10 Delicious Cast Iron Skillet Recipes To Make Your Camping Trip Wonderful (2024)

10 Delicious Cast Iron Skillet Recipes To Make Your Camping Trip Wonderful (1)Most people in the south have a few good cast iron skillet recipes that they pull out when camping season rolls around. If you’ve never used a cast iron skillet, or you just want a new list of recipes to take along on your next camping trip, I’ve got a great selection of 10 recipes that range from breakfast to dinner to dessert.
These recipes use cast iron skillets and you can either put them on a grill or on the coals from your campfire. Whether you want a great s’mores dip or you prefer brownies, or even a hearty breakfast, you’re sure to find a camping recipe that will make your trip delicious.
Let’s grab those iron skillets and get that campfire stoked. We’re going to be cooking up a storm in the great outdoors, and making some tasty treats for the whole family. While you’re at it, be sure to check out these great camping hacks.

1. Camping Breakfast

10 Delicious Cast Iron Skillet Recipes To Make Your Camping Trip Wonderful (2)A hearty breakfast is a must when you’re camping, and this iron skillet breakfast with eggs, sausage, and other tasty ingredients is sure to be a hit with everyone on your camping trip. You can put the iron skillet on a grill or directly on the coals from your fire. Be sure that you don’t get the fire too hot, or you might burn your eggs.

Recipe and directions:campingwithgus

2. Cast Iron Skillet Brownies

10 Delicious Cast Iron Skillet Recipes To Make Your Camping Trip Wonderful (3)Brownies are a must anytime, especially when you’re camping. These brownies are made in an iron skillet, and you can cook them right there on your campfire coals. Just mix up your ingredients, pour into your skillet, and “bake” until done. Add nuts, chocolate chips, or whatever else you want to make them extra-special. They’re a skillet full of ooey, gooey goodness.

Recipe and directions:simplyfoodlove

3. Baked Beans

10 Delicious Cast Iron Skillet Recipes To Make Your Camping Trip Wonderful (4)This is definitely not your typical baked bean recipe. Complete with delicious bacon, and cooked to perfection over an open fire in your cast iron skillet, these baked beans are certain to become a family favorite. You can even add your own take with your favorite barbecue sauce, or some brown sugar or molasses. However you like them, make them even better when you cook them over a campfire.

Recipe and directions:foodandwine

4. S’Mores Dip

10 Delicious Cast Iron Skillet Recipes To Make Your Camping Trip Wonderful (5)You’ve probably seen this s’mores dip recipe before, but it definitely deserves a second look. Baked in a cast iron skillet over your open campfire, this is sure to become the favorite dessert of all your future camping trips. You mix up your ingredients, layer in the iron skillet, and then “bake” over the campfire. Then use vanilla wafers, graham crackers, or even Oreos to dip into your concoction.

Recipe and directions:hungrybrownie

5. Pizza Nachos

10 Delicious Cast Iron Skillet Recipes To Make Your Camping Trip Wonderful (6)What could possibly be better than pizza and nachos? Pizza nachos cooked in an iron skillet, and over an open flame. These are so delicious, and so easy to make. You can customize them by adding whatever you want to make them taste the way you want. The best part is, the cheese gets all melty over the open fire, and the iron skillet really gives it a wonderfully tex-mex flavor that you just can’t get making them at home.

Recipe and directions:tastykitchen

6. Campfire Cornbread

10 Delicious Cast Iron Skillet Recipes To Make Your Camping Trip Wonderful (7)Cornbread is great with so many different foods, and making it in an iron skillet is my favorite way. Even if you don’t typically bake your cornbread in a skillet at home, you can definitely get onboard with this iron skillet cornbread cooked over an open flame, or in this case, over hot coals. Be sure that you keep an eye on this one so that you don’t burn your bread, and it’s best to use coals as opposed to a live fire.

Recipe and directions:freshoffthegrid

7. Triple Berry Cobbler

10 Delicious Cast Iron Skillet Recipes To Make Your Camping Trip Wonderful (8)You know you want to try this cobbler! It’s filled with luscious berries and so flavorful when it’s cooked in an iron skillet. Just a note, if you aren’t really a fan of berries, you can also do this with peaches. Peach cobbler cooked over a campfire is one of my favorite dishes, and will be yours, too! Remember to use the coals instead of an actual flame, and keep an eye to make sure that you aren’t cooking it too long, as the cobbler part can burn.

Recipe and directions:devour-blog

8. French Toast – Campfire Style

10 Delicious Cast Iron Skillet Recipes To Make Your Camping Trip Wonderful (9)Imagine waking up to the smell of french toast when you’re camping. Now, grab the ingredients and your iron skillet and stop imagining. You can make this easily, and the iron skillet gives it such a wonderful flavor. Don’t forget to pack your syrup when you’re heading out on your camping trip and you can enjoy this delicious french toast every morning. Plus, cleanup is actually a lot easier than you might think.

