A Calling for Cast-Iron
These delicious cast-iron recipes range from cobbler and cakes to burgers and steaks. All delectable and amazing, you’ll be wondering why you neglected your cast-iron cookware for so long.
First up is Chimichurri Mac and Cheese. Chimichurri–the South American herb sauce typically served with meat–revs up basic mac and cheese with tangy flavors. You can also serve this in individual ramekins or small serving skillets.
Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Sautéed Apples
This one-dish pork tenderloin entree is perfect for fall. Sweet spices coat lean pork tenderloin, while apples get a savory treatment with shallots and thyme. Serve with a spinach salad.
Spicy Jalapeño Corn Bread
Zing goes the chile, pop goes the fresh, sweet corn; this corn bread recipe is perfect for those who like their corn bread loaded with flavor.
Omelet with Turmeric, Tomato, and Onions
Full of flavor and ready in just 10 minutes, this omelet is the perfect, healthy breakfast option for even the busiest of weekday mornings.
Beef Tenderloin Steaks and Balsamic Green Beans
We pair simply seasoned beef tenderloin with a flavorful sauté of fresh green beans, onions, shallots, garlic, and balsamic vinegar—all for under 250 calories per serving.
Pan-Seared Strip Steak
A little butter adds richness and keeps leaner-than-usual beef moist without adding much total fat. This recipe is smoky, so keep an exhaust fan on high or cook in a skillet on a hot outdoor grill.
Herbed Potatoes
For a full-flavor, comfort food side dish, try this recipe for potatoes, ready in less than 40 minutes and only 132 calories per serving.
Arctic Char with Blistered Cherry Tomatoes
Farmed char is widely available and has a mild flavor and a great texture. It's similar to salmon but not quite as rich and fatty. Wild arctic char from the northern seas is available only for a few weeks in late summer. It is a sought-after delicacy, and one that will cost you. If you find fresh, it's well worth the splurge.
Philly Cheesesteak Pizza
Full of flavor, ready in 30 minutes, and only 424 calories per serving, what’s not to love about this hearty steak pizza?
Blackened Tilapia Baja Tacos
Make food truck-style fish tacos at home using fresh tilapia, avocado, cilantro and corn tortillas and topping with a creamy onion-jalapeño mixture for amazing flavor.
Asparagus, Tomato, and Onion Farinata
Italian flavors abound in this vegetarian one-dish meal of Asparagus, Tomato, and Onion Farinata. Farinata is a thin cake made with chickpea flour. The chickpea flour makes this crispy crust high in fiber and gluten-free.
Lamb Burgers with Cilantro Raita
The tangy, herby yogurt sauce (raita) stands in for mayonnaise on this blended burger. For more spicy kick, leave the seeds in the serrano chile.
Ginger-Scented Corn and Asparagus Stir-Fry
The key to a successful stir-fry is the level of heat. Use a cast-iron skillet to ensure the dish is hot enough during cooking and this Asian style stir-fry will be ready to devour in no time.
Rainbow Trout with Smoked Tomato Salsa
Incorporate more fish into your healthy diet with this easy-to-make trout recipe. Enjoy an extra kick of flavor from the smoked salsa that serves as an elegant garnish for this fish-based main dish.
Sesame-Soy Meatballs
Serve these garlicky, spicy meatballs with steamed sugar snap peas and two cups cooked rice tossed with 1 tablespoon chile paste—you'll find it on the ethnic aisle of most supermarkets or at Asian grocers.
Chicken Tostadas with Avocado Salsa
Worthy of a special occasion, this recipe for chicken tostadas uses a cast-iron skillet to brown the tortillas for the perfect sear.
Tex-Mex Hash Brown Casserole
This simple skillet supper uses shredded potatoes as a base. The potato mixture cooks on the stove top first to get it browned and crisp on the bottom.
Seared Scallops with Lemony Sweet Pea Relish
For the best results, pat your scallops dry with paper towels, and sear them in a superhot cast-iron skillet.
Pork and Sweet Potato Hash
Sweet potatoes and sliced mushrooms add an interesting twist to this familiar comfort food. Although the pork takes a while to cook, the simmering is hands off.
Seared Scallops with Summer Vegetables and Beurre Blanc
A screaming-hot skillet and baking sheet yield fantastic seared scallops and quick-roasted veggies. The luxurious sauce is little more than butter emulsified into reduced white wine--keep the butter cold and whisk it in gradually for the creamiest sauce.
Sesame Albacore Tuna
Although it is one of the most popular species, tuna is tricky when it comes to sustainability. To make sure you're making a sustainable choice for this delicious tuna dish, buy U.S.-caught fresh or frozen Pacific albacore tuna.
Caramelized Onion, Gruyère, and Bacon Spread
Serve this savory caramelized onion, Gruyère, and bacon spread with crackers or bread slices. If you can't find Gruyère, substitute raclette, fontina, or Swiss cheese.
