After I interviewed Dolly Parton for the first time, I made her cornbread for my family. It was the first thing my father said when I shared the news that she had passed away on Tuesday.
“I remember her cornbread,” he replied. “Food brings back good memories for people.”
Maybe that’s why I’ve spent the last day thinking so much about the Dolly dishes I’ve made over the years, and all the things she’s taught me about cooking during our interviews.
It only seemed right to bring them all together in one place in honor of the queen of country music.
Dolly Parton usually kept her recipes simple, but she loved adding a special ingredient
My version of Dolly Parton’s cornbread. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
Parton told me she enjoyed whipping up “mashed potatoes, coleslaw, and a big piece of cornbread” for her goddaughter Miley Cyrusso I asked if she had any tips for making cornbread at home.
Her secret: bacon fat.
“When I make my stuff from scratch at home, I put a little salt, pepper and bacon fat in the dough,” she said. “That’s very southern.”
Parton also surprised me when she revealed she made her mac and cheese with baked apples sprinkled with cinnamon. She came up with the dish one evening when she didn’t have much stock in the fridge.
“I just remember taking out my macaroni, and of course I cooked it with the butter and two or three different types of cheeses — a lot of shredded cheddar cheese, and I used some Velveeta,” she added. “And I remember I had some baked apples that came from another food order somewhere, and I thought, ‘Well, there are some apples! That’s a great flavor combination.'”
Parton also had a classic macaroni and cheese recipe, which you can find here.
Parton’s hack for making scrambled eggs is also easy to replicate
When I asked Parton how to get one great plate of scrambled eggsshe told me you only need a little bit of water.
“Someone told me this, and it works,” she said. “When you crack your eggs into the bowl, add a few drops of ice water. It makes them fluffier – it really does!”
Parton also recommended using bacon fat on a sausage. She loved her bacon fat!
Parton wrote a cookbook with her sister, Rachel Parton George
My version of Dolly and Rachel’s sweet potato casserole. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
When I last spoke to Parton in 2023, she told me she was about to release “Good Lookin’ Cookin’” with her sister.
“We both love to cook, and we grew up eating and cooking the things Mom used to cook,” Parton said. “We are constantly in the kitchen coming up with new recipes.”
Released in September 2024, “Good Lookin’ Cookin’” is divided into 12 sections, each representing a month of the year. My favorite is the Thanksgiving chapter, where Parton and her sister shared their recipes for Southern staples.
Here are their recipes for it sweet potato casserole And mashed potatoes.
Parton believed that fried chicken was the one dish everyone should learn to prepare for a successful marriage
Parton and her husband, Carl Dean, were married for over 50 years. Of course I had to ask if they had one dish that was good for marriage.
“I think everyone should really know how to make good fried chicken,” she told me. “I like good fried chicken with coleslaw.”
“Make sure your batter is good, add some flour and some salt and pepper,” she continued. “I put some extra pepper on mine. And then you just dip it in your oil or fat, whatever you cook with.’
Parton told me she enjoyed cooking for Deanwho died in 2025. She would prepare French toast with bacon or gravy and biscuits for breakfast, while dinner might consist of chicken and dumplings (“My specialty,” she said) or pork chops with green peas and mashed potatoes.
“I just cook what comes to mind and what I feel like cooking,” she said. “I can cook anything from it!”
When Parton wasn’t cooking, she enjoyed visiting fast food drive-thrus. Taco Bell was a favorite.
Dolly Parton was a longtime fan of Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza. Thanks to Taco Bell
Before my first interview with Parton, I had found a quote where she talked about enjoyment Taco bell with Dean. So when we went to talk, I asked for her usual order.
“Well, I like soft shell tacos. I like the other ones, but they fall apart so much, especially when you’re driving around,” she said. “And I get an order of rice and beans, and I get a mild sauce. But they also used to make a small Mexican pizza, which is also tasty.’
“They actually took it away, and the fans are still very angry,” I told her. “Do you think they should bring it back?”
“I think they should!” Parton said. “I think they should!”
Three months later, Taco Bell announced that Mexican pizza would be returning, and Parton took part in a musical to celebrate his return.
I still consider this union one of my greatest contributions to the world.