Recipe and directions:thekitchenmagpie

9. Easy Skillet Dinner

When I say easy, I mean it. This is one of the fastest and tastiest dinner recipes for camping, and you make it all in your iron skillet. You brown ground beef and then add spices, beans, and even potatoes if you want. This is a great recipe for those of you who like to experiment with different flavors, and it’s cooked over the open fire so you know it’s going to be delicious.

Recipe and directions:koa

10. Skillet Biscuits

What could be better than biscuits when you’re camping? Really. This is such a neat way to make breakfast biscuits, or dinner biscuits for that matter, and they taste so great cooked in an iron skillet. You can make your biscuits from scratch or even use canned ones if that’s your preference. The way you cook them is what really makes them great.

Recipe and directions:countryliving

10 Delicious Cast Iron Skillet Recipes To Make Your Camping Trip Wonderful (2024)

FAQs

What foods are best cooked in a cast iron skillet? ›

The Best Foods to Cook in Cast Iron Pans
  • Pan-seared veggies and proteins.
  • Fatty foods like bacon.
  • Burgers.
  • Grilled cheese sandwiches.
  • Pizza.
  • Eggs (yes, you read that right!)
  • Potatoes.
  • Cornbread and other breads.
Aug 30, 2022

What is the best meat to cook in a cast iron skillet? ›

A thick-cut steak such as a ribeye or New York strip is best for cooking in a cast iron skillet because it can withstand the high heat of the skillet and develop a gorgeous crust, while remaining juicy and tender in the middle. Avoid lean cuts like flank steak or skirt steak, as they are prone to drying out.

Are cast iron skillets good for camping? ›

Q: Are cast iron skillets good for camping? Cast iron skillets are extremely durable and don't deteriorate over time (although they may require additional seasoning), making them an excellent choice for camping.

What is the first thing you should cook in cast iron? ›

We recommend starting with vegetables as they are more forgiving than most proteins - they taste delicious and won't stick to your pan! Keep in mind that using a little bit of oil is necessary to help to keep food from sticking.

What food is good for camping trips? ›

Ideal camping foods are non-perishable, nutritious, and easy to prepare. Think nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and whole-grain crackers for snacks. Dehydrated meals are also great for longer trips, as they're lightweight and only require water.

Why is my meat sticking to my cast iron skillet? ›

Occasionally food may stick to your cast iron cookware. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as not using enough fat or oil when cooking, using cookware that isn't well seasoned, or when breaking in new cookware that hasn't built up additional layers of seasoning.

What is better than a cast iron skillet? ›

While cast iron is slow to heat up, carbon steel pans reach the ideal cooking temperature quickly. The slight bow in the carbon steel cookware allows the pan to cool down quickly. This feature is desirable when cooking delicate foods such as flash frying, sautéing, etc.

What is the secret to cast iron skillet? ›

For one, cast iron pans aren't perfectly smooth and foods like eggs may get stuck. For the best results, make sure to keep your cast iron pan seasoned, and preheat the skillet for a few minutes before you add any food to it. This allows the pan to heat evenly and prevents most food from sticking. Add fat as needed.

How to season a cast iron skillet while camping? ›

Place a grill grate over the hot fire and set the skillet or camp oven upside down on the grate. If it has a lid, you can place the coated lid on and set the skillet or camp oven on the grate. Allow the item to season until the fire goes out and the cast iron is cool enough to touch with bare hands.

What are the disadvantages of a cast iron skillet? ›

The disadvantages of cast iron

Additionally, cast iron pans require regular maintenance, including seasoning and careful cleaning, to prevent rust and maintain their non-stick surface. Improper cleaning or using harsh cleaning agents can strip away the seasoning and damage the pan.

What are cast irons good for cooking? ›

Cast iron works best for browning, sautéing, baking, and frying but should be avoiding when boiling and simmering. Meats, vegetables, and baked goods work really well in cast iron but acidic foods like tomatoes should be limited.

Is food better in a cast-iron skillet? ›

Cooking with cast iron is better because it does not leach any toxic chemicals and heavy metals into your food. Additionally, cast iron, with its non-stick surface, cooks thoroughly using more radiant heat than aluminum and stainless steel. You can use cast iron cookware on an outdoor grill or campfire.

Is it OK to cook in cast iron everyday? ›

The type of iron that comes from cast iron cooking is nonheme iron and is safe to consume. It is the same type of iron as found in plant sources such as beans, spinach and tofu. Children one to three years old only need 7mg iron daily, so if it's best not to cook every meal for children this age in cast iron cookware.

What tastes better in cast iron? ›

You can also try this with veggies as well, but cooking meat is always the tastier choice. Cast-iron skillets aren't just for meat lovers either. Veggie-eater, don't worry, you also can benefit from a skillet. If you love to give your veggies a smoky flavor and texture, then a skillet can help you.

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