“This will be the first time, in my entire adult life, that I will be completely single and unencumbered, which changes everything for me,” said Lee, who was previously involved with former New York governor Andrew Cuomo.

Food Network chef Sandra Lee and actor Ben Youcef split, call off engagement after 5 years together

"This will be the first time, in my entire adult life, that I will be completely single and unencumbered, which changes everything for me," said Lee, who was previously involved with former New York governor Andrew Cuomo.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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on April 23, 2026 11:10 a.m. ET

Sandra Lee and Ben Youcef in 2024. Credit:

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

- Sandra Lee and Ben Youcef have called off their engagement.

- The Food Network chef and actor sparked speculation about their relationship earlier this month after Lee was spotted without her engagement ring.

- The couple, who began dating in 2021, have gone their separate ways, ** has confirmed.

Sandra Lee and Ben Youcef are officially calling it quits.

The Food Network chef and her fiancé of five years have gone their separate ways, Lee's publicist Jennifer Abel confirmed to * *on Wednesday.

Lee, 59, and Youcef, 45, met in early 2021 and quietly got engaged that same year. Speculation about their breakup began earlier this month, when Lee was spotted out without her engagement ring.

When TMZ asked about their wedding plans in April, the cookbook author dodged the question, saying she was focusing her attention on work at the moment.

Lee announced the couple's split herself on Thursday morning. "After a great deal of reflection, I've made the decision to end my engagement," she wrote on Instagram. "This hasn't been an easy or quick decision. Life has a way of bringing both extraordinary joy and unimaginable challenges. Over time, those experiences shape you in ways you don't always see until you pause long enough to listen to yourself. I've spent much of my life deeply committed to relationships, to family, and to the responsibilities that come with both. I'm incredibly grateful for all of it. But this moment has asked me to look at my life differently and to move forward with a deeper sense of clarity, intention, and honesty with myself."

She continued, "Ben is a kind wonderful man. I have nothing but respect for him and for what we shared. I truly want him to move forward into a life that brings him happiness, just as I am committed to doing the same. For me, this next chapter is about growth, healing, and creating a life that feels fully aligned with my values, my work, and what matters most to me. This will be the first time, in my entire adult life, that I will be completely single and unencumbered, which changes everything for me… It is scary and exciting all at once. I'm stepping into it with gratitude, grace, and an open heart."**

Sandra Lee and Ben Youcef. Jamie McCarthy/Getty for The Hollywood Reporter

Before dating Youcef, Lee was in a long-term relationship with former New York governor Andrew Cuomo. They split in 2019, and two years later, Lee began seeing Youcef, an actor known for his roles in *Afraid*, *The Algerian,* and Stephen Spielberg's *Munich*.

"Meeting Ben was incredible. It was the perfect intersection of timing and chemistry," Lee told *Us Weekly* in 2024, explaining that they had a chance encounter at a restaurant. "I hadn't been intimate in years and years."

Lee said they opted to take their romance slowly, waiting two months before sharing a kiss. "I literally felt like a virgin at 55, and I just didn't want to get involved again," she explained. "He waited and persisted, and here we are."

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She added, "My chemistry with Ben is something that I've never had before. It's mental, it's emotional, and it's a connection that I can't even describe. When he kisses me, my mind goes blank. It's the only time I can meditate, which is why I love kissing him."

Of her breakup with Cuomo, Lee told the outlet that her decision came after a pivotal conversation, the details of which she did not reveal. "I was in my kitchen, and he said something, and the minute he said it, I knew what he'd just said," Lee recalled. "Every window and door closed. And that was it. He knows what it is; I know what it is."

Sandra Lee in 2025.

Dia Dipasupil/Getty

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Lee and Youcef made their red carpet debut at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in November 2022. Afterwards, they began sharing snapshots of their relationship, posting photos of them traveling and at various events on social media. To mark her 58th birthday, Lee celebrated their relationship, sharing pics of the couple locking lips.

"Best birthday gift ever was Ben," she captioned her carousel. "Thank you for chasing me up the street and not taking NO NO NO for an answer! You were right!

She continued, "Thank you, God, for such [a] wonderful man to get to kiss. So grateful for my love!!"

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