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Overnight Chef Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Chef

Knoxville, TN ยท On-site

$70K - $100K/yr

Chef Athenian Hospitality Group -- Knoxville, TN Full-Time, Salaried | $70,000-$100,000/year ... in that fails overnight, a rush that arrives forty-five minutes early. Your crew takes its ...

... overnight travel, as needed * Move and lift up to 10 pounds, frequently move and/or lift up to 25 ... years of Executive Chef experience in a full-service restaurant * Strong knowledge of sushi ...

Executive Chef

Nashville, TN ยท On-site

$70K - $100K/yr

... overnight travel, as needed * Move and lift up to 10 pounds, frequently move and/or lift up to 25 ... years of Executive Chef experience in a full-service restaurant * Strong knowledge of sushi ...

Sushi Chef

Nashville, TN ยท On-site

$60K - $90K/yr

... overnight travel, as needed * Move and lift up to 10 pounds, frequently move and/or lift up to 25 ... chef experience in a full-service restaurant * Skilled in preparing nigiri, sashimi, maki, and ...

Sous Chef

Madison, TN ยท On-site

$55K - $75K/yr

... overnight travel, as needed * Move and lift up to 10 pounds, frequently move and/or lift up to 25 ... sous chef experience in a full-service restaurant * Ability to lead and manage the kitchen staff

Sous Chef

Madison, TN

$55K - $75K/yr

... overnight travel, as needed * Move and lift up to 10 pounds, frequently move and/or lift up to 25 ... sous chef experience in a full-service restaurant * Ability to lead and manage the kitchen staff

Sous Chef

Madison, TN

$55K - $75K/yr

... overnight travel, as needed * Move and lift up to 10 pounds, frequently move and/or lift up to 25 ... sous chef experience in a full-service restaurant * Ability to lead and manage the kitchen staff

Sushi Sous Chef

Nashville, TN ยท On-site

$60K - $90K/yr

... overnight travel, as needed * Move and lift up to 10 pounds, frequently move and/or lift up to 25 ... chef experience in a full-service restaurant * Skilled in preparing nigiri, sashimi, maki, and ...

Chef de Cuisine

Nashville, TN ยท On-site

$70K - $90K/yr

... overnight travel, as needed * Move and lift up to 10 pounds, frequently move and/or lift up to 25 ... years of Chef de Cuisine experience in a full-service restaurant * Strong knowledge of sushi ...

... overnight travel, as needed * Move and lift up to 10 pounds, frequently move and/or lift up to 25 ... years of Chef de Cuisine experience in a full-service restaurant * Strong knowledge of sushi ...

... overnight travel, as needed * Move and lift up to 10 pounds, frequently move and/or lift up to 25 ... chef experience in a full-service restaurant * Skilled in preparing nigiri, sashimi, maki, and ...

Chef de Cuisine

Madison, TN ยท On-site

$70K - $90K/yr

CHEF de CUISINE! Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants is looking for a Chef de Cuisine with 4+ years ... overnight travel, as needed * Move and lift up to 10 pounds, frequently move and/or lift up to 25 ...

Chef de Cuisine

Madison, TN ยท On-site

$70K - $90K/yr

CHEF de CUISINE! Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants is looking for a Chef de Cuisine with 4+ years ... overnight travel, as needed * Move and lift up to 10 pounds, frequently move and/or lift up to 25 ...

Overnight Baker

Memphis, TN ยท On-site

$15/hr

Previous experience as a baker, pastry chef, or in a similar role is preferred. Please ensure that ... Available for overnight shift. Shift starts at midnight and ends around 8 am.

Overnight Baker

Memphis, TN ยท On-site

$15/hr

Previous experience as a baker, pastry chef, or in a similar role is preferred. Please ensure that ... Available for overnight shift. Shift starts at midnight and ends around 8 am.

Overnight Baker

Memphis, TN ยท On-site

$15/hr

Previous experience as a baker, pastry chef, or in a similar role is preferred. Please ensure that ... Available for overnight shift. Shift starts at midnight and ends around 8 am.

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Overnight Chef information

What is an overnight chef?

Overnight Chefs are culinary professionals who work during nighttime hours, typically preparing meals for early morning service or for establishments that operate 24/7. Their responsibilities often include prepping ingredients, cooking meals, managing kitchen operations during the night shift, and ensuring food safety standards are met. Overnight Chefs may work in hotels, hospitals, bakeries, or restaurants that require fresh food to be ready by morning. This role demands strong organizational skills, the ability to work independently, and flexibility in working unusual hours.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an overnight chef?

To thrive as an Overnight Chef, you need solid culinary skills, experience in food preparation, and usually a food safety certification. Familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment, inventory systems, and health code compliance is crucial. Strong time management, problem-solving, and the ability to work independently are valuable soft skills in this role. These capabilities ensure efficient meal service, adherence to safety standards, and smooth kitchen operations during less supervised hours.

