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Mini Cast Iron Skillet Recipes & Tips

June 1, 2020 in Food & Drink, Kitchen Tips & Tools 0

Mini Cast Iron Skillet Recipes & Tips

Cooking with cast iron has seen a comeback over the last few years. And it’s no surprise that as cooking trends come and go, cast iron’s reputation for indestructible construction and versatility in the kitchen has endured. 

But any time you can go mini with your recipes, the results aren’t just adorable, they’re delicious. And the same goes for recipes in small cast iron skillets. So, whether you’re cooking for two, going camping, or love photo-worthy recipes, here are a few mini skillet recipes to try out.

Better Breakfasts With Cast Iron

Basic Baked Eggs

Yes, you can cook eggs in cast iron just as easily as other non-stick pans, and the eggs turn out fantastic thanks to the cast iron's consistent, even heat. Preheat your oven to 425°F and grease each of your mini skillets (we use a set of two small skillets for all these recipes.) with oil. Crack two eggs into each pan and season the eggs any way you like. Then bake them for 6–7 minutes. Top them however you want and make them your own.

Breakfast Sausage Links

A small cast iron skillet is the perfect size when you want to make just a few breakfast sausages to accompany one of these egg dish ideas above. Cast iron’s even heat distribution means you can get a nice even browning on your sausages, even as your oven temperature fluctuates. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Then cook about four sausages in each pan for 13–15 minutes, turning them halfway through.

Shirred Eggs

Shirred Eggs are like baked eggs but topped with heavy cream and typically sprinkled with parmesan. With shirred eggs, you want the egg whites to be firm and the yolks to be soft. Traditionally made in a flat-bottom dish called a shirrer or individual ramekins, the recipe works well in small, personal-sized skillets, too. These eggs feel extra fancy but are easy to make.

Preheat your oven to 425°F. Then butter each mini skillet and crack two eggs into each pan. Next, add 1 tbsp of heavy cream on top of the eggs. Season them as you like and top with your choice of grated cheese. Then bake the eggs for 5–6 minutes.

Frittatas

When you don’t know what to make and don’t have a lot of ingredients handy, frittatas can save your day. You can add any leftover veggies and any meat you like.

Start by preheating your oven to 425°F. Grease each mini skillet with oil and heat for 1–2 minutes over medium heat. Then, add your desired veggies and cook them until softened, for 3–5 minutes. Whisk four eggs along with ¼ cup of milk. Once your veggies soften, divide the egg mixture between both skillets and season them any way you want. Bake your frittatas for 6–7 minutes or until slightly puffed and light brown along the edges. Let your frittatas cool for 5 minutes before digging in.

Spinach & Pepper Breakfast Skillets

This is an adaptation of a recipe that our Test Kitchen originally created for pressure cookers. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Butter each mini skillet and divide the pressure cooker recipe in half, except for eggs. Use four eggs in total. Bake for 25–27 minutes or until puffed and light brown along the edges. Let the skillets cool for 5 minutes before you serve them.

Shredded Hash Browns​

If you want a small side of hash browns to accompany a few eggs and bacon, here’s how to make mini helping. Heat 1 tbsp of vegetable oil in each mini skillet over medium heat for two minutes. Add 1 cup of frozen shredded hash brown potatoes and season them. Cook them on medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Then, flip potatoes over and cook for 1–2 more minutes or until golden brown.

Cast Iron Pizza

Okay, small cast iron skillets aren’t just for breakfast foods (just a little brunch obsessed here!). Just like its larger counterparts, a small skillet can do a fantastic pizza with a crispy, crunchy unbeatable crust.

To make two personal-pan pizzas, start with a preheated oven of 350°F. Spray the two mini skillets with oil using a kitchen spritzer. Roll out two pieces of large refrigerated biscuits to fit each mini skillet. Place one in each mini skillet. Then, dollop about 1 tbsp of pizza sauce on top of each biscuit. Sprinkle them with cheese and add some mini pepperonis to each. Bake for 13–15 minutes or until the cheese melts, and the outer edge of the biscuit is brown.

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Pepperoni Pizzas

Campfire Cooking Tips

Another advantage to smaller cast iron pans is they’re easier to transport and take camping. Cast iron pans are excellent for campfire cooking and grilling because they can take the intense heat and evenly disperse that heat to cook your pizza or bacon or hash browns. But big flames aren’t ideal for cooking in the great outdoors, even with heavy-duty cast iron pans.

For the best campfire cooking experience, divide your fire pit into two zones. One zone is for your “live fire “with burning firewood. Create a second zone for hot coals that have burned down. This bed of hot coals is your cooking zone. Once you got your zones, you can adapt the recipes above for grilling or campfires.

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Cooking With Cast Iron

Get Creative With Cast Iron Skillet Recipes

Smaller cast iron pans make your recipes instantly photo-ready for your social networks. You can make anything from skillet brownies a-la-mode with insane toppings to rustic cobblers and campfire treats. See the mini cast iron creations taking over our feeds and share your own beautiful cast iron photoshoots with #howipamperedchef. 

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Cast Iron Skillet Treats
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