Cast iron is a strong choice for grill cooking because it holds heat well and can help sear food while it cooks. The right pan depends on how much cooking space you need, whether you want ridges for grill marks, and how you plan to use and care for it. These five options include classic ridged pans, a model with a lid, and a larger pan with a distinctive finish.
| Product | Size | Standout feature | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodge Square Cast Iron Grill Pan | 10.5 inches | Ridged surface; indoor and outdoor use | A versatile everyday grill pan |
| Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Grill Pan | 10.25 inches | Pre-seasoned, ridged design | Stovetop grilling and compact meals |
| Lodge Chef Collection Square Grill Pan | 11 inches | 81 square inches of cooking area | More room and easier handling |
| Northriver Casting Grill Pan with Lid | 10.5 inches | Tempered glass lid | Cooking that benefits from a covered pan |
| bloomhouse Square Cast Iron Grill Pan | 12 inches | Bronze finish and olive wood trivet | A larger pan with a serving-ready look |
Our Picks: Best Cast Iron Cookware For Grill reviews
1. Lodge Square Cast Iron Grill Pan: Best All-Around Pick
This 10.5-inch square pan combines cast iron’s heat retention with raised ridges that create sear marks and channel grease away from food. Its square shape offers a useful cooking area for items such as burgers, steaks, and vegetables without taking up as much room as a larger pan.
The pan is designed for stovetops, ovens, grills, and campfires, so it can move between indoor and outdoor cooking. Lodge says its finish is made with iron and oil and is free from PFOA, PTFE, and PFAS. That makes this a straightforward choice if you want a traditional cast iron surface without a synthetic nonstick coating.
Its main trade-off is the typical heft of cast iron, which can make it less convenient to lift or move when hot. The ridges also mean less direct contact between food and the pan than you get with a flat skillet, so this is better for grill-style searing than for foods that need full-surface contact.
Pros:
- Works on stovetops, in ovens, on grills, and over campfires
- Raised ridges create grill marks and channel excess grease
- Made with iron and oil, without PFOA, PTFE, or PFAS
- Compact square format suits everyday portions
Cons:
- Cast iron is heavy compared with many other pan materials
- Ridges are less suited to foods that need a flat cooking surface
Verdict: Choose this Lodge pan if you want one versatile, ridged cast iron pan for both indoor cooking and the grill.
2. Lodge Pre-Seasoned Grill Pan: A Simple Stovetop Option
This 10.25-inch Lodge pan is a traditional pre-seasoned cast iron grill pan with a ridged cooking surface. Its compact size may suit smaller kitchens or meals where you do not need the wider cooking area of an 11- or 12-inch option.
The title highlights stovetop grilling for meats, making this a direct choice for getting a grill-pan style sear indoors. Pre-seasoning means the pan comes with an initial seasoned surface, though cast iron still needs suitable care over time. The product information supplied for this model is limited, so check the listing for details such as handle design and compatible outdoor uses before choosing it for a particular setup.
Compared with the Lodge Square Grill Pan above, this model is slightly smaller and has fewer listed details about where it can be used. It may be a good fit if you mainly want a basic ridged pan for stovetop cooking rather than a feature-rich option.
Pros:
- Pre-seasoned cast iron design
- Ridged surface for grill-pan cooking
- Compact 10.25-inch size
Cons:
- Available product details provide limited information about its features
- Smaller cooking area than the 11- and 12-inch choices
Verdict: Consider this pan if you want a compact, pre-seasoned Lodge grill pan primarily for stovetop use.
3. Lodge Chef Collection Grill Pan: More Room and Two Handles
The Lodge Chef Collection pan is an 11-inch square model with 81 square inches of cooking area. Its elevated ridged surface is designed for deep sear marks, while sloped sidewalls help contain food and drippings. The dual handles give you two places to hold the pan when moving it, though you should still use heat protection because cast iron handles get hot during cooking.
This pan is listed for use on a stove, over a grill, or over a fire, and it is oven-safe. Lodge also describes it as made with nontoxic material free of PFOA and PTFE. Its extra cooking area makes it a useful step up from the smaller Lodge pans if you often cook several portions at once.
The larger footprint and cast iron construction can make it awkward to store or lift, especially when full. As with other ridged pans, it is not the best match for recipes that need a broad, flat contact area.
Pros:
- Generous 81-square-inch cooking area
- Dual handles and sloped sidewalls
- Suitable for stove, grill, oven, and fire use
- Ridged surface is designed for deep sear marks
Cons:
- Larger and heavier to handle than a compact grill pan
- Ribbed surface may not suit every type of food or cooking task
Verdict: Pick the Chef Collection pan if you value a larger cooking area and two handles more than a compact, easy-to-store design.
4. Northriver Casting Grill Pan: A Covered Option for Indoor Cooking
This 10.5-inch square cast iron pan comes with a tempered glass lid. The lid can help retain moisture and limit splatter, giving this model a different role from the open Lodge pans. Its ridges are described as deep enough to support steam circulation and drain grease, and the pan is listed for a range of cooktops, ovens, grills, and campfires.
The product description lists a weight of 5.89 pounds and a 5.8-inch handle. The longer handle may provide more room to hold the pan, but it will still get hot during cooking. The square shape is suited to arranging foods in rows, such as vegetables, sausage, fish, bacon, and meat.
