Dolly Parton’s surprising ‘secret ingredient’ for enhancing salads is not what you might expect

Dolly Parton’s latest cookbook, 'Good Lookin’ Cookin,' co-written with her sister Rachel Parton George, is packed with culinary treasures. From their 'Mama’s Banana Pudding' to various potato dishes—one of Dolly’s personal favorites—and the beloved 'Dirt Road Martini,' we’ve already marked several recipes to try.

Beyond the Parton family classics, the cookbook also offers valuable tips from Dolly and Rachel to elevate your meals. Their advice includes how to perfect baked potatoes by cooking them directly on the oven rack, their secret to a 'family-favorite' meatloaf using a mix of ground beef and pork, and Dolly’s special touch that makes her salads extraordinary.

Dolly Parton’s Single Ingredient That Takes Her Salads to the Next Level

'Good Lookin’ Cookin' is arranged by month, serving as a complete guide for entertaining year-round—whether for casual dinners or holiday feasts. Each month offers a full menu, from the 'Opening Act' appetizer to the 'Encore' dessert.

February’s menu, naturally, revolves around Valentine’s Day. It kicks off with stuffed mushrooms, followed by a classic surf-and-turf meal of steak and lobster, served alongside baked potatoes and Dolly’s favorite salad, and wraps up with a ‘Light My Fire’ bananas foster dessert.

While the decadent lobster and cheesy baked potatoes are undeniably tempting, it was Dolly’s salad recipe and its secret ingredient that truly caught our attention.

At first glance, Dolly’s Garden Salad with Miracle Madness Dressing seems simple—a five-ingredient iceberg salad topped with fresh tomatoes and a homemade dressing starting with Miracle Whip. But there’s a secret ingredient that makes it the salad her family always requests, and it’s not the Miracle Whip.

“A little sugar is my secret ingredient,” Dolly reveals in 'Good Lookin’ Cookin.' “But now, it’s no longer a secret—thanks to this book, all our secrets are out!”

In addition to the Miracle Whip, which Dolly says she’s always loved, she also includes lemon juice, salt, pepper, and a tablespoon of sugar in her signature dressing.

Parton’s dressing is reminiscent of a seven-layer salad dressing, which also incorporates a touch of sweetness from sugar. However, with Miracle Whip’s added spices and sweetness, along with sugar, it delivers a richer, more complex flavor, making her Miracle Madness dressing even sweeter than a traditional seven-layer dressing.

To prepare Dolly’s special salad, combine 1 cup of Miracle Whip, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Chop one head of iceberg lettuce, toss it in a bowl, and top with the Miracle Madness dressing. Dolly suggests covering the salad and refrigerating it until it’s time to serve, then adding fresh tomatoes right before serving.

It’s no surprise we love Dolly’s recipes—after all, even her greens get a sweet touch with a healthy dose of sugar.