If you’re here, then first thing first: congratulations! You’re lucky enough to own a cast iron skillet, and that means the world is your oyster. These best cast iron skillet recipes are for you!
For many people, their skillet is their pride and joy.
Considering how versatile and well-made these kitchen tools are, I don’t blame them! But there’s one secret that these delightful skillets carry: they make all food taste twice as good.
Much like a well-made wok, cast iron skillets are designed to be seasoned by the chefs who own them.
If properly taken care of, they’ll last for years and season food even as it cooks, taking any easy recipe to the next level!
So, whether you’ve just acquired a skillet or you’re looking for some new recipes to try your tried-and-true kitchen companion on, I’ve got an easy skillet recipe for you.
Let’s get into sixty-one delicious cast iron skillet recipes for you to try! It’s time to put your skillet to good use and make some delicious meals!
1. Steak and Seafood Garlic Parmesan
Source: afullliving.com
Surf and turf is a wildly popular option in restaurants all over the world, but you don’t have to shell out the big prices to enjoy this kind of meal. Your cast iron skillet is your ticket to success!
Delicious prawns and medium-rare steak pair to create the ideal surf and turf dish in this recipe. Best of all, you don’t have to worry about excess dishes once you’re done, so you can sleep it off!
2. Ribeye Roast
Source: adventuresofanurse.com
A great ribeye roast is an absolute showstopper. Bringing this to the table when you have guests over is guaranteed to make a hush fall over the room.
Pair this stunning ribeye roast with your favorite roast side dishes to complete the picture. Garlic green beans, roasted pearl potatoes, and a mustard sauce are all called for here!
Cast Iron Skillet Dinner Recipes
If you’ve been a follower of mine for a while, then you know how much of a fan I am of one-pot wonders.
These best cast-iron skillet recipes are an essential companion for busy home cooks all over the world.
While a standard skillet does a great job, cast iron skillets do have the seasoning work for you. So, creating these single skillet dinners for your whole family becomes even easier when using cast iron!
3. Shepards Pie
Source: practicallyhomemade.com
Shepherd’s Pie is a dish designed to make the best of some meaty leftovers, so it’s a great one to have in your back pocket! The thing is, it can often take a little while to make.
But not when you use your cast iron pan! This is a quick take on a well-loved classic, and I guarantee it will find a place in your meal rotation.
4. Lasagna
Source: flavorthemoments.com
The same goes for this lasagne! For many busy home cooks – myself included – tackling an entire lasagne in the middle of the week is an impossible task. But… what if we changed the approach?
This cast iron pan lasagne uses sheets of pasta, the classic marinara filling, and a creamy topping to mimic the well-known Italian dish. It only takes thirty minutes to create, and it’s so good!
5. Beef Taco Dip
Source: acedarspoon.com
Invite your family and friends to talk, laugh, and celebrate with this delicious beef taco dip. This is a great example of communal eating.
Just supply some chips, put this in the middle of the table, and go!
Not only is this great for bringing people together, but it’s also a wonderful way to lessen the number of dishes you need to do later!
6. Greek Turkey Spinach Skillet
Source: cookingchatfood.com
Take inspiration from a country that values beautiful, fresh produce! This Greek skillet uses spinach and lean turkey to create a healthy addition to your week, all in under half an hour.
If you’re a busy home cook like me, then that’s music to your ears. If anyone in your family is reluctant to get their vegetables in, then this is the dish to help them over the hump!
Enjoy these other flavorful greek foods!
7. Kimchi Mac and Cheese
Source: mikhaeats.com
I’m a huge fan of fusion dishes. They bring two wildly different kinds of cuisines together, combining them to create something new and exciting. Case in point: this kimchi macaroni and cheese.
Macaroni and cheese in a cast iron pan taste like it was sent down by angels. Top that with a healthy dose of sour, tangy kimchi, and you’ve got a case of fusion success.
This is one of the best cheap dinner ideas for families!
8. Gnocchi with Italian Sausage
Source: sungrownkitchen.com
Gnocchi is one of those dishes that feels inaccessible because it’s often associated with fancy places like restaurants.
But really, gnocchi originated in the homes of Italian grandmothers in search of comfort food. So, that’s the best way to enjoy it! This cast iron skillet gnocchi recipe does just that.
