We Tried Dolly Parton’s 5-Layer Casserole, and Now We’re Making It on Repeat
Updated: Nov. 07, 2022
Is the Queen of Country also the queen of cooking? We put this Dolly Parton casserole to the test!
Dolly Parton has written and performed plenty of chart-topping country songs. She’s also made countless appearances on TV (her Christmas special is one of the best kids’ Christmas movies on Netflix), along with penning several books. To us, though, Dolly is as famous for her chicken and dumplings as she is for “Jolene.”
This Dolly Parton casserole recipe is rumored to be one of her signature dishes. It’s made up of simple ingredients, jam-packed with potatoes, ground beef, and vegetables to make the ultimate comfort food. It’s not fancy, but sometimes, the beauty of a dish is its simplicity.
How to make Dolly Parton’s casserole
Ingredients
- 3 large russet potatoes, sliced
- 1 pound ground beef, browned and seasoned
- 2 onions, sliced, rings separated
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1-½ green bell peppers, chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Tools You’ll Need
Directions
Step 1: Prep your baking dish
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Step 2: Layer the potatoes and ground beef
Spread an even layer of sliced potatoes over the bottom of the dish. Season with plenty of salt and pepper on top. Top the potato layer with the browned ground beef.
Step 3: Add the sliced onions
Top the ground beef layer with a layer of sliced onions and season generously with salt and pepper.
Step 4: Add the diced tomatoes
Top the onion layer with an even layer of diced tomatoes and season generously with salt and pepper.
Step 5: Sprinkle the green peppers
Top the tomato layer with the chopped green bell peppers.
Step 6: Time to bake!
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake this Dolly Parton casserole, covered, for two hours. Then remove the dish from the oven, uncover, and allow it to cool slightly before serving.
Here’s what we thought
If you’re looking for cold-weather comfort food, this is it. This recipe is easy to follow and comes together with just a few minutes of prep time. The most time-consuming part is slicing and dicing the vegetables, but once that’s done, it’s up to the oven to do the majority of the work.
The most important thing to remember for this recipe is seasoning, seasoning, seasoning. Each ingredient is bland on its own, and you’ll end up with a flavorless dish if you skip the salt and pepper. You might even want to switch things up and use garlic salt or herbs! Be sure to season the ground beef while it’s cooking, and then continue with plenty of seasoning on each layer so you end up with flavor throughout. Dolly Parton definitely has a hit with this recipe, but it will be up to the seasonings you choose to make it a chart-topper! Next, check out the best casserole recipe from every state.
