Dolly Parton's Cooking Tips for Fluffy Eggs

Dolly Parton revealed her cooking secrets in interviews. Her tips focused on simple techniques and special ingredients for home cooks.

Parton's Southern Cornbread and Macaroni Tricks

Parton told Business Insider she loved making cornbread for her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus. Her secret ingredient was bacon grease. She said she would add salt, pepper, and bacon grease to the dough when making things from scratch, calling the practice "very Southern."

For macaroni and cheese, Parton once created a dish with fried apples dusted with cinnamon when supplies were low. She recalled cooking the macaroni with butter and two or three different cheeses, including shredded cheddar and Velveeta. She combined it with leftover fried apples, noting it was a great taste combination.

An Easy Hack for Fluffier Scrambled Eggs

When asked how to make great scrambled eggs, Parton recommended adding a little water. She said someone told her the trick and that it works. Her advice was to crack eggs into a bowl and add a few drops of ice water, which she claimed makes them fluffier. She also suggested using bacon grease in a scramble.

The Parton Family Cookbook

In 2023, Parton said she was about to release a cookbook titled "Good Lookin' Cookin'" with her sister, Rachel Parton George. She explained they both love to cook and grew up eating the things their mother used to make. The cookbook was released in September 2024.

The book is divided into twelve sections, each representing a month of the year. The Thanksgiving chapter included Parton and her sister's recipes for Southern staples like sweet potato casserole.

Fried Chicken for a Successful Marriage

Parton, who was married to Carl Dean for over fifty years, believed fried chicken was the one dish everyone should learn for a successful marriage. She said she loved good fried chicken with coleslaw. Her advice was to ensure the batter is good, adding flour, pepper, and salt.

She loved cooking for Dean. Breakfast could be French toast with bacon or gravy and biscuits. Dinner might be her specialty, chicken and dumplings, or pork chops with green peas and mashed potatoes.

Fast-Food Favorites and a Campaign

When not cooking, Parton enjoyed going through fast-food drive-thrus. Taco Bell was a favorite. When asked for her usual order, she said she liked soft-shell tacos because others fell apart. She would get an order of rice and beans with mild sauce.

The interviewer told Parton a Mexican pizza had been taken away and that fans were still angry, asking if it should return. Parton replied she thought it should. Three months later, Taco Bell announced the Mexican Pizza was coming back, and Parton participated in a musical to celebrate its return.