Plot Synopsis

CHOPPED champions return to the stoves, racing the clock and conquering basket after basket with the hope of winning $50,000. Winners of each of the first four episodes advance to the finale in the fifth episode, where these champions vie for the ultimate CHOPPED title. Judges for the for preliminary rounds include Jamie Bissonnette, Maneet Chauhan, Chris Santos, Scott Conant, Angie Mar, Mark Murphy, Ayesha Nurdjaja, Alex Guarnaschelli, and Christian Petroni.

Part 1 (Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at 9pm): Watermelon weirdness in the first basket threatens to shake the champs' confidence, and a funky soybean product and an unusual cut of meat challenge the chefs to come up with wholly original entrees. Inside the dessert basket, the remaining chefs find a crunchy surprise that they must make work with a delicate fruit. Contestants: Gregory Headen (SOUTH; Philadelphia, PA); Cory Oppold (Atlas Bistro; Scottsdale, AZ); Brittany Rescigno (Nox Underground; Santa Clara, CA); and Fernanda Tapia (Comedor; Boston, MA).

Part 2 (Tuesday, January 28, 2020 at 9pm): The returning champs find a diabolical set of ingredients in their first basket. In round two, a giant fish and a sweet space food get the chefs thinking creatively. The final two champs wrestle to make sense of a salad cake as time ticks away in the dessert round, which sends one chef on to the $50,000 finale. Contestants: Megan Day (Burnt Finger BBQ; Kansas, MO); Nick LaRosa (Nook Kitchen; Phoenix, AZ); Kevin Templeton (barleymash; San Diego, CA); and David Thomas (Ida B's Table; Baltimore, MD).

Part 3 (Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at 9pm): The champs are back to defend their titles in a whirlwind, no-holds-barred battle. A frozen oddity throws them a curve ball in the first round, and they find a box of something sweet plus a yummy Chinese specialty in the entree basket. The judges watch to see whether flowers in the dessert basket inspire creativity to bloom, and the winning chef advances to the $50,000 finale. Contestants: Rashad Armstead (Crave BBQ; Oakland, CA); Kristol Bryant (K. 1893; Philadelphia, PA); Matt Migliore (Llama Inn; New York, NY); and Kristina Wisneski (Amis Trattoria; Devon, PA).

Part 4 (Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at 9pm): The competition kicks off with a colossal clam and a starchy comfort food in the first basket. In the entree round, the judges are eager to find out if the chefs can wing it with squab, and the dessert round puzzle includes a wild pizza pie and a purple tuber. The chef who outperforms the others gets to advance to the $50,000 finale. Contestants: Eli Dunn (Eli's Kitchen; Warren, RI); Laura Gonzalez (Centro Taqueria; Phoenix, AZ); Joshua Moore (Volare Ristorante; Louisville, KY); and Erin Smith (Feges BBQ; Houston, TX).

Grand Finale (Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at 9pm): Four repeat champions make their triumphant return to the CHOPPED kitchen to do it all over again for a shot at $50,000! Jaws drop when the chefs find out what's in the first basket, and a dream cut of beef could turn into a nightmare in the 30-minute entree round. The dessert round is the ultimate challenge for two seemingly unstoppable champs, but only one can take the title of Chopped Grand Champion and the $50,000 prize. Contestants: Fernanda Tapia (Comedor; Boston, MA); David Thomas (Ida B's Table; Baltimore, MD); Kristina Wisneski (Amis Trattoria; Devon, PA); and Eli Dunn (Eli's Kitchen; Warren, RI).