Long before the bright lights and sold-out stages, Dolly Parton grew up in the foothills of Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains, where family meals were shaped by resourcefulness, shared work, and the pleasure of gathering around a table. Those roots give the food associated with Dolly and her family its enduring appeal: uncomplicated dishes, generous portions, and flavors that feel like home.
This collection brings together Southern staples, family favorites, Dollywood traditions, and recipes associated with Dolly and her sister Rachel. From skillet cornbread and tender biscuits to chicken and dumplings, cinnamon bread, and old-fashioned desserts, each dish offers a different glimpse into the cooking traditions that have accompanied her remarkable story.
Browse the recipes as you would a favorite food magazine: linger over a family supper, discover a side dish worth bringing to the table, or choose something sweet for the weekend. Each recipe title opens the complete recipe, with ingredients and instructions to help you make it your own.
Southern sides and family favorites
Dolly Parton’s Coleslaw — A crisp, tangy Southern side dish.
Dolly Parton’s Southern Fried Apples — Warm cinnamon apples cooked in butter and brown sugar, perfect with biscuits or as a simple dessert.
Dolly Parton’s Southern Green Beans — Slow-simmered green beans with bacon, onion, and savory chicken stock.
Dolly Parton and Rachel’s Sweet Potato Casserole — Cinnamon-scented sweet potatoes with pecans and a golden marshmallow topping.
Main dishes
From the everyday supper table come the dishes that make Southern home cooking so welcoming: tender dumplings, slow-simmered soup, hearty meatloaf, and casseroles made for sharing.
Dolly Parton’s Chicken and Dumplings — Tender chicken, homemade broth, and soft country-style dumplings make this a comforting Southern family supper.
Dolly Parton’s Stone Soup — A vegetable-rich soup with smoked ham and a family story about everyone contributing to the meal.
Dolly Parton’s Family Tennessee Meatloaf — A family-style meatloaf with a tangy tomato and mustard sauce, associated with Dolly’s sister Willadeene.
Dolly Parton and Rachel’s Mac and Cheese — Rich, creamy baked macaroni with cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Velveeta.
Dolly Parton’s Five-Layer Dinner — A simple, hearty casserole of potatoes, ground beef, onions, tomatoes, and green peppers.
Breads and breakfast favorites
Few things say Southern hospitality quite like warm bread. These skillet-baked, biscuit, and cinnamon-scented favorites are equally at home at breakfast or beside a family meal.
Dolly Parton’s Skillet Cornbread — Savory buttermilk cornbread baked in a hot cast-iron skillet for a crisp golden crust.
Dolly Parton’s Buttermilk Biscuits — Tender, old-fashioned biscuits with a golden crust.
Dollywood’s Famous Cinnamon Bread — Warm pull-apart yeast bread with buttery cinnamon sugar and a sweet glaze, inspired by the Grist Mill favorite.
Desserts
To finish on a sweet note, these old-fashioned desserts celebrate the pleasure of sharing something homemade, from banana pudding and walnut pie to strawberry shortcake.
Dolly Parton’s Mother’s Banana Pudding — Homemade vanilla custard, ripe bananas, vanilla wafers, and a golden baked meringue.
Dolly Parton’s Holiday Walnut Pie — A holiday dessert with chopped walnuts and a sweet, buttery filling in a flaky crust.
Dolly Parton and Rachel’s Strawberry Shortcake — Buttery shortcakes layered with juicy strawberries and freshly whipped cream.
Explore the stories behind the food
Start with a comforting main dish, add a seasonal vegetable or warm bread, and finish with a homemade dessert. For a family supper, try chicken and dumplings with Southern green beans and skillet cornbread. For a holiday table, pair Tennessee meatloaf with sweet potato casserole, then serve walnut pie. The recipes throughout this collection are linked so you can build your own menu.
Editorial Disclaimer
Dolly Parton’s Southern Kitchen is an independent editorial collection presented by Carter Family Recipes in celebration of the Southern food traditions, family favorites, and culinary heritage associated with Dolly Parton.
The collection includes recipes publicly attributed to Dolly Parton or members of her family, dishes associated with Dollywood, and independently developed interpretations inspired by their cooking traditions. Recipes are presented in our own editorial style and may differ in ingredients, measurements, preparation methods, or presentation from previously published versions.
Where applicable, we identify the connection between a recipe and its documented source. Inclusion in this collection does not imply that Dolly Parton personally developed, prepared, or endorsed every recipe.
Dolly Parton, Dollywood, associated book titles, and other referenced names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Carter Family Recipes is not affiliated with, sponsored by, authorized by, or endorsed by Dolly Parton, Rachel Parton George, Dollywood, their publishers, or their representatives.
