
Cooks vs. Cons
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.
Cast
Seasons & Episodes
E1Doughnut Derby
Jul 10, 2016
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.
E2Surf and Turf Showdown
Jul 17, 2016
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!
E3Shrimp and Grits Gridiron
Jul 24, 2016
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!
E4Pancake Pandemonium
Jul 31, 2016
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.
E5Chicken Wingin' It!
Aug 7, 2016
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.
E6Beer Bedlam
Aug 14, 2016
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!
E7Pie Fight
Aug 21, 2016
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.
E8Crab Cake Crazy
Aug 28, 2016
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.
E9Chowder Chowdown
Sep 4, 2016
A chowder must be prepared using carnival treats; and Round 2 features the surprise ingredient of salad dressing.
E10Ballpark Snack Attack
Sep 11, 2016
Ballpark snacks get thrown into a cheesesteak challenge; and the cooks embrace Italian ingredients when making pasta sauce.
E11Pizza Pizzazz
Sep 18, 2016
Pizza Pizzazz
E12Fish and Chip Championship
Sep 25, 2016
Fish and Chip Championship
E1Pumpkin Thumpin'
Nov 23, 2016
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.
E2French Fries Freestyle
Nov 30, 2016
Peanuts are added to a dumpling challenge; and potato fries must be repurposed into twice-fried masterpieces.
E3'Tis the Seasoning
Dec 7, 2016
Challenges take on a festive theme. Included: Rack of lamb is infused with traditional holiday drinks; and holiday treats are regfited as flavorful dishes.
E4Apple Apocalypse
Dec 14, 2016
E5A Lotta Fritta
Dec 21, 2016
E6Lunchbox Bonanza
Dec 28, 2016
E7Juicy Resolutions
Jan 4, 2017
E8Crantastic Quesadillas!
Jan 11, 2017
E9Salad Bar Blowout
Jan 18, 2017
E10Gas Station Gourmet
Jan 25, 2017
E11Tailgate Takedown
Feb 1, 2017
E12Tarts and Hearts
Feb 8, 2017
E13Macho Nachos
Feb 15, 2017
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.
E1Burrito Incognito
Mar 22, 2017
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?
E2Gone Bananas
Mar 29, 2017
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.
E3All About Alfredo
Apr 5, 2017
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!
E4Patty Meltdown
Apr 12, 2017
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.
E5Fry, Fry Again!
Apr 19, 2017
The pros and amateurs must use pineapple in their fried chicken dish for the first round; the cooks and cons make potato dishes in the second round; Alex Guarnaschelli and Simon Majumdar are the judges.
E6Egg Fight
Apr 26, 2017
The contestants try to impress judges Aarti Sequeira and Justin Warner with their tuna casserole dishes before incorporating eggs into their round-two masterpieces.
E7Breakfast in Bedlam
May 3, 2017
The cooks and cons become a bit sour, when tasked with incorporating lemon varietal into Round 1; things get a bit sweeter in the second round, when they must use maple in their dishes; judges Aarti Sequeira and Jet Tila tap a winner.
E8Cajun Nation
May 10, 2017
The cooks and cons churn out great dishes for judges Jordan Andino and Alex Guarnaschelli with butter-infused jambalayas; in round 2, the judges watch them make their best dishes with honey.
E9Chili Challenge
May 17, 2017
The cooks and cons bubble up their best chili cheese fries while incorporating apricots; the remaining contestants cook with garlic in round two, and judges Eddie Jackson and Justin Warner must choose the best dish to win.
E10Grill Warfare
May 24, 2017
The cooks and cons must incorporate backyard beverages into their burgers to impress judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Carla Hall; round two forces contestants to include buffalo in their dishes.
E11Pasta Impastas
May 31, 2017
Judges Ted Allen and Sunny Anderson try to spot the "impastas" while observing the cooks and cons incorporating noodles into their huevos rancheros dishes; the remaining contestants include yogurt in their Round 2 masterpieces.
E12Taco Tug-O-War
Jun 7, 2017
The cooks and cons all vie to reel in the win, while making fish tacos; judges Daphne Oz and Gail Simmons have a hard time sussing out the pros and amateurs in Round 2, and decide who made the best dish incorporating sausage.
E13Battle Baked Clams
Jun 14, 2017
