Table of Contents

Can you make eggs in a cast iron skillet?
Recipe: Cast Iron Skillet Eggs
Sweet Cast Iron Skillet Breakfast Recipes
Salty Cast Iron Skillet Breakfast Recipes
Cast Iron Skillet Brunch Recipes

Cast iron skillets are perfect for cooking breakfast for several reasons. For one, using only one pan for your entire morning meal is an ideal scenario if you’d like to keep the washing up to a minimum. They can hold a large amount of ingredients and can travel from stovetop to the oven. Not to mention, cast iron skillets are pretty easy to clean, as long as you don’t let your dirty pan sit out for hours after cooking.

You can rely on a cast iron skillet’s sturdiness and heating capabilities when looking for that perfect crisp to your hash browns, casseroles, and sausages. Because a cast iron skillet holds heat very well, it will guarantee even cooking with even the thickest pancakes or frittatas. Just make sure you give it a chance to preheat well. You can do that on the stove by leaving it over medium heat for at least ten minutes and rotating it to avoid isolated hot spots, or by placing it in a preheated oven.

Lastly, there’s an undeniable rustic feel to a breakfast served straight out of a cast iron skillet. Whether you’re preparing a special occasion brunch or using it on an open fire while camping, the cast iron skillet will go from a cooking to a serving dish seamlessly.

Can you make eggs in a cast iron skillet?

Cast iron skillets are most commonly advertised as perfect pans for searing steak, chicken, or roasting root vegetables. But many wonder whether cooking eggs in it would yield the same great results—after all, eggs are much more delicate and have a tendency to stick.

In order to use your cast iron skillet to its full potential, eggs should absolutely be a part of your skillet’s repertoire. While they’re not ideal for cast iron pans that haven’t yet been sufficiently seasoned, following several golden rules for cooking eggs will ensure your success.

First and foremost, never cook eggs on a brand new cast iron skillet, even if it comes pre-seasoned. Give your skillet some use so it can absorb enough oil to develop a non-stick coating over time. You can also season it in the oven, by rubbing it all over with vegetable oil, placing on the middle rack, and baking at 375°F for about an hour.

Once you’re confident in your cast iron skillet’s non-stick surface, start with a simple, low-stakes egg dish, like scrambled eggs.

Make sure you preheat the pan without any oil in it, which will allow it to achieve an even temperature without the risk of burning the oil. Give it about ten minutes on the stove, rotating every few minutes for even exposure. Then add the oil or butter and let it heat for a minute before adding eggs.

Another important tip for cooking eggs in a cast iron skillet is to lower the heat right before you add the eggs. They will cook well over a lower flame due to the residual heat of your now very hot skillet, so cooking them over higher heat will only burn them.

And if you do notice your eggs are cooking too quickly, remove the skillet from heat and let them stop sizzling, then return to heat if necessary.

Here’s a simple recipe for the best cast iron skillet eggs; you can easily scale this recipe up by multiplying it (2 eggs per person).

Recipe: Cast Iron Skillet Eggs

Yield: 1 servings

Print Recipe

Ingredients

1 tablespoon canola or olive oil

2 large eggs per person

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Tools

Field No.8 Skillet

Slotted Turner

Resources

The Field Method for Cast Iron Care

Guide to Cooking Eggs in Cast Iron

Instructions

Preheat a cast iron skillet over medium-low heat until it’s evenly heated, about 5 minutes.

In the meantime, whisk all the eggs with a splash of water in a bowl, until all the yolks and whites are blended. Add salt and pepper and whisk again.

Add the oil to the pan and give it a few seconds to heat up.

Turn the heat to low and add the eggs to the cast iron skillet. Using a wooden or a silicone spatula, gently fold the eggs curdling around the edges toward the center. Continue until the eggs are set but still slightly runny.

Remove the skillet from the pan but don’t remove the eggs yet. Instead, let the residual heat finish cooking them, about 30 seconds.

Photo: Lauren V. Allen

Cast iron skillet breakfast recipes

Some things are just better when made in a cast iron skillet, and so many breakfast foods are on that list.

