25 Cast Iron Skillet Recipes

updated Nov 16, 2023

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Jerk chicken cooked in coconut milk and vinegar with rice and garnished with herbs — (Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

Not a week goes by that I don’t reach for my trusty cast iron skillet. The simple tool helps get meals on the table easily and efficiently (plus, I get a little arm workout every time I pull the heavy thing out from the cabinet). While its main use in my kitchen is to churn out lots of one-pan dinners, it doesn’t get put away after the dishes are washed. It often stays put through dessert, since it works wonders at baking things like brownies and cakes, too.

These 25 recipes show just how versatile the cast iron skillet can be.

In This Article

Vegetarian Skillet Dinners
Meaty Skillet Dinners
Sweet Skillet Desserts

Vegetarian Skillet Dinners

1 / 4

Skillet Mac and Cheese

It’s hard to beat homemade macaroni and cheese, but while the process is straightforward, it can feel fussy when you’re dirtying a handful of dishes just to make it. This recipe streamlines the process to lessen your load. Consider this your weeknight-approved mac and cheese — the kind you can make after a long, hectic day without resorting to the boxed stuff.

2 / 4

Skillet Ratatouille Cobbler

Throw that perfect trifecta of summer vegetables into a hot skillet, then scoop a thyme-scented drop biscuit dough right on top.

3 / 4

Skillet Pizza on the Stovetop

Besides eliminating the need for a hot oven, stovetop pizzas are super fast and perfect for making just one or two personal pizzas.

4 / 4

Gnocchi Skillet with Sweet Potatoes, Greens & Goat Cheese

Put your cast iron skillet to work tonight — make this quick dinner, with its hearty mix of soft gnocchi, roasted sweet potatoes, earthy kale, and goat cheese.

Meaty Skillet Dinners

1 / 10

Jerk Chicken Skillet Dinner

From the crispy-skinned thighs to the rice tinged with coconut milk and vinegar, this jerk chicken skillet is all about big flavors and balance.

2 / 10

Broccolini, Chicken Sausage, and Orzo Skillet

Turn chicken sausage, quick-cooking orzo, and broccolini into an easy one-skillet pasta dinner with this weeknight-friendly recipe.

3 / 10

Fried Potatoes and Sausage Skillet Go to Recipe

4 / 10

Gnocchi Skillet with Chicken Sausage & Tomatoes Go to Recipe

5 / 10

Simple One-Skillet Chicken Alfredo Pasta

Everything is done in the same skillet in this recipe — easy cooking and easy cleanup.

6 / 10

Tuscan Chicken Skillet

Caramelized mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, tender white beans, juicy chicken: there's nothing but good flavor happening here. And all in one skillet!

7 / 10

Weeknight Skillet Lasagna Go to Recipe

8 / 10

One-Skillet Salsa Pork Chops

Pork chops are simmered in chunky salsa that's punched up with a splash of balsamic, so each bite is just the right balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy.

9 / 10

Philly Cheesesteak Pasta Skillet

Meet your new dinner favorite — a one-pot pasta riff on a Philly cheesesteak sandwich.

10 / 10

Southwest Skillet Ragu

Chewy pasta and gooey cheese are balanced out by a big helping of veggies with a little ground meat for protein in this one-pan meal.

Sweet Skillet Desserts

1 / 6

One-Bowl Caramel Skillet Brownies

These are brownies that satisfy like no other; they’re intensely chocolatey, chewy yet still fudgy, and made even more decadent with swirls of gooey caramel sauce and a healthy sprinkle of flaky sea salt.

2 / 6

Upside-Down Strawberry Skillet Cake

What makes this cake so irresistible — aside from the lightly textured vanilla cake — is the spiced, sweet layer of strawberries that coats the top.

3 / 6

Skillet Blueberry-Lemon Breakfast Cake

This breakfast-friendly cake has juicy blueberries and lemon, all in a light cornmeal batter. It’s a low-key way to get a sweet start to any day.

4 / 6

Skillet Apple Crisp

Learn how (and why) you should bake your next apple crisp in a skillet.

5 / 6

Nutella Skillet S'mores

A fast and fancy take on s'mores with nutty, creamy nutella.

6 / 6

Blueberry Skillet Cobbler with Whole-Wheat Biscuits

Just short of eating a fruit by hand, a summer cobbler is on the short list of stunningly simple desserts. In this rendition, blueberries are cooked with both lemon and orange zest, and lightly spiced with nutmeg before being topped with fluffy whole-wheat biscuits.

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