Willie Nelson's Favorite Southern Food Is As Iconic As He Is

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Johnny Cash loved fried bologna in the morning with his eggs, but that's not a universal standard among musical icons. Willie Nelson, fabled hero of outlaw country, told Southern Living (via YouTube) that he's mostly a sensible eater, sticking to small, basic meals. When it comes to his absolute favorite food, however, he was quick with the draw when answering: chicken-fried steak. Along with fried chicken and just about any kind of eggs, Nelson is living proof that comfort food holds the hearts of the famous just as much as it does those of the hoi polloi.

Chicken-fried steak is a Texas standard dating back to the 19th century. Nelson, hailing from the central part of the Lone Star State himself, was born and raised in the nexus of chicken-fried steak territory. Although we've covered the best beef cut for chicken-fried steak, most folks agree that a cheap steak is your best bet, since it's going to be pounded thin, battered, and fried in the style of fried chicken, hence the name. 

Some folks credit German and Austrian immigrants with bringing their take on schnitzel and other battered meats to America; others point an appreciative finger at a short-order cook named Jimmy Don Perkins, who allegedly mixed up two separate orders for fried chicken and steak, and created chicken-fried steak as a happy misunderstanding. The appeal of this main dish is that it's unfussy, yet delicious, and makes use of common ingredients. Looking at Willie Nelson's own recipe for gravy-smothered chicken-fried steak, these facts are illustrated plainly.

Today, Willie Nelson fans and lovers of down-home cuisine are liable to find chicken-fried steak at greasy spoon diners all throughout the South. If you're wondering how Willie himself takes his fried chicken, however, you need not wonder. His recipe survives via a clipping from an old cookbook (seen here on Reddit), and he's shared his favorite sides to round out this meal. What becomes abundantly clear about Nelson's steak is that he's not a believer in gilding the lily. The steak is crusted in a mixture of flour, salt, and pepper after being dipped in a wash of eggs and milk. After frying the steaks until crispy, the gravy is made of more milk and a simple roux. That's it; that's the recipe. Other preparations for "Willie Nelson's chicken-fried steak" exist on the internet, but these interestingly include quite a few more ingredients, and also typically recommend serving over mashed potatoes.

In reality, however, Willie Nelson loves waffles and is said to enjoy a hearty meal of waffles and chicken-fried steak. His wife, Annie, makes him at least one waffle a day, but Nelson doesn't discriminate. "I never met a waffle I didn't like," he says in the couple's cookbook, "Willie and Annie Nelson's Cannabis Cookbook: Mouthwatering Recipes and the High-Flying Stories Behind Them." You, however, can feel free to serve your chicken-fried steak with any accompaniment you like. For an especially indulgent dinner, we might whip up some old-school southern Mississippi mud potatoes, which are just the perfect amount of "too much," especially when you add buttered corn and a fresh, hot biscuit to your plate!