top of page


Cast Iron Country Fried Sausage Steaks with Creamy Pepper Gravy
⸻ There are some recipes that teach you as much as they feed you, and these Cast Iron Country Fried Sausage Steaks were exactly that. I’d never made country fried sausage before, and I’ll be honest—it challenged me. Between sticky sausage, hot grease, and learning how to flip delicate patties without losing the crispy coating, there was definitely a learning curve. Thankfully, Cowboy and a good friend, whose been Southern cooking for decades, shared a few tricks that made all


Garden to Table Creamy Tomato Sausage Pasta
⸻ There’s nothing better than walking out to the garden, picking fresh tomatoes, and turning them into dinner the very same evening. This Garden to Table Creamy Tomato Sausage Pasta combines sweet garden tomatoes, savory Italian sausage, fresh garlic, and a splash of heavy cream into a rich, comforting meal that’s surprisingly simple to make. Everything comes together in one cast iron skillet before being tossed with pasta for an easy weeknight dinner that’s bursting with fre


Garden-to-Table Cast Iron Thai Basil Chicken
⸻ There’s something satisfying about stepping into the garden and bringing fresh ingredients straight to the kitchen. This Cast Iron Thai Basil Chicken with Garden Peppers celebrates the flavors of summer with fresh basil, green bell pepper, and jalapeños harvested right from the garden. Combined with tender chicken and a simple savory sauce, this easy skillet meal comes together in about 30 minutes and proves that garden-to-table cooking doesn’t have to be complicated. Wheth


Lemon-Pineapple Glazed Pork Chops with Pineapple Chive Rice & Roasted Broccoli
⸻ A quick cast iron pork chop dinner featuring a sweet-and-savory lemonade pineapple glaze, buttery pineapple chive rice, and oven-roasted broccoli. Built from pantry staples and simple substitutions, this easy weeknight meal delivers big flavor without a trip to the grocery store. ⸻ ⸻ Tools From the Kitchen: Cast iron skillet Medium saucepan Sheet pan Measuring cups and spoons Whisk Meat thermometer ⸻ Ingredients: For the Pork Chops 1 lb boneless pork chops ½ cup prepared le


Backyard Harvest Sausage Skillet
⸻ Some of my favorite meals start with a walk through the garden. On this particular evening, the okra was ready to pick, a couple of tomatoes had finally ripened, and I had a package of andouille sausage waiting in the refrigerator. The result was this Backyard Harvest Sausage Skillet. Fresh garden vegetables simmer alongside smoky andouille sausage, red potatoes, celery, and shallots in a flavorful beef broth seasoned with Worcestershire sauce and Cajun spices. Everything c


Southwest Chicken & Street Corn Rice Bowl
⸻ A fresh and flavorful dinner packed with juicy chicken, sweet corn, cilantro lime rice, and creamy avocado. When sweet corn is in season, I’m always looking for ways to bring it to the dinner table. This Southwest Chicken & Street Corn Rice Bowl combines juicy seasoned chicken tenderloins, fluffy cilantro lime rice, and a simple street corn salad for a meal that’s colorful, filling, and full of summer flavor. Top it with fresh avocado and dinner is done. ⸻ ⸻ Tools From The


Cast Iron Pork Chops with Peaches
⸻ Summer peach season is one of the best times of year to get creative in the kitchen, and this cast iron pork chop dinner is a perfect example. Juicy pork chops are seared in a cast iron skillet before being simmered in a simple sauce made with fresh peaches, shallots, thyme, honey, and white wine. The result is a sweet and savory supper that feels special enough for company but easy enough for a weeknight meal. Pair it with roasted sweet potatoes and your favorite seasonal


Dirty Squash Skillet
⸻ Sometimes the best recipes start with a Facebook video and a little inspiration. When Cowboy sent me a video for Dirty Squash, I knew I had everything I needed right here at home. Fresh crookneck squash from the garden, a local market beef sausage, and a trusty cast iron skillet came together to create a simple, flavorful meal that quickly earned Cowboy’s stamp of approval. This Dirty Squash Skillet is packed with garden-fresh vegetables, savory sausage, and Southern-inspir


Short Rib Ragù (Cast Iron, Small-Batch)
⸻ Some recipes feel fancy. This one looks fancy—but it’s actually one of the most low-effort, high-reward meals you can make. This Short Rib Ragù is slow-braised until the beef is fall-apart tender, then folded back into a rich, velvety sauce that clings to every bite of pasta. It’s cozy, it’s comforting, and it tastes like something you’d order at a restaurant and immediately try to recreate at home. We’re keeping this one true to the RGJ way: simple ingredients, cast iron c


Cast Iron Chicken Orzo (Creamy One-Pan Dinner)
⸻ If you’re looking for an easy, comforting dinner that comes together in one pan, this cast iron chicken orzo is it. It’s creamy, hearty, and full of flavor from simple ingredients you probably already have on hand. Everything cooks right in the skillet, making cleanup just as easy as the cooking. This is one of those meals that feels a little special without being complicated—perfect for weeknights when you want something warm and satisfying. The kind of meal that’s easy to


