MasterChef mums reveal the cooking advice they swear by.

This season of MasterChef Australia: Back To Win is packed with familiar faces – and a few proud mums among them. From new mums and grandmas to foster mums and everything in between, these returning contestants are bringing a whole lot of heart (and a few time-saving hacks) into the kitchen.

We caught up with three of them – Laura Sharrad (new to the mum club), Sarah Todd (mum of one) and Samira El Khafir (mum of four!) – to find out the best cooking advice they’ve picked up from their own mums or mother figures over the years.

Plus, they share their go-to dinner recipes on a budget.

MasterChef mums share cooking tips and their go-to dinner family dinner recipe

Laura Sharrad, mum to daughter Florence

State: South Australia

Instagram: @laurasharrad

Previous Season & Place: Season 6, Placed 2^nd; Season 12, Placed 2^nd

Cooking advice from my mum

1. Prep ahead – being organised with the next night’s dinner whether it’s marinating in the fridge, half baked, or all chopped and ready to go. This saves so much time when you’ve got a little one hanging off you. 
2. Cooking in bulk – I can never cook for two, I’m always making enough for leftovers, or meals I can freeze down and whip out when we are in need of something quick and healthy.

Go-to budget-friendly family recipe

This makes two trays of lasagna … so double or triple as you please! Also, freeze uncooked, then thaw out and cook like you would regularly.

Ingredients:

• 1 onion, diced
• 1 small carrot, diced
• 2 sticks celery, diced
• 100g smoked pancetta, diced
• A few cloves garlic, diced
• 1 stem of Rosemary, finely chopped
• A few sage leaves, finely chopped
• 2-3 bay leaves
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• 2 tbs tomato paste
• Pinch of nutmeg
• 300g pork & veal mince (you don’t need a huge amount of mince, it shouldn’t be overly meaty)
• About a cup of red wine
• 4 tins tomatoes, blitzed (around 1.6-1.8L)

Pasta

• 600g 00 flour
• 250g fine semolina flour
• 4 eggs
• 180-190g water
• A good glug of olive oil
• Salt

Bechamel

• 100g butter
• 100g flour
• 1L milk
• Nutmeg and salt to taste
• I use Parmigiano & fresh mozzarella for my cheeses!

Sarah Todd, mum to son Phoenix

State: Victoria

Instagram: @sarahtodd

Previous Season & Place: Season 6, Placed 9^th; Season 14, Placed 2^nd

Cooking advice from my mum

One of the most powerful things my mum ever taught me about cooking had nothing to do with recipes. It was the unspoken ritual of dinner on the table at 6:30pm, every single night, no matter what life threw at her. It wasn’t just about food. It was her way of saying, “We’re home. We’re safe. We’re together.” Even when money was tight, or the day had been hard, or the fridge felt empty, she still made something, and made it feel like enough.

There was a kind of quiet grace in how she showed up for us, day after day. No fanfare. No fuss. Just presence. And I think that’s the greatest cooking advice I’ve ever received: Consistency is love in action. It’s not about the perfect dish. It’s about showing up – with a plate, with your heart, and with whatever you have. That kind of cooking stays with you. It’s shaped everything I do, not just in the kitchen, but in life.

Go-to budget-friendly family recipe

Yakitori or any kind of skewers are my son’s and my favourite thing to cook together. These pork and pineapple BBQ skewers are affordable, quick, and perfect for the whole family. Just make sure to balance out the heat from the Hot Toddy Ghost Chilli — a little goes a long way, especially with kids! 

Click here for recipe.

Samira El Khafir, mum of four

State: Victoria

Instagram: @samiraelkhafir

Previous Season & Place: Season 5, Placed 3^rd

Cooking advice from my mum

“One of the best pieces of cooking advice I picked up from my mum wasn’t a fancy technique — it was the power of a good homemade spice mix. She always kept a jar of her go-to blend on the counter: sweet paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and allspice. No matter the cut or cooking method — sautéed, stir-fried, or roasted — this mix made her chicken dishes sing. It was her not-so-secret weapon, and it’s the same one I use now in my own kitchen to bring comfort and flavour to everyday meals.”

Go-to budget-friendly family recipe

This dish takes me straight back to our family kitchen — it’s quick, cost-effective, and bursting with flavour.

Roasted Chicken & Potatoes with Lemon Garlic Dressing

Ingredients

• 4–5 potatoes, peeled and quartered
• 6–8 chicken drumsticks (or any secondary cut)
• 1 tbsp sweet paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp allspice
• 2–3 tbsp olive oil
• Salt, to taste
• For the Dressing:
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 4–5 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup water

Method

• Preheat your oven to 200°C (fan-forced).
• Arrange the potatoes and chicken in a baking tray.
• In a small bowl, mix together the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and allspice.
• Sprinkle the spice mix over the chicken and potatoes, drizzle with olive oil, season with salt, and massage everything well to coat.
• Bake for 45–55 minutes, or until the chicken is golden and cooked through and the potatoes are tender.
• Meanwhile, mix the lemon juice, water, salt and smashed garlic pour the mixture all over your chicken tray and bake for a further 10 min to warm the dressing through. 
• Enjoy with a side salad and dip or with some pita bread to dip in those juices. 

MasterChef Australia: Back to Win currently airing on 10 and 10 Play.