What to Watch: New Hot and Spicy Recipes and a Sweet and Savory Battle of Iron Chef Gauntlet

Get all the details on the upcoming premieres this weekend on Food Network.
Iron Chef Gauntlet

Host Alton Brown during judging of Chef Mike Gulotta's dishes, Soy Sauce Octopus Salad with Fresh Tomato Curry with Fried and Grilled Avocado, Charred Octopus with Crispy Potatoes Chorizo Squid Ink Aioli with Tomato Olive Citrus Marmalade, and Paella Negro Risotto, for the Secret Ingredient Showdown, as seen on Iron Chef Gauntlet, Season 1

Photo by: Eddy Chen

Eddy Chen

This weekend, Food Network is heating things up and bringing you a batch of spicy new recipes from some of your favorite cooks. On Saturday morning, Ree Drummond is spicing up some of her family’s favorite recipes, making Spicy Sriracha Popcorn, Spicy Cowgirl coffee and Kung Pao Chicken. Then, Trisha Yearwood is trying fiery hot chicken, the co-hosts on The Kitchen are cooking with Chef Michael Psilakis, and Valerie Bertinelli is making a spicy feast for her brother’s birthday. Then on Sunday, Giada De Laurentiis is hosting a cocktail party and Ayesha Curry is serving up tacos and smoky margaritas.

On Sunday evening, strangers are teaming up in Flavortown Market, and the winning pair must decide if they want to split the prize money or compete in a winner-takes-all challenge. Then, the remaining chefs on Iron Chef Gauntlet are cooking with classic sweet and savory combos, and the chefs on Iron Chef Eats are sharing some of their favorite breakfast spots and “no-fork needed” bites.

Kung Pao Chicken

Kung Pao Chicken

Kung Pao Chicken

The Pioneer Woman: Just for Kicks – Saturday, April 29 at 10a|9c

Ree's making a spicy food delivery and adding hot sauce to the food her family loves. There's her daughter's favorite, Kung Pao Chicken (pictured), and Spicy Sriracha Popcorn is a winner with the entire family. Plus, a fantastic New Queso her boys love, Ree's pick of Spicy Cowgirl coffee and her father-in-law Chuck's Favorite Shrimp.

Spicy Chipotle Peanuts

Photo by: Jason Clairy ©Clairy Productions Inc.

Jason Clairy, Clairy Productions Inc.

Trisha’s Southern Kitchen: Trisha’s Spicy Kitchen – Saturday, April 29 at 10:30a|9:30c

Trisha and her friend, Julie, bring on the heat. After chowing down on some delicious but fiery hot chicken from Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, the duo head to the kitchen to make some spicy specialties, including Spicy Chipotle Peanuts (pictured), South Tex-Mex Rice, Spicy Turkey Lettuce Cups with Red Pepper Jelly, and Blackberry-Black Pepper Cocktails.

Risotto Scampi Fra Diavlo

Jeff Mauro makes Risotto Scampi Fra Diavlo, as seen on Food Network's The Kitchen

The Kitchen: What’s Hot Right Now – Saturday, April 29 at 11a|10c

The Kitchen is celebrating spice with Jeff Mauro's Risotto Scampi Fra Diavlo (pictured) and Sunny Anderson's Sunset Park Noodle Bowl. Chef and restaurateur Michael Psilakis heats up the kitchen with his Spicy Chicken Tacos. The hosts share spicy food predictions from around the world, answer fiery questions from The Kitchen Helpline and spice up favorite fruits while sipping on Geoffrey Zakarian's Caliente Colada.

