Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Quick & Easy Meals 30 Cast Iron Skillet Recipes to Make All Year Round From breakfast to dessert, you can make any course with this versatile pan. By Lacey Muinos Updated on July 19, 2024 Looking for cast iron skillet recipes to try? While you may already have cooking methods and techniques with a non-stick coated pan and stainless steel cookware down, cooking with a cast-iron skillet is different. It offers tons of versatility, and when properly seasoned, a cast-iron skillet becomes non-stick. Since it improves with age, it’s also rumored to make your food taste better over time. From the basics such as searing steak, to getting creative by baking a cake, here are the best cast-iron skillet recipes to try. Caring for and cleaning a cast-iron skillet is no joke. Wash it with only a small amount of dish soap, if any, and be sure not to use steel wool. Let it dry completely—either by air or gently by hand with the help of a lint-free cloth or paper towel. ANTONIS ACHILLEOS 01 of 30 Skillet Banana Pancakes Greg DuPree If you’re used to making pancakes on a cast-iron griddle, this recipe will feel familiar—with an elevated presentation. You’ll whip up a homemade batter, fill your cast-iron skillet, and bake until it’s puffed up. The result is a large pancake pie that will feed the whole family. Sure, slicing pancakes like pizza seems like uncharted territory, but it’s a fun way to mix things up (and you don’t have to worry about flipping anything). Once you dig into a bite of the warm pancake topped with toasted coconut chips and broiled banana slices, you’ll never go back to the griddle. GET THE RECIPE 02 of 30 Beef and Beer Pot Pie Greg DuPree Forget chicken pot pie and make this recipe instead. Pot pie recipes in general can be a labor of love—they require a lot of prep work. Using a cast-iron skillet can cut down on the hands-on time since you can cook the filling directly in the pan before popping the entire thing in the oven to bake. This beef pot pie recipe calls for half a cup of stout beer, making it one to remember. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 30 Chicago-Style Deep-Dish Pizza With Smoked Mozzarella Greg DuPree How you like your pizza can be just as divisive as how you take your coffee. While this recipe doesn’t call for pineapples on pizza, it’s Chicago-style. The Chicagoans like their pizza thick and layered generously with cheese and sauce (in that order), and after trying this easy cast-iron skillet recipe, so will you. With three different types of cheese and a homemade sauce, this dish tastes like it came straight from the Prairie state. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 30 Zucchini Frittata With Parmesan Sheri Giblin To many, breakfast is optional and usually an afterthought. A healthy breakfast can do you some good, but if time is scarce in the mornings, this frittata recipe is totally meal-preppable. And it can all be done in your handy dandy cast-iron skillet, significantly cutting down on the dishes you’ll need to clean once the meal is over. You’ll begin by heating up your veggies on the stovetop. While your summer squash is getting tender, whisk up an egg mixture seasoned with spices and plenty of cheese. Pour the egg mixture into the skillet before transferring the entire thing to the oven. Once the frittata is cooked through, slice it up and portion it out so breakfast is served for the next few days. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 30 Apple Pie Skillet Cake ANTONIS ACHILLEOS Apple picking is a fall favorite activity, but what are you to do with all those apples once you get home? Bake apple pie, obviously. But not just any apple pie—this apple pie cake recipe replaces your regular baking dish with a cast-iron skillet. Start by caramelizing thinly sliced apples in a heavenly bath of butter, cinnamon, and sugar. By this point, your house should be smelling of autumn. Once your batter is ready, bake for about 25 to 30 minutes, until the center of the cake is cooked through. Top with more cooked apples, cinnamon, and syrup, and serve with a dollop of ice cream for a warm, comforting dessert. GET THE RECIPE 06 of 30 Skillet Hash Browns With Smoked Salmon Victor Protasio Frying an egg is considered the ultimate way to test whether a pan is truly non-stick, but have you ever tried to make hash browns on the stove? One wrong move and the whole thing is stuck! If you’ve ever been victim to sticking hash browns, you need to convert to a cast-iron skillet. Once it’s really hot, it cooks food easily. Plus, if it’s seasoned properly, it develops non-stick properties. This recipe makes a thin hash brown pancake, if you will. Top with smoked salmon and whatever else your heart desires for an easy breakfast recipe that looks like you put in way more effort than you actually did. