Though our 16th president lived during the 1800s, you'll be surprised and delighted to see how familiar Abraham Lincoln's favorite foods are!
15 of Abraham Lincoln’s Favorite Foods
Updated on Feb. 21, 2024
Long before he was President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln was known to put on an apron and help his wife cook dinner after a hard day’s work. He favored mostly simple food, like corned beef and cabbage, venison and apples.
See which dessert Mary Todd Lincoln is famous for.
1/15
2/15
Apple Pie
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Most of us have an all-time favorite food, and President Lincoln was no exception—the man loved apples. There’s really nothing more American than apple pie.
Nutrition Facts:
1 slice: 456 calories, 21g fat (7g saturated fat), 12mg cholesterol, 219mg sodium, 64g carbohydrate (36g sugars, 3g fiber), 4g protein.
Use our tricks and you’ll make the best apple pie ever—honest!
3/15
Chicken Fricassee
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
For dinner, Old Abe loved chicken fricassee. It’s not so common anymore, but it was a popular dish in the 1800s. It’s essentially a chicken stew in which the meat and vegetables are simmered in a rich sauce. What’s not to love?
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 477 calories, 32g fat (7g saturated fat), 92mg cholesterol, 1062mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 31g protein.
4/15
Gingerbread Men Cookies
Total Time
55 min
Servings
3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
There’s a well-known tale about Lincoln that centers around gingerbread men. As a child, he shared his delicious cookies with a boy less fortunate than he, and used this story to turn the tables in a famed debate against Stephen Douglas.
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 149 calories, 5g fat (3g saturated fat), 12mg cholesterol, 97mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (14g sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein.
5/15
Oysters
Total Time
55 min
Servings
12 servings (3 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
The President was a fan of oysters any which way, but especially in a stew or pickled. Can you see him tossing back oysters on the half-shell?
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 251 calories, 13g fat (7g saturated fat), 117mg cholesterol, 448mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 1g fiber), 14g protein.
6/15
Bacon
Total Time
40 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Lincoln was a fan of bacon (he was human, after all). It’s important to note that the bacon of the mid-19th century was different from the bacon of today. The pork would’ve been cut and rubbed with salt before being cured and smoked.
Nutrition Facts:
1 bacon strip: 142 calories, 12g fat (4g saturated fat), 18mg cholesterol, 186mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 0 fiber), 4g protein.
7/15
Blackberry Pie
Total Time
55 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The inaugural dinner menu for the president’s first term was as bare-bones as they come—soup, meat, potatoes and blackberry pie were the only things on offer. Honest Abe appreciated good, uncomplicated food.
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 524 calories, 26g fat (16g saturated fat), 68mg cholesterol, 407mg sodium, 69g carbohydrate (29g sugars, 5g fiber), 5g protein.
8/15
Corn Cakes
Total Time
35 min
Servings
14 corncakes
From the Recipe Creator:
Whether they’re called corn cakes, hoecakes, johnnycakes or corn pone, Mr. Lincoln loved them. He admitted to being able to eat them “as quickly as two women could make them!”
Nutrition Facts:
2 each: 220 calories, 5g fat (3g saturated fat), 41mg cholesterol, 451mg sodium, 37g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 7g protein.
9/15
Corned Beef and Cabbage
Total Time
2 hours 55 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The savvy 19th century leader preferred rustic and comforting dishes like corned beef and cabbage, which also graced the menu of his first inaugural meal.
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 510 calories, 24g fat (8g saturated fat), 124mg cholesterol, 1497mg sodium, 45g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 6g fiber), 28g protein.
10/15
Apples
Total Time
45 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
It’s said that Lincoln could make a meal out of an apple and some nuts, but why not take it one step further and fry those apples up in some glorious melted butter? You really can’t go wrong with vintage apple recipes.
Nutrition Facts:
1 each: 235 calories, 12g fat (7g saturated fat), 31mg cholesterol, 116mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (31g sugars, 3g fiber), 0 protein.
11/15
Biscuits
Total Time
40 min
Servings
16 biscuits
From the Recipe Creator:
Indeed, lunch for our 16th President was frequently as basic as some fruit and a biscuit. There’s something to be said for simple pleasures!
Nutrition Facts:
1 biscuit: 270 calories, 13g fat (8g saturated fat), 57mg cholesterol, 476mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 7g protein.
12/15
Almond Cake
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
12-16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Mary Todd Lincoln was known for making an almond cake that her husband enjoyed often. Her recipe was reminiscent of a pound cake but made with egg whites instead of whole eggs.
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 370 calories, 17g fat (9g saturated fat), 80mg cholesterol, 231mg sodium, 50g carbohydrate (36g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.
13/15
Coffee
Total Time
20 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Though President Lincoln preferred water with most meals and didn’t drink alcohol, he wasn’t immune to a hot cup of coffee! (We hope he didn’t drink it on an empty stomach.)
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup (calculated without whipped topping): 46 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 1mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 starch.
14/15
Venison
Total Time
3 hours 15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Game meat was often on the table during the 1800s, and venison was a staple for the Lincolns. They undoubtedly enjoyed it in a stew much like this. It’s time for game meat to make a comeback.
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 351 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 96mg cholesterol, 778mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (14g sugars, 7g fiber), 31g protein.
15/15
Turkey Legs
Total Time
1 hour 40 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
It wasn’t uncommon to gnaw on a turkey leg when Lincoln was alive, and he is reported to have eaten them, too. Here’s a 21st century recipe for turkey legs—it’s hot and spicy!
Nutrition Facts:
1 turkey drumstick: 937 calories, 50g fat (13g saturated fat), 343mg cholesterol, 587mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 113g protein.