The trade-off is extra weight, and the glass lid adds another part to handle and store. The care directions call for hand washing, drying with low heat, and applying cooking oil to help avoid rust; the pan should not be put in the dishwasher or left to air-dry.
Pros:
- Tempered glass lid helps retain moisture and reduce splatter
- Listed for use on cooktops, in ovens, on grills, and over campfires
- Square shape works well for arranging food in rows
- Long handle provides room for a secure grip
Cons:
- At 5.89 pounds, it is a heavy pan
- Requires hand washing and careful drying to help prevent rust
Verdict: Choose this Northriver pan if you want a lid for covered cooking and are comfortable with cast iron’s weight and care needs.
5. bloomhouse 12-Inch Grill Pan: A Larger, Serving-Friendly Choice
This 12-inch square pan is the largest option in this group. It is made from heavy-duty cast iron and comes pre-seasoned, with an olive-oil coating that gives it a natural bronze finish. The included Italian olive wood trivet gives you a place to set the pan for serving, as long as you follow appropriate heat-safety practices when moving hot cookware.
The larger surface may be useful when you want more room for food, while cast iron is designed to retain and distribute heat. The product information emphasizes its finish and presentation as well as its cooking function. bloomhouse also says it plants a tree through its One Tree Planted partnership for every set sold.
This is a larger, heavier-style pan, so it may be less convenient if storage space or easy handling is a priority. The product details provided do not specify its exact grill compatibility, so confirm that it suits your cooking setup before using it outdoors.
Pros:
- Largest listed size in this selection at 12 inches
- Pre-seasoned cast iron construction
- Includes an Italian olive wood trivet
- Distinctive bronze finish from its olive-oil coating
Cons:
- Large cast iron cookware can be cumbersome to lift and store
- Supplied product details do not specify its exact grill compatibility
Verdict: Choose bloomhouse if you want a larger pre-seasoned pan with a decorative finish and included trivet, and verify that its use suits your grill.
How to Choose Cast Iron Cookware for a Grill
Match the pan to your cooking setup
Check that the pan is suitable for the heat source you plan to use. Some options here are specifically described for grills, stoves, ovens, or campfires, while the bloomhouse product details do not state exact grill compatibility. If you plan to use a pan outdoors, confirm the manufacturer’s instructions for your grill or fire before heating it.
Choose a size that fits your meals and grill
A smaller pan can be easier to store and may suit a few portions. A larger square pan gives you more cooking area but takes up more space and can be harder to move. Also consider the usable cooking surface, not just the outside measurement, and make sure the pan fits your grill with room to handle it safely.
Decide whether you want ridges
Raised ridges are useful when you want grill marks and a way for grease to drain away from food. They also mean less of the food touches the pan at once. If your cooking includes items that need even contact across a flat surface, a ridged grill pan may not be the right tool for every meal.
Consider the value of a lid
A lid can help retain moisture and reduce splatter, which may be useful for certain indoor cooking tasks. It also adds an item to clean and store. If your main goal is direct searing on an open grill, a lid may matter less than the pan’s size, shape, and grill compatibility.
Think about weight and handling
Cast iron is heavy, and the weight increases with a larger pan. Handles also become hot during cooking, so plan to use suitable heat protection when lifting or moving the cookware. If handling is a concern, compare the listed weight and handle design before you buy.
Plan for seasoning and care
Pre-seasoned cast iron is ready for an initial use, but it still needs appropriate care. Follow the product’s care instructions, dry the pan thoroughly after washing, and avoid leaving it wet. The Northriver listing specifically advises hand washing, low-heat drying, and applying cooking oil; follow the directions for whichever pan you choose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use cast iron cookware on a grill?
Some cast iron pans are designed for grill use. The Lodge Square Grill Pan, Lodge Chef Collection pan, and Northriver pan are listed for outdoor grill use. Check the product instructions for your specific pan and grill before cooking.
Do ridged grill pans create grill marks?
Raised ridges can leave sear marks on food and help channel grease away from the cooking surface. For the clearest results, preheat the pan appropriately and position food carefully, following the pan’s instructions.
Will a cast iron grill pan work on a stovetop?
Several choices here are described for stovetop use, including the Lodge pans and Northriver pan. Check the listing and your cooktop guidance to make sure a particular pan is suitable for your setup.
Are cast iron grill pans heavy?
Cast iron is a heavy cookware material. The Northriver pan is listed at 5.89 pounds, and larger pans can be more cumbersome to lift, especially when full. Use heat protection when handling hot cookware.
Does a pre-seasoned cast iron pan need care?
Yes. Pre-seasoning provides an initial seasoned surface, but cast iron still needs proper cleaning and drying. Follow the care instructions for your pan to help protect its finish and reduce the risk of rust.
What is the advantage of a grill pan lid?
A lid can help retain moisture and reduce splatter during cooking. It may be useful for covered indoor cooking, but it is an extra piece to store and does not replace checking the pan’s safe-use instructions.
Final Recommendation
For most shoppers, the Lodge Square Cast Iron Grill Pan is the most versatile choice in this group because it is listed for stovetops, ovens, grills, and campfires and has a ridged surface for grill-style searing. Choose the Lodge Chef Collection model if you want more cooking area and dual handles, or the Northriver if a glass lid is a priority. Before buying, compare the pan’s size, weight, care needs, and compatibility with your grill.