9. Green Chile Chicken Enchilada
Source: reciperunner.com
When you don’t have time to make enchiladas but you still want something that echoes those flavors, this is the dish for you.
Featuring shredded chicken, black beans, and a green sauce, this is a high-protein dish that’s not messing around. Whip this up in just half an hour and serve to a hungry crowd!
10. Charbroiled Oysters with Garlic Butter and Parmesan
Source: littleferrarokitchen.com
If you’re an oyster fan looking for something new, I’ve got the right recipe for you! Blow your dinner guests away with a plate of these gorgeous charbroiled oysters.
These are topped with paprika herb butter, parmesan cheese, and lemon, so they’re bursting with flavor at every turn.
11. Coconut Fish Curry
Source: atastykitchen.com
Who doesn’t love a great coconut curry? The secret of a coconut curry is that the coconut milk or cream helps deepen the spice, taking away some of the heat to let the flavors stand out.
This is mild enough to tempt even the most spice-shy family member. Plus, the fish is so tender and juicy that everyone will be begging for seconds!
12. Apple Chicken Thighs
Source: brooklynactivemama.com
While chicken and apple are often paired together, it’s usually in the form of a roast chicken and apple sauce combo. This recipe reimagines that pairing.
Instead, enjoy stewed apple slices as a bed for perfectly-cooked chicken thighs. Serve with a side of mashed potatoes, steamed rice, or just enjoy it on its own!
13. Salmon
Source: theroastedroot.net
The secret to perfect seared salmon? Cook it in a cast iron skillet. It’s just that simple!
The seasoned surface of the skillet lets the natural flavor of the fish sing. Allowing you to get a delicious crisp on the outside of the salmon without overcooking it, this is a must-try recipe.
14. Pork Chops with Mexican Rice
Source: easyhealthllc.com
Pork chops are a wonderful budget protein and super easy to cook with. But if you’re tired of the same old flavor combinations with pork chops, here’s a new way to enjoy them!
A bed of spiced Mexican rice and a cheesy topping will entice every single family member to the table even before you’re done cooking.
15. Cheesy Tomato Gnocchi Bake
Source: flavourandsavour.com
Cooking pasta or gnocchi can be a bit of a hassle sometimes because you usually need to boil it separately in a pot. But not with this recipe! This super simple gnocchi bake is a study inconvenience.
This is comfort food at its finest. It ticks all the boxes! Familiar flavors, warm, cheesy, and super easy to make at a moment’s notice. What’s not to love?
16. Sausage and Spinach Frittata
Source: familyaroundthetable.com
If you’re blessed with a small cast iron skillet, you might like to try making these simple individual frittatas.
This is a great way to feed a fussy family since you can make each one with different ingredients.
This makes breakfast a breeze on a rushed weekend morning. Plus, everyone will be fuelled up for the day ahead!
17. Asparagus
Source: marleysmenu.com
Looking for a quick and easy side dish that doesn’t skimp on flavor? This skillet asparagus is the recipe for you. Every single stalk is tender, perfectly seasoned, and just a little bit charred.
The char helps bring out the asparagus’ natural freshness. This is a wonderful side dish and super healthy on top of all that.
18. Mexican Chorizo Cornbread Casserole
Source: jawnsicooked.com
If you’re stuck for ideas for your next potluck, and you need a crowd-pleaser, I’ve got the dish for you. This is a Mexican cornbread casserole, and it’s got all the right stuff.
It’s warm, comforting, and super approachable. For kids and adults alike, this will be the favorite item on the table.
19. Cajun Sausage
Source: theforkedspoon.com
For fans of Cajun spice, look no further than this delicious skillet recipe. Featuring tons of protein to keep your energy (and spirits) up, this is a great example of a make-ahead recipe.
This cooks in a single skillet, as advertised, and comes together in just thirty minutes. What a steal!
Check out these flavorful cajun and creole recipes next!
20. Cajun Charred Okra Shrimp
Source: beyondmeresustenance.com
We’re sticking with the Southern inspiration for this next one! Featuring sweet, delicate shrimp and fresh okra, this dish is super nutritious. Not only that, but it tastes incredible!
This recipe moves fast, so make sure you’ve got all your ingredients ready to go before you start cooking.
