Recipes Made for Cooking in Your Cast-Iron Skillet

easy apple pie
Photo: Luca Trovato

A cast-iron skillet is a prized possession among Southern cooks. Seasoned with years of cooking and loving care, heirloom cast-iron skillets are as valued (and fought over) as Grandma's china and sterling silver. A new pre-seasoned skillet also makes the perfect gift for a young cook. Browse our collection of delicious recipes utilizing cast-iron skillets. We all know how great fried chicken tastes hot out of the skillet, and we love how easy cast iron goes from oven to table with weeknight favorites like Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole and Beef Tamale Pie. These cherished skillets are also great for party appetizers like Cast Iron Salsa and impressive desserts like Pineapple Upside-Down Cake. Great cooks know the more they use their cast-iron skillet, the better it gets. Keep your prized skillet on the stovetop and reach for it often with these recipes.

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Cast-Iron Cowboy Steak

Cast-Iron Cowboy Steak
Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Cast-Iron Cowboy Steak

Enjoy a restaurant-style steak from the comfort of your own home. Easy and delicious, this skillet dinner recipe doesn't disappoint.

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Cast-Iron Skillet Pizza

Cast-Iron Skillet Pizza
Southern Living

Recipe: Cast-Iron Skillet Pizza

This one-dish wonder is the perfect meal for a causal movie night. Similar to a pizza stone, the skillet holds heat well, creating an excellent base for all your favorite toppings.

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Leek-and-Mushroom Grits Frittata

Leek-and-Mushroom Grits Frittata
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Leek-and-Mushroom Grits Frittata

Give this leek-and-mushroom grits frittata a try next time you're serving breakfast for a crowd. It has a little something for everyone.

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Easy Skillet Apple Pie

Easy Skillet Apple Pie
Luca Trovato

Recipe: Easy Skillet Apple Pie

Apple pie is a quintessentially Southern treat, and a trusty cast-iron skillet takes the timeless dessert to the next level.

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Rosemary Chicken Thighs and Vegetables

Rosemary Chicken Thighs and Vegetables
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Rosemary Chicken Thighs and Vegetables

This hearty skillet recipe is packed with fresh vegetables and savory rosemary chicken for an excellent dinnertime meal.

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Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie

Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie
Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie

Don't wait until Thanksgiving to make this sinfully sweet dessert. This pecan pie recipe deserves a spot on the table all year long.

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Cheesy Beef-and-Spinach Ravioli

Cheesy Beef-and-Spinach Ravioli
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Cheesy Beef-and-Spinach Ravioli

Perfect for kids, the foundation of this quick and easy cast-iron recipe starts with pre-made ravioli to keep things simple.

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Skillet Caramel Apple Pie

Skillet Caramel Apple Pie
Photo: Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Skillet Caramel Apple Pie

Just as delicious as it is beautiful, this beloved apple pie recipe is sure to impress all of your dinner party guests.

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Skillet S'mores Dip

Cast Iron Skillet S'mores Dip
Southern Living

Recipe: Skillet S'mores Dip

Turn a classic campfire dessert into a decadent cast-iron skillet dip with this simple recipe.

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Ginger-Plum Slump

Ginger-Plum Slump
Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

Recipe: Ginger-Plum Slump

There's something about warm, flavorful fruit in a cast-iron skillet that makes Southerners jump for joy. This ginger-plum slump recipe puts a modern twist on a classic cobbler.

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Potato-Bacon Hash

Potato-Bacon Hash
Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Potato-Bacon Hash

Every Southern cook knows a good hash recipe or two, and you'll be adding this one with russet potatoes, bell peppers, onions, and thick-cut bacon to your list. We suggest you top it off with a fried egg.

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Lighter Pan-Fried Chicken with Green Beans and Tomatoes

Lighter Pan-Fried Chicken with Green Beans and Tomatoes
Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Lighter Pan-Fried Chicken with Green Beans and Tomatoes

This delicious dinner recipe proves that you don't need a deep-fryer to get crispy, golden goodness.

