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Jessie James Decker used kitchen secret to win over NFL star husband in one weekend
By Stephanie Giang-Paunon
Published October 17, 2026
Jessie James Decker knows the way to her man's heart — and it involves a little spice.
The country singer revealed how she won over her husband, Eric Decker, after just one weekend together.
"I mean we all know he loves the jambalaya that's how I sealed the deal and had him fall in love with me after one weekend," Jessie, co-author of "The Secret Sauce," told Fox News Digital.
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Jessie James Decker said she won over husband Eric Decker with this spicy secret after just one weekend together. (JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images)
More than 13 years into their marriage, the former NFL wide receiver is still one of Jessie's biggest fans in the kitchen — although the singer admits that food isn't just fuel in the Decker household. It's practically a love language.
"I couldn't have married someone that didn't just enjoy food," Jessie emphasized. "And there's people out there that are like that. They're just like a meal's a meal. I'm like, it is an event. It's a celebration. Everything is."
Country singer Jessie James Decker said food is a love language in her household, where husband Eric Decker has developed a taste for her Southern and Cajun cooking. (Getty Images)
When Jessie and Eric met, the country singer said he was "a Midwestern guy" who had never had Southern Cajun food.
Now, the "Cajun Queen" chapter of her new cookbook, "The Secret Sauce," which she wrote with her mother and sister, has earned a special place on his plate.
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"The Secret Sauce: A Family Cookbook Seasoned with Love" was written by Jessie James Decker, Sydney Rae Bass and Karen Parker. (Harper Collins Publishers)
"I would say the ‘Cajun Queen’ chapter is probably one of his favorites because that's what I started cooking because my mom pretty much fed us ninety percent Cajun growing up and… Cajun food has so much flavor."
He’s also become one of his wife's most trusted taste testers, although Jessie said he tends to tread lightly when a dish doesn't quite hit the mark.
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"He'll just be like, 'it's good, it's good,'" she said, explaining that he usually asks a tactful question rather than coming right out and saying he doesn't like something.
Eric has also supported his wife in a saucy way: by posing nude with nothing but her cookbook covering him.
In a video posted to Jessie's Instagram, the former NFL star made some cheeky puns to promote her new cookbook.
"Morning buns anyone?" he asked as the camera pulled back to reveal his backside — covered by nude-colored underwear. "It's in 'The Secret Sauce.'"
"Need something hot and ready?" Eric asked as the camera pulled back to reveal him standing in front of a pizza oven wearing nude-colored underwear. "It's in 'The Secret Sauce.’"
It's become something of a tradition. Eric previously stripped down to promote Jessie's other cookbooks.
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Jessie James Decker is sharing her love of cooking and treasured family traditions in her fourth cookbook, "The Secret Sauce." (Diana King)
With four children — Vivianne, Eric Jr., Forrest and Denver — and busy schedules packed with sports and school activities, Jessie said protecting family time takes effort.
One tradition, however, remains nonnegotiable: eating dinner together as a family.
"Something that I'll always protect is sitting down at the dinner table all together and eating and just talking about our day," she told Fox News Digital.
Jessie James Decker said sitting down for dinner with husband Eric Decker and their four children is one family tradition she refuses to sacrifice, despite their busy schedules. (Instagram: Jessie James Decker)
The family ritual includes bread and oil in the middle of the table and Denver's requests for more butter.
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"Those moments will just always be my favorite, and no matter what life brings, we always find our way at that dinner table," Jessie said.
WATCH: ‘THE SECRET SAUCE’ AUTHOR KAREN PARKER SPILLS WHY HER FAMILY GUARDED A TREASURED RECIPE
Jessie is sharing her family's culinary secrets in her fourth cookbook, "The Secret Sauce," written with her sister, Sydney Rae Bass, and their mother, Karen Parker.
The book celebrates the family's Southern, Sicilian and Cajun roots with recipes, entertaining tips and treasured traditions designed to bring loved ones together.
But cooking with family doesn't always mean following the rules.
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Jessie James Decker teamed up with sister Sydney Rae Bass and mother Karen Parker for their cookbook, "The Secret Sauce." (Raymond Hall/GC Images)
When asked who makes the biggest mess in the kitchen, Sydney didn't hesitate.
"No matter what, the mess is always Jessica ... Jess and I, we don't fully follow directions in the kitchen. We kind of look at recipes and go, 'All right, I got it,' and then we kind of just throw our own little flair in there."
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Their mother, Karen Parker, told Fox News Digital the family once treated its recipes almost like a closely guarded superpower before deciding they were too special not to share with the world.
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"I really hope that when people cook these recipes and serve their family, that they realize that they're creating their own traditions now," she said. "So, these may have been our family's traditions, but now they belong to you."
"The Secret Sauce" is available now.
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