S09:E01 - Judges Do Battle (Pt. 1)
A group of 43 talented home cooks participate in the battle of the apron challenge, where they will compete for a position in the top 24.
S09:E02 - Judges Do Battle (Pt. 2)
The judges each will have eight aprons to hand out to the home cooks whom they deem worthy.
S09:E03 - Judges Do Battle (Pt. 3)
The final home cooks compete for the last 9 aprons to fill the final spots of the field of 24 competing for the Master Chef title.
S09:E04 - Home State Heroes
In the first mystery box challenge of the season the top 24 must cook one dish featuring an ingredient unique to each of their home states.
S09:E05 - Gordon Ramsay Masterclass
Gordon teaches the home cooks how to properly break down a crab before the contestants must replicate his work.
S09:E06 - Trouble Brewing
The Top 20 chefs face the first team challenge of the season at the Anheuser Busch brewery.
S09:E07 - World Cup Dishes
This week on MASTERCHEF, the contestants face a mystery box challenge where they must create a dish using one common ingredient – walnuts.
S09:E08 - A Gordon Ramsay Wedding
The contestants head to Malibu, California, and cook for Season 7 winner Shaun O'Neale's wedding with Gordon Ramsay officiating!
S09:E09 - The Big Not Easy
The contestants face a mystery box filled with fresh seafood and must create a dish using 2 items from it.
S09:E10 - Rise or Fall
The remaining home cooks pair up for a skills test to create a restaurant-quality dish featuring five ingredients.
S09:E11 - The Kids Are Alright
The Top 14 contestants are split into two teams to compete in a fine dining challenge.
S09:E12 - Frying Tonight
Contestants face a mystery box challenge with a stockpot and cooking oil and are tasked with making a dish that features a deep-fried element.
S09:E13 - Just for the Halibut
The Top 12 face their third skills test in the MasterChef kitchen and replicate the proper way to break down a halibut.
S09:E14 - The Sky's the Limit
The remaining home cooks take on their 5th Mystery Box challenge, using "Ingredients America Was Built On."
S09:E15 - Tag Team
The 8 remaining home cooks divide into 2 teams and race against the clock to serve restaurant-quality dishes to 25 California firefighters.
S09:E16 - American Heroes
The eight remaining home cooks will divide into two teams and race against the clock to serve restaurant-quality dishes to 25 California firefighters.
S09:E17 - Waste Not Want Not
The remaining contestants face a Mystery Box challenge filled with waste – literally.
S09:E18 - The Restaurant Takeover
The Top Six face the Restaurant Takeover Challenge at Providence in Los Angeles.
S09:E19 - Cooking With Heart
The remaining five home cooks receive a heart-warming mystery box challenge, in which the contestants will create a dish inspired by their loved-ones.
S09:E20 - Battle of the Beef
The Top Five home cooks face a series of pressure-filled skills tests using an incredibly common protein – beef.
S09:E21 - The Semi-Final
The Top Four home cooks are split into two teams and need to cook one incredible entrée for Chefs Daniel Boulud, Jonathan Waxman and Lidia Bastianich.
S09:E22 - The Finale (Pt. 1)
The three remaining home cooks will face their final challenge when they are each asked to prepare a three-course menu for the judges.
S09:E23 - The Finale (Pt. 2)
The home cook with the best overall menu is crowned the winner wih a prize of a quarter of a million dollars and the coveted title of MasterChef.