It all comes down to this, as the “Next Level Chef” Season 5 finale has arrived. After working their way through the challenges this season, we have made it down to the final three chefs on “Next Level Chef” 2026. They all want the mentors — Chef Gordon Ramsay, Nyesha Arrington, and Richard Blais — to choose them as the winner of “Next Level Chef” Season 5 tonight. Find out who won “Next Level Chef” tonight with us during our “Next Level Chef” live recap below.
Who Wins ‘Next Level Chef’ Tonight?
We are all dying to know the answer to that question tonight on “Next Level Chef” Season 5. We saw the final chefs get picked in last week’s challenge. Now, Cole, Connor, and Darian will battle it out in one final challenge with everything on the line.
Who will take the crown and the $250,000 prize and one year mentorship with Gordon, Richard, and Nyesha? We made our predictions earlier today. Watch with us tonight as these chefs fight to be named the winner of “Next Level Chef” 2026. Follow along with our Live Recap below!
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD: THIS LIVE RECAP WILL BE UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE EPISODE, SO DO NOT KEEP READING IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO READ SPOILERS.
May 21 Live Recap – Finale
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The Finale Begins
The final three chefs are in place. The finale has arrived. Let’s go! We start with the final three chefs arriving in the kitchen and being surprised by their loved ones! Darian is surprised by his mom and wife. Connor is surprised by his parents, and Cole is surprised by her girlfriend and aunt.
The Final Challenge
The chefs then arrive in front of the judges. For this Grand Finale Challenge, they have to create a cohesive three-course menu. They will cook a dish on every level. Richard will be in the Basement, where they will cook an appetizer. Nyesha will be on the Middle Level, where they will cook a fish course. Then, Gordon will be on the Top Level, where they’ll cook a meat course.
The chefs will have 90 minutes total for all three dishes. They can use the time however they want, so hit the buzzer when done with a dish, and the time remaining they can use on the other dishes. Before they get started, Austin, the Season 4 winner, joins them. He gives them advice, and the challenge then starts!
Appetizer Time
The chefs are in the Basement with Richard. The platform comes down. We have some aggressiveness at the platform, but ingredients are secured. Darian and Connor fight over shrimp. The time is moving along as the chefs are cooking their apps.
Darian finishes his dish and hits the buzzer, as he used 26 minutes of the 90 on his app. The other chefs are trying to get things wrapped up. The other chefs get their apps done in under 28 minutes, so we are moving on to the tasting:
- Darian – Nyesha said it’s very vibrant. Love the inspiration with the lobster. Gordon said the lobster is cooked beautifully. Nyesha said this dish shows his journey in the competition. Richard said he loves the story, and the flavors match it.
- Cole – It looks beautiful. The scallop is cooked beautifully. Richard loves that she is calling it the awakening. Gordon loved the simplicity of this dish.
- Connor – Nyesha said he is returning to those Cajun flavors. She loved the balance of the shrimp cake. Gordon said delicious and the seasoning is on point. Richard said he made the cake taste like a sausage.
Middle Level – Fish Course
The chefs now meet Nyesha on the Middle Level. She said they all killed their appetizers, so time to continue their story. The platform comes down, and Connor gets Darian’s protein he wanted again.
We have cooking going on. Cole is trying to blend her tomatoes, but doesn’t have the lid on properly, and some shoot out. It’s hot tomatoes, so she is in some pain right now. She said her arm is burning, but she is moving on.
Connor seems to be overthinking his dish and cooking the fish. Cole finishes first, and she has 30 minutes left for her final dish. The other two get their dishes down, as Connor has 29 minutes left and Darian has a little over 30 minutes left. Time for tasting:
- Darian – Gordon said it looks beautiful and loves the crispiness of the fish, which is cooked beautifully. Richard said this dish shows so much confidence, but he wanted some more spice. Nyesha loves the heritage that he draws from.
- Cole – Gordon said it’s elegant. The fish is cooked beautifully. It needs one more element in there. Richard said the fish is perfectly cooked. Nyesha loves the sweetness of the tomato sauce.
- Connor – Richard said this may be the prettiest of the three. The seasoning is on point, but the fish needs another 90 seconds. Richard said the salsa is incredible. Nyesha said a lot of work was achieved here, but the fish could use more time in the pan.
Final Course – Meat Dish
For this final dish, Darian has 30:30 left to cook, Cole has 29:30 left, and Connor has 29:00 left. That means Darian got a one-minute head start. He got that time alone at the platform, so he is taking his time and taking it all in. The other eventually join him. The platform is staying the entire time for this course.
Cole chose venison, which she has never cooked before. Her theme is freedom, and having her freedom to cook and be alive, so that’s why she is cooking something new. Connor is cooking a rack of lamb, which he is hoping is a $250,000 rack of lamb! Darian is struggling with his sauce and has to fix it. He keeps cutting his chives, which Gordon keeps telling him his sauce is more important than his chives!
Cole seems to have cut her venison too early. The time is winding down, as these chefs are putting their finishing touches on the dishes. It does run out, and the dishes are complete. Time for the final tasting on “Next Level Chef” Season 5:
- Darian – Visually, it’s a wonderful plate. It’s a piece of art. Richard said it’s the best piece of duck he’s seen on the show. Nyesha said she loves the sauce. The duck melts in your mouth.
- Cole – Richard said it’s another piece of art. Protein is cooked wonderfully. Nyesha said nice finish to the menu. Gordon said it’s the combination on the plate, and everything blends well together.
- Connor – Richard said the textbook combination of flavors. Nyesha says this is sunshine and joy. Gordon said it’s a Mediterranean joy, you can’t stop eating it.
Season 5 Winner Announced
The dishes are complete, and now it’s time for the judges to discuss all of the dishes from tonight. It will be intense as they figure out the winner of “Next Level Chef” Season 5. They have come up with a decision, as the winner will be announced next!
The chefs are in place, and the judges have made their decision. The winner of “Next Level Chef” Season 5 is Darian. That means Team Blais won this season!
FOXWhat do you think of the results tonight?
