It's said that the only thing Aretha Franklin loved as much as soul music was soul food.
16 of Aretha Franklin’s Favorite Foods
Updated on Feb. 05, 2024
When she wasn’t singing her heart out, the Queen of Soul loved to cook and eat. These recipes are inspired by her favorite comfort cuisine, from homey meat loaf to old-fashioned banana pudding.
1/16
2/16
Peach Cobbler
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Aretha’s peach cobbler recipe was a tried-and-true go-to for many of her fans! While she used canned peaches and refrigerated pie crusts, this recipe’s fresh peaches and hand-mixed topping create a wonderful cobbler if you have the time.
Nutrition Facts:
1/2 cup: 224 calories, 5g fat (3g saturated fat), 46mg cholesterol, 83mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (33g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.
3/16
Pineapple Ham
Total Time
2 hours 10 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The Queen of Soul’s Queen of Soul Ham recipe is classic, with maraschino cherries, pineapple rings, lots of brown sugar and yellow mustard. This copycat recipe would be perfect for a holiday.
Nutrition Facts:
5 ounces cooked ham: 329 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 116mg cholesterol, 1425mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (27g sugars, 0 fiber), 39g protein.
4/16
Banana Pudding
Total Time
35 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
In her biography, Aretha mentioned loving banana pudding. But really, who doesn’t?! This recipe yields a great one with a made-from-scratch pudding mixture.
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 302 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 80mg cholesterol, 206mg sodium, 55g carbohydrate (37g sugars, 2g fiber), 7g protein.
5/16
Fried Chicken
Total Time
30 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Since the Queen of Soul loved soul food, fried chicken is something she must have relished. It can’t get much more crispy and satisfying than this!
Nutrition Facts:
5 ounces cooked chicken: 543 calories, 33g fat (7g saturated fat), 137mg cholesterol, 798mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 1g fiber), 41g protein.
6/16
Mac & Cheese
Total Time
50 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Way back in 1967, Aretha told Ebony magazine that her favorite food was chitlins. It’s hard to come by recipes for those anymore, but since she loved comfort food, this mac and cheese topped with crushed pork rinds would have undoubtedly made her day!
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 762 calories, 43g fat (25g saturated fat), 134mg cholesterol, 1138mg sodium, 61g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 3g fiber), 32g protein.
7/16
Cornbread
Total Time
40 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
In the same interview, Aretha also mentioned hot water cornbread as a food she loved, and since she surely slathered it with butter, this version would have been a hit with her!
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 262 calories, 10g fat (6g saturated fat), 61mg cholesterol, 395mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.
8/16
Italian Chicken
Total Time
3 hours 20 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Ms. Franklin shared her recipe for Chicken Italiano with Martha Stewart. It consists of chicken pieces from a whole bird, tomato sauce and fresh rosemary. It comes together quickly and easily, just like this recipe does.
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 221 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 66mg cholesterol, 738mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 3g fiber), 26g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 starch.
9/16
Thai Shrimp
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Aretha could branch out too! Using peanut butter and soy sauce to flavor her Mmm Mmm Mmm Peanut Butter Shrimp gives it a decidedly Thai twist.
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 206 calories, 8g fat (1g saturated fat), 168mg cholesterol, 565mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 3g fiber), 22g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1 fat, 1/2 starch.
10/16
Black-Eyed Peas
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I find that pork is the secret to a good black-eyed peas recipe. A double dose of ham for flavor and slow, gentle cooking creates this perfect side dish. —Emory Doty, Jasper, Georgia
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 359 calories, 11g fat (3g saturated fat), 5mg cholesterol, 788mg sodium, 48g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 14g fiber), 20g protein.
11/16
Baby Back Ribs
Total Time
1 hour 40 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Barbecue ribs are also on the menu of her favorite foods as told to her biographer Mark Bego. We wonder if she kept moist towelettes in stock!
12/16
Homemade Ice Cream
Total Time
25 min
Servings
1-1/4 quarts
From the Recipe Creator:
We hear she loved homemade ice cream as well, but there’s no mention of a specific flavor. Was she on team chocolate or team vanilla, or did she prefer something else entirely, like rhubarb ice cream?
Nutrition Facts:
1/2 cup: 308 calories, 22g fat (14g saturated fat), 78mg cholesterol, 37mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (23g sugars, 0 fiber), 3g protein.
13/16
Shrimp & Grits
Total Time
35 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A bowl of shrimp and grits can make even the worst day seem pretty good. Aretha’s recipe smothers the shrimp in a very buttery tomato cream sauce.
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup grits with 1/2 cup shrimp mixture: 699 calories, 44g fat (22g saturated fat), 240mg cholesterol, 1835mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 2g fiber), 41g protein.
14/16
Chili
Total Time
4 hours 15 min
Servings
12 servings (3 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
Rumor had it that the accomplished singer had planned to start her own line of comfort foods. Chili was one of the items she was considering, and she would certainly approve of this version that’s cooked low and slow.
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 329 calories, 13g fat (4g saturated fat), 44mg cholesterol, 1158mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 9g fiber), 21g protein.
15/16
Gumbo
Total Time
2 hours 40 min
Servings
9 servings (3-1/4 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
Gumbo was also supposedly on Aretha’s product list. She’d probably opt for a classic recipe like this one with both chicken and sausage.
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/2 cups (calculated without rice): 544 calories, 39g fat (9g saturated fat), 175mg cholesterol, 1514mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 39g protein.
16/16
Chicken & Dressing
Total Time
45 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Aretha baked her chicken and dressing, another item with her new label, in a loaf pan, but we bet this traditional casserole would be OK with her.
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 247 calories, 7g fat (4g saturated fat), 42mg cholesterol, 658mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 3g fiber), 22g protein.
