# MasterChef (American TV series) season 12

The twelfth season of the American competitive reality television series MasterChef (also known as MasterChef: Back to Win) premiered on Fox on May 25, 2022, and concluded on September 14, 2022. Gordon Ramsay, Aarón Sánchez, and Joe Bastianich all returned as judges.
The season was won by MasterChef Junior season one runner-up Dara Yu, with season five fifth-place finisher Christian Green and season 10 15th-place finisher Michael Silverstein as the runners-up.

## Production

On August 18, 2021, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a twelfth season, with judges Ramsay, Sánchez, and Bastianich announced to be returning as well. On April 5, 2022, it was announced that the season would premiere on May 25, 2022.

## Contestants

The season featured 20 returning former MasterChef contestants, including two former MasterChef Junior contestants who competed as adults.
Sources for all contestants and previous seasons: Ages are as shown in graphics on the show.
| Contestant | Age | Hometown | Previous Season | Previous Season Placing | Status |
| Dara Yu | 20 | Los Angeles, California | 1 (Junior) | 2nd | Winner September 14 |
| Christian Green | 36 | New Orleans, Louisiana | 5 | 5th | Runners-up September 14 |
| Michael Silverstein | 34 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 10 | 15th | Runners-up September 14 |
| Shanika Patterson | 38 | Miami, Florida | 9 | 8th | Eliminated September 7 |
| Emily Hallock | 31 | Neenah, Wisconsin | 9 | 10th | Eliminated September 7 |
| Willie Mike | 33 | Houston, Texas | 5 | 7th | Eliminated August 31 |
| Amanda Saab | 32 | Seattle, Washington | 6 | 13th | Eliminated August 31 |
| Derrick (Peltz) Fox | 35 | Fort Myers, Florida | 6 | 2nd | Eliminated August 31 |
| Bowen Li | 29 | Tianjin, China | 9 | 5th | Eliminated August 24 |
| Brandi Mudd | 33 | Irvington, Kentucky | 7 | 2nd | Eliminated August 24 |
| Fred Chang | 26 | Redondo Beach, California | 10 | 10th | Eliminated August 17 |
| Gabriel Lewis | 24 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 8 | 7th | Eliminated August 17 |
| Brielle "Bri" Baker | 27 | Dallas, Texas | 10 | 8th | Eliminated August 10 |
| Shelly Flash | 38 | Brooklyn, New York | 6 | 9th | Eliminated August 3 |
| Tommy Walton | 59 | Chicago, Illinois | 6 | 7th | Eliminated July 27 |
| Shayne Wells | 18 | Spring, Texas | 5 (Junior) | 3rd | Eliminated July 20 |
| Samantha Daily | 23 | West Des Moines, Iowa | 9 | 4th | Eliminated July 13 |
| Alejandro Valdivia | 40 | Atlanta, Georgia | 11 | 4th | Eliminated June 29 |
| Caitlin "Cate" Meade | 30 | Chicago, Illinois | 8 | 4th | Eliminated June 22 |
| Stephen Lee | 54 | Palm Springs, California | 6 | 3rd | Eliminated June 15 |

## Elimination table

| Place | Contestant | Episode | Episode | Episode | Episode | Episode | Episode | Episode | Episode | Episode | Episode | Episode | Episode | Episode | Episode | Episode | Episode | Episode |
| Place | Contestant | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19/20 |
| 1 | Dara | IN | LOW | WIN | IN | IN | WIN | IMM | HIGH | LOW | HIGH | IN | IN | LOW | WIN | WIN | HIGH | WINNER |
| 2 | Christian | IN | HIGH | WIN | IN | WIN | IMM | IN | HIGH | IN | IN | WIN | IMM | WIN | WIN | WIN | HIGH | RUNNERS-UP |
| 2 | Michael | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | HIGH | WIN | WIN | IMM | HIGH | LOW | IN | HIGH | IN | LOW | LOW | RUNNERS-UP |
| 4 | Shanika | HIGH | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | WIN | IMM | WIN | IMM | LOW | IN | IN | ELIM | |
| 5 | Emily | WIN | IMM | IN | IN | HIGH | IN | IN | LOW | LOW | IN | IN | WIN | HIGH | WIN | ELIM | | |
| 6 | Willie | HIGH | IN | WIN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | LOW | LOW | IN | WIN | ELIM | | | |
| 7 | Amanda | IN | IN | WIN | WIN | IMM | HIGH | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | HIGH | ELIM | | | | |
