If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, I implore you to buy one.
Are they kind of a pain to clean? Sure. Are they heavy and take up a lot of room in the kitchen? Yes. But are they the king of cookware? Absolutely.
Cast iron skillets are versatile. One second you can be frying chicken on the stovetop, the next you could be baking a frittata in one.
My cast iron skillet is one of the most used dishes in my kitchen. I have a Lodge skillet that is around 5 years old. It’s a heavy-duty skillet and priced a lot lower than some other brands. I highly recommend it if you’re in the market for one.
This recipe is one you might find at a Pioneer Day/Festival. If there’s a chuckwagon around, this is something that is getting served. It’s hearty and easy to make and it all cooks right in the cast iron–both on the stovetop and in the oven. You might even be able to cook it over an open fire!
You don’t need to hitch your wagon to living like the pioneers, though, to enjoy this dinner. It’s a good recipe to make on a normal day in a present-day kitchen.
Enjoy!
Chuckwagon Casserole
An easy , hearty dinner made with meat, beans and corn and topped with a sweet cornbread crust.
Ingredients
Directions
- Heat a large cast iron skillet or Dutch oven over medium high heat. If using turkey or chicken, add 1 tablespoon of oil to the skillet.
- Add meat and cook, stirring for a few minutes. Season with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Add chili powder and Cajun seasoning when meat is almost browned.
- Stir in barbecue sauce, beans and corn. Heat through for 3-4 more minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Meanwhile, make Jiffy corn muffin mix according to package instructions (mixing in one egg and 1/3 cup milk). Drop cornbread mix by the spoonfuls on top of meat mixture. Carefully spread with the back of a spoon until cornbread covers most of the meat mixture.
- Bake, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes or until cornbread is golden brown. Serve.
leencuisine.com 
Fantastic recipe, combining both carbs and protein into one! On a related note, the internet is rife with many videos showing how to clean and season cast-iron cookware.
That’s my least favorite part about owning a cast iron…cleaning and seasoning! I use rock salt to clean mine and it works pretty well, but it’s still a pain 🤣
But yeah, you gotta love those Lodge skillets — they get kept away in garages for years or even decades to rust, but just some elbow grease gets them good as new! 🍳
I have a “workhorse” in my kitchen as well. 🍳🍃
Cast irons are the BEST!
Truth! 💜🍃