13 Perfectly Southern Skillet Recipes Your Thanksgiving Table Needs

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Your trusted cast-iron skillet just made Thanksgiving a whole lot tastier. Looking for a Thanksgiving recipe that will stand out among the fluffy sweet potato casseroles, savory stuffings, and buttery breads? Sometimes, the key to a stunning Thanksgiving dish lies completely in the presentation—and what better way to up your recipe presentation than with a perfectly rustic cast iron skillet? Cast iron skillets are a Southern favorite for many reasons: they are durable, efficient, useful, and oh-so photogenic. They can get screamin' hot, and stay that way for as long as you need them to. Perfect for searing meats, frying chicken, sautéing vegetables, and even baking perfectly-crusted pies, cast iron skillets are versatile and one of the most useful pots in Mama's cabinet. Retire your sheet pans and your glass casserole dishes, and try these delicious skillet Thanksgiving recipes, handpicked by the Southern Living editors to ensure your holiday spread is perfectly stated and utterly Southern.

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Skillet Squash Blossom

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Skillet Squash Blossom

The cast iron skillet serves multiple functions in this stunning squash dish—you’ll fry the bacon, sauté the onions, and bake the combined dish in the same skillet.

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Sour Cream Cornbread

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Sour Cream Cornbread

Classic cornbread is kicked up with cilantro, Cheddar cheese, and sour cream before it's baked in a hot cast-iron skillet.

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Skillet Green Beans

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Skillet Green Beans

Haricots verts (thin green beans), pan-fried in a piping-hot cast-iron skillet, are the perfect Southern addition to your Thanksgiving menu.

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Skillet Pecan Pie

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Skillet Pecan Pie

Make your Thanksgiving Pecan Pie stand out from the rest by serving it fresh and crispy, straight from your trusty cast iron skillet.

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Cast-Iron Blistered Brussels Sprouts

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Cast-Iron Blistered Brussels Sprouts

Sweet-and-sour sauce coats these crunchy Brussels sprouts, making them the perfect unexpected Thanksgiving side dish.

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Caramel Apple Blondie Pie

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Caramel Apple Blondie Pie

The only way to get a pie with this crispy and flaky of a crust, and filling this rich? Baking it in a cast iron skillet.

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Spatchcock Chicken

Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Spatchcock Chicken

This recipe is easier than it sounds—in fact, it’s one of the easiest ways to roast an entire bird, and can be done in a cast iron skillet or on a sheet pan.

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Braised White Turnips

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Braised White Turnips

Fresh, crunchy turnips simmered in vinegar, and then coated in honey and butter, make a delicious side dish for your Thanksgiving table.

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Skillet Apple Pie

Credit: Photo: Luca Trovato

Recipe: Skillet Apple Pie

Our easiest apple pie ever, baked just like Grandmother made it and sliced straight from the skillet.

Watch: Easy Skillet Apple Pie

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King Ranch Chicken and Mac and Cheese

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese

This over-the-top mac and cheese side dish puts all other mac and cheese dishes to shame. It’s safe to say that it will steal the show at your Thanksgiving gathering.