There's a lot to love about Dolly Parton, and for us here at Taste of Home her appreciation of good food is at the top of the list. Here are the southern dishes Dolly loved most.
Butterscotch Pie
Dolly Parton called 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.
Hearty Chicken and Dumplings
When asked about her signature dish at home, Dolly Parton would always say chicken and dumplings. The ingredients are simple, which makes the flavors stand out more. While Dolly used 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.
Biscuits
Dolly Parton’s biscuits bake up 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.
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.
5-Layer Casserole
This Dolly Parton recipe is the ultimate cold-weather comfort food. It was 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
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.
Roast Pork
Dolly Parton’s favorite dish for entertaining was a pork roast. She loved a good, Southern greasy dish, and with a nice fatty pork, you’ll understand why.
Turnips with Greens
As a side to roast pork, Dolly Parton loved to serve turnip greens. Turnip greens have a bit of a kick to them, and this recipe accentuates these natural flavors.
Fried Okra
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
Dolly Parton said time and time again that her mother’s banana pudding was one of her favorites. According to Dolly, one of her neighbors owned a store. They would tell Dolly’s mother when bananas were going bad so that she could buy them for a lower price. The family knew that on these days, her mom would make her famous banana pudding.
Cajun Catfish
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 liked to keep it simple and we love her for that.
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 Dolly’s with sausage patties and big biscuits to sop up every last drop of this gravy.
Jalapeno Cornbread
Any of Dolly’s favorite main dishes would go well with a good skillet of cornbread. Dolly Parton’s cornbread recipe is simple and relies on bacon drippings and buttermilk.
Country Fried Chicken
Get a bit of Dollywood at home with this Southern fried chicken. Fried chicken was known to be one of Dolly’s favorites, and this recipe does hers justice.
Creamy Coleslaw
Another classic side dish. This one accompanies many of Dolly’s dishes at her restaurants in Branson, Missouri and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Pecan Chicken Salad
Dolly’s preferred way to serve her favorite chicken salad was on a bed of watercress. This makes for a picturesque lunch that tastes as good as it looks. Just like her butterscotch pie, the pecans add a sweet crunch to the otherwise savory dish.
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.
Cinnamon Roll Bread
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.
Sweet Tea
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.
