A good cast-iron skillet is lauded by home cooks and professional chefs alike. It can be used to cook anything from crisp-edged cornbread and one-pan chicken dinners, to an irresistibly easy apple skillet cake. Plus, they can last a lifetime if cared for properly. If you’re new to the cast-iron game, check out our best cast-iron skillet guide to learn how to season, clean and choose the best pan to invest in. Then, try these cast-iron skillet recipes to get you started and put your trusted pan to good use.
Our 12 Favorite Cast-Iron Skillet Recipes
Food Styling by Ross Yedinak / Prop Styling by Stephanie Potts
Cornbread is traditionally baked in a cast-iron skillet and is a staple of many American cuisines. When slathered with melted butter, the cast iron helps achieve the golden brown edges and flavor that cornbread is loved for. This easy skillet cornbread recipe is deeply corny and slightly sweet, making it a versatile side dish that’s ready in under 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: How to Make Crisp-Edged Cornbread at Home
If you love crispy Brussels sprouts, ditch the deep frier and lean on your cast-iron skillet. These sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts are sautéed in brown butter with garlic, honey and anchovies for an incredible burst of flavor that makes a tasty vegetable side dish.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Brown Butter-Sautéed Brussels Sprouts
This meatless take on Shepherd’s pie uses plant-based beef to retain the heft of traditional British comfort food without the meat. The savory “meat” base is topped with a fluffy layer of mashed potatoes and then baked in a cast-iron skillet for a quick and homey dinner. For a more veg-forward (but equally satisfying) option, opt for mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes.
Get the Recipe: How to Make Shepherd’s Pie with Plant-Based ‘Beef’
Cast-iron skillet chicken recipes are a family-friendly staple for weeknight dinners. This one-pan roasted chicken offers a foundation for different rubs, marinades and side dishes. Nonetheless, the simplicity of this dish is just as enjoyable on its own.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Chicken
This sumac, wine and lemon skillet chicken brings bold flavors that may be new to your cooking repertoire. Sumac is a garnet-hued spice popular in Middle Eastern cooking. Its tart, earthy flavor is complimented in this dish by the crispy oven-baked chicken and wine-infused garlicky sauce.
Get the Recipe: Sumac, Wine and Lemon Skillet Chicken
Prop Styling by: Maeve Sheridan
Of the several ways to make barbecue chicken, cooking in a cast-iron skillet just might be one of the easiest. This no-fuss recipe incorporates smoky and peppery flavors that make a bold addition to your weeknight dinner rotation.
Get the Recipe: A No-Fuss Cast Iron Chicken Recipe for Barbecue Lovers
This skillet chicken dish highlights the nutty notes of cream Sherry—a type of Sherry wine that blends dry oloroso with sweet grapes like Pedro Ximénez (PX) or Moscatel. The cream Sherry makes a delicious thick glaze when reduced into a syrup for the browned chicken thighs.
Get the Recipe: Sherry-Glazed Chicken
Cast iron provides an excellent surface for searing sausage. Our white-wine-infused sausage recipe features gochugaru (ground Korean red pepper) and a garlicky kimchi sauce made with Gewürztraminer that balances strong umami with captivating spice.
Get the Recipe: A White-Wine-Infused Sausage Recipe
Shifting gears to dessert, this TikTok-famous apple skillet cake is easy to make and irresistible. It’s a giant baked apple fritter that relies on cast iron to keep the dessert hot and fresh—that way, the show-stopping icing melts into the moist cake with every bite.
Get the Recipe: This TikTok-Famous Apple Skillet Cake Is Too Easy and Delicious to Ignore
Don’t let those apples go bad in the fridge! This cast iron baked apples recipe only calls for two additional ingredients that you may already have in your pantry: Butter and maple syrup. This 30-minute dish makes a delicious treat to taste the flavors of fall all year.
Get the Recipe: Baked Apple
A Dutch baby pancake is not your typical fluffy flapjack. Thin like a crepe and large like a popover, a Dutch baby (also known as a German pancake) is a blissful confection baked in the oven using a cast-iron skillet. Though this recipe is on the sweeter side, variations can serve as a delicious meal at any time of day.
Get the Recipe: Dutch Baby Pancakes
Bask in the fruits of summer with this simple oven-baked peach crisp. The cast-iron skillet helps retain the juiciness of the peaches and makes for a convivial serving—best enjoyed warm with a scoop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Get the Recipe: Peach Crisp
Published on March 21, 2023