Steak and Charred Vegetable Tacos
If you like your beef more rare, keep the steak whole and rub with seasonings; grill about 3 minutes on each side. Let steak stand 5 minutes; cut across grain into thin slices for the tacos. If you'd like something richer than sour cream, try crema Mexicana, usually located with the Mexican cheeses.
Cast-Iron Apple Cobbler
Make your apple cobbler better than ever by baking this recipe in a cast-iron skillet. It will provide a perfect sear and is still ready in an hour.
Barley Pilaf with Sautéed Mushrooms
Almond-Cranberry Corn Bread
Nut meals can replace up to one-fourth the all-purpose flour in baked goods. Almond meal's hearty texture works well in this corn bread.
Apple Upside-Down Cake
Take advantage of this opportunity to use your cast-iron skillet in a conventional way. This upside down cake tastes delightful and is ready in less than an hour.
Charred Summer Vegetables
Serve this vegetable medley with simple grilled pork, chicken, or fish. Add the vegetables to a hot cast-iron skillet, cover, and cook 5 minutes without stirring so the natural sugars caramelize and add flavor.
Smoked Salmon and Onion Frittata
You can make the onion mixture for this dish up to two days ahead of time. Refrigerate it in an airtight container, then bring the mixture to room temperature before assembling the frittata. Serve with cut-up fruit and toasted bagels with cream cheese.
Pan-Grilled Flank Steak with Chermoula
Chermoula is a versatile North African herb-and-spice sauce that works beautifully with this dish. Use a cast-iron grill pan for this dish, as a nonstick grill pan can't handle high heat.
Chocolate Chip Dutch Baby
A Dutch baby is a puffy, baked pancake. A preheated cast-iron skillet enables the batter to start cooking immediately and causes it to puff. Cook the bananas while the Dutch baby is in the oven, so they'll be done at the same time.
Pineapple-Coconut-Banana Upside-Down Cake
Upside-down cakes are classically made in a cast-iron skillet because it gives the cake a crisp edge, cooks it evenly, and keeps it moist.
Cast-Iron Burgers
These top-rated cast-iron burgers prove that you don't have to own a grill to enjoy juicy, amazingly flavorful hamburgers.
Whole Grain Cornsticks
You can prepare these in muffin tins, but the cast-iron cornstick pan yields a crisper crust and even richer taste.
Cumin-Coriander Sirloin Steak
The combination of cumin, coriander, and ground red pepper create a tasty rub for the beef. Brown sugar aids caramelization. Heating the cast-iron skillet results in a flavorful seared crust on the sirloin steak without having to first brown the meat on the stovetop.
Crisp Mashed Potato Cakes
Lo Mein with Tofu
Lo mein, a popular Chinese dish, is often a go-to choice when dining out. But making lo mein at home not only keeps calories in check, it boosts the flavor and gives you limitless variety.
30-Minute Filet Bourguignonne with Mashed Potatoes
An earthy red, such as pinot noir, is the wine traditionally used in Burgundy, where the classic time-consuming stew was born. Serve the dish with mashed potatoes, as the recipe directs, or opt for pappardelle pasta, if you prefer.
Corn Bread Sticks
Fun for the whole family, this recipe for corn bread in the shape of breadsticks works well as a side to a variety of weeknight dishes.
Truffled Pommes Anna
A small amount of truffle oil infuses the whole dish with loads of earthy essence. If you don't have truffle oil, you can use olive oil for a more subtle flavor. Use a mandoline for quick, easy, uniform potato slices.
Chipotle Chicken Cheesesteaks
This sandwich packs in gooey cheese, smoky spices, and chunks of chicken for a comforting family-friendly dinner.
Curried Vegetable Samosas with Cilantro-Mint Chutney
Spicy, herby chutney complements the delicately seasoned vegetable samosas.
Herbed Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Dish up a company-worthy dish that calls for only four ingredients, plus salt and pepper. Choose roasted asparagus as a bright, fresh partner for this main dish.
Tarte Tatin
This iconic dessert was allegedly created by the Tatin sisters of France's Loire Valley. Legend is that while trying to repair a baking error, they ended up with this upside-down dessert of flaky pastry and apples bathed in caramel.
Stuffed Heritage Pork Chops with Creamy Grits
The inspiration for this dish is a Creole classic, grillades and grits. Look for Berkshire, Duroc, and other heritage pork at specialty markets.
Red Lentil Dal with Charred Onions
Quick-cooking red lentils don't need to be pureed since they break down as they cook. Lentils are a great source of protein, as well as fiber. This recipe gives 20 percent of your daily fiber goal. Serve over brown rice with a side of broccoli for a vegetarian meal.
Creamed Corn with Bacon and Leeks
The combination of sweet corn and smoky bacon gives this uncomplicated dish sublime flavor. It's a delicious way to put fresh end-of-summer corn to use.
Salt-Roasted Shrimp with Lemon-Honey Dipping Sauce
Roasting shrimp atop a bed of hot rock salt cooks the shrimp evenly and helps hold in moisture. Because the shrimp are cooked unpeeled, the salt does not permeate, and the results are tender and juicy.