| 7 | Derrick | IN | IN | WIN | HIGH | IN | IN | WIN | IN | HIGH | WIN | IMM | LOW | ELIM | | | | |
| 9 | Bowen | IN | IN | IN | HIGH | LOW | IN | WIN | IN | WIN | IMM | HIGH | ELIM | | | | | |
| 10 | Brandi | IN | HIGH | WIN | IN | IN | IN | IN | LOW | IN | IN | ELIM | | | | | | |
| 11 | Fred | IN | WIN | IMM | LOW | IN | IN | WIN | IN | LOW | ELIM | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Gabriel | LOW | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | WIN | IN | ELIM | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Bri | IN | IN | IN | IN | LOW | LOW | WIN | ELIM | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Shelly | IN | IN | WIN | LOW | HIGH | LOW | ELIM | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Tommy | LOW | LOW | WIN | IN | IN | ELIM | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Shayne | IN | IN | WIN | IN | ELIM | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 17 | Samantha | IN | IN | IN | ELIM | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 18 | Alejandro | IN | IN | ELIM | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 19 | Cate | IN | ELIM | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 20 | Stephen | ELIM | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
    (WINNER) This cook won the competition.
    (RUNNER-UP) This cook finished as a runner-up in the finals.
    (WIN) The cook won the individual challenge (Mystery Box Challenge/Skills Test or Elimination Test).
    (WIN) The cook was on the winning team in the Team Challenge and directly advanced to the next round.
    (HIGH) The cook was one of the top entries in the individual challenge but didn't win.
    (HIGH) The cook was one of the top entries in the Team Challenge.
    (IN) The cook wasn't selected as a top or bottom entry in an individual challenge.
    (IN) The cook wasn't selected as a top or bottom entry in a team challenge.
    (IMM) The cook didn't have to compete in that round of the competition and was safe from elimination.
    (IMM) The cook had to compete in that round of the competition but was safe from elimination.
    (LOW) The cook was one of the bottom entries in an individual challenge, and was the last person to advance.
    (LOW) The cook was one of the bottom entries in the Team Challenge and they advanced.
    (ELIM) The cook was eliminated from MasterChef.

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original air date | Prod. code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
| 224 | 1 | "Back to Win - Audition Battles" | May 25, 2022 (2022-05-25) | MC-1201 | 1.75 |
| The judges invite back former contestants for a second chance to win the competition, with only 20 white aprons being handed out. The winner will receive $250,000 and the trophy, as well as a set of appliances from Viking Range. The contestants will have 45 minutes to prepare a redemption dish in a head-to-head battle. Former runners-up Adrien, Brandi, Derrick, and Natasha compete against each other, and Brandi and Derrick both earn an apron. The second group features season nine alums Emily, Julia, Lindsey and Shanika. Emily and Shanika advance. The next group consists of Amanda, Christian, Lexy, and Wuta. Amanda and Christian also advance. ||||||
| 225 | 2 | "Back to Win - Audition Battles (Part 2)" | June 1, 2022 (2022-06-01) | MC-1202 | 2.25 |
| The auditions continue with former seventh-place finishers Derrick, Micah, Tommy and Willie. Tommy and Willie earn an apron each. Next, Cate, Daniel, Michael and Sarah cook against each other. Cate and Michael advance. The third group consists of Brien, Bowen, Newton and Stephen. Bowen and Stephen also advance. The last group of the day features MasterChef Junior alums Dara, Shayne and Tae-ho. Dara and Shayne receive the next two aprons. ||||||
| 226 | 3 | "Back to Win - Audition Battles (Part 3)" | June 8, 2022 (2022-06-08) | MC-1203 | 2.17 |
