10 Adorable Mini Cast-Iron Skillet Recipes (2024)

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10 Adorable Mini Cast-Iron Skillet Recipes (1)Lindsay D. MattisonUpdated: Jun. 08, 2023

    These mini cast iron skillet recipes not only make food that's totally cute, but they happen to be delicious, too!

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    10 Adorable Mini Cast-Iron Skillet Recipes (2)

    AlexJuncu/Shutterstock

    Have you seen these adorable 3.5″ cast iron skillets floating around? Part of me wants to impulse buy them, but the practical side of my brain wonders how I’d use them. These mini cast iron skillet recipes are all the proof I need that cute food can also be delicious.

    Find our entire cast iron cooking guide here.

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    10 Adorable Mini Cast-Iron Skillet Recipes (3)

    Courtesy of Love and Olive Oil

    Skillet Huevos Rancheros

    Love and Olive Oil knows that food cooked in a skillet tastes better. Turn that skillet meal into a single serving experience, and it’ll taste even better! These Huevos Rancheros are perfect for brunch, but I have a feeling I’ll be serving them up as breakfast for dinner, too.

    Get the recipe here from Love and Olive Oil.

    3/11

    10 Adorable Mini Cast-Iron Skillet Recipes (4)

    Courtesy of I Am a Food Blog

    Crispy Roasted Potatoes with Burrata

    There’s almost nothing better than crispy potatoes smothered in an ooey-gooey, soft cheese…except maybe an entire bowl of them all to myself! These mini skillet potatoes are so good, you’ll definitely want to make a few extras.

    Get the recipe here from I Am a Food Blog.

    4/11

    10 Adorable Mini Cast-Iron Skillet Recipes (5)

    Courtesy of Bowl of Delicious

    Baked Egg and Sweet Potato Nests

    Who needs pasta when you have spiralized sweet potatoes? Using a mini skillet creates the perfect shape for your potato “nests.” Pop an egg in the middle and bake up one of the quickest (and easiest) meals you’ll have all week.

    Get the recipe here from Bowl of Delicious.

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    10 Adorable Mini Cast-Iron Skillet Recipes (6)

    Courtesy of Love and Lemons

    Mini Spinach & Sun-Dried Tomato Frittatas

    Frittata is one of my go-to recipes for feeding a crowd at brunch. By using mini skillets, each guest gets their own individual frittata, which means you can also customize them for picky eaters.

    Get the recipe here from Love and Lemons.

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    10 Adorable Mini Cast-Iron Skillet Recipes (7)

    Courtesy of Taste With the Eyes

    Shrimp and Grits in Mini Cast Iron Skillets

    Shrimp and grits are delicious no matter how you serve it, but something about this adorable presentation actually makes it taste better! This 15-minute recipe is perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a snack.

    Get the recipe here from Taste With the Eyes.

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    10 Adorable Mini Cast-Iron Skillet Recipes (8)

    Courtesy of A Cozy Kitchen

    Mini Shakshukas

    These mini shakshukas have a bit of everything: savory tomatoes, spicy harissa paste and salty cheese. Add in a runny yolk and you have an Instagram-worthy dish! It doesn’t hurt that they taste incredible, too.

    Get the recipe here from A Cozy Kitchen.

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    10 Adorable Mini Cast-Iron Skillet Recipes (9)

    Courtesy of Nerds with Knives

    Mini Dutch Babies with Lemon Curd and Blueberries

    These mini Dutch babies are everything! They taste somewhere between a pancake and a crepe, but they’re light and fluffy like a popover. I can’t decide if I want to eat these puffy pancakes for breakfast or dessert (or, maybe both!)

    Get the recipe here from Nerds with Knives.

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    10 Adorable Mini Cast-Iron Skillet Recipes (10)

    Courtesy of Toaster Oven Love

    Mini Berry Skillet Cake

    Making dessert in your favorite cast iron is always a good idea, but using the mini skillet to create individual portions is brilliant! It’s an easy romantic dessert or a great way to end a fancy dinner party.

    Get the recipe here from Toaster Oven Love.

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    10 Adorable Mini Cast-Iron Skillet Recipes (11)

    Courtesy of Crazy for Crust

    Small Batch Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

    I love to bake, but I hate having all those leftover cookies. I know I’ll just end up eating them! This mini chocolate chip cookie recipe is definitely a lifesaver. It makes the perfect amount of cookies for two.

    Get the recipe here from Crazy for Crust.

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    10 Adorable Mini Cast-Iron Skillet Recipes (12)

    Courtesy of Uproot Kitchen

    Skillet Carrot Cake with Coconut Cream Icing

    All the flavor of carrot cake, rolled up into a tiny and adorable package? Sign me up! This mini cast iron skillet recipe is so delicious, and it also happens to be 100% vegan.

    Get the recipe here from Uproot Kitchen.

