What are Joe Rogan's favorite foods?

January 7, 2026 •

3 min read

According to social media posts and podcasts, Joe Rogan has repeatedly expressed his strong preference for wild game meat, especially elk. His food choices are strongly influenced by his diet philosophy, often revolving around a carnivore-heavy approach while allowing for occasional cheat meals.

Quick Summary

An exploration of Joe Rogan's dietary preferences, highlighting his primary reliance on meats like elk and grass-fed beef, his strategic use of intermittent fasting, and his enjoyment of specific cheat meals.

Key Points

Wild Elk: Rogan has stated that if he could only eat one food for the rest of his life, it would be wild elk, cooked medium-rare.
Carnivore-heavy Diet: His diet predominantly consists of meat, including grass-fed beef, eggs, and bacon, with very few carbohydrates.
Occasional Cheat Meals: Despite his strict diet, he enjoys indulging in high-carb Italian and Mexican food, viewing them as treats.
High-Fat Meats: Because elk is very lean, Rogan adds fat by cooking it in grass-fed beef tallow or by eating bacon.
Premium Coffee: He is a passionate coffee enthusiast, favoring Hawaiian Kona coffee and various sponsored mushroom coffee blends for their taste and potential benefits.
Supplements for Balance: He takes a variety of supplements to ensure he gets necessary nutrients, especially when following his restrictive carnivore diet.
Benefits of His Diet: He reports feeling more mental clarity, stable energy levels, and reduced inflammation when adhering to his meat-focused diet.

Joe Rogan's Primary Diet: Elk, Beef, and Eggs

For a significant portion of his dietary regimen, Joe Rogan adheres to a carnivore-heavy approach, focusing on nutrient-dense animal products. This eating plan is often supplemented with intermittent fasting, a pattern he has followed for years. His daily meals typically revolve around two core eating windows, with the first meal around noon.

The Allure of Wild Game

Rogan's most frequently cited favorite is wild game, particularly elk. He appreciates that wild game meat is free of growth hormones and steroids, and is naturally lean. In a 2016 Facebook post, he stated that if he could only choose one food for the rest of his life, it would be wild elk, cooked medium-rare. As elk is very lean, he often cooks it in grass-fed beef tallow to add more fat, an essential component of a carnivore-focused diet. He sources large quantities of frozen wild game, which simplifies his meal preparation.

Staple Meats and Protein Sources

Beyond elk, Rogan consistently includes other high-quality meats in his diet. These include grass-fed steak, which he has publicly expressed his love for. Other key protein sources are pasture-raised eggs and bacon, which he eats for breakfast, and occasionally other wild game like moose, deer, and pig. He has also mentioned consuming organ meats as part of his carnivore approach.

The Role of Supplements

Given the restrictive nature of his carnivore-heavy diet, Rogan regularly takes supplements to cover his nutritional bases. His supplement regimen, often associated with his brand Onnit, includes items such as fish oil, Vitamin D, creatine, and Spirulina & Chlorella. While he emphasizes that these replace nutrients from plant-based foods, he has also mentioned reintroducing some fruits and vegetables into his diet over time.

Comparison: Daily Diet vs. Cheat Meals


Feature	Daily Carnivore-Heavy Diet	Occasional Cheat Meals
Primary Foods	Wild elk, grass-fed beef, eggs, bacon, organ meats.	Italian and Mexican cuisine, including pasta, sandwiches, and pizza.
Macronutrient Focus	High protein, high fat, and zero or very low carbohydrate intake.	High carbohydrate content, often involving bread, pasta, and sugar.
Energy & Inflammation	Stable energy levels and reduced inflammation are reported benefits.	Can lead to an energy spike followed by a crash, and potential inflammation.
Mindset	Strict and disciplined, focusing on peak mental clarity and physical performance.	Enjoyed for a pleasurable, indulgent experience, breaking from his usual strict regimen.
Geographic Preferences	Enjoys the wild game available from hunting and sources in Austin.	Seeks out specific, authentic Italian food, often preferring options on the East Coast like in New York.

The Role of Coffee

In addition to his specific food choices, Rogan is a well-documented coffee aficionado. His preferences have evolved over time and include several specific types and brands.

Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee: Rogan has been a long-time fan of Four Sigmatic, particularly their blend with Lion's Mane and Chaga mushrooms, citing potential cognitive benefits.
Laird Superfood Coffee: He became an enthusiast of the Laird Superfood blend and turmeric creamer, enjoying the creamy, spiced flavor it adds to his coffee.
Hawaiian Kona Coffee: He has called Kona coffee from Hawaii the best on Earth, attributing its superior taste to the volcanic soil.
Caveman Coffee: Rogan has also shown loyalty to Caveman Coffee, co-founded by his friend Tait Fletcher.
Black Rifle Coffee: He has served Black Rifle Coffee to guests on his podcast, appreciating the veteran-owned brand.

Conclusion

Joe Rogan's dietary preferences are characterized by a disciplined, meat-heavy approach, prioritizing wild elk and grass-fed beef for what he believes are superior health benefits. This core diet is punctuated by indulgent cheat meals, which often consist of Italian or Mexican food. His enthusiasm for high-quality, specialty coffee also stands out as a consistent part of his daily routine, with Hawaiian Kona and various functional mushroom coffees among his favorites. Ultimately, his food choices are a clear reflection of his broader health and wellness philosophy.

For more insight into Rogan's wellness routines, including his diet, readers can reference the detailed breakdown on the JRE Library website: What is Joe Rogan drinking on the JRE Podcast?.

Frequently Asked Questions

Joe Rogan's favorite meat is wild elk. He has stated that if he could only choose one food to eat for the rest of his life, it would be wild elk, served medium-rare.

When following a carnivore-heavy diet, Joe Rogan eats meat and eggs, with a strong preference for grass-fed beef and wild elk. He also includes bacon and organ meats to get a balance of protein and fat.

For his occasional cheat meals, Joe Rogan enjoys high-carb Italian and Mexican cuisine. He has a particular fondness for pasta, pizza, and old-school East Coast Italian sandwiches.

While Rogan primarily follows a carnivore diet, he has noted that he occasionally includes some vegetables and fruits. However, he is cautious of plants and has discussed how high-carb options can lead to inflammation.

Joe Rogan is a coffee aficionado with varied tastes. He loves Hawaiian Kona coffee, has promoted Four Sigmatic mushroom coffee, and has also been associated with Caveman Coffee and Black Rifle Coffee.

Since wild elk is very lean, Joe Rogan adds fat to his meals by cooking with grass-fed beef tallow. He also enjoys fatty bacon as a fat source.

Joe Rogan prefers wild game because it is free of hormones and steroids found in conventionally farmed meat. He also appreciates the lean and nutrient-rich profile of wild game like elk.