11 cast iron skillet recipes

Chipotle cornbread bakes in a hot cast iron skillet with puréed chipotles, applesauce, and buttermilk for smoky heat and a crisp crust. Low-fat Southwestern twist on classic cornbread.

Homemade naan with a yogurt-leavened dough, no yeast required. Cooked on a cast-iron skillet then finished under the broiler for charred spots and puffed bubbles. Makes 9 pieces.

Blackened chicken breast seared in a screaming-hot cast iron skillet with a Cajun-style spice blend of paprika, cumin, thyme, and red pepper, then finished in the oven. No butter needed.

Pan-fried bass coated in cornmeal and cooked in bacon drippings in a cast iron skillet. A classic Southern fish fry technique with a crispy golden crust and just three main ingredients.

Country ham fried in a cast iron skillet with redeye gravy made from boiling water and coffee. The classic Southern Appalachian breakfast that turns dry-cured ham into a salty, savory plate.

Classic buttermilk fried chicken with paprika and black pepper, fried in a cast-iron skillet until deep golden and crispy. A Southern-style recipe with an overnight buttermilk brine.

Ranch cornbread baked in a hot cast-iron skillet with diced ham, sharp cheddar, red bell pepper, and pimentos. A loaded Southern cornbread with crispy edges and savory filling.

A rustic blueberry pie baked right in a cast-iron skillet with a golden pastry lid and no bottom crust. Just 5 ingredients and 30 minutes from stove to table.

Cajun-style blackened burgers crusted with cayenne, fennel, white pepper, and garlic. Cooked in a screaming-hot cast iron skillet for a charred peppered crust and finished with a Worcestershire pan sauce.

Blackened Cajun prime rib: a 10-pound roast seasoned with pepper, garlic, and onion, roasted, chilled, then sliced into steaks and seared in a white-hot cast iron skillet until charred and crusty.

Cajun prime rib roasted with a thick crust of black pepper, garlic, and onion, then chilled and sliced into steaks for blackening in a screaming hot cast iron skillet. A two-day showstopper.