“What’s the first kitchen thing I should buy if I want to be a better cook?”
I get some form of that question pretty much every week. Besides a decent chef knife, I always answer that every home cook should have a simple cast iron skillet.
For their cost ($30-$40), you can get a skillet that will last decades if you take care of it. They are naturally nonstick and can be used on the stovetop and in the oven. What’s not to love?
Before you even think about purchasing that $200 aluminum pot, make sure your cast iron skillet game is on point.
Need more reasons? Here are some of my favorite recipes to make in my cast iron skillet!
Be sure to check out the end of this post for my recommendation on finding (or buying) a great cast iron skillet!
#1 Master Mac and Cheese
Making macaroni and cheese in a cast iron skillet is amazing because the skillet retains heat nicely and creates beautiful crusty edges around the outsides of the dish. You could bake almost any version of mac and cheese in a skillet, but here’s my favorite cast iron mac and cheese.
#2 Wow With a Dutch Baby
Making a perfect dutch baby (like this fresh peach dutch baby) pretty much requires a cast iron skillet. You can get it nice and hot and then when you pour in the batter the pancake puffs up beautifully. It’s the kind of thing that you’ll pay $14 for at a brunch spot, but you can make it at home for cents.
#3 Hash It Out
Don’t get me started on hashes! If I had to pick one breakfast dish for the rest of my life, it just might be a good hash like this Brussels Sprouts hash. The awesome thing about cooking it in a cast iron skillet is that the skillet distributes heat evenly. Assuming your skillet is nicely seasoned, you can make some room in the center and cook the eggs right in the skillet!
#4 Make Sports Watching Even Better
Everybody loves a lazy weekend watching sports, but what really makes days like that great is having a good tailgating dip to snack on. I’m not sure it gets much better than this Buffalo chicken skillet dip. Key word there: SKILLET.
#5 Find Your Frittata
Making a great frittata is easy with a cast iron skillet. You can cook the veggies or meat in the skillet and then transfer it straight to the oven. Doesn’t get easier than that. For my money, I’ll take this awesome English Breakfast Frittata any day.
#6 Make Legit Cornbread
Anybody from the South will tell you that there are a few tricks to a good cornbread, but one is most definitely the pan you cook it in. It needs to be sturdy and retain heat well. Sounds like a cast iron skillet to me! First on the list? Sweet corn cornbread!
#7 Bring Home Fries Home
It’s ironic to me that “home” fries are almost ordered at diners across the US. Let’s change that. This home fries version is very simple with just potatoes and a spice mix. Cooking them slowly in a skillet produces tender home fries with crispy edges and great flavor. As good as any diner home fries you’ll find.
#8 Ace Tex-Mex Skillets
A lot of Tex-mex dishes are great in cast iron because you can keep the temperature low for gentle cooking or crank it up to get crispy edges on things. I like this Mexican Tex-Mex chicken skillet which is basically a fast single dish dinner. Dig in!
#9 Make My Fave Fritters
These homemade cast iron apple fritters are a true labor of love and something really special. No deep fryer needed to make delicious fritters!
#10 More Cornbread!
This bacon cornbread might be my favorite non-traditional cornbread and you absolutely need a cast iron skillet for it to be the best it can be.
#11 Make a GIANT Cinnamon Roll
When it comes to cast iron skillet recipes, I dream of this giant sweet potato cinnamon roll. It is a complete show-stopper of a dessert and easiest to make in a cast iron skillet!
#12 Delicious Chicken Tenders
Shallow frying fried chicken is always a good bet with cast iron. It retains heat really well so you end up with consistently delicious fried chicken. These buttermilk chicken tenders are a family favorite!
If you somehow need more reasons, here are 10 MORE reasons that you need a cast iron skillet (less recipes, more rants).
Finding Your Skillet
If I were on the hunt for a cast iron skillet, I’d do two things!
First, I’d look around at garage sales and yard sales. Because these things last so long, you can frequently find really nice ones for a few bucks. If you are willing to spend a morning cleaning and seasoning the skillet, it’ll be good as new and ready to cook with!
Second, just buy one that’s pre-seasoned! My favorite skillet is a simple Lodge 12 inch cast iron skillet. It’s not fancy, but it comes ready to go and lasts forever. I’ve had one going on 10 years!
What Did I Miss?
Have a favorite cast iron skillet recipe? Leave a comment with a link!
Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a cast iron skillet using the links, you help support Macheesmo so thanks in advance!
karen
how could you leave out your method for cast iron skillet pizza?? It is the best method I have found
enjoy your day
Nick
Ha! Very true. Total brain fart!
Larry Joseph Morgan
The Lodge Skillets are the best for the money! I have a well seasoned 12 inch, 8 inch, and a seasoned Dutch oven as well! They can’t be beat for ruggedness, simplicity, and utility. Stove-top, oven, and even campfires…they can be taken anywhere!
Erin
I love this! So many delicious recipes can be cooked in cast iron. From sweet to savory.
I also recently purchased the same Lodge cast iron pan and am loving it. How do you like it so far?
Thanks for sharing.
Wheeyeon
Hello! Thank you for all of your awesome tips! I didn’t know about the awesome world about cast iron skillets. I’m going to buy one probably today or tomorrow haha. I’ve been seeing online that a lot of skillets are sold with a brush of some sort. Do you suggest purchasing one of those scrub brushes? Is it necessary?
Fran
The brush is not necessary, but it sure makes cleaning much easier.
Steve,
Apple pie and peach cobbler in a #8, and don’t leave food in cast iron for hours or all night. It will strip off your seasoning including cornbread.
Melissa
I have been wondering, can a cast iron skillet be used on a flat tip stove? I’ve been too afraid of damaging the stove. And if it cannot be used, what would a good substitution be? I have heavy bottomed stainless steel skillets, but everything seems to stick to them. Just curious what other people think…
Albert
I use mine on a flat top stove. No problems. No damage. Works great!
Rolanda
My boyfriend bought me a lodge dutch oven and 2 skillets. I absolutely love them and so does he. I would have to say he benefits most from this purchase.