The pros and amateurs must incorporate carrots into their baked clam dishes in the first round; in the second round, the contestants must fuse tea into their dishes for judges Jeff Mauro and Daphne Oz.
E1Ballpark BBQ
Jun 21, 2017
In round one, the cooks and cons are tasked with fusing corn and hot dogs; after one contestant strikes out, the remaining contestants continue to round two, in hopes of making their best dish, incorporating barbecue.
E2Biscuits and Gravy
Jun 28, 2017
In round one, the cooks and cons must incorporate berries into their biscuits and gravy dishes; in round two, the cooks and cons try to play nice in a battle of licorice.
E3High Steaks
Jul 5, 2017
In round one, the cooks and cons create chicken fried steak dishes with peas; in round two, host Geoffrey Zakarian and judges Beau MacMillan and Daphne Oz try to grind out the pros and cons, after they are challenged with using pecans in their dishes.
E4Meatball Madness
Jul 12, 2017
In the first round, meatball subs sound easy enough, but it takes some pro moves to make them with unusual buns; in round two, the cooks and cons incorporate pomegranates; judges Aarti Sequeira and Justin Warner decide who wins.
E5The Whole Enchilada
Jul 19, 2017
The cooks and cons must create their best enchilada dishes incorporating cereal. Then, judges Alex Guarnaschelli and Gail Simmons try to stalk out the contestants' true identities when choosing who made the best dish using celery.
E6Not Your Mama's Meatloaf
Jul 26, 2017
Creating spins on the American classic, meatloaf, by adding a little citrus to the mix; the heat is on in round two, when the cooks and cons must infuse their dishes with jalapenos to impress judges Carla Hall and Daphne Oz and take home the win.
E7Open Sesame
Aug 2, 2017
In round one, fusing sesame into the New Orleans classic po'boy; in round two, the remaining contestants aren't too sad about cooking their best, with blue cheese, for a $10,000 prize.
E8Iron Chef Shake-Up
Aug 9, 2017
Iron chefs Jose Garces and Alex Guarnaschelli judge round one, as the cooks and cons make stuffed mushrooms that incorporate vanilla; in round two, the contestants make un-fig-ettable masterpieces with figs.
E9A Lotta Empanada
Aug 16, 2017
In round one, empanadas with hazelnuts; in round two, host Geoffrey Zakarian and judges Josh Capon and Aarti Sequeira are in despair trying to separate the remaining contestants into cooks and cons, while they prepare masterpieces with pears.
E10Spice and Ice
Aug 23, 2017
In round one, Incorporating favored ice pops into curry; in round two, the remaining contestants hit the gas using beans in their dishes, as host Geoffrey Zakarian and judges Amanda Freitag and Alex Guarnaschelli suss out the pros and amateurs.
E11Nacho Average Cook
Aug 30, 2017
In round one, incorporating peppermint into a breakfast hash; in round two, the remaining contestants must melt the judges' hearts with their best dishes using nachos.
E12Endless Pastabilities
Sep 6, 2017
Chip-infused ravioli dishes in round one; in the second round, the contestants must make peace with the surprise ingredient and incorporate chickpeas into their dishes.
E13Pizza Party
Sep 13, 2017
In round one, the cooks and cons incorporate ranch sauce into their pizza dishes; in round two, host Geoffrey Zakarian has the remaining contestants cook their best avocado-infused dish.
Storyline
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.
Recommended

Top Chef
2006

Chopped
2009

MasterChef Australia
2009

Iron Chef
1993

Cutthroat Kitchen
2013

MasterChef
2010

MasterChef Junior
2013

Next Level Chef
2022

Beat Bobby Flay
2013

The Final Table
2018

The Challenge
1998

Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking
2024

Barbecue Showdown
2020

Beast Games
2024

Nailed It!
2018

The Great British Bake Off
2010

The Great British Bake Off
2017

Total Wipeout
2009

Nailed It! Holiday!
2018

Is It Cake?
2022
More Like This

L'académie des gâteaux de Cyril Lignac
2022

MasterChef USA
2000

Last Bite Hotel
2024

MasterChef Australia: The Professionals
2013

Family Food Fight
2019

Chefs vs Wild
2022

Beachside Brawl
2022

Masterchef Pakistan
2014

Come Dine with Me: The Professionals
2022

MasterChef New Zealand
2010

Worst Cooks in America
2010

Hell's Kitchen
2005

Haunted Gingerbread Showdown
2018

El discípulo del chef
2019

Un dîner presque parfait
2008
Et que ça saute!
2011

MasterChef Junior
2013

Chopped Next Gen
2021

Korean Food War
2013

MasterChef Korea
2012