Mu Shu Pork (Cast Iron Skillet – Better Than Takeout at Home)
⸻ Mu Shu Pork is one of those takeout classics that satisfies every craving—savory, saucy, and packed with flavor. But making it at home? Even better. This RGJ version is built in a cast iron skillet for deeper flavor, with tender pork, cabbage, eggs, and a rich hoisin-based sauce that comes together fast. Served over jasmine rice it turns into a full, satisfying bowl that’s perfect for any night of the week. And if you know me… there’s always room to bring a little extra hea


Creamy Garlic Lobster Ravioli Skillet
⸻ There are meals that feel fancy… and then there are meals that taste like you ordered them at a restaurant but made them in your own kitchen. This is that meal. This creamy garlic lobster ravioli skillet is rich, buttery, and layered with flavor from onions, garlic, white wine, and a touch of lemon to bring everything together. It’s one of those dishes that feels like a splurge — but it’s surprisingly simple to pull off. And when you pair it with roasted broccoli and crispy


Cast Iron Szechuan Chicken & Rice Skillet(Freezer Veggies. One Pan. Weeknight Done.)
⸻ This one started with a bag of Szechuan broccoli and edamame sitting in the freezer — the kind you grab with good intentions and forget about until you need dinner fast. Add a couple chicken breasts, some rice, and a cast iron skillet, and it turns into something better than expected. Everything cooks in stages, then comes together in one pan so the rice soaks up all that savory, lightly spicy sauce. No specialty ingredients, no extra trip to the store — just using what’s a


Easy Cajun Crab & Sausage Skillet with Rice
⸻ This one feels like it came straight out of a Southern kitchen near the coast. Instead it came from mine! Cajun-seasoned crab, smoky sausage, and a simple rice base all cooked together in one skillet. It’s bold, a little messy in the best way, and packed with flavor. The crab really takes center stage here, with everything else building underneath it. ⸻ ⸻ Ingredients: • 2 lbs snow crab clusters • ½ package andouille sausage, sliced • ½ cup rice • 1 cup water • 1 can tomatoe


Classic Beef Stroganoff (Southern Cookbook Version)
⸻ This one comes straight from a Southern cookbook, and it’s a little different than what you might expect from a traditional beef stroganoff. It leans on simple pantry ingredients and comes together in one skillet for an easy, comforting meal. Classic, hearty, and perfect over a bowl of noodles. ⸻ ⸻ Ingredients: • 2 lbs round steak • 4 tbsp butter • 1 can cream of mushroom soup • 1 can French onion soup • 1 cup sour cream • 6 tbsp flour • ⅔ cup water • 1 tsp seasoning (salt,


Cajun Shrimp Pasta (From Leftover Paprika Sauce)
This one started with a simple question: What can I do with this leftover creamy paprika sauce? It turned into a bold Cajun-style shrimp pasta with crushed tomatoes, Old Bay, and just enough heat to change the direction completely. Same base. New dinner. ⸻ Ingredients: • 12 oz wide egg noodles (or pasta of choice) • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined • 1 tablespoon lemon juice • 1 tablespoon butter • 1 tablespoon flour • ½–1 cup milk (as needed) • 2


Creamy Chicken Paprika (Skillet Version)
This creamy chicken paprika came together the second time I made Farmer’s Pork Chops, and the leftover creamy potatoes became a complimenting side instead of a creamy potato soup. I swapped in shallot for onion, added extra garlic, and used chicken breasts to keep it weeknight-friendly. It’s rich, cozy, and built around a creamy paprika sauce that doesn’t waste a drop. And that sauce? It had a next chapter too, Cajun Shrimp Pasta. ⸻ Ingredients: • 2 boneless, skinless chicken


One-Pan Balsamic Chicken with Tomatoes and Mozzarella (Cast Iron Recipe)
This One-Pan Balsamic Chicken is a weeknight hero—juicy seared chicken baked in a sweet-tangy balsamic sauce with tomatoes, fresh basil, and melty mozzarella. Everything comes together in a single cast iron skillet for easy prep, bold flavor, and even easier cleanup. ⸻ Ingredients: Balsamic Sauce • ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar • 2 tablespoons honey • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard Chicken & Skillet • 2 p


Cast Iron Cornbread
⸻ Cast iron cornbread is one of those staples that never goes out of style. Baked in a hot skillet, this cornbread comes out with a crisp golden edge and a soft, tender center. It’s simple, comforting, and just as good served on its own, as it is, or I like to serve it alongside my Cowboy Stew. ⸻ ⸻ Ingredients • 1 teaspoon shortening (Crisco) • 1 large egg • 2 cups self-rising cornmeal mix • 1 1/2 cups buttermilk • 1/4 cup vegetable oil • 1–2 tablespoons sugar (optional) ⸻ To


Shrimp Gumbo Casserole
This shrimp gumbo casserole is a cold-weather comfort dish made with simple ingredients and cooked the old-fashioned way. It starts on the stovetop in cast iron and finishes in the oven for a rich, satisfying meal. This is comfort food the Rumble Gumption Junction way. Ingredients: Gumbo: 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil 1 cup onion, finely chopped 1 cup celery finely chopped 3-4 cloves garlic, minced 1 14.5oz can stewed tomatoes 2 14.5oz cans tomatoes, okra, corn blend 2 Bay Leaves 1
bottom of page