| The final rounds of the audition commence as Bri, Olivia, Fred, and Felix compete. Bri and Fred earn their aprons. Next, Keturah, Alejandro, Samantha, and Jaimee cook against each other. Alejandro and Samantha advance. The final competing group is Gabriel, Malcolm, Sheetal, and Shelly. Shelly and Gabriel receive their aprons, rounding out the Top 20. ||||||
| 227 | 4 | "Dish That Sent You Home" | June 15, 2022 (2022-06-15) | MC-1204 | 2.38 |
| Elimination Challenge: The top 20 are given one hour to reinvent the dish that resulted in their first elimination. Emily, Willie and Shanika are the top three, and Emily wins the challenge, winning the first immunity pin. Gabriel, Stephen, and Tommy are singled out for having the worst three dishes. Challenge winner/Immune: Emily Hallock Bottom three: Gabriel Lewis, Stephen Lee and Tommy Walton Eliminated: Stephen Lee ||||||
| 228 | 5 | "Winners Mystery Box - Spirit of Vegas" | June 22, 2022 (2022-06-22) | MC-1205 | 2.35 |
| Mystery Box Challenge: Emily is immune from elimination. The remaining contestants face a mystery box challenge set by season seven winner Shaun O'Neale. They are given one hour to cook a dish featuring the spirit under their box. Brandi, Christian and Fred are the top three, and Fred wins, earning the immunity pin. Cate, Dara, and Tommy land in the bottom three. Challenge winner/Immune: Fred Chang Bottom three: Cate Meade, Dara Yu and Tommy Walton Eliminated: Cate Meade ||||||
| 229 | 6 | "Back to Win: Feeding the U.S. Coast Guard" | June 29, 2022 (2022-06-29) | MCH-1206 | 2.23 |
| Team Challenge: For the top 18's first team challenge, they must cater to 101 U.S. Coast Guards. Fred is safe from elimination, but still has to participate in the cook. The judges divided the teams up with the Blue team consisting of everyone from the first season to season seven and the two former Junior contestants, and the Red team consisting of everyone from season eight to season eleven. Christian led the Blue team while Alejandro led the Red team. The Blue team won 71-30 and rather than putting people in the bottom based on their performances, the judges immediately eliminate Alejandro. Challenge winners: Amanda Saab, Brandi Mudd, Christian Green, Dara Yu, Derrick Fox, Shayne Wells, Shelly Flash, Tommy Walton, and Willie Mike Eliminated: Alejandro Valdivia ||||||
| 230 | 7 | "Gordon Ramsay Loves Vegans!" | July 13, 2022 (2022-07-13) | MCH-1207 | 2.23 |
| Elimination Challenge: Gordon shows a vegan version of his beef wellington to the top 17. They are then given one hour to cook a vegan dish. Bowen, Derrick and Amanda are the top three, and Amanda wins, receiving the immunity pin. Fred, Samantha, and Shelly present the bottom three dishes. Challenge winner/Immune: Amanda Saab Bottom three: Fred Chang, Samantha Daily and Shelly Flash Eliminated: Samantha Daily ||||||
| 231 | 8 | "Southern Fusion with Guest Chef Tiffany Derry" | July 20, 2022 (2022-07-20) | MCH-1208 | 2.38 |
| Elimination Challenge: Amanda is safe from elimination. The 15 remaining contestants are joined by Tiffany Derry for their next challenge. They are tasked with cooking a fusion dish combining Southern cuisine with an international cuisine chosen randomly. Christian, Emily and Shelly are the top three, and Christian wins, winning the immunity pin. Bowen, Bri and Shayne are the bottom three. Challenge winner/Immune: Christian Green Bottom three: Bri Baker, Bowen Li and Shayne Wells Eliminated: Shayne Wells ||||||
| 232 | 9 | "Bake to Win" | July 27, 2022 (2022-07-27) | MCH-1209 | 2.35 |
| Elimination Challenge: Christian is immune from elimination. The remaining contestants are given 90 minutes to bake one of 14 desserts, with Christian deciding the order in which they select their desserts. Michael, Amanda and Dara are the top three, and Dara wins, earning the immunity pin. Bri, Shelly, and Tommy are called out for having the worst three dishes. Challenge winner/Immune: Dara Yu Bottom three: Bri Baker, Shelly Flash and Tommy Walton Eliminated: Tommy Walton ||||||