Sweet Cast Iron Skillet Breakfast Recipes

Dutch Baby

This sweet breakfast popover is the simplest pancake you’ll ever make. Scale it up or down based on how many you’re feeding and serve with syrup, powdered sugar, and berries.

Mini Nutella Doughnuts

Hot, fried dough filled with a chocolate hazelnut spread? Yes, please! This recipe features an ingenious store-bought dough hack which means you can have these puppies ready in 45 minutes or less.

Country Pear Puff Pancake

Caramelized pears are the main feature of this indulgent pancake. It’s baked until perfectly golden brown and topped with a dollop of whipped cream for a dessert-for-breakfast vibe.

Milk Cake

This airy, light breakfast cake bakes especially well in a thoroughly-seasoned cast iron skillet. Serve it with a cup of coffee.

Pecan-Oatmeal Pancakes

Adding oats to your pancake batter will make them more filling and heartier. This recipe also calls for pecans to be added to the batter for an especially nutty end result.

Country Corncakes

A great compromise between cornbread and pancakes, these corncakes derive their sweetness and texture from the addition of fresh or frozen corn kernels to the batter. Serve them with bacon crumbs, sour cream, and chives for a savory rustic classic. Eggs optional.

Kaiserschmarrn

This classic Austro-Hungarian take on a sweet breakfast is basically a pancake that’s been pre-torn into bite-size pieces. The classic recipe calls for dotting it with raisins and sprinkling with powdered sugar, but feel free to sub in some berry compote and maple syrup.

Raspberry Skillet Jam

If you’re a toast-for-breakfast kind of person, you can still put your cast iron skillet to work. This recipe makes just the right amount of fresh jam for a quick unfussy breakfast, and it comes together in under 20 minutes total.

Vanilla-Cardamom Cast-Iron Skillet French Toast

Reserve this recipe for a morning when you have a bit of time, and you won’t be disappointed. The cast iron skillet gives the spiced, egg-soaked bread perfectly golden edges, while all the fixin’s you’ll be making from scratch turn this into a show-stopping breakfast meant for impressing family and friends.

Apple-Pear Puff Cake

Just like a Dutch baby, this oven-baked popover takes the fuss out of pancake making. The quick and easy filling of warmed apples and pears will take this simple breakfast from average to something you could serve on Christmas morning.

Salty Cast Iron Skillet Breakfast Recipes

Olive Oil–Basted Fried Eggs

It’s back to basics with these perfectly fried eggs. Serve them with any combo of potatoes, sausages, pancakes, and other breakfast fixin’s.

Hash Browns

When it comes to perfect hash browns, it’s all about the crispiness, making your cast iron skillet the perfect candidate for the job. This recipe calls for a combination of butter, which will impart flavor, and grapeseed oil, which will lower the smoke point and allow your hash browns to achieve the optimal crunch.

Bacon

No breakfast is truly complete without a little bit of bacon. This recipe provides three easy ways to cook your bacon to perfection in a cast iron skillet.

Beefy Huevos Rancheros

Eggs in warm salsa served on a tortilla is a Mexican country breakfast classic, but this recipe kicks it up a notch with the addition of ground beef. It’s the hearty breakfast of your dreams.

Basque Potato and Pepper Tortilla with Ham and Cheese

This Spanish omelet (also known as a “tortilla” in Spain) layers onions, bell peppers, and thinly sliced potatoes. Serve it with a side of ham and cheese for a truly authentic Basque breakfast.

Tortilla Española

And for a non-traditional take on the Spanish omelet, try this playful recipe that includes crushed up store-bought potato chips instead of actual potato slices.

Savory Dutch Baby

The thick skillet pancake can be made savory, too. This recipe is the perfect basic template to expand upon with the toppings of your choosing.

Grapevine Kentucky Buttermilk Biscuits

Don’t forget that your cast iron skillet is a perfect vessel for baking projects. These buttermilk biscuits are perfectly fluffy and never fail to impress.

White Sausage Gravy

Make it a full biscuits-and-gravy affair with a cast iron skillet–made sausage gravy that comes together in about 10 minutes.

10.

