Sourdough Skillets are healthy one pot meals that can be made with many different variations. Try it with whatever meats and/or veggies you have in your fridge for a nutritious and satisfying meal.
You know those meals you can make when you have no cohesive ingredients in your fridge, and you’re putting off a trip to the grocery store for as long as possible? In my house it’s things like crispy salmon burgers, fried eggs, or potato soup. Staple meals.
What is your definition of a perfect staple meal? For me, it is one that has only a few basic ingredients. It can be adapted to suit what you have on hand. And it must, of course, be a healthy square meal.
This one has it all; protein, fats, carbs, veggies. The sourdough starter makes a bread layer over the top of whatever filling you decide on.
I originally read about this idea over on the Traditional Cooking School Blog. I adapted it a bit and have been enjoying it for many years!
The Sourdough skillet is the perfect staple meal. Perfect when you don’t have dinner planned and just need to throw something together quickly, which is my specialty. I’m not one to typically plan meals. I like to open the fridge, look to see what we have and gather inspiration.
Tips:
- If you are totally new to sourdough, check out how to make your own sourdough starter here.
- This recipe is really just a starting off point. You can create any type of filling you would like. Just add the sourdough topping, cheese, and bake. I’ve included some of my favorite variations below.
- I like to use a cast iron skillet because it can easily go from stove top to oven. You can use another oven safe skillet, or transfer the filling to a baking dish and then top with the sourdough topping.
- This recipe can be made with discarded sourdough starter. It is a great way to use up all that extra sourdough starter, especially when you are just starting out on your wild yeast journey.
- If you are not adding meat like ground beef that has natural fats in it, I would suggest adding a little butter or olive oil to the bottom of the pan so the veggies don’t stick.
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Filling Ideas:
Veggies (any will do): peppers, onions, corn, green beans, peas, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, etc. The possibilities are really endless.
Meat (totally optional): ground beef, ground chicken or turkey, sausage, pork, shredded chicken, etc.
Salt – I like sea salt
Pepper and Herbs (again, optional)
Fed Sourdough Starter (more on that HERE) or sourdough starter discard. A starter made with all-purpose, whole wheat flour, or other type of flour should work just fine. I have not tried it with a gluten free starter.
Eggs
Cheese (once again, OPTIONAL): If you are dairy free you can skip this and use coconut oil rather than butter.
Baking Powder
Butter (or even coconut oil… some kind of fat)
So, let’s tally up the things that are a must: Veggies, sourdough starter, eggs, baking powder, salt, some kind of fat.
For a grand total of SIX (did I count that right? ONLY 6??) ingredients!
If you don’t have THAT on hand, well then get ye to the store, post haste!
Sourdough Skillet Ingredients:
Sourdough Mixture to go on top
In a large bowl, mix:
- Fed sourdough starter: This is an active sourdough starter that has been fed 4-12 hours before starting the recipe. It should be active and bubbly. While I typically use a fed starter, sourdough discard will also work since baking powder is the leavening agent.
- Eggs
- Salt
- Dried herbs (optional)
- Butter (or coconut oil)
- Baking powder
Four cups filling
Options for filling could be:
- lentils
- ground beef
- black beans
- shredded chicken
- onions, peppers, garlic
- carrots, potatoes, green beans
- zucchini, tomatoes, basil
I could go on and on. The options are endless. The beautiful thing about this dish is that itโs more of a concept than a recipe.
Tools you may need:
Cast iron skillet or skillet and baking dish
Knife
Cutting board
Cheese grater
How To Make Sourdough Skillet
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Sautรฉ the beef (or whatever meat you choose) in the cast iron skillet on the stove. After the beef is completely cooked, place on a plate and set aside.
Sautรฉ the mixed veggies and cilantro in the cast iron skillet.
While the veggies are cooking on the stove, in a large mixing bowl, mix together the sourdough mixture of sourdough starter, eggs, salt, butter, and baking powder.
When the veggies are done cooking, add the beef back into the cast iron skillet and season with salt and pepper.
Stir to combine the beef and veggies.
Spread the sourdough mixture over the top of the veggies and beef, and sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese.
Bake for 25 minutes, or until bread is cooked through and golden brown.
You could seriously have this sourdough skillet every single night and never feel like you’re eating the same thing. Ok, I typed that and then realized it could be a slight exaggeration. But, for real, imagine all the possibilities!
If you need my help brainstorming, I put together a quick little ebook with five recipe variations. You can snag that up HERE.
Enjoy!
Storage
Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat by placing it in an oven at 350 degrees until hot.