Cast Iron Skillet Dessert Recipes
Finally, the proof is in the pudding (see what I did there?). You can absolutely make a great dessert in a cast iron skillet, and the collective of genius home cooks are here to prove it to you.
We’re capping off our list with ten amazing cast iron skillet dessert recipes to tickle your tastebuds.
21. Peach Crisp with Canned Peaches
Source: practicallyhomemade.com
We all know the magic of a peach pie, but we don’t always have the time and energy to invest in making one. So, what’s one to do?
Well, why not a crisp? A crisp sidesteps the need for a crust altogether. Instead, all you need to do is top your fruit of choice with a mix that will bake into a crumble-like texture.
This peach crisp is proof positive that cast iron skillets make great desserts. Plus, since it uses canned peaches, it only takes a few minutes to prepare before baking!
22. Dark Chocolate Cookie Skillet
Source: flavorthemoments.com
Have you ever dreamt of eating a giant cookie?
No? Just me?
Well, for anyone who has had that dream, you can make it a reality! This dark chocolate cookie skillet is like the lovechild of a pie and a cookie.
This would make a great birthday cake for a cookie lover or a wonderful treat to celebrate a loved one in your life.
23. Pizza Hut Cookie Dough
Source: bakedbyclo.com
Speaking of pie-style cookies, here’s another variation to tickle your tastebuds. Packed with gooey chocolate chunks, this Pizza Hut copycat recipe features absolutely no eggs or dairy!
That makes it a great choice for vegan dessert lovers who need something quick, easy, and super chocolatey.
24. Apple Crisp
Source: therusticfoodie.com
Remember the peach crisp from a few entries ago? Well, if apples are more your style, you can create an apple crisp too! The cast iron skillet helps cook all the apples evenly.
So, when you dig in, you’re left with an ooey gooey pie filling topped with a golden, crunchy crust. Heaven.
25. Peach Tarte Tatin
Source: inthekitch.net
A tarte tatin is a refined French dessert that calls for you to simmer fruits in caramel, then bake it to perfection in a pastry shell. Well, what if you don’t want to do all those dishes?
Enter the cast iron tarte tatin! This is a great example of a one-pan dessert that pays homage to a classic.
26. Blueberry Cornbread Cobbler
Source: baking-sense.com
Cornbread? As a dessert? It’s actually delicious! This quick and easy cobbler recipe pits tart, sweet blueberries against a buttery cornbread shell in a fight your tastebuds will remember forever.
Sweet and sharp, with a comforting warmth, this cobbler is so good you’ll make it again and again.
27. Peach Cobbler
Source: baking-sense.com
If peaches are more your speed, here’s a great way to make your very own peach cobbler in a skillet with some Crescent dough!
This recipe uses fresh peaches, but you could use canned to make it quicker.
28. Maple Pecan Pie
Source: ofbatteranddough.com
A great pecan pie has a gooey caramel center, crispy pastry, and a layer of warm, aromatic pecans on top. Well, this cast iron skillet version of a classic holiday pie delivers on all counts.
If you’d like to make your own pie crust, you absolutely can. But this goes much faster and works just as well with store-bought short pastry dough.
Check out these other crispy puff pastry recipes!
29. Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Source: thegunnysack.com
Take a trip back to the seventies, when desserts were as psychedelic as the décor! This pineapple upside-down cake is a family favorite for a reason.
The buttery cake and sweet pineapple contrast each other beautifully, creating a refreshing yet comforting dessert.
30. Keto Brownies
Source: bonappeteach.com
Brownies are the kind of dessert that should happen quickly. Dark, rich, and melt-in-your-mouth brownies are the dessert we reach for when we want some chocolate, and we want it now.
Luckily, this cast iron skillet brownie recipe got the memo! With rivers of melted dark chocolate running through each piece, this is a wonderful recipe to lean on in winter.
These are one of the most fun things to bake when bored on a rainy day!
31. Coffee Cake
Source: brooklynactivemama.com
Finally, we have a dessert recipe that every home cook should know: the cast iron skillet coffee cake. Coffee cakes are an essential part of potlucks and picnics everywhere.
So, knowing how to make a great version with barely any effort is a huge help! Dig into this crumbly, buttery, aromatic cake to discover how great baking with cast iron can be.
There you have it! That’s sixty-one amazing ways to use this versatile piece of cookware.