Creamy Jalapeno Mac and Cheese

Photo by: yia thao

yia thao

Valerie’s Home Cooking: Happy Birthday, Spicy Mud – Saturday, April 29 at 12|11c

Valerie loves her little brother, nicknamed Mud, and they're celebrating his birthday with a really spicy feast. The guests dine on a hot hot hot meal of Chile-Rubbed Beef with Garlic-Herb Oil, Creamy Jalapeno Mac and Cheese (pictured), Sweet and Spicy Popcorn, Blistered Green Beans with Spicy Chile Sauce and Mexican Hot Chocolate Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Crab Arancini

Giada in Italy: Passion for Fashion – Sunday, April 30 at 12|11c

Before Milan, Florence was the center of fashion in Italy. There are fashion influences all over the city, and since Giada herself is a fashion enthusiast, she hosts a cocktail party on a terrace near Florence's famed Duomo and creates a fashionable menu with Crab Arancini (pictured), Avocado and White Bean Dip and Grappa-Poached Pears with Speck.

Pulled Chicken Tacos with Seasoned Taco Shells

Ayesha’s Home Kitchen: Taco Night – Sunday, April 30 at 12:20|11:30c

Ayesha Curry is spicing up the menu with a creative twist on some taco night favorites. With a grocery store staple – the rotisserie chicken – and some simple spices, she creates Pulled Chicken Tacos with Seasoned Taco Shells (pictured). She adds Cilantro-Lime Rice and rounds out the menu with Horchata Brownies. Ayesha and her husband, Stephen Curry, grab Smoky Pineapple Margaritas to toast the fiery fiesta feast with their guests, Ayesha's sister Maria and DIY maven Sabrina Soto.

Guy's Grocery Games

Guy’s Grocery Games: Friend or Foe – Sunday, April 30 at 8|7c

Chefs who just met are forced to pair up and compete against other teams of perfect strangers for a shot at big money. First, teams must serve up a fried feast using only ingredients that begin with the letter "F." Next, the duos must create a fine dining dinner on a bare-bones budget. The surviving team is confronted with the most diabolical surprise yet: do they want to split $10,000 as friends, or compete against each other as foes in one last winner-take-all challenge worth $20,000?

Iron Chef Gauntlet

Iron Chef Marc Forgione and Co-Judge Giada De Laurentiis, as seen on Iron Chef Gauntlet, Season 1

Photo by: Patrick Wymore

Patrick Wymore

Iron Chef Gauntlet: Sweet and Savory – Sunday, April 30 at 9|8c

An Iron Chef must be adaptable, so the Chairman's Challenge offers up a combination of ingredients that will be bittersweet for one chef. All items are first-come, first-served and cannot be shared, so the competitors race to the altar to grab their most desired elements. Alton Brown sends the bottom chef to a sea creature-themed Secret Ingredient Challenge, along with the top competitor's choice. Iron Chef Marc Forgione and Giada De Laurentiis judge the dishes and send one chef packing.

Fried Egg Sandwich

Iron Chef Eats: Best Breakfasts – Sunday, April 30 at 10|9c

The folks from Iron Chef will happily hop out of bed if it means starting the day with their favorite breakfast! Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian dreams about the waffles and quiches at Balthazar in New York City, and Iron Chef Gauntlet competitor Jonathon Sawyer kick starts his day with Southern-inspired Mexican food. Then, Iron Chef Gauntlet competitor Sarah Gruenberg greets the day with a savory bacon and egg sandwich and a slice of blueberry cornmeal cake, and Iron Chef winner Brad Farmerie is a big fan of fried chicken and hash.

Tacos al Pastor

Iron Chef Eats: No Fork Needed – Sunday, April 30 at 10:30|9:30c

No fork, no knife, no problem -- the folks from Iron Chef can't wait to get their hands on these tasty bites! From crunchy falafel to crispy chicken schnitzel, Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli loves to cradle the sandwiches at Shaya in New Orleans. Then, Iron Chef winner Ed Lee finds great satisfaction with meat-filled tacos, but Iron Chef Gauntlet competitor Sarah Grueneberg prefers the burgers, chicken nuggets and fries. Plus, Iron Chef winner Beau MacMillan devours deviled eggs, oysters and chicken wings at Tavern and Table in Charleston, S.C.

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