field is flattened during the pancake challenge, as pros and amateurs alike must decide how to incorporate onions into their dishes. Judges Scott Conant and Alex Guarnaschelli are tasked with awarding the prize to the tastiest creation, despite the surprise ingredient of grapes that will leave one contestant feeling sweet and others sour.

Pancake Pandemonium

While judges Richard Blais and Daphne Oz attempt to suss out the pros and amateurs, things get twisted as the competitors are challenged to incorporate pretzels into their chicken wing dishes. The second round gets even fresher when the remaining competitors fight for the ultimate prize by working with mint.

Chicken Wingin' It!

Delicious ideas are brewing during the clash of the sandwiches, as professional and amateur cooks must utilize beer in their handheld masterpieces. Then, in round two, the surprise ingredient of muffins challenges the contestants to avoid a crummy result. It's up to judges Marc Murphy and Daphne Oz to determine who's a pro and who's an average Joe!

Beer Bedlam

It's Sloppy Joe day in the kitchen, and the pros and amateurs must use pies as the surprise ingredient. Some cooks get crusty, but for others, the path to the cash prize is as easy as pie! Judges Josh Capon and Daphne Oz share cooking ghost stories in the second round when the remaining cooks must utilize campfire treats in their dishes.

Pie Fight

Judges Richard Blais and Marcus Samuelsson are put to the test determining whose crab cakes are the best between cooks and cons. When frozen vegetables must be used to create a winning dish, will it be a piece of cake for the working chefs or will the amateurs have the advantage? Then, it's a booze cruise to the finish, as the secret ingredient of cocktails keeps the judges drunk with power.

Crab Cake Crazy

A chowder must be prepared using carnival treats; and Round 2 features the surprise ingredient of salad dressing.

Chowder Chowdown

Ballpark snacks get thrown into a cheesesteak challenge; and the cooks embrace Italian ingredients when making pasta sauce.

Ballpark Snack Attack

Pizza Pizzazz

Fish and Chip Championship

In the Season 3 premiere, pumpkin is the surprise ingredient when the contestants make French toast. Then, judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Curtis Stone determine whose dish is tops when ice cream toppings are used to accent savory staples.

Pumpkin Thumpin'

Peanuts are added to a dumpling challenge; and potato fries must be repurposed into twice-fried masterpieces.

French Fries Freestyle

Challenges take on a festive theme. Included: Rack of lamb is infused with traditional holiday drinks; and holiday treats are regfited as flavorful dishes.

'Tis the Seasoning

Apple Apocalypse

A Lotta Fritta

Lunchbox Bonanza

Juicy Resolutions

Crantastic Quesadillas!

Salad Bar Blowout

Gas Station Gourmet

Tailgate Takedown

Tarts and Hearts

In the Season 3 finale, the contestants face the challenge of elevating nachos with the surprise ingredient of canned soups. Then, they must work cake into their savory dishes.

Macho Nachos

The cooks and cons try not to come unwrapped in round one when they're faced with incorporating cabbage into their burritos. Then, will judges Sunny Anderson and Amanda Freitag have their hunger cured when the contestants incorporate ham into their round two masterpieces?

Burrito Incognito

The pros and amateurs try not to slip up when given bananas to pair with pork chops in the first round. Then, in round two, Anne Burrell and Daphne Oz realize it's not day at the park when they must decide who did the best job of incorporating picnic salads into their dish.

Gone Bananas

Contestants spice it up for judges Daphne Oz and Aarti Sequeria by using salsa to create fabulous Alfredo dishes. In round two, the cooks and cons must think outside the takeout box and transform Chinese takeout into a winning dish!

All About Alfredo

In round one, judges Daphne Oz and Russell Jackson pull up a stool for a juicy diner classic -- the patty melt! However, the jukebox gets bumped when the cooks and cons face incorporating cinnamon into the savory dish. Round two has its own record scratch as the cooks need to incorporate party dips into their dishes.

Patty Meltdown

Two professional chefs and two amateur chefs square off in a cooking competition, and the judges try to figure out which two are which. If a professional chef wins, they get $10,000.00. If an amateur chef wins, they get $15,000.00.

All Episodes of Cooks vs. Cons

All Episodes of Cooks vs. Cons

Season 1

Burger Battle

Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 3/17/2016