Worst Cooks in America 21, is the twenty-first season of the American competitive reality television series Worst Cooks in America. It premiered on Food Network on January 3, 2021 and concluded on February 28, 2021. Amber Leverette was the winner of this season, with Cameron Bartlett as the runner-up.

Format Worst Cooks in America is an American reality television series in which contestants (referred to as "recruits") with poor cooking skills undergo a culinary boot camp for the chance to win $25,000 and a Food Network cooking set. The recruits are trained on the various basic cooking techniques including baking, knife skills, temperature, seasoning and preparation. Each episode features two core challenges: the Skills Drill, which tests their grasp of basic techniques demonstrated by the chef mentors, and the Main Dish Challenge, where they must apply those skills to recreate or invent a more complex dish under specific guidelines. The weakest performer is eliminated at the end of each episode. The final two contestants prepare a restaurant-quality, three-course meal for a panel of food critics, who evaluate the dishes based on taste, presentation, and overall improvement.

Judges Carla Hall joins Anne Burrell to host season 21. The season debut on January 3, 2021, with a 90-minute premiere. Immediately following, spin-off companion series Worst Cooks in America: Dirty Dishes begins its first-ever run. The show sees former boot camp contestants and comedians commenting on past episodes.

An additional twist added this season is the "Danger Zone," in which the worst recruit on each team in the Skill Drill must cook their Main Dish at the stations used by Burrell and Hall in demonstrating the recipe, giving the mentors the ability to keep a close eye on them as they cook.

Recruits ContestantAgeHometownOccupationTeamStatusAmber Leverette37Banner Elk, North CarolinaBartender CarlaWinner on February 28, 2021Cameron Bartlett20Norman, OklahomaStudent AnneJonathan "JJ" Hurt35Atlanta, GeorgiaTech Support Supervisor AnneFinalist on February 28, 2021Chandali Gullick29Wichita, KansasCustomer Service CarlaMcKayla Carter21Blackshear, GeorgiaModel Anne Eliminated on February 14, 2021Tiffany Billingsly35Greenwood, IndianaMusic Teacher CarlaAyesha Dwyer43Wadsworth, IllinoisChildren's Book Author Carla Eliminated on January 31Laura Marie Moore23Los Angeles, CaliforniaNHL Cheerleader AnneJoey Kinsley26Rocky River, OhioDigital Marketing Specialist Carla Eliminated on January 17, 2021Mo NooreldinKirkland, WashingtonDental AssistantAnneStephanie James40Chicago, IllinoisPostal Clerk Anne Eliminated on January 10, 2021Watik AleemAurora, ColoradoArmy Veteran CarlaJonathan HannaNew York, New YorkHand ModelCarla Eliminated on January 3, 2021Joy Blessing65Jacksonville, FloridaWedding Officiant Anne

Elimination Chart

* Initially a member of the other team

RankContestantEpisode1 2 3 4 5 6 7 81Amber WIN IN WIN IN BTM IMM IN WINNER2Cameron BTM BTM IN BTM WIN WIN IN RUNNER-UP3JJ WIN IN IN WIN BTM BTM IN FINALIST4Chandali* IN IN BTM SWAP IN WIN IN5McKayla* BTM WIN BTM SWAP IN OUT 6Tiffany IN BTM IN BTM WIN OUT 7Ayesha IN IN IN WIN OUT 8Laura IN IN WIN IN OUT 9Joey IN IN OUT 10Mo IN WIN OUT 11Stephanie IN OUT 12Watik IN OUT 13Jonathan OUT 14Joy OUT

Key (WINNER) This contestant won the competition and was crowned "Best of the Worst". (RUNNER-UP) The contestant was the runner-up in the finals of the competition. (FINALIST) The contestant was a finalist in the finals of the competition. (WIN) The contestant did the best on their team in the week's Main Dish challenge or Skill Drill and was considered the winner. (IMM) The contestant won immunity and was safe from elimination in the week's Main Dish Challenge. (BTM) The contestant was selected as one of the bottom entries in the Main Dish challenge, but was not eliminated. (SWAP) The contestant get switched by a mentor to the other team. (OUT) The contestant lost that week's Main Dish challenge and was out of the competition.

Episodes

References

External links