    Originally Published: January 30, 2019

    10 Adorable Mini Cast-Iron Skillet Recipes (13)

    Lindsay D. Mattison

    Lindsay has been writing for digital publications for seven years and has 10 years of experience working as a professional chef. She became a full-time food writer at Taste of Home in 2023, although she’s been a regular contributor since 2017. Throughout her career, Lindsay has been a freelance writer and recipe developer for multiple publications, including Wide Open Media, Tasting Table, Mashed and SkinnyMs. Lindsay is an accomplished product tester and spent six years as a freelance product tester at Reviewed (part of the USA Today network). She has tested everything from cooking gadgets to knives, cookware sets, meat thermometers, pizza ovens and more than 60 grills (including charcoal, gas, kamado, smoker and pellet grills).Lindsay still cooks professionally for pop-up events, especially when she can highlight local, seasonal ingredients. As a writer, Lindsay loves sharing her skills and experience with home cooks. She aspires to motivate others to gain confidence in the kitchen. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her cooking with fresh produce from the farmers market or planning a trip to discover the best new restaurants.

    10 Adorable Mini Cast-Iron Skillet Recipes (2024)

    FAQs

    What to cook in a mini cast iron? ›

    What to Do with Mini Cast Iron Skillets
    1. Toast Small Amounts of Spices or Nuts. ...
    2. Make Individual Servings of Mac and Cheese, Baked Egg Cups, Scalloped Potatoes, or Anything Else. ...
    3. Make a Fried Egg for One. ...
    4. Use It As a Meat Mallet. ...
    5. Serve Tapas a la Plancha. ...
    6. Bake a Single-Serving Skillet Cookie.
    Oct 17, 2021

    What is a mini cast iron used for? ›

    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.

    What do you cook in a mini frying pan? ›

    BEST USES FOR A MINI FRY PAN
    1. MELT BUTTER FOR A RECIPE. Easily make up a batch of melted butter for a recipe you're making without busting out a big pan that takes up a lot of space in the dishwasher. ...
    2. MAKE A PERFECTLY FRIED EGG. ...
    3. MAKE A MINI OMELET IN A SNAP. ...
    4. TOAST INGREDIENTS. ...
    5. CHECK OUT THESE MINI FRY PAN RECIPES FROM TASTY™
    May 5, 2021

    Do you have to season a mini cast iron skillet? ›

    Most cast iron skillets these days come pre-seasoned, meaning they're ready for cooking on as soon as you take them out of the box. However, over time, the seasoning erodes, and you'll need to re-apply it by brushing the skillet with a thin layer of neutral oil and heating it until the oil bonds to the metal.

    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 are mini frying pans used for? ›

    The most prevalent use for a 6” or 8” frying pan is a single serving, be it a single fried egg, pancake, omelette, or frittata. The small cooking surface area means your pan heats up faster (especially when made with high-quality materials like Stainless Clad) and your ingredient cooks quicker.

    When should I stop using cast iron? ›

    Several potential problems arise when your cast iron pan begins to crack. Heat will make the metal expand and contract, growing even the tiniest of fractures. This can become hazardous, especially if the pan is hot or is full of hot food. Cracks also harbor bacteria because they're more difficult to clean.

    How do you fry an egg in a mini pan? ›

    Spray or lightly coat a small frying pan with olive oil. Heat on medium for a minute. Crack an egg into the pan, and let cook for about a minute, until the egg whites start to turn white. Cover the pan with a lid for the last 45-60 seconds, or until the top of the egg whites have set, but the yolk is still soft.

    What can I cook in an 8 inch cast iron skillet? ›

    More obviously, an 8-inch skillet is the perfect size when cooking for one: use it to sear a fillet of fish, pork chop, steak, or chicken breast and it'll make less of a mess than in a 10-inch skillet. Or use it for making two eggs at breakfast—that's one of the ways I use mine most.

    What are small pans good for? ›

    Smaller saucepans are great for cooking for one or two people, warming sauces, boiling eggs, and preparing rice or oatmeal.

    What are mini cast iron skillets for? ›

    What to do with a 3.5-inch Miniature Cast Iron Pan
    • The Perfect Fried Egg.
    • Works for Over Easy Eggs too.
    • For a Bacon, Red Pepper, Tomato, and Cheddar Mini Frittata. ...
    • Egg Muffin Sandwich. ...
    • Searing Baby Steaks….
    • For a Tiny Steak and Cheese Quesadilla.
    • Or Roasting Garlic.
    Apr 1, 2016

    Can I use olive oil to season cast iron? ›

    Since olive oil is such a pantry staple, many people naturally wonder if they can use olive oil to season cast iron. You can use olive oil to season cast iron, but you need to choose a high quality extra virgin olive oil, which should have a smoke point close to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Can you use bacon grease to season cast iron? ›

    Lard and bacon are the best seasoning oils

    Oils high in unsaturated fats—like flaxseed or vegetable oils—are more reactive, meaning they can oxidize and form the polymerized chains necessary for properly seasoning a cast-iron pan.

    What are the best foods to cook 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 can I cook in an 8-inch cast iron skillet? ›

    More obviously, an 8-inch skillet is the perfect size when cooking for one: use it to sear a fillet of fish, pork chop, steak, or chicken breast and it'll make less of a mess than in a 10-inch skillet. Or use it for making two eggs at breakfast—that's one of the ways I use mine most.

    Can I cook in cast iron with a little rust? ›

    Even though a rusted cast-iron pan doesn't necessarily present a health concern, it's still not recommended that you cook on it. The rust might add an unpleasant metallic flavor to your food. Plus, it makes using the skillet much more difficult.

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