Kent Rollins goes by the Cast Iron Cowboy. Over the years, he’s developed a large following eager to devour his outdoor cooking recipes and tips. Now, he has his own show, which debuted on The Outdoor Channel on September 29th.
We caught up with Rollins just in time for prime tailgating season. Summer may be behind us, but we’re only in early fall, an excellent time for outdoor cooking featuring tons of fresh ingredients. Live-fire cooking is what Rollins is all about, and he has two popular cookbooks about the practice.
“My mother taught me to cook at an early age, so it’s always been a part of who I am,” Rollins says. “For me, cooking over an open flame is a labor of love; it was always about seeing the joy on folks’ faces as they sat down to eat. You cook what you love for the ones you love.”
Mistakes and tips
“The biggest mistake I see is when a cast-iron pan isn’t properly seasoned to begin with,” he says. “Seasoning is what gives cast iron a non-stick surface and makes it a piece of cookware that can last for generations if cared for. Other pans may just need soap and water, but they won’t last, and they aren’t the most healthy thing to cook with or eat from.”
Seasoning cast iron is a task, but it’s relatively easy. And like Rollins says, if you do so, you can add so many years to your pans. This kind of cookware works hard for you, so you should do the same for it.
In terms of tips, doing things sustainably is always a good idea. That way, those things can be done over and over again, without harming the environment or purveyors like farmers and ranchers. It’s always a good idea to know where your produce and proteins are coming from and how they’re raised. Do your homework and source responsibly.
But there’s an energy angle too, as Rollins points out. “We like to fire up the grill or the smoker and cook enough meat for the week, it can be for salads, burritos, tacos, BBQ sandwiches, and much more,” he says. “On top of saving time by cooking ahead, it also saves energy throughout the house by not having to fire up the oven or the cooktop, and it sure helps in the summer to keep the house cooler.”
The perfect tailgating setup
Tailgating looks a little different for every individual, but there are some tools you can have on hand to elevate the experience. What does the Cast Iron Cowboy have on hand? “A good grill that will double as an offset smoker and some Dutch ovens to also cook with,” he says.
An offset smoker is nice to have as you tend to git bigger flavors imparted from the wood. It also affords extra temperature control. That, and you can multitask, cooking different cuts at the same time.
Now, there are countless gadgets and tools out there, and there will always be that guy who brings them all to the tailgate. That’s fine, and perhaps you can even borrow his portable sous vide cooker, but part of tailgating is packing smartly so you’re not weighed down. Rollins has a couple of items he always packs along for the ride.
“A long-handled set of tongs and a good meat thermometer probe are a couple of my must-haves,” he says. What’s the Cast Iron Cowboy eating at home? Read on for one of his more popular recipes.
Wild West Sloppy Joe’s
Rollins calls this recipe a household favorite. As he suggests, try adding 1-3 chopped chipotle peppers to adobo sauce if you don’t have BBQ sauce.
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds 80/20 ground chuck
- 2 jalapenos, seeded and diced
- 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Kent’s Original Seasoning or salt and pepper
- ½ cup Kent’s Sweet and Spicy Mustard or yellow mustard
- ½ cup Red River Ranch Mud BBQ Sauce or your favorite BBQ sauce
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese
- 6 to 8 Hamburger Buns
Method:
- Brown the meat in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. When the meat begins to brown, stir in the jalapenos, onion and seasoning. Continue cooking until the meat has fully browned and the onions soften.
- Drain any excess grease if needed. Stir in the mustard, BBQ sauce and brown sugar. Turn the heat to low and simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the pepper jack cheese and cook just until the cheese melts. Spoon onto hamburger buns, sprinkle with additional cheese if desired and serve warm.
Now, get out there a tend a good cooking flame. If you need some more advice and inspiration, check out our guides on the best cast iron pans and barbecue-friendly wines. Enjoy.