| 233 | 10 | "Cooking for Horse Town U.S.A." | August 3, 2022 (2022-08-03) | MCH-1210 | 2.22 |
| Team Challenge: The top 14 travel to Norco, California for their next team challenge, where they are asked to prepare a steak entree with sides for 101 cowboys and cowgirls. Bri is selected as the captain of the Red Team and Shelly as the captain of the Blue Team. The Red Team members consist of Bowen, Bri, Dara, Derrick, Fred, Gabriel and Michael; the Blue Team members consist of Amanda, Brandi, Christian, Emily, Shanika, Shelly and Willie. The Red Team is declared the winner. The judges deem Shelly's performance to be the weakest and she is eliminated. Challenge winners: Bri Baker, Bowen Li, Dara Yu, Derrick Fox, Fred Chang, Gabriel Lewis and Michael Silverstein Eliminated: Shelly Flash ||||||
| 234 | 11 | "Winners Mystery Box - Christine Ha" | August 10, 2022 (2022-08-10) | MCH-1211 | 2.09 |
| Mystery Box Challenge: The top 13 are given a mystery box assembled by season three winner Christine Hà. They have one hour to cook a dish using every Vietnamese cuisine ingredient in the box. Christian, Michael and Dara are the top three, and Michael wins, receiving the immunity pin. Brandi, Bri, and Emily land in the bottom three. Challenge winner/Immune: Michael Silverstein Bottom three: Brandi Mudd, Bri Baker and Emily Hallock Eliminated: Bri Baker ||||||
| 235 | 12 | "Tag Team" | August 17, 2022 (2022-08-17) | MCH-1212 | 1.97 |
| Team Challenge: The top 12 are split into six teams of two: The Blue Team (Amanda and Willie), Green Team (Bowen and Shanika), Grey Team (Derrick and Michael), Maroon Team (Brandi and Christian), Orange Team (Dara and Fred), and Yellow Team (Emily and Gabriel) for a tag team challenge. They are tasked with recreating three of Gordon's signature dishes in 90 minutes, with the teams taking turns cooking and giving directions. The Green and Grey Teams are the top four, and the Green Team wins, winning two immunity pins. The Orange and Yellow Teams are the bottom four. Challenge winners/Immune: Bowen Li and Shanika Patterson Bottom four: Dara Yu, Emily Hallock, Fred Chang and Gabriel Lewis Eliminated: Gabriel Lewis ||||||
| 236 | 13 | "GrubHub Challenge" | August 17, 2022 (2022-08-17) | MCH-1213 | 1.97 |
| Elimination Challenge: Bowen and Shanika are safe from elimination. The nine remaining contestants are given 45 minutes to create an elevated version of a randomly selected take-out dish. Michael, Dara and Derrick are the top three, and Derrick wins, receiving the immunity pin. Fred and Willie's dishes are singled out as the two worst. Challenge winner/Immune: Derrick Fox Bottom two: Fred Chang and Willie Mike Eliminated: Fred Chang ||||||
| 237 | 14 | "Gas Station Gourmet" | August 24, 2022 (2022-08-24) | MCH-1214 | 2.33 |
| Elimination Challenge: Derrick is safe from elimination. The other nine contestants have 45 minutes to make a gourmet dish inspired by gas station food. Bowen, Christian and Shanika are the top three, and Christian and Shanika each receive an immunity pin for the second time. Brandi, Michael, and Willie present the three worst dishes. Challenge winners/Immune: Christian Green and Shanika Patterson Bottom three: Brandi Mudd, Michael Silverstein and Willie Mike Eliminated: Brandi Mudd ||||||
| 238 | 15 | "Winners Mystery Box - Gerron Hurt" | August 24, 2022 (2022-08-24) | MCH-1215 | 2.33 |
| Mystery Box Challenge: The seven contestants besides Christian and Shanika face their next mystery box challenge, set by season nine winner Gerron Hurt. They are given 45 minutes to cook a dish highlighting chili peppers. Amanda and Emily are the top two, and Emily wins, receiving an advantage in the following challenge. Bowen and Derrick land in the bottom two. Challenge winner: Emily Hallock Bottom two: Bowen Li and Derrick Fox Eliminated: Bowen Li ||||||
| 239 | 16 | "The Wall" | August 31, 2022 (2022-08-31) | MCH-1216 | 2.12 |
