The fifteenth series of the Australian cooking game show MasterChef Australia premiered on 7 May 2023 on Network 10 and concluded on 16 July 2023.
The series was originally announced at Paramount's and Network 10's upfronts in October 2022. Subtitled Secrets & Surprises, the season featured 18 contestants, with 17 new to the show. Andy Allen, Melissa Leong, and Jock Zonfrillo returned to the show as judges from the previous season. The series was originally scheduled to premiere on 1 May 2023. However, following Zonfrillo's death on 30 April, the premiere was postponed until 7 May. Filming of the season had been completed in March 2023 and was thus unaffected by the death of Zonfrillo. The premiere was preceded by a special edition of The Sunday Project that paid tribute to Zonfrillo.
The series was won by Brent Draper, who previously appeared in series 13 but withdrew for mental health reasons.
Changes
Compared to previous seasons, series 15 featured 18 contestants instead of the typical 24. Like the previous season, the season omitted the broadcast of the audition stage.
Subtitled Secrets & Surprises, this season saw a secret or surprise revealed to the contestants in every episode. One example was the introduction of a surprise "second chance apron", which was won by the winner of the first challenge in the season and kept secret from the rest of the contestants; it allowed the contestant to come back from elimination and compete for re-entry at the next elimination challenge.
Weekly immunity challenge winners had a chance to win an immunity pin by winning a cook-off against a professional chef. The winner was determined with a blind tasting by the judges, while Shannon Bennett mentored the contestants.
This was the first season not to feature any MasterClasses.
Contestants
The full cast was announced on 23 April 2023. Former contestant Brent Draper, who withdrew from series 13 citing mental health concerns, returned as a contestant for the season.
Contestant Age State/Terr Occupation Status Brent Draper 32 QLD Digital content creatorWinner 16 July Rhiannon Anderson 47 QLD Administration manager Declan Cleary 24 NSW Carpenter Theo Loizou 37 VIC ElectricianEliminated 11 July Cath Collins 54 VIC Administration managerEliminated 9 July Malissa Fedele 28 SA NutritionistEliminated 2 July Rue Mupedzi 30 WA Oral health therapist Eliminated 27 June Adi Nevgi 31 VIC Doctor Eliminated 25 June Ralph Kahango 32 WA Auditor Eliminated 20 June Antonio Cruz Vaamonde 34 NSW Software developer Eliminated 18 June Grace Jupp 24 VIC Olive producer Eliminated 13 June Phil Conway 33 VIC Fitness studio manager Eliminated 11 June Robbie Cooper 65 NT Youth support worker Eliminated 4 June Alice Han 29 NSW Economic researcher Eliminated 30 May Amy Tanner 26 VIC Medical administrator Eliminated 28 May Larissa Sewell 38 SA Stay-at-home mum Re-eliminated 23 MayReturned 21 MayEliminated 16 May Jessica Perri 35 VIC Optometrist Eliminated 21 MayAndrea Puglisi36WARope access technician Eliminated 14 May
Future appearances
In Series 16 Declan Cleary, Theo Loizou, Adi Nevgi, Grace Jupp, Phil Conway, Amy Tanner and Jessica Perri appeared as guests for the 1st Service challenge. Declan & Theo along with Rhiannon Anderson, Cath Collins and Rue Mupedzi appeared in Series 17. Cath was eliminated on 4 May 2025, finishing 23rd. Rhiannon was eliminated on 25 May 2025, finishing 18th. Rue was eliminated on 27 May 2025, finishing 17th. Theo was eliminated on 24 June 2025, finishing 12th and Declan was eliminated on 29 June 2025, finishing 11th.
Guest chefs
Week Guest Challenge 1 Jamie Oliver Series premiere Hugh Allen Immunity challenge 2(Secrets to Success Week) Poh Ling Yeow Emelia Jackson Elimination challenge Sashi Cheliah, Matt Sinclair Service challenge Darren Robertson Immunity challenge 3(Big Week) Julie Goodwin Elimination challenge Eddie Stewart Pressure test Sergio Perera Immunity challenge 4(Nostalgia Week) Donato Toce Pressure test Gabriel Gaté Immunity challenge 5(Home Cooks vs. Pro Cooks Week) Jacqui Challinor, Brendan Katich, Lakhan Bhounsle Mystery box challenge Khanh Nguyen, Nicko Holloway, Christopher James, Melanie Shoona Pressure test Louis Tikaram, Ben Skelton, Mark Tumacder Team challenge Ross Magnaye, Leandro Miranda, Shane Stafford Invention test 6 Rick Stein Elimination challenge Josh Niland Mystery box challenge Luke Nguyen Pressure test Curtis Stone Service & immunity challenge 7 Maggie Beer Elimination challenge Nelly Robinson Pressure test Shannon Bennett Service challenge Kay-lene Tan Immunity challenge 8 Clare Smyth Pressure test Blayne Bertoncello Service challenge Chase Kojima Immunity challenge 9 Kirsten Tibballs Elimination challenge 10(Finals Week) Peter Gilmore Pressure test Curtis Stone Challenge Shannon Bennett Service challenge Grand Finale Amaury Guichon Pressure test
Elimination chart No. Week12345678 9Finals Grand Finale MysteryBoxChallengeWinnerNoneMalissaAntonioPhilRalphAntonioRalphGraceAntonioRhiannonDeclanRueBrentTheo BrentBrent None ImmunityChallengeAntonioCathJessicaAdiDeclanJessicaMalissaRalphRobbieAdiAmyCathGracePhilRobbieAdiCathDeclanMalissaRobbieTheoAdiBrentRalphRhiannonBrentDeclanTheoBrentDeclanMalissa BrentTheo None EliminationChallengeWinnerBrentPhilRue Cath NoneBrentTheoNoneNoneNoneNoneDeclan RhiannonTheoNone None 1Brent INDNP IN colspan=2 IN colspan=2 IN IN colspan=2 2Rhiannon INDNP IN colspan=2 IN colspan=2 colspan=2 IN 3Declan INDNP colspan=2 IN colspan=2 IN 4Theo INDNP colspan=2 IN colspan=2 colspan=2 IN colspan=2 5Cath INDNPWIN IN colspan=2 IN colspan=2 colspan=2 IN IN colspan=2 6Malissa IN IN colspan=2 IN colspan=2 colspan=2 IN 7RueDNP IN colspan=2 IN colspan=2 colspan=2 IN colspan=2 8Adi IN IN IN colspan=2 IN colspan=2 colspan=2 IN colspan=2 9Ralph IN IN colspan=2 colspan=2 colspan=2 IN 10Antonio INDNP colspan=2 colspan=2 11Grace IN IN colspan=2 colspan=2 DNP colspan=2 12Phil IN IN colspan=2 IN colspan=2 13Robbie IN IN IN colspan=2 IN colspan=2 14AliceDNP IN colspan=2 15Amy IN IN IN colspan=2 16LarissaDNP 17Jessica INDNP 18Andrea IN EliminatedNoneAndreaLarissaJessicaLarissaAmyAliceRobbiePhilGrace AntonioRalphAdiRueMalissaCathTheoDeclanRhiannonBrent
Episodes and ratings Colour key: – Highest rating during the series – Lowest rating during the series