The winners of My Kitchen Rules 2025, Justin and Will, have been favourites from the beginning for many fans. However, it wasn’t always ‘degustation-level dining’, nor did the duo ever think they would make it this far in the competition.
Justin told us, “It just doesn’t feel real. I just jumped on Will! I can’t believe I did that,” while Will said he was just trying to quickly do the maths in his head, “I don’t know what to feel right now, it is a surreal feeling but all our hard work paid off and we are so grateful.”
“To be honest, we didn’t think our cooking was good enough and hesitated before applying. We always supported each other and we practised our cooking every day, so we do feel all of our hard work has paid off.”
We caught up with the winning pair to hear all about the MKR behind the scenes and their own dishes they love to make at home. Plus, perhaps a sneak peek at what they’ll do with their $100,000 prize!
Favourite moments on My Kitchen Rules
For Will, making his Oma’s seafood hot pot in their first Instant Restaurant was a highlight. “That was an incredibly special moment for me, and to receive a 10 from Manu for the dish was something I will always remember.”
Justin, on the other hand, loved challenging himself with Manu’s favourite dessert, the Paris Brest, remembering it as “One of the most challenging and rewarding dishes we served”.
What will Justin and Will do now?
Justin and Will have only given a tiny bit away, that they’re ‘open’ to exploring different options in the food space. Justin explained that “We have always loved cooking and MKR has just lit an even bigger fire in our bellies.” Will mentioned that they’d love to travel the world and cook food from different cultures, including Tonga and South Africa.
A cheeky “Watch this space!” was their final answer to this question.
The kitchen tools that make or break home-cooking
Although the saying is to blame the chef, not his knives, it’s still important to have the right tools for easy, quick and delicious dinners. Will even swears by having the sharpest knives you can for safe and easy cooking. He also recommends investing in a good quality Dutch oven – it’s something that he ‘couldn’t live without’. For Justin, a cast-iron skillet makes home-cooking that much more delicious.
MKR winners’ go-to recipes for dinner
Justin and Will know their way around a four-course dinner menu, but what about making something quick and easy on a weeknight? Both of them love simple recipes with short ingredient lists. Justin’s go-to is always something simple, like beef ragu or steak, while Will loves a coconut chicken curry, a family favourite in his house.
Advice for applying to MKR 2026
If you’re considering applying for My Kitchen Rules in the future (applications are already open for 2026!), then who better to get tips and tricks from than the winners themselves?
Their number one piece of advice is to keep practising – “there’s always more to learn as a home cook.”
Both of them stressed that there’s no need for hesitation, just apply and see how you go. Justin said that “It’s one of the best experiences you can go through in your life. If you can cook, go for it. You learn so much as you go through the competition, too. Not just about yourself, but also about cooking techniques.”
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