Food Network Brings Back Cancelled Show The Kitchen— But There’s a Catch

Published by Staff Writer on March 7, 2026 March 7, 2026

Food Network fans who were saddened by the cancellation of the long-running series The Kitchen now have a reason to celebrate — at least a little. The beloved cooking show is coming back, but there’s a catch. Instead of a full revival, the network is bringing the series back for just one new special episode.

The update came directly from the show’s own hosts. During the March 5 episode of the podcast All on the Table, The Kitchen stars Jeff Mauro and Geoffrey Zakarian joined their former co-host Katie Lee Biegel and revealed that they had reunited in New York for a special reason.

When Biegel asked on the podcast, “Are we allowed to talk about what we’re doing this week?” Mauro shared the surprise: the trio had gathered to film a special episode of The Kitchen.

The announcement comes just months after the popular Food Network series ended its impressive 12-year run in December 2025. The show had become a Saturday morning staple for many viewers, combining cooking segments, food discussions, and friendly banter among its hosts.

Although the new episode is exciting news for fans, it won’t signal a full return of the show. For now, Food Network is only planning one freshly filmed special episode, which is expected to air sometime soon.

A Show Fans Still Miss

During the podcast, the hosts didn’t hide their feelings about the show’s cancellation.

Zakarian joked that Food Network might still realize its mistake, noting that the network has been airing repackaged versions of past episodes. These “repacks” are essentially reruns that have been re-edited and refreshed with new hosting segments.

Zakarian revealed that he filmed six new hosting segments for these repackaged episodes, while fellow Food Network star Alex Guarnaschelli also filmed six.

“If they’re running 12 weeks of these repacks,” Zakarian said, “that gives them 12 more weeks to realize what a mistake they’ve made.”

Biegel agreed, adding bluntly, “They did make a mistake.”

Mauro echoed the sentiment and said he wasn’t afraid to say it out loud.

According to him, the reaction from fans has been overwhelming since the cancellation was announced.

“Everywhere I go, people ask me, ‘What happened?’” Mauro said. “For a lot of people, watching The Kitchen on Saturday mornings was their thing.”

He even compared the show’s cancellation to something almost unthinkable in television.

“It’s like canceling Jeopardy!,” Mauro joked. “Nobody does that.”

Why the Show Was Cancelled

Despite the hosts’ frustration, Biegel suggested the decision wasn’t about ratings or viewer interest.

Instead, she described the cancellation as the result of a “perfect storm” of circumstances, including corporate changes and contract issues following the Warner Bros. Discovery merger.

“It wasn’t about ratings or about what fans wanted,” she explained.

Still, the outpouring of support surprised even the hosts.

“I didn’t know people were so passionate about the show,” Biegel admitted. “It felt really good to know we connected with people and became part of their Saturday morning.”

A Special Episode Filmed Overseas

While details about the upcoming episode remain limited, the hosts did reveal one surprising detail: they traveled to Qatar to film part of the special.

Zakarian said the occasion felt important enough that he even had a custom seersucker suit made for the trip.

Though the hosts joked about whether the show might somehow return again in the future, Mauro admitted they’re realistic about the situation.

“Is there hope it could ride again?” he said. “Probably not. But the fact that we’re doing one more special episode is pretty great.”

Fans React to the News

The announcement has already sparked excitement online.

When Biegel shared clips from the podcast conversation on Instagram, the comment section quickly filled with messages from fans who said they still miss the show.

One fan wrote,
“I’d love to know why they canceled The Kitchen. It was one of the absolute best shows!”

Another added,
“I watched every weekend. You all were a staple in my house for years. I was so sad when I heard the show was ending.”

For now, Food Network has not revealed the exact premiere date for the special episode, although Biegel hinted that it could air sometime in March.

And while the return may only be temporary, one thing is clear: fans are more than ready to tune in for one more visit to The Kitchen.