Elvis Presley's Favorite Peanut Butter Sandwich

Loaded with peanut butter, banana, bacon, and honey, this griddled sandwich is gooey and satisfying.

Updated March 14, 2024

Serious Eats / Fredy Hardy

Why It Works

The sandwich is a combination of sweet, salty, creamy, and crispy all at once.
Prepare to gyrate.

While Elvis is primarily known for being one of the greatest entertainers of the 20th century, we can't ignore his namesake sandwich—the one with peanut butter, banana, and bacon all smashed together.

Nicknamed the "Elvis" sandwich, this collision of delicious indulgence is made up of ingredients that seem like they'd clash, but much like Elvis's music—a dynamic rockabilly fusion of heartfelt country and soulful rhythm and blues—they create something beautiful. The combo is sweet, salty, creamy, and crunchy all at once.

There are a number of versions of the story about how Elvis came to love these sandwiches.

In the one I've always heard, Elvis and some friends were hanging out at Graceland in February of 1976 when someone started talking about an outrageous sandwich they tried at a restaurant called the Colorado Gold Mine Company. This "Fool's Gold Loaf" combined peanut butter, bananas, and bacon in a hollowed-out loaf of French bread, which was then deep-fried.

Elvis was so tempted by the sound of this decadent sandwich that he flew everyone from Memphis to Denver in the middle of the night on his private jet. The sandwich didn't disappoint, and The King reportedly bought the recipe from the restaurant's owner and passed it on to W. Pauline Nicholson, his personal cook, and asked her to have one standing by at all times.

I've been racking my brain, and short of a few paid endorsements, I can't think of another celebrity so tied to a particular food as Elvis is with the peanut butter, banana, and bacon sandwich.

Have you ever had one? Or do you have your own unique combo that you're somewhat famous for?

Adapted from The Peanut Butter & Co. Cookbook by Lee Zalben.

January 2011

This recipe was cross-tested in 2023 and updated with more accurate measurements to guarantee best results.

Recipe Details

Elvis Presley's Favorite Peanut Butter Sandwich Recipe

Prep 5 mins

Cook 10 mins

Active 10 mins

Total 15 mins

Serves 1 sandwich

Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

3 tablespoons peanut butter (1 3/4 ounces; 50g), divided
2 slices white sandwich bread, lightly toasted
1/2 large ripe banana ( 2 1/4 ounces; 64g), sliced crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick slices
2 slices cooked bacon, optional
2 tablespoons honey, optional
3 tablespoons (42g) unsalted butter, divided

Directions

Spread peanut butter evenly on one side of both slices of bread. Place banana slices on top of peanut butter in an even layer on one of the slices. Top with bacon slices, if using and drizzle with honey, if using. Top with the remaining slice of bread, peanut butter-side down and press gently to secure sandwich.
Serious Eats / Fred Hardy
Heat a 10-inch cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium heat for 3 minutes. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in preheated skillet. Gently transfer the prepared sandwich to the melted butter in the skillet and cook until the underside of bread is golden brown and crispy, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
Serious Eats / Fred Hardy
Flip the sandwich, adding the remaining 1 tablespoon butter while flipping, and continue to cook until the second underside is golden brown and crispy, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let sit for 3 minutes, then transfer to a cutting board. Slice in half, and serve immediately.
Serious Eats / Fred Hardy

Special Equipment

10-inch cast-iron skillet or griddle

Notes

Smooth or crunchy peanut butter will work well in this recipe.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1050	Calories
69g	Fat
93g	Carbs
25g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories	1050
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 69g	88%
Saturated Fat 29g	147%
Cholesterol 114mg	38%
Sodium 928mg	40%
Total Carbohydrate 93g	34%
Dietary Fiber 6g	22%
Total Sugars 50g
Protein 25g
Vitamin C 6mg	31%
Calcium 134mg	10%
Iron 4mg	21%
Potassium 754mg	16%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.