'Worst Cooks in America' Season 20: Chef Alex Guarnaschelli's epic facial expressions have fans in splits

This is Guarnashelli's first outing on the show and it didn't look like she was prepared to witness all the disasters in the kitchen
Alex Guarnaschelli and Evan Baker (Food Network)
Alex Guarnaschelli and Evan Baker (Food Network)

'Worst Cooks In America' Season 20 premiere episode aired on Sunday night and the contestants were a delight to watch and so were their dishes. The icing on the cake was chef and co-host Alex Guarnaschelli who was left wanting a therapy session at the end of the very first challenge into the season. Watching the contestants from the gallery doing things she never imagined she would witness, she was visibly shaken. The audiences at home had a gala time watching her horrified reactions to everything happening in the kitchen. 

"I'm in tears I'm laughing so hard at @guarnaschelli's reactions on Worst Cooks in America on @FoodNetwork right now. She is literally Schmidt watching these people try to cook. The first episode isn't even over, and I already can't wait for the rest of this season. Is this a joke?!" wrote a fan. While another wrote, "I love the first episode of the season of ‘Worst Cooks in America’ @guarnaschelli — your facial expressions are epic...." Another fan wrote, "Boy do I love Alex and am so happy she is on Worst Cooks In America. I want to be her friend (even if it is just on twitter)."

The first episode started with a baseline challenge where the contestants had to recreate a dish reminiscent of their childhood. At the end of the challenge, the two chefs and co-hosts Guarnaschelli and series regular chef Anne Burrell were about to pick their teams. Here is the breakdown of the teams. 

Team Blue: Chef Alex Guarnaschelli 

Ari Robinson, Johannes 'Yo' Phelps, Eric Smart, Louisa Sharamatyan, Darian Barnes, Holly Jo Kimmel Brooks and Brianna Weidenbach

Team Red Rocking Stars: Chef Anne Burrell

Domaine Javier, Evan Baker, Dolores Aguilar-Fernandez, Erin Sullivan, Denise Schroder, Jewels Mcllroy and Zack Ignoffo.

After being segregated into their respective teams, the contestants had to compete in the second challenge where they would cook Jamaican jerk chicken along with a side of rice and green beans. At the end of the challenge, two contestants (one per team) would go home. As expected, there were a lot of disasters in the kitchen in this challenge as well. The highlight was Jewels who couldn't reduce her chicken to shreds. Even contestant Erin brought his dish up to the tasting table wrapped in a cling foil to stop Guarnaschelli from tasting it as he believed it was not cooked at the right temperature. At the end of the episode Jewels and Holly were shown the exit by Burrell and Guarnaschelli respectively. 

'Worst Cooks in America' returns with a brand new episode on June 28 at 9 pm ET only on Food Network.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Pavi and Nisha will follow separate paths before their journeys bring them back together in Book 2
2026-11-13T04:46:57.000Z
Mariska Hargitay’s reported ‘SVU’ paycheck includes acting and producing, while her estimated wealth reflects a career spanning more than four decades.
2026-11-12T20:43:49.000Z
'Marshals' Season 2 introduces a Texas cowgirl who joins Kayce Dutton at East Camp to help establish an equine therapy program.
2026-11-12T20:24:16.000Z
‘School Spirits’ Season 4 brings back Jennifer Tilly as Deborah Hunter-Price and Milo Manheim as Wally Clark while expanding its cast with four new additions
2026-11-12T20:05:26.000Z
Paul Wesley and Sara Canning reunite for Netflix’s college sports romance ‘Icebreaker,’ years after starring together in ‘The Vampire Diaries.’
2026-11-12T19:40:49.000Z
Peacock’s ‘The Good Daughter’ finale answers questions about the school shooting, Huck’s past and the buried secrets dividing Sam and Charlie’s family.
2026-11-12T16:29:59.000Z
‘Chicago Fire’ star Taylor Kinney shares the date for the franchise’s next crossover, which will bring all three NBC dramas together
2026-11-12T08:52:55.000Z
James Reynolds reveals his Parkinson’s diagnosis and explains why ‘Days of Our Lives’ is bringing it into Abe Carver’s storyline
2026-11-12T08:23:38.000Z
Charlie Vickers and his ‘The Rings of Power’ co-stars hint at Sauron’s next move and the Season 3 moments that left even the cast struggling for words
2026-11-12T07:50:09.000Z
Nearly three decades after their 1997 horror film, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ryan Phillippe are sharing the screen again, this time in the ‘9-1-1’ franchise
2026-11-12T06:55:17.000Z