Chopped has been premiering on the Food Network ever since its premiere back in 2009.

The Food Network announced that Chopped will air a spinoff called Chopped Castaways, premiering on May 12, 2026.

The new series will feature Ted Allen as host, with chefs Gabe Bertaccini, Maneet Chauhan, and Marcus Samuelsson as judges.

PSA, Chopped fans—there’s a major change coming to the franchise that you’ll want to pay attention to.

Ever since the show first premiered on Food Network back in 2009, viewers have loved watching some of the greatest chefs compete to prove their skills in the kitchen. With the concept featuring mystery ingredients being transformed into gourmet three-course meals, Chopped immediately became a smash hit with the channel. And after a whopping 64 seasons and multiple spinoffs (like Chopped Junior and Chopped Sweets), it’s hard to imagine the franchise being able to up the ante.

But after seeing an announcement made on Instagram this month, it looks like Food Network is trying to do just that! The post featured famed TV chefs Gabe Bertaccini, Maneet Chauhan, and Marcus Samuelsson, and it's there that folks learned that the trio will judge a new version of Chopped alongside host Ted Allen this spring. Called Chopped Castaways, fans can tune in for the premiere episode on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET on Food Network.

“🏖️ NEW 🏖️ In the most extreme evolution of #Chopped ever, stranded chefs will battle each other and the elements as they compete on a remote island where survival skills are just as critical as culinary talent 🔪,” the caption read.

Given how beloved Chopped has become over the years, fans were definitely intrigued by the idea of taking the show outdoors for this new installment.

“I can’t wait; this is so cool 🔥🔥🔥🔥,” one person wrote in the comments. “NO WAY!! I can't wait! This is a really good idea,” another agreed. “So excited about this !! Let's Go ‼️,” a different follower added.

While we’ll have to check in with Chopped Castaways when it premieres to see how it all plays out, we do have some clues about what the show will entail.

According to a report on Food Network’s website, the show has competitors having to survive the outdoors while they attempt to build a kitchen and create delicious meals. Along with using basic supplies to kickstart their journey, the chefs must “earn their signature Chopped ingredient baskets through intense physical challenges and cook entirely over open fire.” Additionally, the contestants will partake in “survival-driven physical challenges—such as archery, spearfishing, diving in the ocean, and digging in the sand” to collect ingredients for the next phase of the competition.

This sounds incredibly different from what we’ve seen in the past…and we’re marking our calendars to catch the premiere!