Bruce Springsteen's Favorite Sandwich Is An All-American Classic

Despite being one of the world's best-selling artists, rock star Bruce Springsteen has always been a man of the people. Through decades of fame, "the Boss" has built his brand around ordinariness. He's just a regular guy from the Garden State with working-class roots, who's arguably more at home in a kitschy New Jersey diner than a Michelin-starred restaurant. One could argue that his sandwich choice — a peanut butter and jelly — fits squarely into that mold. It's a snack that instantly brings back childhood memories, and it's a long-held a staple of kitchens, lunch boxes, and late nights on the road.

In November 2021, after performing on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," Springsteen hung around to answer the host and comedian's Q&A called "The Colbert Questionert." In the clip, the Boss also shared that he preferred apples over oranges, his least favorite smell was sulfur, and he liked flat water over sparkling. When asked what the best sandwich was, Springsteen didn't take a beat. "That's easy," he said. "Three am, peanut butter and jelly, big glass of milk." Colbert responded: "That's an American classic right there."

The history of PB&J as an American culinary classic goes back to the early 20th century, when both peanut butter and fruit preserves began to be mass-produced in the United States. The sandwich gained popularity during the Great Depression as a cheap, filling meal, but its status was truly cemented during World War II, when peanut butter, jelly, and sliced bread were standard items in U.S. military rations.

These days, there are all kinds of ways to upgrade your same-old peanut butter and jelly sandwich, such as with the addition of bacon, granola, or fresh fruit. But it makes sense that Springsteen, a man who became famous for his blue jeans and ball caps, would keep it simple. The PB&J is comfort food in the truest sense. He's certainly not the only celebrity who enjoys a simple sandwich, either. Elvis's favorite sandwich was both sweet and savory, while Snoop Dogg loves a fried bologna sandwich, and Stanley Tucci adores a tuna melt. 

As a constantly traveling musician, it's fair to say that perfecting home recipes probably hasn't always been top of mind for Springsteen. But in his autobiography, "Born to Run," he revealed that he learned to cook because he wanted to bond with his children. His wife, Patti, suggested that making pancakes for them in the morning was the best way to spend time together. Though he'd never made anything but music, Springsteen learned to flip flapjacks for kids.

For someone who has spent a lifetime on the road, in clubs and hotels and stadiums, returning to a sandwich that tastes exactly the same every time can be priceless. It's a reminder of home. There's also something quietly democratic about the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It's cheap. It's accessible. It doesn't belong to any region or class. Anyone can make and enjoy one — including the Boss of rock 'n' roll.