51 Stress-Free Cast Iron Skillet Recipes (2024)

food

By Heath Goldman

•

Published Nov 10, 2020

Additional reporting by

Rebecca Shapiro

Cooking at home is one of the easiest ways to eat healthy and save money, but we’re not into that whole “spending hours in the kitchen” thing. So reach for your secret weapon and new best friend: the cast-iron skillet. Here, 51 of our favorite cast iron skillet recipes, from cheater’s white wine coq au vin to chicken tortilla pie. The best part? (Aside from a satisfying meal in next to no time) barely any dishes!

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Half Baked Harvest

1. One Skillet Greek Sun-dried Tomato Chicken And Farro

Greek seasoned chicken with fresh oregano, dill, garlic, lemon and paprika is pan-seared and cooked with farro, sun-dried tomatoes and olives.

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What's Gaby Cooking

2. Skillet Chipotle Chicken Enchilada Bake

When you layer enchilada chicken with all the cheese, fresh corn and black beans, you get an instant family favorite—in just 20 minutes.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

3. Chocolate Skillet Cake

We recommend eating it by the spoonful, straight from the hot pan.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

4. Skillet Roast Chicken With Peaches, Tomatoes And Red Onion

If you have an hour, you can easily whip up this bright and juicy skillet chicken dinner.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

5. Baked Caprese Chicken Skillet

If it were up to us, we’d top everything with mozzarella. So naturally, this is one of our favorite dinners.

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Lexis Clean Kitchen

6. Lemon Garlic Chicken And Rice One-pan Skillet

Loaded with creamy flavors, plenty of leftovers and none of the cleanup.

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The Recipe Critic

7. Skillet S'mores Cookie

This cookie gives us all the melted chocolate and toasted marshmallow goodness we crave.

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Damn Delicious

8. Skillet Chicken With Creamy Spring Vegetables

The chicken comes out amazingly crisp tender with carrots, mushrooms and asparagus all cooked in the best herb cream sauce.

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Carlsbad Cravings

9. Creamy Parmesan Pesto One Skillet Chicken

We give you permission to use store-bought pesto. Bonus points if you serve everything over cauliflower rice.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

10. Easy Cherry Skillet Cake

We love this with cherries, but really, any fresh fruit would work well. Just be sure not to skimp on the whipped cream on top.

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11. Skillet Nacho Dip

Load up your plate with your ideal toppings-to-chips ratio.

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Robert S. Cooper/A Real Southern Cook

12. Blackberry-raspberry Skillet Cobbler

This cobbler recipe has all the summery-sweet perks of pie without so much effort.

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13. Skillet Chicken Tortilla Pie

Come Thursday, we’re tempted to skip the kitchen all together and order take out. Instead, opt for this easy, cheesy recipe, which will satisfy all of your cravings in practically no time.

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Averie Cooks

14. 15-minute Spicy Korean Skillet Chicken

Fast, spicy and so much healthier than ordering a boat-load of takeout.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

15. Broiler S’mores

The ’mallows will be toasty and the chocolate melted just enough--without all the fuss. (You’re welcome).

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

16. Skillet Peach Cobbler

This is everything a cobbler should be—be still our summer-loving hearts!

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Recipe Tin Eats

17. Skillet Mac And Cheese

Crispy on the outside, melty on the inside.

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Dinner at the Zoo

18. Monterey Chicken

Seasoned chicken breasts smothered in barbecue sauce, cheese, bacon and tomatoes. Nom, nom, nom.

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19. Skillet Cornbread With Cheddar And Scallions

Our final words of wisdom? Eat it straight from the skillet.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

20. Giant Cinnamon Roll

The only thing better than a freshly baked cinnamon roll? A giant freshly baked cinnamon roll.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

21. Bruschetta Chicken

A speedy summer dinner that tastes super indulgent (thanks to juicy pieces of tomato and a dusting of Parm) but is actually low-cal, low-carb and packed with protein.

