Find out what Dolly Parton eats after the show.
19 Southern Recipes Dolly Parton Loves
Updated on May 02, 2024
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
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.
1/19
Hickory-Grilled Ham
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.
2/19
5-Layer Casserole
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!
3/19
4/19
Smoky Grilled Corn on the Cob
Total Time
40 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
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.
Nutrition Facts:
1 ear of corn: 120 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 145mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 3g fiber), 3g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fat.
5/19
Roast Pork
Total Time
2 hours 50 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Meet the Cook: We used to raise our own hogs. This recipe was given me by a fellow farmer who also had pork on the dinner table a couple of times a week.
I'm a dietitian at the local VA hospital. Cooking, of course, is one of my top pastimes! My husband and I have four children and one grandson.
-Denise Collins, Chillicothe, Ohio
Nutrition Facts:
1 each: 280 calories, 9g fat (3g saturated fat), 73mg cholesterol, 434mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 3g fiber), 28g protein.
6/19
Truly Tasty Turnips with Greens
Total Time
5 hours 20 min
Servings
14 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
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.
Nutrition Facts:
.75 cup: 58 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 9mg cholesterol, 514mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 5g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 lean meat, 1 vegetable.
7/19
Southern Fried Okra
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
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.
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 200 calories, 12g fat (1g saturated fat), 1mg cholesterol, 430mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 3g fiber), 5g protein.
8/19
Banana Pudding
Total Time
35 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
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.
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 302 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 80mg cholesterol, 206mg sodium, 55g carbohydrate (37g sugars, 2g fiber), 7g protein.
9/19
Spiced Baked Catfish
Total Time
25 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
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!
Nutrition Facts:
1 fillet: 242 calories, 10g fat (2g saturated fat), 94mg cholesterol, 748mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 1g fiber), 27g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 1/2 starch.
Biscuits
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.
10/19
Milk Gravy
When it comes to Southern 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.
11/19
12/19
Jalapeno Buttermilk Cornbread
Total Time
35 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
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.
Nutrition Facts:
1 wedge: 180 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 4mg cholesterol, 261mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat.
13/19
Country Fried Chicken
Total Time
35 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is one of our favorite recipes to take along on a picnic. We like to eat the chicken cold, along with a salad and watermelon. It's a real treat!
Nutrition Facts:
5 ounces cooked chicken: 592 calories, 41g fat (7g saturated fat), 137mg cholesterol, 765mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 37g protein.
14/19
Creamy Coleslaw
Total Time
10 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Another classic side dish. This one accompanies many of Dolly’s dishes at her restaurants in Branson, Missouri and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 256 calories, 23g fat (5g saturated fat), 19mg cholesterol, 398mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 2g fiber), 1g protein.
Butterscotch Pie
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.
15/19
Pecan Chicken Salad
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.
16/19
Pimento Cheese Sandwich
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.
17/19
18/19
Cinnamon Roll Bread
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
1 loaf (12 pieces)
From the Recipe Creator:
I'm always busy with three active sons, so this rich quick bread is a favorite. I like to wrap these loaves to give as gifts. —Sharon Walker, Huntington Station, New York
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 212 calories, 5g fat (3g saturated fat), 26mg cholesterol, 267mg sodium, 40g carbohydrate (23g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.
19/19
Smooth Sweet Tea
Total Time
15 min
Servings
7 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
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!
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 76 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 29mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (19g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