Sourdough Skillet Variations:
Maple Sweet Potato Chicken Sourdough Skillet
- 3 medium sweet potatoes
- 1 small onion
- 2 tbs butter
- 2 tbs fresh thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tbs maple syrup
- 3 cups cooked chicken
- Mozzarella cheese on top
- Sourdough topping mixture
Farmers Market Sourdough Skillet
- 1 small zucchini, sliced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 medium tomato, chopped
- 1 large bell pepper, diced
- 2 tbs butter
- 1 lb sausage
- 2 tbs finely diced fresh parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Cheddar cheese on top
- Sourdough topping mixture
Is cooking with sourdough starter healthy?
Yes. It is already fermented and the grains and phytic acid have been broken down. So it is more nutritious, is easier to digest, and has a lower glycemic index compared to unfermented grains.
Check out my other sourdough recipes and posts
- Sourdough English Muffins
- How to Make a Sourdough Starter from Scratch
- Sourdough Pizza Crust
- Our Favorite Sourdough Pancakes Recipe
- Sourdough Tortillas
- No-Knead Sourdough Bread Recipe
- Sourdough Biscuits
- Sourdough Cornbread
Thank you so much for stopping by the farmhouse!
If you try this recipe and love it, I would love if you gave it 5 stars! Thank you!
Sourdough Skillet
Video
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups sourdough starter
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 3 tablespoons butter, or coconut oil
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 pound beef
- 4 cups mixed veggies, Such as peppers, red onions, mushrooms, and corn.
- 1/4 fresh cilantro
- 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.ย ย Ideally, if you cooked your filling in the cast iron skillet, it is already preheated.ย Preheating is the best step to take to ensure nothing sticks.
- Saute the beef in the cast iron skillet on the stove.ย After the beef is completelyย cooked, place on a plate and set aside.ย
- Cook the mixed veggies and cilantro in the cast iron skillet.
- While the veggies are cooking on the stove, mix together the sourdough mixture of sourdough starter, eggs, salt, basil, butter, and baking powder.
- When the veggies are done cooking, add the beef back into the cast iron skillet and season with salt and pepper.ย Stir to combine the beef and veggies.
- Spread the sourdough mixture over the top of the veggies and beef, and sprinkle with 1.5 cups grated cheddar cheese.
- Bake for 25 minutes, or until bread is cooked through and golden.
Notes
- This recipe is really just a starting off point. You can create any type of filling you would like. Just add the sourdough topping, cheese, and bake. I've included some of my favorite variations below.
- I like to use a cast iron skillet because it can easily go from stove top to oven. You can use another oven safe skillet, or transfer the filling to a baking dish and then top with the sourdough topping.
- This recipe can be made with discarded sourdough starter. It is a great way to use up all that extra sourdough starter, especially when you are just starting out on your wild yeast journey.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love love this recipe! So easy & fast. It’s my go to for healthier chicken pot pie instead of the traditional pie crust. Always a hit!
Very versatile, we loved it. Thank you for sharing
I tried this recipe tonight with a few modifications; I only had a 9inch cast iron so I did 2/3 of the topping recipe. This was so good!! I did ground beef and a mix of a bunch of diced veggies/spices/seasonings. I was worried the sourdough topping would be too wangy without any extra flour added, but it wasn’t at all! Definitely a make – again recipe. My husband said it was a keeper! Even my 2yo son ate it. Thank you!
I thought this was a discard recipe. I have some in my fridge that I want to use up. Canโt I use it with this recipe?
I do discard all the time for this recipe! I dont understand why it has to be fed when you’re adding egg and baking powder!๐
Awesome recipe! This has become a weekly staple at our house. It is quick enough, simple and delicious. Thank you for sharing.
Absolutely love this!! We have done this twice (one beef and veggies and another with bbq pork and veggies with mozzarella cheese) with savory fillings and one time with cherries and blueberries for breakfast! It has become a family favorite!!!
Yum! Can you share how you did the cherries and blueberries with this recipe? I do something similar with apples, more like a dutch baby with apples in it.
What kind of dough would you use if you couldn’t use sourdough? A biscuit dough? I’m allergic to anything fermented, but I’d love to try out this recipe.
Try a cornbread mixture.
This has become one of go to recepies. It works with everything and everytime. Thank you Lisa
Can I use baking soda instead of powder? Iโm all out ๐
I realize this is 2 years after your comment lol, but I believe you can sub powder with a combo of soda and cream of tarter. I always have the tarter on hand for making play dough, so itโs handy to have for this too! Lol
Thank you so much for this tasty recipe! I’m doing some meal prep and would love to freeze this. Would you freeze it with a raw sourdough topping or cook and then freeze? I love your channel!