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Helen Cathcart/Tuscany

22. One-pan Creamy Chicken Fricassee With Sage

This simplified version of an Italian classic tastes like it was made by an Italian grandma. Plus, the sauce is thickened with egg yolks and lemon juice, not heavy cream.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

23. 30-minute Creamy Chicken, Corn And Tomato Skillet

A handful of ingredients and just three simple steps are all it takes to whip up this crowd-pleaser.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

24. Balsamic Cranberry Roast Chicken

If you can’t find fresh cranberries, it’s completely OK to use frozen ones; just thaw and drain them first.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

25. Mini Skillet Funnel Cakes

They’re super easy to make at home (and the mini versions are just too cute for words).

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

26. Cheater’s White Wine Coq Au Vin

Ready in under an hour and totally foolproof. Plus, it’s made with dry white wine instead of red for an elegant twist.

27. Greek Chicken And Rice Skillet

Easy, gorgeous and so damn delicious. Save it for those nights when you’re entertaining a crowd and need to casually dish up something sensational.

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Cook Beautiful

28. Pan-roasted Chicken With Shallots And Dates

Juicy chicken with crispy skin rests on a caramelized layer of Medjool dates and green olives. The dish is salty-sweet and bright (thanks to lemon juice and zest) all at once.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

29. Skillet Gnocchi With Sausage And Broccoli Rabe

This hearty and delicious dish is super simple, and it tastes like you spent all day making it.

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Dinner at the Zoo

30. Skillet Vegetable Fried Rice

Toss in shrimp or chicken for extra protein.

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Sweet Peas and Saffron

31. Healthy Balsamic Chicken Skillet With Pomegranates And Feta

This colorful dish is perfect for any night of the week.

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Carlsbad Cravings

32. Skillet Chicken Fajitas

Just add the tortillas and extra guac.

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Pinch of Yum

33. Ricotta Berry French Toast Casserole

You can make this in 30 minutes (homemade brioche and all).

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Photo: Eric Moran/Styling: Erin McDowell

34. Skillet Chicken Fajitas

Bonus: Since this is a one-pan meal, cleanup is a breeze too.

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Food Faith Fitness

35. Turkey Cauliflower Caprese Skillet

This. Is. Genius. Plus it uses our favorite versatile veg: cauliflower.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

36. Skillet Chocolate-chip Cookie

Why have a regular old cookie when you can have a skillet cookie?

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Sweet Peas and Saffron

37. Spiralized Sweet Potato Enchilada Skillet

Store-bought veggie noodles would work just as well.

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How Sweet Eats

38. Skillet Chilaquiles

Mmm, basically breakfast nachos.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

39. Red Shakshuka

Don’t forget the crusty bread for serving.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

40. Onion And Arugula Frittata

What’s so wonderful about a frittata? Well, you can make it with nearly anything.

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Foodie Crush

41. Skillet Cherry Pie

Baking a pie in a cast iron skillet not only saves on dishes, but it also makes the crust delightfully crispy.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

42. Green Shakshuka

Sick of scrambled eggs? Time to meet shakshuka,

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

43. Skillet Steak With Asparagus And Potatoes

Here's a one-pan dinner that looks (and tastes) fancy but is totally foolproof.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

44. Skillet Pizza

All you need to make your own pizza is a tried-and-true cast-iron skillet.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

45. Skillet Lasagna With Corn And Cherry Tomatoes

Corn and cherry tomatoes have the same cheesy goodness you crave (and then some), minus the hours of assembly time.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

46. 15-minute Skillet Pepper Steak

Meet 15-minute skillet pepper steak, a simple adaptation of one of our favorite Chinese-American dishes.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

47. Skillet Pasta With Summer Squash, Ricotta And Basil

Best of all, this one-pan meal is ready in half an hour.

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Broma Bakery

48. Deep Dish Double Chocolate Pecan Skillet Pie

Crispy, decadent, delicious. You’ve earned it, baby.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

49. Brussels Sprouts Skillet With Crispy Pancetta-garlic Bread Crumbs

The aromatic topping does double-duty, bringing that extra crunch we crave.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

50. Cheater’s Skillet Paella

It isn’t officially summer until you’ve eaten paella (with a glass of white wine, of course).

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

51. Mini Skillet Pizzas With Mushrooms And Roasted Tomatoes

The surface of your trusty cast-iron skillet gets extremely hot, which is the secret to the crispy pizzeria-style crust.

