Eat This: 5 Authentic Cowboy Recipes to Make in a Cast Iron Skillet (2024)

Justin in

5/18/17

[updated: 1/5/21]

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Eat This: 5 Authentic Cowboy Recipes to Make in a Cast Iron Skillet (1)There is nothing like a long day of hiking or horseback riding to get you in the mood for some good, hearty eating. And so the American West's roving cattlemen and cross-country venturers created a long tradition of fantastic, simple meals meant to fill you up on the trail. So bust out that cast iron skillet and prepare yourself for some authentic cowboy eating.

BUFFALO STEW

Buffalo meat was originally a large part of the American West that eventually passed out of favor as the lust for buffalo hides wreaked havoc on the population. Now, thanks to the breeding efforts of American conservationists, bison (and bison burgers, etc.) have had an incredible resurgence in modern America. This classic, simple recipe must be tried.

  • 1 stalk of celery, diced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2-3 carrots, diced
  • 1 can stewed tomatoes
  • 2 lbs buffalo meat, cut into 1″ cubes
  • 1 gallon water, or mixture of broth and water
  • 2 lbs waxy red potatoes (not russets)
  • 1 cup barely

Use a Dutch oven or a cast iron skillet + oven safe stock pot.
Brown the meat until seared, about 3 minutes. Add onions and carrots and cook for 5 minutes more. Transfer to a stew pot or Dutch oven, and add water, potatoes, celery, stewed tomatoes, and barley, cook an additional 5 minutes.Place the pan, covered, in a 400° oven and bake under barley is tender, about 30 minutes.

HARDTACK

Eat This: 5 Authentic Cowboy Recipes to Make in a Cast Iron Skillet (2)I know, I know, modern crackers have come a long way since hardtack, but you can't have a list of cowboy recipes without including it.Probably the most recognizable staple of the Old West, hardtack is the food that crops up in nearly every pulp novel or historical textbook – but I think very few modern men have ever tried it. From what I understand, it's flavor can be…um, quite the test of manhood. Below is a simple recipe calibrated for an oven, although here is a more extensive recipe from Wikihow.com.

Ingredients: 2 cups flour,1 cup water

Combine the flour and water, and knead until smooth. Roll the dough flat until 1/4″ thick. Cut biscuits with a drinking glass or biscuit cutter, or slice into 2 x 4″ rectangles. Poke holes into each biscuit with a fork. Place on two cast iron skillets (or halve and repeat) and sprinkle with salt. Bake at 400° F for 30-40 minutes, until very hard and dry. Enjoy (?)

SOURDOUGH CORNBREAD

Sourdough biscuits were a solid step up from the hardtack situation and are still a huge part of modern American cuisine in certain areas. This recipe (as well as the link for sourdough starter) is from an 1800's newspaper and reprinted here.

  • 1 cup starter.
  • Enough cornmeal to make a beatable batter
  • 1 ½ cups milk
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • ¼ cup warm melted butter, or fat
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda

Mix starter, cornmeal, milk, eggs and stir thoroughly in large bowl.Stir in melted butter, salt and soda.Pour into a 10 inch greased frying pan or Dutch oven,and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

SONOFABITCH STEW

Eat This: 5 Authentic Cowboy Recipes to Make in a Cast Iron Skillet (3)Sonofabitch Stew (also known as rascal stew, sonofagun stew) is perhaps the most unique staple of the cowboy heyday. Comprised of a whole bunch of meat cuts we rarely eat today, it was a supposedly a very tasty dish. The necessary “marrow gut” – the passage between stomachs leading to the abomasum– was only to be taken from a young calf that had yet to be weaned and was considered one of the key ingredients that gave the stew its famously delicious flavor. The stew was also briefly called Cleveland Stew in dishonor of President Grover Cleveland's displacement of cowboys in the Cherokee Strip.The following recipe is from Art of Manliness, although there are a number of variations on the internet.

  • 2 pounds of lean beef
  • Half a calf heart
  • 1 ½ pounds of calf liver
  • 1 set sweetbreads (that’s the thymus gland for you city slickers)
  • 1 set of brains
  • 1 set of marrow gut
  • Salt, pepper to taste
  • Louisiana hot sauce

Visit the Art of Manliness to see how to bring the stew together. Hint: it involves a lot of simmering.

FRIED CAMP APPLES

Eat This: 5 Authentic Cowboy Recipes to Make in a Cast Iron Skillet (4)Every hearty meal on the trail deserves a quality desert, and these fried apples are a fantastic way to end the evening.

