MasterChef Season 12 Returns With an All-Star, Second Chance, Redemption Season—and We Know the Winner!

It was a season like no other when MasterChef kicked off its 12th year with an all-star, second chance, redemption season with returning standout stars from the previous 11 years back for a second chance at the MasterChef title and the grand prize.

To date, only 11 MasterChefs have been crowned, but there were just as many runner-ups and even more third and fourth place home cooks who came close, but just didn’t make the cut. Twenty of those had another chance to win an apron to get back cooking in the kitchen—as did two contestants from MasterChef Junior competing alongside the adults.

Who won MasterChef season 12?

After several complicated cooks, 20-year-old Dara Yu from Culver City, Calif., was awarded the $250,000 grand prize and a complete state-of-the-art kitchen from Viking!

"I'm so grateful for this experience and my MasterChef family,” said Dara. “It's given me incredible opportunities over the past 8 years and I'm excited to see what the future holds. I hope that I can continue to inspire young people to follow their passion and believe in themselves!"

Related: MasterChef: Legends Winner Kelsey Murphy Reveals Her Plan for Becoming the Next Gordon Ramsay

Returning as host and judge was Gordon Ramsay, who was joined on the judging panel by acclaimed chef Aarón Sánchez and renowned restaurateur Joe Bastianich.

This season’s challenges included feeding hungry members of the Coast Guard, demonstrating their skills in a vegan dish challenge, traveling to Horsetown USA (Norco, Calif.) to feed cowboys, and competing in the fan-favorite restaurant takeover challenge at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago.

Read on for everything we know about MasterChef season 12 so far:

When does MasterChef Season 12 premiere?

Mark your calendars. MasterChef season 12 premiered May 25, 2022.

What time is MasterChef Season 12 on?

MasterChef aired Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX.

Who are the MasterChef Season 12 judges?

Gordon Ramsay

Ramsay is one of the best-known chefs in the world from his numerous TV series, including MasterChef, MasterChef Jr.,Kitchen Nightmares, Hell's Kitchen, Hotel Hell and Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London, which was featured in Season 10 of MasterChef, was the first of his many restaurants, which over the years have been awarded 16 Michelin stars in total. In addition, the Scot has as written more than 20 books. To honor his impressive achievements, Ramsay was named Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2006, and inducted into the Culinary Hall of Fame in 2013.

Aarón Sánchez

In 2017, Sánchez joined Season 8 of MasterChef as a judge. His other TV credits include multiple Food Network shows, including Chopped, Guilty Pleasures, Best Ever, Heat Seekers, Chefs vs. City, Best Thing I Ever Ate and Next Iron Chef. The El Paso, Texas-born chef has written two cookbooks: La Comida del Barrio and Simple Food, Big Flavor: Unforgettable Mexican-Inspired Recipes from My Kitchen to Yours, and the memoir, Where I Come From: Life Lessons From a Latino Chef. He is the executive chef and part-owner of the Mexican restaurant Johnny Sánchez in New Orleans and has appeared at the White House as a guest chef.

Joe Bastianich

Bastianich joined MasterChef in 2010 for the series’ premiere and first five seasons, leaving in 2014, and then returning for Season 9 in 2018. The Queens, N.Y.-native discovered his love of food from his mother, famed chef Lidia Bastianich, and grew up working in her Italian restaurants. The two are also business partners and together own numerous restaurants in several countries. Unlike Ramsay and Sanchez, Bastianich is not a chef, but he definitely can cook. He has received numerous awards from the James Beard Foundation as a restaurateur.

Related: MasterChef Junior Winner Che Spiotta Previews 'Difficult Challenges' This Season and Shares Advice for New Competitors

How many MasterChef contestants are there for season 12?

Forty chefs got called back to audition, but only 20 claimed a coveted white apron and got the chance to get back cooking in the kitchen—as did two contestants from MasterChef Junior competing alongside the adults.

Who are the MasterChef contestants for season 12?

ALEJANDRO

Age: 40
City: Atlanta, GA
Occupation: Private Chef and Animal Trainer
Season: 11

AMANDA

Age: 32
City: Dearborn, MI
Occupation: Small Business Director
Season: 6

BOWEN

Age: 29
City: West Lafayette, IN
Occupation: Restaurateur
Season: 9

BRANDI

Age: 33
City: Hardinsburg, KY
Occupation: Private Chef and Caterer
Season: 7

BRI

Age: 27
City: Dallas, TX
Occupation: Culinary Entrepreneur
Season: 10

CATE

Age: 30
City: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Private Chef
Season: 8

CHRISTIAN

Age: 36
City: New Orleans, LA
Occupation: Private Chef & Culinary Entrepreneur
Season: 5

DARA

Age: 20
City: Culver City, CA
Occupation: Culinary Student & Part Time Chef
MasterChef Junior Season: 1

DERRICK

Age: 35
City: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Private Chef
Season: 6

EMILY

Age: 31
City: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Consumer Insights Manager
Season: 9

FRED

Age: 26
City: Redondo Beach, CA
Occupation: Recipe Developer
Season: 10

GABRIEL

Age: 24
City: Midwest City, OK
Occupation: Private Chef
Season: 8

MICHAEL

Age: 34
City: Austin, TX
Occupation: Cookbook Author and Private Chef
Season: 10

SAMANTHA

Age: 23
City: West Des Moines, IA
Occupation: Pastry Chef
Season: 9

SHANIKA

Age: 38
City: San Antonio, TX
Occupation: Culinary Student and Caterer
Season: 9

SHAYNE

Age: 18
City: Spring, TX
Occupation: Line Cook and Server
MasterChef Junior Season: 5

SHELLY

Age: 38
City: Brooklyn, NY
Occupation: Pop-up Kitchen Owner
Season: 6

STEPHEN

Age: 54
City: Palm Springs, CA
Occupation: Private Chef and Food Truck Owner
Season: 6

TOMMY

Age: 59
City: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Fashion Designer
Season: 6

WILLIE

Age: 33
City: Houston, TX
Occupation: Caterer
Season: 5

What challenges did the contestants face in season 12?

In the first elimination round of the season, all 20 chefs cooked something inspired by the dish that sent them home in previous seasons. Then as the season progresses, they were tasked with feeding hungry members of the Coast Guard; demonstrating their skills in a vegan dish challenge; traveling to Horsetown, USA (Norco, CA), to feed cowboys; and competing in the fan-favorite restaurant takeover challenge at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago.

What does the MasterChef winner get for Season 12?

The prize for season 12 was the coveted title, $250,000 in prize money, and a complete state-of-the-art kitchen from VIKING.

Where can I watch or stream MasterChef on TV or online?

All 11 seasons are available on Hulu, or on the Fox Now app and several seasons are available for purchase on Prime Video.

Where is MasterChef filmed?

The kitchen set for MasterChef is located in a studio facility in the San Fernando Valley in California.

Can the home cooks on MasterChef use recipes?

That is a no. What they can do is ask questions before cooking begins if there is a food with which they are unfamiliar, but no recipes are allowed in the kitchen.