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Heath Goldman

Food Editor

From 2017 to 2019 Heath Goldman held the role of Food Editor covering food, booze and some recipe development, too. Tough job, eh?

read full bio

Rebecca Shapiro

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51 Stress-Free Cast Iron Skillet Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are the best foods to cook in a cast iron skillet? ›

The Best Foods to Cook in Cast Iron Pans

Pan-seared veggies and proteins.
Fatty foods like bacon.
Burgers.
Grilled cheese sandwiches.
Pizza.
Eggs (yes, you read that right!)
Potatoes.
Cornbread and other breads.

Aug 30, 2022

Get More Info ›

What is the best first cook on a cast iron skillet? ›

Start with Vegetables

Caramelized Onions will help you get a feel for your new skillet: you quickly understand how it retains and distributes heat, while the onions and oil give your pan an easy warmup for many meals to come.

What can you bake in a cast iron skillet? ›

Bake what you want, any way you want

Bonus: It can be used for so much more than dessert, like pizza, rolls, roasted foods, and quiches. Want a crispy crust? Preheat your cast iron bakeware before adding your batter or dough for crunchy edges on cornbread, pizza, and biscuits.

Read The Full Story ›

Should I use butter or olive oil in cast iron skillet? ›

You can generally use whatever oil you prefer, as long as the cooking temperature is below the smoke point of the oil. Olive oil, vegetable oil, sunflower oil, and grapeseed oil are all great multipurpose cooking oils—you can use them for everything from sautéing to baking.

Learn More Now ›

Can you use butter on cast iron? ›

Yes, you can season the pans for frying, sautéing, or baking in cast iron cookware like pans, pots, or skillets with butter, but it's not the right choice to season it for the first time. Butter immediately starts to smoke when added to a heated pan because cast iron can withstand a lot of heat.

Why can't you cook eggs in cast iron? ›

Eggs fall into the category of sticky foods that are not ideal for cast iron skillets that haven't built up their seasoning yet. While cast iron can become non-stick with sufficient use over time, a newer skillet will almost certainly cause your eggs to stick to its porous surface.

Can you cook pasta in cast iron? ›

The fact that cast-iron skillets can go from the stove to the oven to the table makes them an ideal dish for preparing these pasta recipes. Plus, you'll have less dishes to wash once supper is over when everything comes together in one skillet.

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Can you cook curry in cast iron? ›

Cast iron has great retention, therefore, is perfect for deep frying, caramelizing onions, searing and browning foods, braising meat, slow cooking gravies and frying- and Indian cooking is defined by all of this only. Cast iron cookware are really great for simmering, which is an essential part of Indian cuisine.

See Details ›

What is the trick to cooking with cast iron? ›

For one, cast iron pans aren't perfectly smooth and foods like eggs may get stuck. For the best results, make sure to keep your cast iron pan seasoned, and preheat the skillet for a few minutes before you add any food to it. This allows the pan to heat evenly and prevents most food from sticking. Add fat as needed.

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How do you keep food from sticking to a cast iron skillet? ›

Prior to cooking, add about a teaspoon of oil to your skillet and heat it gradually on the stovetop or in the oven to help reduce sticking. After cooking, allow the cookware to cool, then use a pan scraper to remove stuck-on food, scrub with a nylon brush or nonscratch pad, hand dry, and add a generous layer of oil.

Can I bake a cake in cast iron? ›

A cast-iron skillet and an ovenproof skillet will bake differently in the oven. Check to see if your skillet cake is done at the earliest time in the bake range and add a few minutes, if needed. Skillet and handle will be hot, so be sure to use a potholder or kitchen towel before flipping skillet.

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Do you need to grease a cast iron skillet before baking? ›

Yes. Most new cast iron pans come pre-seasoned these days. Unfortunately, the oils they use aren't always my top choice of seasoning and could even leave a rancid layer on the cooking surface. Even if I've just purchased a brand new piece of cast iron, I like to give it a good fresh layer of seasoning before using it.

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Do you preheat cast iron before baking? ›

But despite some popular cooking myths, cast iron does not heat evenly—or quickly. That's why preheating is such an important (and often overlooked) step.