Ingredients: apples, lard or bacon drippings,brown sugar, ground cinnamon,

Slice the apples horizontally – peel, core, and all – about 1/2″ inch thick. Heat a layer of drippings in a cast iron skillet, and add the apples in a single layer, turning frequently until golden brown but not completely stewed. Serve hot, sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon. And since you're not on the range, some vanilla ice cream is nice.

HONORABLE MENTION:The Old Confederacy Receipt Book of 1863.

Eat This: 5 Authentic Cowboy Recipes to Make in a Cast Iron Skillet (5)

If you're interested in the cross-section of history and cooking, this document is an incredible find. Hidden gems abound, like this slapjack recipe (Take flour, little sugar and water, mix with or without a little yeast, the latter better if at hand, mix into paste, and fry the same as fritters in clean fat) or thissure-fire headache remedy (One teaspoonful of pulverized charcoal and one-third of a teaspoonful of soda mixed in very warm water).Also included are step-by-step instructions for candlemaking/soapmaking, beer brewing, and “fire balls for fuel” -making.

Justin
I write for manmadediy.

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Eat This: 5 Authentic Cowboy Recipes to Make in a Cast Iron Skillet (2024)

FAQs

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

I've taught so many people the Ten Ten Ten method of steak cooking. Cast iron pans not only make the absolute best steak, but they are perfect for searing and braising chicken, pork chops, fish or tofu.

What can you bake in a cast iron skillet? ›

Bake what you want, any way you want

Bonus: It can be used for so much more than dessert, like pizza, rolls, roasted foods, and quiches. Want a crispy crust? Preheat your cast iron bakeware before adding your batter or dough for crunchy edges on cornbread, pizza, and biscuits.

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 is the trick to cooking with cast iron? ›

4. What are 3 tips for mastering foolproof cast-iron cooking?
  1. Heat and cool your cast iron cookware slowly.
  2. Let the cast iron do most of the work, a.k.a., don't move or fidget with the food while its cooking! It knows what to do.
  3. The more you use it the better it gets.
Jan 17, 2024

Why can't you cook eggs in cast iron? ›

Eggs fall into the category of sticky foods that are not ideal for cast iron skillets that haven't built up their seasoning yet. While cast iron can become non-stick with sufficient use over time, a newer skillet will almost certainly cause your eggs to stick to its porous surface.

Is there anything I shouldn't make in a cast iron skillet? ›

Is There Anything You Shouldn't Cook in Your Cast-Iron Skillet? Experts Weigh In. While there's nothing that's technically off limits, the pros say you should be careful with acidic foods, like tomato or wine sauce, which can corrode the seasoning if left in the pan for too long.

What destroys cast iron? ›

You let your skillet soak.

Soaking your cast iron skillet in your sink is a recipe for rust, as is washing it in the dishwasher. Instead, clean it ASAP, even using simple soap and water if you must.

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

The Cause:

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 it called when you cook a steak in a cast iron skillet? ›

We sear steaks to develop a crispy brown crust on their surface. That crust is full of flavor and one of the most enjoyable aspects of cooking and eating a steak. I pride myself in my sear and call upon my cast iron skillet whenever I'm cooking a steak.

Do you use butter or oil when cooking a steak in a cast iron skillet? ›

To reduce the amount of smoke, start with oil, rather than butter. We recommend around 1/2 cup for a 12-inch skillet. A few minutes before you finish cooking your steak, add butter and aromatics.

Can I bake a cake in cast iron? ›

Yes, it is possible to bake a cake in a cast iron pan. Cast iron pans can provide even heat distribution and retention, resulting in a nicely baked cake with a unique texture and flavor.

What temperature do you bake a cast iron skillet to season it? ›

Put the oiled pan in a preheated 450°F oven, and leave it there for 30 minutes. It may get a little smoky, so keep your kitchen well ventilated.

Is it healthy to cook on cast iron every day? ›

In short: No. You'd have to be mouse-sized to see quantifiable health benefits from mineral intake exclusively with cast iron. Because mineral transfer happens at such a small scale, it's safe to say that cast iron is not any healthier than other pans.

Is cast iron the healthiest way to cook? ›

Cast iron pans can leach a sizeable amount of iron into your food, exceeding dietary intake in some cases. Acidic foods will contribute to much more leaching while an old, heavily-seasoned pan will leach much less iron than a newer one.

Should I use butter or oil in a cast iron skillet? ›

When cooking in cast iron, you should add a little oil to the pan before adding your food. This helps ensure the food doesn't stick, and it helps build layers of seasoning. You can generally use whatever oil you prefer, as long as the cooking temperature is below the smoke point of the oil.

Is it good 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.

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