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 30 Scorched Sugar Snap Peas and Burrata Salad Greg DuPree Salad is associated with a bed of leafy greens, but that’s not always the case, and this salad recipe is a prime example. For this recipe, you’ll use your cast-iron skillet to sauté onions and char snap peas before tossing them with seasonings and Middle Eastern spices. Serve with burrata cheese for a plate that checks all the boxes—it’s creamy, crunchy, and citrusy. GET THE RECIPE 08 of 30 Steak With Gnocchi and Green Beans Victor Protasio One of the most common uses for a cast-iron skillet is searing meat. Savory recipes, like this trio of hanger steak, gnocchi, and green beans, are perfect for cast-iron skillets because the pan adds a depth of flavor you just can’t get from stainless steel or non-stick coated pans. Since you can use refrigerated gnocchi and frozen green beans, this dinner is ideal for busy weeknights. To sear the steak, heat up your skillet with some oil and add the seasoned steak to the center. Cook each side for about two to three minutes. And don’t forget to let your meat rest for five minutes or so—this is the secret to juicy steak. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 30 Lemon-Raspberry Dutch Baby Greg DuPree A Dutch baby, or German pancake, is more like a pastry than a pancake since it’s poofy and airy and usually features a custardy center. So, this recipe is like a cross between American pancakes and popovers. If you like both, you’ll love this dish. It only requires a few steps, starting with baking a homemade batter. While it cooks, you’ll make a lemon-y whipped cream mixture that stands in for a custard. Sprinkle it with raspberries, lemon zest, and almonds, and don’t forget to bring this to your next brunch. GET THE RECIPE 10 of 30 Skillet Chicken Thighs With Balsamic Glaze and Fresh Cherry Salsa Greg DuPree When you don’t feel like standing over a hot stove but you’ve got a full house to feed, make this recipe. It’s a one-pan chicken recipe, and with a balsamic glaze and cherry salsa topping, we can guarantee it won’t be dry or bland. While the roasted chicken is the star of the show, heat up some frozen rice and veggies for quick and easy sides. GET THE RECIPE 11 of 30 Shawarma-Spiced Chicken Thighs Greg DuPree Long-roasted shawarma-style chicken with creamy garlic-yogurt sauce hits the spot every time. The onions pick up the juices from the chicken in the cast-iron skillet. You'll cook them over medium-high to scrape up the browned bits on the skillet, and it's all ready to serve in about 40 minutes. GET THE RECIPE 12 of 30 Skillet-Poached Huevos Rancheros Quentin Bacon Don't just poach some eggs. Make them in your cast-iron skillet for an extra burst of flavor. This huevos rancheros recipe calls for warm tortillas, black beans, and a whole bunch of flavorful ingredients like fresh cilantro, scallions, and salsa. You can make this egg dish for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. GET THE RECIPE 13 of 30 Pommes Anna Getty Images This Pomme Anna cast-iron skillet recipe serves up buttered potatoes that are salty and perfectly peppered. You only need 10 minutes of prep time (peeling and slicing aside), and then you cook it all up for 30 minutes. These thinly sliced potatoes are a guest favorite every time of year. GET THE RECIPE 14 of 30 Sweet and Sour Glazed Pork Chops With Turnips And Carrots Greg DuPree This easy cast iron skillet recipe is ready in 30 minutes. The result: A sweet and sour sauce that saturates pork chops and crispy vegetables. You get aromas from the white wine vinegar, honey, whole-grain mustard, and rosemary that simmers for a sauce you'll crave all year round. GET THE RECIPE 15 of 30 Potato-Parsnip Latkes Name something tastier than crispy potatoes. Suffice it to say, potato parsnip latkes are a crowd favorite whether it's winter, summer, or another season in between. While the fried potatoes are perhaps best-known as a Hanukkah staple, we love them all year. This recipe yields eight latkes to serve eight people in just 40 minutes (30 of which are prep time). GET THE RECIPE 16 of 30 Rachael Ray's Skillet Spinach Lasagna Greg DuPree Rachael Ray's skillet spinach lasagna is a tough lasagna to beat. This recipe yields four servings. It only requires 25 minutes of hands-on time, but it'll take nearly an hour overall before it's ready to serve. Rest assured that the bubbly browned cheese and sausage (or sautéed eggplant or mushrooms for a vegetarian version) are worth the wait. GET THE RECIPE 17 of 30 Grilled Halloumi Salad Greg DuPree Why eat a plain salad when you can add cast iron skillet-fried halloumi to it? Add your cheese in single layers and cook them until browned (30 seconds per side). The halloumi adds a warm and crispy touch to a fresh salad, and you can totally change up the veggies you include depending on the time of year. GET THE RECIPE 18 of 30 Glazed Brussels Sprouts on Olive Oil-Fried Bread Greg Dupree Looking for a warm and crunchy appetizer? Glazed Brussels sprouts are a favorite all year long—and they're arguably even better when they're on olive-oil fried bread. The pomegranate juice and