A cast iron skillet is one of the most versatile tools in the kitchen. It easily goes from stove top to grill to campfire, and offers excellent heat distribution. Here are 25 of our favorite cast iron skillet recipes.
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Benefits of Cast Iron
If you’ve received your Grandma’s old cast iron skillet, or bought a set from an estate sale, you already know benefit #1: Cast iron lasts forever. Unless you drop it on concrete or take a hammer to it, cast iron is not going to melt, chip or break.
Once the pan is hot, it stays hot. If you want to geek out with us, cast iron has a whopping .64 emissivity rating, which means that when you’re cooking in it, you’re not just cooking the surface in contact with the metal, but you’re cooking a good deal of food above it as well. This is great for searing steak, or keeping soups warm at a potluck. The best way to make sure your skillet or dutch oven is heated evenly is to preheat it in the oven, or over an even fire or grill.
The more you use it, the better it becomes. What is this mysterious “seasoning” you always here about in relation to cast iron? Seasoning is when the skillet is rubbed with oil and heated repeatedly, causing the oil to polymerize. That’s right, it’s not just residual oil, it’s chemically altered and bonded to the metal. This is what makes cast iron non-stick. So go ahead and scrub with soap, it’s not going to come off. You can read this Serious Eats article for more details.
What Cast Iron Pieces Should I Buy?
We fell in love with Finex Cast Iron years ago. We have a 10″ skillet, a Dutch Oven, and a sauce pan, and love them all. These are handmade in Portland, Oregon and aren’t cheap, but they will be smoother than less expensive brands. Lodge Cast Iron is our go to for a more affordable purchase for someone just starting out. They also have a great variety of grilling specific pieces as well. Either makes for an amazing heirloom gift for the food lovers in your life.
What Can You Cook in Cast Iron?
You can cook just about anything in cast iron. On the stove you can use it to sear fish or meat. On the grill you can use it like a flat top griddle to cook eggs or pancakes. Over a fire you can use a cast iron skillet to roast nuts or make a melty cheese fondue. Lastly in the oven you can bake brownies, bread, and more. Read on for our favorite Cast Iron Skillet recipes.
Appetizers on the Grill
When you’re already outside grilling the main dish, add one of these appetizers to the grill for friends and family to nibble on before dinner.
Grilled Baked Brie with Wine and Thyme
Grilled brie wheel with white wine and thyme served with grilled crostini.
Chestnuts Roasted on an Outdoor Grill
Roasted chestnuts are easy when cooked on an outdoor grill.
Sausage Queso Chipotle Bean Dip Recipe
A jazzed up Queso Bean Dip featuring ground sausage, green chilies, smoky chipotle pinto beans, and real shredded cheese. Smoky Chipotle Bean and Sausage Queso dip is a fantastic dip for summer cookouts, tailgating, or even camping.
Smoked Beef Brisket Nachos
Brisket Nachos are the perfect use for leftover smoked beef brisket. Create a rich chili out of leftover brisket and use that chili to make indulgent, spicy, cheesy, nachos.
Smoked Stuffed BBQ Meatballs
Smoked meatballs stuffed with mozzarella cheese, slowly smoked on the grill, and then finished with a BBQ sauce glaze. These are the ultimate game day food or appetizer for your next gathering.
Smoked Pulled Pork Nachos
An incredible use for leftover pulled pork. Pulled Pork Nachos. These were made with smoked pulled pork, but you don’t have to have smoked pork to make these indulgent nachos. Can be cooked in the oven or directly on the grill.
Main Dish Recipes
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Grilled Garlic Chardonnay Shrimp
Grilled Shrimp in a cast iron pan finished with a chardonnay, wine, and, garlic pan sauce.
Grilled Flank Steak Fajitas Recipe
Tequila and Soy Marinade and grilled flank steak with cast iron seared peppers and onions.
Grilled Scallops Recipe with White Wine Butter Sauce
A rich and buttery white wine pan sauce with grilled scallops cooked in a cast iron pan directly on the grill. Rich and tender flavor and ready in less than 10 minutes.
Grilled Ground Beef Stuffed Peppers
Ground beef, rice, tomato paste, herbs, and cheese cooked on the grill.
Shepherd’s Pie on the Grill
A Classic Shepherd’s Pie recipe cooked on any grill or smoker for great smoky flavor. This recipe is easy, healthy, delicious and perfect for your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations!
Grilled Steak Bites Recipe with Red Wine Pan Sauce
Savory seasoned sirloin bites grilled in a cast iron pan and then finished with a quick red wine pan sauce.
Smoked Ham Breakfast Hash
Ham and Potato Breakfast Hash made with smoked ham leftover from your holiday dinner. Learn how to make an incredible breakfast hash with any leftover meats and vegetables you have.
Grilled Mussels Recipe with White Wine and Garlic
Mussels cooked on the grill in a steaming broth of garlic, shallots, white wine, and herbs. Don’t forget the crusty bread to soak up all that delicious broth.
Grilled Chicken Fajitas Recipe with Chipotle Marinade
A tasty and slightly spicy garlic chipotle marinade for chicken, and how to use it for Grilled Chicken Fajitas.
Smoked Tri Tip Mac and Cheese
Smoked Tri Tip Mac and Cheese is made with perfectly smoked and tender tri tip, mixed with an ultra creamy cheese sauce and cooked on the grill.
Smoked Tri-Tip Fajitas
How to get smoke flavor into your fajitas. Smoke a Tri-Tip and slice thinly for these incredible, tender, smoky, and savory steak fajitas.
Smoked Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Recipe
Creamy smoked butternut squash puree mixed with smoked chicken, bacon, and cheese for a creamy and flavorful mac and cheese.
Side Dishes
Pair these sides with a traditional BBQ Brisket or Ribs, or pair them with your Thanksgiving turkey.
Skillet Cornbread on the Grill
Grilled Cornbread in a cast iron skillet with green chilies and cinnamon topped with smoked honey drizzle.
Smoked Sausage, Caramelized Onion, and Cornbread Stuffing Recipe
A simple smoked sausage, caramelized onion, and cornbread stuffing for Thanksgiving, cooked on the smoker or grill.
Smoked BBQ Baked Beans
Easy barbecued baked beans that are comforting, slightly sweet, mildly smoky, rich, meaty, and totally indulgent.
Smoked Sausage Gravy Recipe
Sausage Gravy starts by smoking the sausage, and then adding layers of flavor into the gravy for a savory jam-packed bite. This recipe provides is an easy way to add a ton of flavor to your favorite breakfast biscuits.
Desserts over the Campfire
No meal is complete without a scrumptious dessert! These cast iron skillet dessert recipes can be baked over the campfire, on the grill, or in the oven, wherever you happen to be!
Skillet Brownies on the Grill
Made to be dense and rich in chocolate, these Skillet Brownies are cooked on the grill and then topped with a chocolate drizzle and vanilla bean ice cream. Gluten free.
Grilled Apple Crisp
How to make a traditional apple crisp on the grill. Grilled Apple Crisp is going to become your new favorite fall dessert! It’s also the perfect dessert for Thanksgiving dinner!
Thank you for being part of our community. If you make any of our dishes we’d love to see them on social media using the hashtag #vindulge and give it a 5 star review.
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