“BBQ Brawl ”Announces New Cast Lineup and Premiere Date for Season 7 (Exclusive)

Erin ClementsFri, April 3, 2026 at 2:00 PM UTC

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Bobby Flay, Brooke Williamson and Maneet Chauhan in season 7 of 'BBQ Brawl'Credit: Courtesy of Food Network -

Brooke Williamson transitions from judge to team captain, competing against Bobby Flay and Maneet Chauhan in season 7

Flay previously told PEOPLE that he and Williamson, who began dating last year, have a rule that they "can't judge each other"

He said the couple can compete in "friendly ways" and Williamson will be "tough to beat”

BBQ Brawl is back.

Brooke Williamson’s role changes from judge to team captain in the culinary competition’s seventh season, which premieres Monday, May 11, on Food Network.

Bobby Flay and Maneet Chauhan return to lead the other two teams throughout nine episodes, as a total of 12 pitmasters vie for the title of “Master of ‘Cue” at Star Hill Ranch in Austin, Texas.

Carson Kressley returns as a judge, alongside Adrienne Cheatham and season 3 winner Rashad Jones.

This season’s brawlers include Dakari Akorede (Atlanta); Morgan Bolling (Boston); Chris Farella (Fort Lee, N.J.); Raquel Fleetwood (Long Beach, Calif.); Torrece “T” Gregoire (Bristol, Va.); Vinny Mangual (Brooklyn, N.Y.); Edith Mattiuzzo (Udine, Italy); Tim McLaughlin (Dallas); Tung Nguyen (Oklahoma City, Okla.); Braunda Smith (San Antonio, Texas); Blake Stoker (Martin, Tenn.) and Bob Trudnak (Philadelphia).

Maneet Chauhan, Bobby Flay and Brooke Williamson in season 7 of 'BBQ Brawl'Credit: Courtesy of Food Network

Similar to last season, the premiere will see the winner of the first challenge — to serve their signature flavors in a bowl — get to pick their team captain.

When the rule was introduced in season 6, Flay told PEOPLE the twist changed the dynamic in a positive way.

“We always want to be that person because everybody has an ego,” Flay said. “And so it kind of got turned around on us for a second, which I actually liked.”

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Flay, Williamson and Chauhan will then pick their teams and the trio of judges will send one competitor home.

The season will conclude on Monday, July 6, when the three most successful pitmasters will “face an epic gauntlet of unknown ingredients where they must think on their feet and manage their time in a battle to be named ‘Master of ‘Cue’ and make their captain proud,” per a press release.

Credit: Courtesy of Food Network

Flay first revealed that girlfriend Williamson would be stepping into a new role while chatting with PEOPLE at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF) in February.

“Brooke has been a judge since almost the beginning, the second season, and she's always wanted to be one of the mentors and cook on the show, and there was never sort of an opportunity for that,” Flay said.

However, circumstances changed after the couple began dating in March 2025.

“But now, our rule between us is that we can't judge each other, because how can we judge each other?” he continued. “We can compete against each other in kind of friendly ways. She's becoming one of the captains on BBQ Brawl, so I have to actually compete against her. And she, as you might imagine, is very competitive, so she's tough to beat.”

BBQ Brawl premieres Monday, May 11, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network and streams the next day on HBO Max.

on People

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