Though Elvis Presley may be best known as The King of Rock n' Roll, he was also royalty in another arena: His tummy. The music icon made headlines for his strange taste, and that weren't limited to peanut butter and banana sandwiches.
From his beloved 8,000-calorie Fool's Gold Loaf, to a favorite cornbread recipe included in his private chef's New York Times obituary, here are the 15 craziest things Elvis liked to eat.
1
The Fool’s Gold Loaf
This infamous sandwich — one famously enjoyed by Elvis — consisted of a hollowed loaf of heated bread, a jar of peanut butter, a jar of grape jelly, and an entire pound of bacon. It contains roughly 8,000 calories, per some estimates.
2
Banana Pudding
Elvis not only loved banana pudding — ideally made from his family recipe — but it was also a favorite of his daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, who ate it while visiting Tennessee, per a video shared to Graceland’s official Facebook page.
3
Pepsi
Elvis loved Pepsi so much that a used paper cup emblazoned with the logo — and at one point, likely the beverage — auctioned off for $600 back in 2013.
4
Bacon-Wrapped Meatballs
Elvis reportedly loved this party snack as it reminded him of growing up in Mississippi, according to Showbiz Cheat Sheet.
5
Cheeseburgers
Cheeseburgers ranked among Elvis’ favorite foods. While various sources have reported that he enjoyed McDonald’s and Burger King, he also was a fan the fare at Tennessee-founded chain, Krystal. He and DJ Dewey Philips “would order hundreds at a time late-night after their broadcasts,” per the restaurant’s Facebook page.
6
A Buttery, Southern Breakfast
Elvis went all out when it came to the first meal of the day, according to Mary Jenkins, who served as his cook for 14 years. “For breakfast, he’d have homemade biscuits fried in butter, sausage patties, four scrambled eggs, and sometimes fried bacon,” she remembered.
7
Chicken-Fried Steak
As a Mississippi native, Elvis counted Chicken-Fried steak among his favorite dishes.
8
Gatorade
When he wasn’t drinking Pepsi, The King enjoyed either Orange or Lemon/Lime Gatorade. The drink, he once told a crowd, could “aid your gator man, in case you run outta gas,” per Food Republic.
9
Hamburger Steak
Elvis didn’t discriminate when it came to meat — he also enjoyed hamburger steaks.
10
Bacon
Contrary to popular misconception, Presley was quite particular about his bacon. ''It's not true that Elvis liked burnt bacon sandwiches,'' Jenkins remembered. “He liked his bacon very crisp.''
11
Southern Staples
Even after reaching superstardom, Elvis still reached for his favorite Southern fare, including pigs feet, collard greens and chitlins.
12
Meatloaf
Elvis was more than a casual fan of meatloaf. At one point, he reportedly insisted on eating it each night for dinner for six months, according to his former wife, Priscilla Presley.
13
Elvis's Corn Bread Recipe
While there are many myths surrounding Presley’s eating habits, we know exactly how he liked his cornbread. This recipe was his favorite, per Jenkins, and was published alongside her obituary in the New York Times back in 2000. “1 teaspoon oil 2 cups cornmeal 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar 2 1/2 cups buttermilk 3 eggs 1/4 cup oil 1. In a 10-inch nonstick skillet, sprinkle 1 teaspoon oil and a little of the cornmeal and heat. 2. In a bowl, mix the remaining ingredients together and pour into the skillet. Cook until golden brown. Yield: 8 servings”
14
Hot Dogs and Sauerkraut
Though Elvis may have been put on a strict diet during a hospital stay, Jenkins made sure The King had some good eats, sneaking him “bags of hot dogs and sauerkraut,” per the New York Times.
15
Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches
This sandwich, which puts peanut butter, banana slices — and sometimes bacon — between two slices of toasted bread is often called “The Elvis.”
