In this preliminary battle of an unprecedented tournament, which challenges couples to compete together, married pairs attempt to show that they're ready to rock the baskets as teams! But are their relationships tough enough to weather three rounds in the Chopped kitchen? A fancy item in the appetizer basket requires careful handling. A personalized ingredient in the entrée basket brings a smile, but things get serious when more than one couple wants access to the deep fryer. Then, two ambitious pairs attempt to wow the judges with their desserts, but only one team can be deemed worthy of moving on to the $50,000 finale fight.

Four pairs of singles are set up on blind dates and challenged to work as teams in this preliminary battle. When missteps in the first round cause the couples problems, will they panic or power through? In the entrée round, the protein in the basket is far from a grocery store staple. Then, in the final round, the clock doesn't seem to be the chefs' friend, and undercooked desserts seem like a possibility. The winning team will advance to the tournament's finale for a chance to win $50,000!