| Team Challenge: The top eight are divided into four teams of two, with Emily choosing the teams. She selects Michael as her partner, forming the Orange Team. She then pairs up Christian and Willie (Blue Team), Amanda and Derrick (Green Team), and Shanika and Dara (Red Team). The teams are allowed to cook any dish they want, but the members cannot see each other and must communicate to produce exact replications. The Blue Team wins the challenge, and the Orange Team is saved, putting the Green and Red Teams in the bottom four. Challenge winners: Christian Green and Willie Mike Bottom four: Amanda Saab, Dara Yu, Derrick Fox and Shanika Patterson Eliminated: Amanda Saab and Derrick Fox ||||||
| 240 | 17 | "Restaurant Takeover - Spago" | August 31, 2022 (2022-08-31) | MCH-1217 | 2.12 |
| Team Challenge: The top six takeover the kitchen of Wolfgang Puck's Los Angeles restaurant, Spago. For winning the previous challenge, Willie and Christian become team captains, with the judges picking the teams. Christian leads the Red Team with Emily and Dara, while Willie leads the Blue Team with Michael and Shanika. The teams are tasked with preparing and serving two appetizers and two entrees from the menu, with Gordon running the pass. The Red Team is declared the winner. Challenge winners: Christian Green, Dara Yu, and Emily Hallock Eliminated: Willie Mike ||||||
| 241 | 18 | "Semi Finals" | September 7, 2022 (2022-09-07) | MCH-1218 | 2.32 |
| Pressure Test: In the first round of the semifinals, the top five are asked to recreate a baked Alaska in 75 minutes. Dara and Christian's desserts are judged to be the best, and Shanika is saved, leaving Emily and Michael as the bottom two. Challenge winners: Christian Green and Dara Yu Bottom two: Emily Hallock and Michael Silverstein Eliminated: Emily Hallock Pressure Test: The remaining contestants must keep up with Gordon in replicating his dish as he prepares it. They are given an additional 30 seconds to plate after he finishes. Michael and Shanika's dishes are considered the two worst. Bottom two: Michael Silverstein and Shanika Patterson Eliminated: Shanika Patterson ||||||
| 242 | 19 | "Finale Part 1 - Special Guest Graham Elliot" | September 7, 2022 (2022-09-07) | MCH-1219 | 2.32 |
| Finale: The finalists must prepare and execute a three-course menu consisting of an appetizer, entree and dessert, with one hour to cook each course. Appetizers: Michael serves cold smoked steelhead trout with a pomelo and cucumber aguachile, salsa macha and pickled cucumbers. Dara serves crispy skin red snapper with grilled asparagus and a miso Béarnaise sauce. Christian serves fried green tomato with a crawfish salad, remoulade sauce and caviar. Former MasterChef judge Graham Elliot joins the judging panel for the second course. The entrees begin cooking as the first hour ends. ||||||
| 243 | 20 | "Finale Part 2 - Special Guest Christina Tosi" | September 14, 2022 (2022-09-14) | MCH-1220 | 2.53 |
| Entree: Michael serves chili rubbed lamb loin with a roasted poblano grit cake, corn puree and birria jus. Dara serves Chinese-style short ribs with Japanese sweet potato, spiced carrot, caramelized onions and a carrot top gremolata. Christian serves a Cajun-rubbed filet mignon with shrimp & crab cake, sauteed turnip greens, parsnip puree and a tomato Cajun cream sauce. Former judge Christina Tosi returns for the last course of the finale. Dessert: Dara serves vanilla floating island with a crème anglaise, tropical fruit and caramelized forbidden rice. Michael serves tres leches with deep-fried milk, mango ice cream, Cajeta "goat's milk" caramel and a tropical fruit salsa. Christian serves his grandmother's banana pudding with a bourbon caramel sauce, salted pecans and a lemon cookie. Final Three: Christian Green, Dara Yu and Michael Silverstein Dara is named the winner, winning $250,000, the trophy and the MasterChef title. MasterChef Winner: Dara Yu ||||||