We have crowned the winner of “Hell’s Kitchen” season 24, so now it’s time for Gordon Ramsay to move on to his next show: “Next Level Chef” 2026. We have another reality TV baking competition, as 24 new contestants compete on “Next Level Chef” season 5. The professional chefs will be taking center stage tonight, so find out who gets eliminated on “Next Level Chef” tonight with us during our “Next Level Chef” season 5 live recap below.
Auditions – Pro Chefs on ‘Next Level Chef’
For this season 5 premiere, we will get to see the professional chefs audition for a spot on one of the mentors’ teams. The mentors for “Next Level Chef” 2026 are Chef Ramsay, Nyesha Arrington, and Richard Blais, both “Top Chef” alums.
For this first episode, the pro chefs will be using their fierce expertise to create dishes that will not only impress the judges but secure them a spot in the competition. The fight to be named the winner of “Next Level Chef” season 5 starts tonight, so 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.
January 29 Live Recap – Premiere
KEEP REFRESHING THE PAGE FOR THE LATEST “NEXT LEVEL CHEF” LIVE RECAP UPDATES.
Season 5 Begins
We have 24 new contestants starting this season. They have the auditions, and one dish could keep them in the competition. Richard Blais jokes that he’s excited they brought Gordon Ramsay back!
The winner will get $250,000 and a year-long mentorship with the three judges. There are 24 contestants, but only 15 will on past the auditions. We will have the eight pro chefs start tonight, but only five of them will make it through. They will start in the basement, then only seven will move to the middle kitchen. Then only six will move to the top level, and then five will continue on in the competition.
First Challenge
The pro chefs head down to the basement as Richard Blais joins them. For this first challenge, they will have 20 minutes to be resourceful. They have to make an amazing dish using scraps. Just a bunch of random ingredients and scraps.
The platform comes down, and the chefs are all fighting for ingredients….literally. Gabrielle and Cole are playing tug of war over a tuna carcass. The time runs out, and the time gets started for this dish, as Gabrielle then notices she is bleeding from her ear! That fight was rough, huh? The medics come in and turns out it wasn’t blood. Nope, she got sriracha!
The chefs are all working on their dishes. No time for messing around tonight. We get some backstories from some of the stories, like Darian, who is from Jamaica, and Belinda, who was raised by her grandparents, and they had nine people in a 3-bedroom home.
Hunter is from Hawaii, and as a baby, he had surgery. It made him deaf, so now he wears hearing aids. Connor lived in New Orleans for five years, so he is making a dish to show off that New Orleans flair. Connor and Belinda seem to both be making an open-faced sandwich, but no time to make anything different as the time runs out.
Tasting & Results
Nyesha and Gordon join Richard in the basement, as it’s time to taste these dishes:
- Connor – Gordon said it looks very inviting. Richard said it doesn’t look like it’s cooked in the basement. Nyesha said it’s clear there was a vision here.
- Belinda – Nyesha said the flavor of the shrimp comes through nicely, but lacks an aioli.
- Kevin – Gordon said the meatballs are seasoned beautifully.
- Machete – Gordon said the lamb is tender, but heavy on the spice.
- Darian – Nyesha said the flavor is incredible. Gordon said bang on with the spice.
- Hunter – Richard said the two different types of pasta is hard, as some are undercooked.
- Cole – Richard said it’s taking scraps and turning them into something special.
- Gabrielle – Nyesha said the pig is crispy. Gordon said she came up with a nice dish.
Results: The mentors discuss the dishes. The chefs moving up to the middle level are Connor, Kevin, Gabrielle, Darian, Cole, Machete, and Hunter. That means Belinda has been eliminated tonight on “Next Level Chef” 2026.
FOXSecond Challenge on ‘Next Level Chef’ 2026
The remaining chefs head to the middle level. Nyesha joins them. For this challenge, the chefs will have 20 minutes to create the dish that started their culinary journey. The platform comes down, and Gabrielle slips and falls! She is getting beaten up by these platform moments!
As the chefs cook, we get more background stories. Machete is Houston through and through. He has won the best tacos in Houston. He almost reminds me of Jelly Roll…anyone else? Then we see Kevin, who has cooked for some celebrities, including the Wayan brothers. Marlon Wayans enjoyed them so much that he later sent him a check to help start his food truck. Shortly after opening it, it was stolen!
With only eight minutes left, Kevin realizes he hasn’t put his steak on! He was so focused on everything else, so now he is trying to make up the time. He won’t have time to let it rest properly. Then Gabrielle is struggling also, as the time runs out.
Tasting & Results
The mentors are all in the middle level, and time to taste these dishes:
- Cole – Gordon said the salmon is cooked beautifully.
- Kevin – Gordon said great sear on the steak, but bad cut. Nyesha said the sauce has a raw wine taste.
- Darian – Richard said good flavor in curry.
- Gabrielle – Richard said there are some crunchy vegetables. Gordon said the halibut is cooked great.
- Machete – Richard said the meatballs are overcooked. Gordon said don’t start taking shortcuts.
- Connor – It’s cooked beautifully and seasoned great. Nyesha said great flavors in the sauce.
- Hunter – Chicken is cooked beautifully, but it needs more sauce and acid.
Results: The judges discuss the dishes, and the chefs moving on to the top level are Cole, Gabrielle, Connor, Darian, Machete, and Hunter. That means Kevin Hill has been eliminated tonight on “Next Level Chef” 2026.
FOXFinal Challenge
The six remaining chefs move to the top-level kitchen with Gordon Ramsay. For this final challenge, they have 25 minutes to create a dish that they would put on their menu at a restaurant. The platform comes down, they grab ingredients, and time to start cooking.
Gordon is going around talking to the chefs. Hunter isn’t taking the advice from Gordon. Gabrielle doesn’t seem to know what she’s making, and no vision right now. In the back, Richard and Nyesha seem to be excited about Connor and want him on their team. Cole grabbed something she hadn’t cooked before.
The time is running out, and the chefs are plating their dishes!
Final Tasting & Results on ‘Next Level Chef’
The judges are all at the top level. Time to taste these dishes:
- Gabrielle – Richard said flavors are scattered, but the presentation is nice.
- Machete – Richard said this is really refined. Gordon said the puree is great.
- Connor – Nyesha said the plate is vibrant and fun.
- Darian – Richard said all the flavors work, and it looks fine dining.
- Cole – Nyesha said beautiful halibut. Gordon said having never cooked before, this is great.
- Hunter – Richard said it reads like a soup. Gordon said the cook on the scallop is delicious.
Results: The five chefs who have made it into the draft are Darian, Cole, Machete, Connor, and Gabrielle. That means Hunter Gentry has been eliminated tonight.
FOXWhat do you think of the results on “Next Level Chef” 2026 tonight?