What are some unique challenges faced by an overnight chef, and how can they be managed?

Overnight Chefs often work with limited staff and resources compared to daytime shifts, requiring strong multitasking and problem-solving skills. They must also maintain high food safety and quality standards while preparing items for breakfast service or fulfilling late-night orders. Staying organized, prioritizing prep work, and establishing clear communication with the day team can help manage these challenges. Additionally, adapting to an unconventional sleep schedule and maintaining personal wellness are important for long-term success in this role.

What is the difference between Overnight Chef vs Line Cook?

AspectOvernight ChefLine Cook
CredentialsCooking certifications, culinary degree often preferredSimilar credentials, often with culinary training
Work EnvironmentKitchen during overnight hours, quieter shiftsPeak hours, fast-paced kitchen during day or evening
Employer & IndustryRestaurants, hotels, catering servicesRestaurants, hotels, food service establishments
Search & Comparison IntentOvernight Chef vs Line CookOvernight Chef vs Line Cook

The Overnight Chef primarily works during nighttime hours, focusing on preparing and finishing dishes in a quieter environment. In contrast, a Line Cook works during peak hours, handling high-volume food preparation. Both roles require culinary skills and certifications, but their schedules and work environments differ significantly.

Do overnight chefs work overnight?

Yes, overnight chefs work during nighttime hours, typically from late evening to early morning. They often prepare meals, manage kitchen operations, and ensure food safety during these hours, which may require working late shifts or overnight schedules.

What are the most commonly searched types of Chef jobs in Tennessee?

The most popular types of Chef jobs in Tennessee are:

What are popular job titles related to Overnight Chef jobs in Tennessee?

For Overnight Chef jobs in Tennessee, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Overnight Chef jobs in Tennessee look for?

The top searched job categories for Overnight Chef jobs in Tennessee are:

Infographic showing various Overnight Chef job openings in Tennessee as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 20% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution.

Chef

Knoxville, TN โ€ข On-site

$70K - $100K/yr

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago


Job description

Chef
Athenian Hospitality Group — Knoxville, TN
Full-Time, Salaried | $70,000–$100,000/year

Athenian Hospitality Group is hiring an experienced Chef to lead our Knoxville kitchen. This is a hands-on leadership role with full ownership of the back of house — the food, the team, and the numbers.

Kitchen Leadership

You run the kitchen. That means setting the pace during service, expediting when it gets deep, and making the call when something goes sideways — a callout, a walk-in that fails overnight, a rush that arrives forty-five minutes early. Your crew takes its temperature from you, so composure under volume isn't a bonus here, it's the core of the job. When you're off, the kitchen should still run to your standard, because you built it that way.

Food Quality & Consistency

Every plate leaving the pass is yours. You set specs for portion, seasoning, temperature, and presentation, and you check them — not just on slow nights. Consistency is what turns a good meal into a returning guest, and it comes from written recipes, clear plate builds, and a chef who tastes throughout the shift instead of assuming.

Menu Development

You bring ideas and you cost them before they hit the board. That means seasonal specials, smarter cross-utilization so one product feeds three dishes, and prep methods that hold quality without adding hours. A good chef can look at a dish and tell you the food cost, the yield, and how it will hold up on a Saturday at peak.

Cost & Inventory Control

Ordering to par, receiving and checking every delivery, running inventory on schedule, and tracking waste daily. You manage food cost and labor against sales and can explain any movement in either — which product, which shift, which decision. Vendor relationships are part of this: you know your prices and you notice when they change.

Team Building & Training

You hire, train, schedule, and develop cooks. The measure of a chef isn't the food they can produce alone — it's the cooks they build who can produce it without them. That means teaching technique and the reason behind it, correcting in the moment without blowing up the line, and giving people a path forward so they stay.

Safety & Sanitation

Health code standards, temperature logs, dating and labeling, allergen protocol, and a clean, organized kitchen — every shift, not the morning of an inspection. Coolers organized, stations broken down properly, and a team that follows the standard because you've made it normal.

Requirements

  • Proven experience as a Chef, Executive Chef, Sous Chef, or Kitchen Manager in a high-volume kitchen
  • Strong command of food cost, inventory, ordering, and labor management
  • Demonstrated ability to hire, train, and retain kitchen staff
  • ServSafe certification (or ability to obtain)
  • Ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays as business requires
  • Scratch cooking background preferred; Mediterranean/Greek cuisine experience is a plus but not required

What We Offer

  • $70,000–$100,000 annually, based on experience
  • Growth opportunity with an expanding company
  • Direct working relationship with ownership
  • Employee meals

Athenian Hospitality Group is an equal opportunity employer.


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