51 Stress-Free Cast Iron Skillet Recipes
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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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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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.
3. Chocolate Skillet Cake
We recommend eating it by the spoonful, straight from the hot pan.
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.
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.
6. Lemon Garlic Chicken and Rice One-Pan Skillet
Loaded with creamy flavors, plenty of leftovers and none of the cleanup.
7. Skillet S'Mores Cookie
This cookie gives us all the melted chocolate and toasted marshmallow goodness we crave.
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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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.
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.
12. Blackberry-Raspberry Skillet Cobbler
This cobbler recipe has all the summery-sweet perks of pie without so much effort.
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.
14. 15-Minute Spicy Korean Skillet Chicken
Fast, spicy and so much healthier than ordering a boat-load of takeout.
15. Broiler S’mores
The ’mallows will be toasty and the chocolate melted just enough--without all the fuss. (You’re welcome).
16. Skillet Peach Cobbler
This is everything a cobbler should be—be still our summer-loving hearts!
18. Monterey Chicken
Seasoned chicken breasts smothered in barbecue sauce, cheese, bacon and tomatoes. Nom, nom, nom.
19. Skillet Cornbread with Cheddar and Scallions
Our final words of wisdom? Eat it straight from the skillet.
20. Giant Cinnamon Roll
The only thing better than a freshly baked cinnamon roll? A giant freshly baked cinnamon roll.
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.
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.
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.
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.
25. Mini Skillet Funnel Cakes
They’re super easy to make at home (and the mini versions are just too cute for words).
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.
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.
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.
31. Healthy Balsamic Chicken Skillet with Pomegranates and Feta
This colorful dish is perfect for any night of the week.
33. Ricotta Berry French Toast Casserole
You can make this in 30 minutes (homemade brioche and all).
34. Skillet Chicken Fajitas
Bonus: Since this is a one-pan meal, cleanup is a breeze too.
35. Turkey Cauliflower Caprese Skillet
This. Is. Genius. Plus it uses our favorite versatile veg: cauliflower.
36. Skillet Chocolate-Chip Cookie
Why have a regular old cookie when you can have a skillet cookie?
37. Spiralized Sweet Potato Enchilada Skillet
Store-bought veggie noodles would work just as well.
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40. Onion and Arugula Frittata
What’s so wonderful about a frittata? Well, you can make it with nearly anything.
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.
43. Skillet Steak with Asparagus and Potatoes
Here's a one-pan dinner that looks (and tastes) fancy but is totally foolproof.
44. Skillet Pizza
All you need to make your own pizza is a tried-and-true cast-iron skillet.
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.
46. 15-Minute Skillet Pepper Steak
Meet 15-minute skillet pepper steak, a simple adaptation of one of our favorite Chinese-American dishes.
47. Skillet Pasta with Summer Squash, Ricotta and Basil
Best of all, this one-pan meal is ready in half an hour.
48. Deep Dish Double Chocolate Pecan Skillet Pie
Crispy, decadent, delicious. You’ve earned it, baby.
49. Brussels Sprouts Skillet with Crispy Pancetta-Garlic Bread Crumbs
The aromatic topping does double-duty, bringing that extra crunch we crave.
50. Cheater’s Skillet Paella
It isn’t officially summer until you’ve eaten paella (with a glass of white wine, of course).
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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