51 Stress-Free Cast Iron Skillet Recipes (2024)

Rebecca Shapiro

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

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

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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

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

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

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

The Recipe Critic

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

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

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

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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.

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

Robert S. Cooper/A Real Southern Cook

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

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.

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

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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

Recipe Tin Eats

Crispy on the outside, melty on the inside.

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

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

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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

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.

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.

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

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

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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

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

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.

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.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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

Dinner at the Zoo

Toss in shrimp or chicken for extra protein.

Sweet Peas and Saffron

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

Carlsbad Cravings

Just add the tortillas and extra guac.

Pinch of Yum

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

Photo: Eric Moran/Styling: Erin McDowell

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

Food Faith Fitness

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

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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

Sweet Peas and Saffron

Store-bought veggie noodles would work just as well.

How Sweet Eats

Mmm, basically breakfast nachos.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Don’t forget the crusty bread for serving.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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

Foodie Crush

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

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Sick of scrambled eggs? Time to meet shakshuka,

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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

Broma Bakery

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

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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

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?