balsamic vinegar glaze is sweet and tart at the same time, and the bread gets some salted ricotta cheese for a full flavor spectrum. GET THE RECIPE 19 of 30 Wilted Sesame Spinach Greg DuPree Wilted spinach isn't necessarily anything special. But when you whip it up in a cast iron skillet with some tahini, maple syrup, and tamari, it becomes something special. While you don't need a cast iron skillet for this recipe, using one yields a creamy and flavorful side dish. GET THE RECIPE 20 of 30 Salmon Tacos With Grapefruit Salsa Greg DuPree For flavorful tacos that are sweet in the summer but just as delicious in the colder weather, try some salmon tacos with grapefruit salsa. Salmon is a fish that lives in colder regions, which makes them readily available (and fresh) in the winter weather, too. You can always swap the grapefruit salsa for something cozier in the chillier weather, too—but grapefruit is great in the summer season. GET THE RECIPE 21 of 30 Halibut With Husk Cherry Salsa Heami Lee Halibut is as hearty as it is fresh, making it a perfect type of fish for any season. And better yet, you can cook it in a cast iron skillet for a flaky fillet with zesty flavor. Top this halibut with cherry tomatoes, shallot, lime, honey, and cilantro to complete the palate. GET THE RECIPE 22 of 30 Chocolate Raspberry Skillet Cake Samantha Seneviratne In the mood for a chocolate dessert? Bake up a chocolate raspberry cake in your cast iron skillet in under an hour. Just 15 minutes of prep time (and a whole bunch of brown sugar, butter, chocolate, and raspberries) will yield eight to 10 servings. Just make sure to make extra (or get yourself a bigger skillet) if you don't like sharing your chocolate. GET THE RECIPE 23 of 30 Apple Pie Skillet Cake ANTONIS ACHILLEOS Apple pie is an American classic. While apple pie is certainly a staple in the fall, you can make it all year. The key ingredients: the apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon. While Honeycrisp apples are our go-to for this cast iron skillet recipe, you can also use Gala, Jonagold, Braeburn, and Pink Lady, or whatever you can find that season. GET THE RECIPE 24 of 30 Spinach and Parmesan Dutch Baby Victor Protasio Spinach and parmesan go together like peanut butter and jelly. This recipe yields a giant salted and peppered pancake that you top with wilted spinach and parmesan. You can also serve it with a side of bacon or fried eggs to make it more filling. The choice is yours depending on the time of day or season. GET THE RECIPE 25 of 30 Layered Potatoes With Garlic Herb Butter Victor Protasio What's better than potatoes? Potatoes layered atop more potatoes. You can choose a white potato dish or a sweet potato dish for this recipe and, either way, the result is a dish that's tender and creamy on the inside but crispy on the outside. Pair the potatoes with seasonal sides any time of year. GET THE RECIPE 26 of 30 Raspberry-Rhubarb Tart Christopher Baker For a little something different for dessert, give this raspberry-rhubarb tart a try. You'll roll your dough into a 14-inch circle and pop it into a large cast iron skillet so it hangs over the edge. Top it with a sweet raspberry and rhubarb mixture, and bake it until it's golden brown. GET THE RECIPE 27 of 30 Herbed Ham and Cheese Baked Eggs Victor Protasio Serving a crowd for breakfast? Forget the big bowl of scrambled eggs; do something different. An herby frittata is a great way to satisfy your guests' appetites. This ham and cheese baked frittata is full of onions, chives, Dijon, Gouda, sour cream, and parsley for a creamy and fresh flavor. GET THE RECIPE 28 of 30 Sesame-Scallion Steak Lettuce Wraps Jennifer Causey Lettuce wraps may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of cast-iron skillets, but using one ensures that the ribeye is cooked perfectly. The secret is batch cooking the steak so it develops that beautiful brown crust—helped along by the umami-rich sauce. Rice gets added to these lovely wraps to make sure you don't miss any of the luscious, sweet-and-savory vinaigrette. GET THE RECIPE 29 of 30 Herbed Ham and Cheese Egg Bake Victor Protasio In this breakfast skillet recipe, you brown the veggies before adding a mixture of eggs, sour cream, mustard, chives, and cheese to the pan. A sprinkling of salty ham tops it off before it gets whisked into the oven to set. With a dusting of nutty Parmesan on top, the bake perfectly browns under the broiler during the last few minutes of baking. GET THE RECIPE 30 of 30 Skillet Gnocchi With Sausage and Broccoli Rabe Greg DuPree Looking for an Italian skillet recipe to satisfy that pasta craving? Try some gnocchi with broccoli rabe. Add fennel and some meaty sausage to hit all your bases—carbs, greens, and protein. You'll start the sausage in the skillet first before adding the gnocchi and other ingredients into the mix, which will all take only about 30 minutes. GET THE RECIPE 5 Things You Shouldn't Cook in a Cast-Iron Skillet Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit