Easy, delicious recipes to make in your cast iron skillet, from savory to sweet.

Ah, the ever-reliable cast iron skillet. It’s a pan you can count on 24/7, a  sturdy friend equally at home in shoebox-size apartments and camping trips as it is in the fanciest chef kitchen.

My favorite cast iron pan lives right on top of my stovetop. It gets used throughout the day — to cook morning eggs, grilled sandwiches for lunch and roast chicken for dinner.

And the very best way to build up that glossy, seasoned patina on a brand new or hand-me-down skillet is too use it. A lot. Here’s some recipes to get started:

10 Minute Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta Sauce

Make this fast, super-tasty pasta sauce under the broiler — serve over pasta with fresh ricotta cheese.

Cast Iron Roast Chicken with Italian Chili Butter

Crisp-skinned roast chicken with a spicy, savory chili butter. Butterfly the bird for even cooking.

Whiskey Apple Cake

A moist, pudding-like cake bursting with apples and the sweet hint of whiskey. Serve this cake warm with some vanilla ice cream.

Stuffed Pizza with Spicy Calabrese Salami

Gooey, satisfying and cheesy deep-dish pie baked with spicy salami. This pizza is a great crowd-pleaser.

Cheesy French Potato Cake with Leeks

Tender layered potato cake with cream, cheese and leeks, inspired by Julia Child. Makes a great side or a main dish with a salad on the side.

Roasted Chili Chicken Thighs with Charred Lemon

One pan juicy chicken thighs in a lemony sauce with olive oil and chili. The pan sauce tastes delicious over simple cooked farro or orzo.

Do you have a collection of cast iron skillets or are you just starting to build one? Let me know in the comments!