Anne Burrell Remembered: Her Best TV Moments and Recipes That Made Us Love Her

Chef and TV personality Anne Burrell died on June 17, 2025, at the age of 55. Authorities reportedly arrived at her residence responding to a 911 call about a cardiac arrest. On July 24, her official cause of death was confirmed to be suicide. 

“Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered,” her family said in a statement, reports People. “Anne’s light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world. Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.”

After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1996, Burrell went on to have an impressive career in the culinary arts. She also became a popular host and competitor for Food Network, appearing on many shows over the years. To honor Burrell, take a look back at some of her best TV moments and try some of her iconic recipes.  

‘Worst Cooks in America’

In 2010, Burrell (along with co-host Chef Beau MacMillan) launched a new reality series called Worst Cooks in America on the Food Network. The show focuses on professional chefs helping contestants to become better cooks through what’s often referred to as a “culinary boot camp.”

In that first season, her recruit (Rachel Coleman) won the series finale and Burrell looked back upon the victory fondly in a 2021 video.

“Every single time when they’re about to proclaim the winner, I feel the exact same thing every time: nervous, nervous, nervous,” she also shared. “Even though it’s not me cooking it, I still take it so personally.”

She went on to host/mentor for another 26 seasons of the show, with Antonia Lofaso taking her place for Season 28 (which began airing January 5, 2025).

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‘Good Morning America’ Holiday Leftovers Special

As part of Good Morning America’s “Battle of the Holiday Leftovers,” the famous chef appeared on a 2023 episode to show the hosts and audience how to make sweet potato and apple hash. After reminding everyone that hash doesn’t have to be just for breakfast, Burrell turned popular ingredients like bacon, onion, sweet potatoes, maple syrup and apples into a delicious dish.

Excited by all the flavors coming together, she let out her famous line, “Brown food tastes good.”

Find out how to make the recipe for yourself below.

‘Chopped All-Stars’

Though not a stranger to reality cooking competitions, Burrell showed off her own skills when she competed on Season 6 of Chopped All-Stars. It was clear to many that the experienced chef was quite serious when it came to cooking after an incident that shocked viewers.

Cooking oil splashed into her eye while she was preparing a dish, but it didn’t seem to faze her. “She had hot oil splatter in her eye, but she kept competing!” a Reddit user wrote in a comment about the episode.

Though she ended up taking second runner-up in the final round of the competition, Burrell did snag the title of “Food Network Personalities” in the preliminary round. Later, she won the fourth season in 2015, and the $75,000 prize went to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

‘Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell’

Beginning June 2012, she hosted her very own show, Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell. As part of this reality series, four candidates would compete for the position of executive chef at a top restaurant. Burrell’s coaching, critiques and skill tests were designed to help the best chef for the job come out on top.

“Each and every one of you guys are qualified to be here; I brought you here,” she says in a teaser for the series. “These tests are designed to weed you guys out.”

Chef Richard Mancini, who was chosen for the position at New York City’s Old Homestead Steakhouse in a Season 1 episode, shared his thoughts about Burrell’s tough love in a 2012 interview. “Chef Anne was very interesting and hard on me but that is what it takes to make it,” he said. “She was great.”

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Anne Burrell’s best recipes

In honor of her lifetime culinary accomplishments, try a few of our favorite Burrell recipes:

Anne Burrell’s Lemon-Herb Chicken

Ingredients:

• 1⁄3 cup olive oil
• 1⁄2 cup lemon juice
• 1 Tbs. fresh oregano
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. lemon zest
• 4 chicken leg quarters
• 1 lb. baby potatoes
• 2 red, green and/or yellow peppers, quartered

1. Whisk first 5 ingredients and 1⁄2 tsp. salt; reserve 1⁄4 cup. Place chicken in a baking dish; add remaining dressing. Cover; chill 4 hrs.

2. Prepare a grill for medium direct- and indirect-heat cooking. Cook potatoes in boiling water, 12 min.; drain.

3. Grill chicken over direct heat, 5 min.; flip. Move to indirect heat. Cover; cook until no longer pink, 30 min.

4. In a grill basket, grill potatoes, 10 min., and peppers, 6 min. Serve with chicken; drizzle with dressing.

 Anne Burrell’s Macedonia Fruit Cocktail

 Ingredients:

• 2 cups sugar
• Zest of 1 lemon, removed in large strips with peeler
• 4 cups assorted summer fruit (any combo of the following: peaches, nectarines, cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon, strawberries, plums, raspberries, blueberries or any other firm-fleshed fruit you like), cut into bite-size pieces
• 8 fresh mint leaves
• 1 pt. lemon sorbet

1. In a pot, combine sugar with 2 cups water and zest. Bring to a boil, then turn off heat and let cool. When the syrup is cool, remove zest.

2. Transfer syrup to a large bowl; mix in fruit. Cover; refrigerate at least 1 hour.

3. Thinly slice mint. Ladle fruit into individual serving bowls; sprinkle with mint.

4. Nestle a scoop of lemon sorbet in each dish of fruit. Serve cold! Makes 6-8 servings.

 Anne Burrell’s Sweet Potato & Apple Hash

 Ingredients:

• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/4 pieces
• 1 onion, cut in ½” dice
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves finely chopped
• Pinch of crushed red pepper
• Kosher salt
• 3 sweet potatoes, about 2 lbs., peeled, cut into ½” dice
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 bunch scallions, white and green parts separated and thinly sliced
• 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cut into ½” dice
• 1/2 cup pepitas (green pumpkin seeds), toasted

1. Lightly coat a large sauté pan with oil; add bacon and bring to medium heat. When bacon starts to get crispy and brown, 5-6 minutes, add onion, rosemary and red pepper.

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2. Season with salt; sauté onion until soft and aromatic, 8-10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low.

3. Add sweet potatoes, maple syrup and broth. Cover; cook for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are soft but not mushy. Remove lid; let liquid reduce by about half.

4. Add scallion whites and apples; cook 5-6 minutes or until apples are soft.

5. Stir in scallion greens and pepitas; taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Makes 6 servings.