Cast-Iron Recipes

March 18, 2013
Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
Find a wide variety of recipe uses for your cast-iron skillets and pans that will deliver full flavor in every bite.
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A Calling for Cast-Iron

Credit: Photo: Brian Woodcock
View Recipe: Chimichurri Mac and Cheese

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.

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Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Sautéed Apples

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Spicy Jalapeño Corn Bread

Credit: Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: 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.

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Omelet with Turmeric, Tomato, and Onions

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Beef Tenderloin Steaks and Balsamic Green Beans

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Pan-Seared Strip Steak

Credit: Photo: Charles Masters
View Recipe: 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.

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Herbed Potatoes

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Arctic Char with Blistered Cherry Tomatoes

Credit: Photo: Marcus Nilsson
View Recipe: 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.

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Philly Cheesesteak Pizza

Credit: Photo: Francesco Tonelli
View Recipe: 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?

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Blackened Tilapia Baja Tacos

Credit: Photo: Levi Brown
View Recipe: 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.

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Asparagus, Tomato, and Onion Farinata

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Lamb Burgers with Cilantro Raita

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Ginger-Scented Corn and Asparagus Stir-Fry

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Rainbow Trout with Smoked Tomato Salsa

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: 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.

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Sesame-Soy Meatballs

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Chicken Tostadas with Avocado Salsa

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Tex-Mex Hash Brown Casserole

Credit: Photo: José Picayo
View Recipe: 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.

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Seared Scallops with Lemony Sweet Pea Relish

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Pork and Sweet Potato Hash

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Seared Scallops with Summer Vegetables and Beurre Blanc

Credit: Photo: Nigel Cox
View Recipe: 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.

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Sesame Albacore Tuna

Credit: Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: 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.

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Caramelized Onion, Gruyère, and Bacon Spread

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Steak and Charred Vegetable Tacos

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: 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.

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Cast-Iron Apple Cobbler

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: 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.

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Barley Pilaf with Sautéed Mushrooms

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
The button mushrooms should be cooked in a cast-iron or heavy skillet instead of a nonstick skillet because you need high heat to get a nice browning. You could also use this hearty side dish as a filling for stuffed cabbage.

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Almond-Cranberry Corn Bread

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: 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.

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Apple Upside-Down Cake

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: 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.

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Charred Summer Vegetables

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: 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.

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Smoked Salmon and Onion Frittata

View Recipe: 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.

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Pan-Grilled Flank Steak with Chermoula

Credit: Photo: Jan Smith
View Recipe: 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.

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Chocolate Chip Dutch Baby

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: 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.

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Pineapple-Coconut-Banana Upside-Down Cake

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: 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.

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Cast-Iron Burgers

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: 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.

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Whole Grain Cornsticks

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Whole Grain Cornsticks

You can prepare these in muffin tins, but the cast-iron cornstick pan yields a crisper crust and even richer taste.

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Cumin-Coriander Sirloin Steak

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: 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.

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Crisp Mashed Potato Cakes

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
Just the thought of cooking these savory little cakes up in the cast-iron skillet should make your mouth water. We modernized this old-fashioned recipe by adding panko breadcrumbs, which makes the cakes nice and crispy.

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