Steak and Eggs

Sear your steak to perfection on the cast iron skillet, then transfer to the oven to finish baking.

Healthy Cast Iron Skillet Breakfast Recipes

Sweet Potato and Egg Skillet

Replace your go-to potato hash with sweet sweet potato hash for an extra boost of fiber and vitamins in the morning. The swap works beautifully in this low-carb skillet bake.

Portuguese Salt Cod, Potato, and Egg Casserole

The Mediterranean diet is considered to be one of the healthiest ways to eat, and this fish breakfast is a prime example. It can also work as a light dinner.

Dilled Salmon Omelettes with Creme Fraiche

The classic pairing of salmon and dill breathes new life into a simple omelet. Use your cast iron skillet for an easy finish in the oven.

Cast Iron Veggie Cake with Sun-Dried Tomato Cashew Cream

If you’re crazy about the crispy texture of hash browns but want to skip all those starchy carbs at breakfast, mix in other root vegetables that shred well, like carrot and kohlrabi. Top with a vegan tomato cashew cream for an extra dose of healthy fats and flavor.

Skillet-Baked Eggs with Spinach, Yogurt, and Chili Oil

This Middle Eastern take on a veggie breakfast skillet may be the lightest, healthiest egg recipe you’ll ever come across, but that doesn’t mean it skimps on flavor. Melted leeks and eggs are topped with a dollop of yogurt and spiced butter for a truly memorable dish.

Skier's Skillet

Combining apple slices, brown sugar, and pork sausages in a cast iron skillet may seem odd, but we promise it works beautifully as a tasty, low-carb breakfast. Serve it with eggs for a complete meal.

Skillet Phyllo Pie with Butternut Squash, Kale, and Goat Cheese

This recipe will win over those who don’t exactly love kale or butternut squash. The thin layer of Phyllo dough is simply a camouflage for a warm breakfast salad made entirely in your cast iron skillet.

Homemade Sage Sausage Patties

Avoid the overly processed store-bought breakfast sausages which likely pack a ton of sodium, and opt for this homemade pork version, flavored with sage and cheddar cheese. Make extra and freeze for a quick weekday breakfast hack.

Summer Breakfast Skillet

This combo of eggs, spicy chorizo, and five different vegetables is the kind of breakfast that will keep you full all morning, helping you avoid unnecessary snacking. It’s also a dream breakfast for anyone on the keto diet.

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Spinach with Chickpeas and Fried Eggs

Get that extra kick of protein and fiber with breakfast by serving your eggs on a bed of chickpeas instead of potatoes.

Cast Iron Skillet Brunch Recipes

Shakshuka

This spicy, tomatoey egg bake is a classic brunch dish. While simmering acidic foods in your cast iron skillet for a long time isn’t advisable, shakshuka is often made in cast iron because it is a relatively quick dish that won’t be sitting in your pan for hours.

Asparagus and Feta Strata

While a true strata calls for overnight soaking of bread in an eggy custard, this cast iron–friendly recipe uses a quick soak and calls for lightly toasting your bread slices first. It’s also a great way to use up old crusty bread to feed a crowd.

Creamy Eggs and Mushrooms Au Gratin

This recipe calls for smothering eggs and mushrooms in a luxurious parmesan sauce, and is perfect for when you need something slightly more special than scrambled eggs.

Brunch Hash and Egg Bake

Feed a crowd with this delicious bake that contains all the elements of a breakfast plate in one skillet.

Spicy Breakfast Pizza

Use store-bought pizza crust as a blank canvas and load it with tomato sauce, spiced hash browns, fragrant eggs, and cheese for a hearty brunch dish that’s popular with kids and adults alike.

Huevos Rancheros

Another way to cook eggs in a zesty tomato sauce is to make a simple pan-salsa and let the eggs bake in it till perfectly poached and runny.

Steakhouse Prime Rib Hash

Prime rib, flank steak, and even chicken work well in this recipe. You’ll make a compact pan cake from cubed meat, spiced smashed potatoes, ketchup, and hot sauce, then fry it to golden crispy perfection. Top with an egg for a restaurant-worthy take on brunch.

Cast Iron Breakfast Skillet