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Texas Skillet Cake

Texas Skillet Cake
Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Texas Skillet Cake

If you love classic Texas sheet cake, you'll be obsessed with this thicker, richer Texas skillet cake.

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Cast-Iron Pork Cacciatore

Cast-Iron Pork Cacciatore
Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Cast-Iron Pork Cacciatore

This is the most restaurant-worthy 30-minute recipe you'll ever serve. A tip from the test kitchen: Pork chops that aren't too thick or thin are best in this recipe. Look for chops that are one inch thick—they will be meaty and filling without taking a ton of time to cook.

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Crispy Sweet Potato-Green Onion Cakes

Cast-Iron Salsa Recipe
Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Crispy Sweet Potato-Green Onion Cakes

This recipe blends the delicate flavor of sweet potatoes and green onions with the spicy zest of chopped red jalapeño peppers.

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Cast-Iron Chicken Piccata

Cast-Iron Chicken Piccata
Greg Dupree

Recipe: Cast-Iron Chicken Piccata

The best part of this chicken piccata is it only requires one dish to make, and we recommend a cast-iron skillet. It will heat more evenly than a nonstick pan, yielding a delicious cutlet that's tender with crisp skin.

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Cast-Iron Salsa

Cast-Iron Salsa Recipe
Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Cast-Iron Salsa

Turn your skillet into a Mexican comal, aka griddle, by slowly charring onions, garlic, and peppers in a dry skillet. We like to use this traditional dry char technique because it coaxes sweet, earthy flavors from the vegetables and gives them just a hint of smokiness.

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Chicken-and-Wild Rice Skillet Casserole

Chicken-and-Wild Rice Skillet Casserole
Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Chicken-and-Wild Rice Skillet Casserole

This rustic meal, a company's-coming riff on the old-school chicken-and-rice number, is held together by a tangy gravy flavored with country ham and mushrooms.

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King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese

King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese
Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese

All the flavors of a favorite casserole come together in the comfort of mac and cheese. Serve this dish to your family, and it will become a quick favorite.

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Top-Shelf Chicken Under a Brick

Top-Shelf Chicken Under a Brick Recipe
Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Top-Shelf Chicken Under a Brick

The "top-shelf" in this recipe speaks to the crispy skin, superior flavor, and juiciness of the bird.

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Pork Chops with Dijon-Buttermilk Sauce

Pork Chops with Dijon-Buttermilk Sauce
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

Recipe: Pork Chops with Dijon-Buttermilk Sauce

One reader called this "the best pork chop recipe ever," and we think you'll agree.

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Bacon-and-Cheddar Skillet Biscuit

Bacon-and-Cheddar Skillet Biscuit
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Bacon-and-Cheddar Skillet Biscuit

Why fuss with a biscuit-cutter when you can make a giant biscuit in your cast-iron skillet? Slice it up for the whole family.

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Cast-Iron Skillet Brownies

cast iron skillet brownies
Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly Food Stylist: Ali Ramee

Recipe: Cast-Iron Skillet Brownies

The cast-iron skillet provides perfect brownie texture—crisp edges and gooey centers.

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Skillet Turkey Meatloaves with Mushroom Gravy

Skillet Turkey Meatloaves with Mushroom Gravy
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

Recipe: Skillet Turkey Meatloaves with Mushroom Gravy

We lightened up the suppertime classic with perfectly portioned mini turkey meatloaves. Since they bake right on top of the veggies in the cast-iron skillet, you truly get a full dinner in one dish.

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Skillet Rhubarb-Strawberry Crisp with Salted-Almond Streusel

Skillet Rhubarb-Strawberry Crisp with Salted-Almond Streusel
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Recipe: Skillet Rhubarb-Strawberry Crisp with Salted-Almond Streusel

The streusel topping on this springy dessert recipe includes Marcona almonds for a buttery, elegant twist.

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Cast-Iron Skillet Burgers

Cast-Iron Skillet Burgers
photographer: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Cast-Iron Skillet Burgers

Our Test Kitchen called this recipe "the burger to end all burgers," and we have a feeling that cooking all the following ingredients with bacon grease from the bacon is why.

