Quick Scoop

You can watch MasterChef in any order, but if you want the most coherent experience, you should:

  1. Start with the original UK version (BBC, 2005–present) to see how the show was born.
  2. Then move to the main US version (Fox, 2010–present) season by season.
  3. After that, watch special formats (All-Stars, Junior, Celebrity, etc.) in release order.

This keeps storylines clean and avoids spoilers from team-ups or “all-star” seasons that reference earlier contestants.

Why Most People Watch in Season Order

Most fans and casual viewers prefer aired season order because:

  • Contests are structured as a single arc: auditions → challenges → finals → winner.
  • Later seasons (like All-Stars) often reference past winners and moments , which can be confusing if you haven’t seen them yet.
  • Streaming platforms (Hulu, Disney+, Crave, Apple TV) usually list episodes in release order , making it easy to follow naturally.

You absolutely don’t need to watch every season from episode 1 to finish to enjoy the show, but if you’re diving in for the first time, season-by-season is the smoothest path.

Suggested Watching Order for MasterChef US

Here’s a simple, practical order for the US version (Fox):

1. Main Series: Season by Season

Start with the earliest main seasons and go forward:

  1. Season 1 (2010)
  2. Season 2 (2011)
  3. Season 3 (2012)
  4. Season 4 (2013)
  5. Season 5 (2014)
  6. Season 6 (2015)
  7. Season 7 (2016)
  8. Season 8 (2017)
  9. Season 9 (2018)
  10. Season 10 (2019)
  11. Season 11 (2020)
  12. Season 12 – All-Stars (2021) ← views past contestants; better after earlier seasons
  13. Season 13 (2021)
  14. Season 14 (2022)
  15. Season 15 (2023)
  16. Season 16 (2024)
  17. Season 17 (2025)
  18. Season 18 (2026, as of July 2026)

Tip: If you’re new, skip All-Stars until you’ve seen at least seasons 1–11. Otherwise, you’ll see recurring names and moments without context.

2. Special Formats

After the main series, you can watch these in release order:

  • MasterChef Junior (kids version)
  • MasterChef Celebrity (celebrities competing)
  • Any holiday specials or international collaborations

These are usually more light-hearted and don’t affect the main competition’s narrative, so they’re great for variety once you’re comfortable with the core show.

Where to Watch and in What Order on Streaming

Different platforms have slightly different versions, but they generally follow aired order:

  • Hulu (US): Lists US seasons 1+ in order, with clear season labels and episode numbers.
  • Disney+ (Canada and others): Also organizes by season and year, from 2013 onward for some regions, up to 2026.
  • Crave (Canada): Offers multiple seasons of the US version, grouped by season, with the latest available.
  • Apple TV : Shows seasons in chronological order with full episode lists for each season.

When you open any of these, just:

  1. Click on Season 1.
  2. Watch episodes 1 → last episode.
  3. Move to Season 2 , and so on.

That’s effectively “watching in order” without needing a manual list.

UK vs US: Which Should You Start With?

If you’re curious about the original format:

  • MasterChef UK (BBC) started in 2005 and is the template for most international versions, including the US.
  • The UK version is more traditional and serious , with less drama and more focus on technique.
  • The US version is more high-energy , with bigger personal stories, more dramatic eliminations, and huge home-cooked dishes.

Suggested approach:

  • If you love classic cooking shows , start with UK Season 1–2 , then switch to US.
  • If you want entertainment + competition , start straight with US Season 1.

You don’t need to watch both; most fans stick with one version as their “main” MasterChef.

Quick Tips for Watching in Order

  • Use your streaming app’s season navigator ; it’s already in order.
  • Don’t skip audition episodes if you like seeing how the kitchen is set up and who the judges are.
  • If you’re time-pressed, you can:
    • Watch episodes 1–3 of each season (setup + early eliminations), then
    • Jump to the finals episodes (last 2–3 episodes) to see the winner and key moments.
  • For All-Stars or celebrity versions, watch them as “bonus” content after you’ve seen the main series at least once.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.