We are back with another episode of “Worst Cooks in America” 2026 on Food Network tonight. Fan-favorite chef Jeff Mauro and restaurateur Tiffany Derry are here to teach this group of reality TV stars a soup and sandwich combo on “Worst Cooks in America: Reality Check.” The contestants, which include “Dancing With the Stars” pro Val Chmerkovskiy and “RHOSLC” star Lisa Barlow, will then take on another main dish challenge. Find out who gets eliminated on “Worst Cooks in America” season 30 tonight with us during our “Worst Cooks in America” live recap below.
Hollywood’s Next Culinary Star
The nine remaining contestants will be back in the kitchen tonight with the hopes of learning how to cook. They will be working with Jeff and Tiffany, who will be guiding them through different challenges to improve their culinary skills.
For this second episode, titled “Hollywood’s Next Culinary Star,” the contestants will take on a soup and sandwich combo. They will then be put to the test with the main dish challenge, which features aubergine parmesan and handmade pasta. The fight to be named the winner of “Worst Cooks in America” season 30 continues tonight. Follow along with our Live Recap below!
Lights, Camera, Action
For this first challenge, they are playing Blockbuster Bites. The teams will battle in different rounds for different movie genres. The winner of each round will get a star. The team with the most stars at the end of this challenge will win.
- Action – For this one, they have to walk the plank to gather four ingredients for a pie. This one was between Val and Downtown Julie Brown, with Downtown Julie Brown winning the star.
- Horror – One team member from each team will reach into a mystery box and try to determine what the mystery item is. Once they figure it out, they’ll have to go to the spider web to pick the item. The first person to get all three ingredients right will win. This one is Amara versus Lisa Barlow. Amara wins, so it’s tied 1-1 for stars.
- Romance – For this, it’s Ryan and Reza competing. They will have to put together the dish while blindfolded with the help of their partner. Ryan picks Lisa, and Reza picks Amara. While they both don’t look great, the winner is Ryan, so Blue Team has a 2-1 lead now.
- Comedy – One recruit from each team will have three minutes to fold as much ravioli as they can, but while using these tiny hand props. This one is CT versus Manila. She gets more ravioli, so it’s a win for the Red Team and now tied 2-2.
- Sci-Fi – For this one, the recruits will have to determine what a dried herb is. Once they do, they have to find the matching natural herb plant. This one is Beverly versus Manila. Manila won this one, which gave the Red Team a 3-2 win.
Skill Drill on ‘Worst Cooks in America’
For this challenge, the contestants will have to cook a soup and a sandwich after their team leader shows them how to do it. Since the Red Team won the first challenge, they will get the Director’s Cut Advantage, which gives them the full recipe and directions in their notebook.
For the Blue Team, Jeff has them making Roasted Turkey & Bacon Club with Giardiniera Aioli & Tomato Bisque. For the Red Team, Tiffany has them making a Pork Milanese Sandwich with Potato & Kale Soup with Chorizo. Each chef gives them a rundown of how to make the sandwiches and soups.
It’s funny watching these contestants learn about the dishes. Some of them have no clue what some items are in the sandwich or soup. After the demonstrations are done and they have tasted these dishes, the contestants now have 45 minutes to recreate these soups and sandwiches.
Cooking and Tasting
The contestants get to work on their dishes. Reza is busy at work, but then cuts his finger. He now has to wait for a medic to attend to him. Jeff is talking with Ryan while he cooks, which Ryan said is too distracting.
CT is overwhelmed, so he said he is making the dish with anger and not love. Val is hesitant to beat his pork so hard. They all get their dishes plated, and time for the judges to taste it on “Worst Cooks in America” 2026.
- Manila – They said the soup color was good. Pork is good, but she wanted it pounded out a little more.
- Val – Likes consistency of soup, but too much salt. Pork is good.
- Reza – The soup is delicious, it’s almost spot-on. The sandwich is good, but maybe a little too much bread.
- Amara – Soup has a lot of flavor, and the sandwich is good.
- Ryan – The sandwich is good. Good texture on the soup, but maybe more salt and cream.
- Julie – Great layering on the sandwich. The soup was good.
- Beverly – Best bacon yet, turkey is dry.
- Kim – Bacon is a little floppy. The soup has good spice, but it needs more time.
- CT – The elements of the sandwich are good, but the spice rub is too much.
Results
The chefs have tasted all the dishes, and the winning dish from the Blue Team is Julie, and the winning dish from the Red Team is Reza.
For winning, they won the Dynamic Duo Advantage. That means their team leader (Jeff or Tiffany) can be substituted in at any time for two minutes to serve as their sous chef.
Main Dish Challenge on ‘Worst Cooks in America’
For this challenge, the contestants will be tasked with making aubergine parmesan and handmade pasta. Again, the chefs will show them how to make the dishes. After the demonstrations are complete, the contestants now have 60 minutes to recreate these dishes.
The contestants are struggling with making this homemade pasta. After the dough is finally ready, the pasta is made. Val has an aha moment, as he is loving this pasta-making moment.
Reza decides to use Tiffany for his two minutes, as he thinks she can’t complain about the pasta in the dish if she made it! Meanwhile, Julie can’t get her oil to get hot enough to fry her eggplant. She decides to call in Jeff to help her out.
The time is running out, as the contestants all get their dishes put together. Time for tasting!
Tasting
Time for the judges to taste these dishes:
- Reza – She said the pasta is great, needed more sauce.
- Amara – Great flavors, but too much cheese.
- Val – The texture of the pasta is very good. Basil is too large on top.
- Manila – The texture of the pasta is soft. Needed more salt, but the eggplant has a lot of flavor.
- Julie – The pasta is really good. Needs more salt.
- Lisa – Eggplant parm needs more seasoning, but good crust. Pasta is thick, but good.
- CT – Noodles are rolled and cooked perfectly, but the sauce is a little young.
- Beverly – Eggplant is really nice and balanced, but the pasta is overcooked.
- Ryan – Lovely pasta and eggplant is excellent. Well-seasoned and tasty.
Results: The winner on the Red Team is Val. The winner on the Blue Team is Ryan. For the Blue Team, we also have Julie, CT, and Beverly safe. That means Lisa is up for elimination tonight. For the Red Team, we also have Reza and Manila safe. That means Amara is up for elimination also.
Blind Elimination Challenge
We have the Blind Elimination Challenge, as Amara and Lisa will compete to make a sweet and spicy appetizer. They have 15 minutes to make this dish, which the judges will then come back into the kitchen to taste and pick a winner. The losing chef will be sent home.
These contestants are struggling. They are struggling with their knives. Lisa is throwing in a ton of spice. Neither of the dishes looks that great, but they think they see the vision.
The judges come back, and they taste both the appetizers. The winning dish came from Amara, which means Lisa Barlow has been eliminated tonight on “Worst Cooks in America” season 30.
GettyWhat do you think of the results tonight?
I love seeing the irrelevant, useless Lisa Barlow get eliminated. She probably can’t even make toast. She’s a pathetic excuse for a wife & mother.