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Green Tomato Skillet Pie

Green Tomato Skillet Pie
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Green Tomato Skillet Pie

If you thought "fried" was the only way to enjoy green tomatoes, let this pie recipe prove you wrong. When baked up with warm spices and sugar, green tomatoes are similar to Granny Smith apples.

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Southern Skillet Cornbread

Southern Skillet Cornbread
Southern Living

Recipe: Southern Skillet Cornbread

Southerners know that all good cornbread starts with a cast-iron skillet and bacon drippings.

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Strawberry-Rhubarb Skillet Coffee Cake

Strawberry-Rhubarb Skillet Coffee Cake
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Strawberry-Rhubarb Skillet Coffee Cake

This spring treat is the perfect addition to your weekend brunch. A tip from the Test Kitchen: If you're worried that the cake might absorb savory flavors from the cast iron, line the pan with parchment paper.

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Skillet Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Skillet Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Skillet Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

"Delicious. I've made this several times now and my family just loves it," wrote one five-star reviewer. "The Panko crumbs really add a top crunch that combines well with the cheesy pasta and cauliflower. I must always use the cavatappi pasta now. It's a special dish!"

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Skillet Chicken Pot Pie with Leeks and Mushrooms

Skillet Chicken Pot Pie with Leeks and Mushrooms
Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Skillet Chicken Pot Pie with Leeks and Mushrooms

Instead of fussing with homemade piecrust, this recipe calls for frozen puff pastry sheets, which looks and tastes amazing.

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Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke

Recipe: Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

You can't go wrong with this iconic Southern dessert that looks as pretty as it tastes.

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Skillet Pork Chops with Apples and Onions

Skillet Pork Chops with Apples and Onions
Becky Luigart Stayner

Recipe: Skillet Pork Chops with Apples and Onions

Sweet cooked apples are a delicious match for skillet-seared pork chops and onions.

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Apple Butter Cobbler with Drop Biscuits

Apple Butter Cobbler with Drop Biscuits
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Apple Butter Cobbler with Drop Biscuits

Cobbler is often associated with summer fruits like peaches and berries, but this apple cobbler is full of the flavors of fall.

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Skillet Enchiladas Suizas

Skillet Enchiladas Suizas
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Skillet Enchiladas Suizas

No rolling required! With these skillet enchiladas, you can layer everything up and serve family-style.

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Savory Bacon Dutch Baby

Savory Bacon Dutch Baby
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Savory Bacon Dutch Baby

If you've never tried to make a Dutch baby before, this puffy skillet breakfast pastry should be your weekend baking project. This recipe uses savory ingredients like bacon, cheddar cheese, and chopped chives, but you can also use toppings and fillings like fresh fruit and whipped cream for a sweet take.

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Skillet-Baked Ziti with Andouille, Tomatoes, and Peppers

Skillet-Baked Ziti with Andouille, Tomatoes, and Peppers
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Recipe: Skillet-Baked Ziti with Andouille, Tomatoes, and Peppers

A cheesy pasta bake is the easiest way to guarantee a happy family at suppertime. Andouille sausage adds a hint of smoke and spice to an otherwise classic baked ziti.

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Cast-Iron Potato Kugel

Cast-Iron Potato Kugel
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

Recipe: Cast-Iron Potato Kugel

Though kugel is usually make in a casserole dish, the cast-iron skillet is the best vehicle for perfect texture.

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Beef Tamale Pie

Beef Tamale Pie
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Beef Tamale Pie

A package of corn muffin mix and budget-friendly ground beef come together in this simple skillet supper that the whole family will love. Add more sliced jalapenos to the top if you like a little spice.

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Israeli Couscous and Shrimp

Israeli Couscous and Shrimp
Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Israeli Couscous and Shrimp

Shrimp, couscous, and colorful bell peppers make for a quick and healthy dinner.

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Southern Fried Corn

Southern Fried Corn
Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Southern Fried Corn

This classic Southern side belongs on every cookout menu this summer.

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