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Lisa KaminskiUpdated: Nov. 28, 2023
Find out what Dolly Parton eats after the show.
KEVIN MAZUR/GETTY IMAGES
Country’s favorite diva is more than a talent on stage—she’s known for her love of Southern comfort food, too! From chicken and dumplings to butterscotch pie, we’ve got the goods on what Dolly Parton likes to eat and cook.
Hearty Chicken and Dumplings
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LISA KAMINSKI/TASTE OF HOME
When PARADE magazine asked Dolly Parton about her signature dish at home, she was quick to say chicken and dumplings. The ingredients are simple, which makes the flavors stand out more. While Dolly uses a stewing hen for this recipe, you can use a whole chicken instead. It’s comforting, tasty and will quickly make its way into your dinner rotation.
Hickory-Grilled Ham
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LAUREN HABERMEHL FOR TASTE OF HOME
Dolly Parton’s father would make this ham recipe every year over the holidays. This easy ham recipe is glazed and smoked in a charcoal grill and the end result is phenomenal. You’ll start planning your winter meals around this dish before you even know it. It’s sweet and tangy—the perfect combination.
5-Layer Casserole
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MOLLY ALLEN FOR TASTE OF HOME
This Dolly Parton recipe is the ultimate cold-weather comfort food. It’s said to be one of her signature dishes and we can see why! While the ingredients are simple, it has everyone’s favorites; potatoes, beef and peppers. Don’t forget the seasoning!
Smoky Grilled Corn on the Cob
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Dolly Parton’s theme park, Dollywood, has a lot more to offer than rides. It has a great assortment of restaurants that highlight southern cooking. Each of these restaurants has an abundance of side dishes available, and corn never fails to make that list. A staple of Tennessee meals, nothing beats a classic corn on the cob.
Roasted Pork with Gravy
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When the New York Times interviewed Dolly Parton, she claimed that roast pork was her favorite dish for entertaining. She loves a good, Southern greasy dish and with a nice fatty pork loin you’ll understand why.
Truly Tasty Turnips with Greens
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As a side to roast pork, Dolly Parton loves to serve turnip greens. Turnip greens have a bit of a kick to them and this recipe accentuates these natural flavors.
Southern Fried Okra
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Dolly Parton has confessed that in addition to turnip greens, okra is another one of her favorite southern side dishes. This recipe would go beautifully with a roast pork or ham.
Banana Pudding
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Dolly Parton has said time and time again that her mother’s banana pudding is one of her favorites. According to Dolly, one of her neighbors near her family’s Tennessee home owned a store. They would tell Dolly’s mother when bananas were going bad so that she could buy them for a cheaper price. The family knew that on these days, her mom would make her famous banana pudding.
Spiced Baked Catfish
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One of Dolly Parton’s cookbook recipes is a catfish dinner like this one. Her pan-fried recipe relies on cornmeal, shortening and a lemon wedge. She keeps it simple and we love her for that!
Biscuits
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NANCY MOCK FOR TASTE OF HOME
Dolly Parton’s biscuits bake to be perfectly round and soft. You can have them for any meal of the day, as long as you get creative. Our favorite pairing is with a big bowl of chili.
Milk Gravy
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SUSAN BRONSON FOR TASTE OF HOME
When it comes toSouthern comfort food at breakfast time, you can’t go wrong with the classic biscuits and gravy. You’ll want to serve this with sausage patties and big biscuits to sop up every last drop of this gravy.
Jalapeno Buttermilk Cornbread
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Any of these ham, chicken and pork dishes would go well with a good skillet of cornbread. Dolly Parton’s cornbread recipe is simple and relies on bacon drippings and buttermilk. This cornbread is similar, but adds a bit of heat that we think Dolly would appreciate.
Southern Fried Chicken with Gravy
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Get a bit of Dollywood at home with this Southern fried chicken. Fried chicken is known to be one of Dolly’s favorites and this recipe does hers justice.
Creamy Coleslaw
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Another classic side dish. This one accompanies many of Dolly’s dishes at her restaurants in Branson, Missouri and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Butterscotch Pie
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NANCY MOCK FOR TASTE OF HOME
Dolly Parton calls this butterscotch pie one of her favorite desserts to make for the holidays. It has a pecan crust that gives every bite a delightful crunch. Try it out for your next gathering!
For more Dolly recipes, try out some of her Duncan Hines baking mixes.
Pecan Chicken Salad
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RISA LICHTMAN FOR TASTE OF HOME
Dolly’s preferred way to serve her favorite chicken salad is on a bed of watercress. This makes for a picturesque lunch that tastes as good as it looks. Just like the butterscotch pie, the pecans add a sweet crunch to the otherwise savory dish.
Pimento Cheese Sandwich
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NANCY MOCK FOR TASTE OF HOME
You just found your next potluck appetizer recipe. Before you know it the platter will be empty before you even get to the party. This Southern comfort is tangy and cheesy. You can add some hot sauce for even more of a kick.
Swirl Cinnamon Bread
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If you’ve ever been to Dollywood you already know about the mouthwatering cinnamon bread. You can make this quick version of Dollywood’s cinnamon bread in your kitchen and feel like you’re right in Tennessee.
Smooth Sweet Tea
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Sweet tea is called the “house wine of the South” in Steel Magnolias and we’ve never forgotten it. Make this smooth recipe for your next “wine” night!
Originally Published: January 31, 2018
Lisa Kaminski
Lisa is a formerTaste of Home editor and passionate baker. During her tenure, she poured her love of all things sweet (and sometimes savory) into Bakeable, Taste of Home's baking club. Lisa also dedicated her career here to finding and testing the best ingredients, kitchen gear and home products for our Test Kitchen-Preferred program. At home, you'll find her working on embroidery and other crafts.
