Mom's Best Recipes
Recipe

Homemade Texas Toast

Crispy-edged, buttery garlic toast made with thick-sliced bread, ready in about 15 minutes.

Author By Matt Campbell
4.8
A stack of golden Texas toast slices on a wooden cutting board with melted garlic butter glistening on top, warm kitchen lighting

Texas toast is what happens when regular garlic bread decides to put on boots and show up loud. Thick bread, a bold swipe of garlic butter, and enough heat to turn the edges crunchy while the middle stays soft and steamy.

This version is built for real life: grocery store ingredients, clear steps, and a couple of choose-your-own-adventure options (cheesy, extra-crispy, air fryer friendly). If you can stir butter and work an oven rack, you are in the Texas toast business.

Thick sliced bread, butter, garlic, parsley, and shredded cheese arranged on a clean kitchen counter

Why It Works

  • Thick-cut crunch: High heat gives you crisp edges without drying out the center.
  • Big garlic flavor: Fresh garlic plus a little garlic powder makes it taste like garlic bread, not just buttered toast.
  • Even browning: We soften the butter and spread it edge-to-edge so every bite gets the good stuff.
  • Flexible finish: Broil for golden tops, add cheese for the classic steakhouse vibe, or keep it simple.

Pairs Well With

Storage Tips

Fridge: Store cooled Texas toast in an airtight container for up to 3 days for best quality. It will soften a bit, but it reheats beautifully.

Freezer (best move): Freeze slices in a single layer until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag with parchment between layers. Best quality within 2 months.

Reheat:

  • Oven: 375°F for 6 to 8 minutes (from fridge) or 10 to 12 minutes (from frozen), or until hot and crisp. Times vary by thickness and brand, so trust the toast.
  • Air fryer: 350°F for 3 to 5 minutes (from fridge) or 6 to 8 minutes (from frozen), or until hot and crisp. Check early because air fryers run hot.
  • Microwave: Only if you accept a softer texture. It will taste fine, but you will lose the crunch.
Garlic butter Texas toast slices stacked with parchment paper inside a labeled freezer bag on a kitchen counter

Common Questions

What makes Texas toast different from regular garlic bread?

Thickness and texture. Texas toast uses thick-sliced white bread, so you get a crisp outside and a soft, fluffy interior. Regular garlic bread is usually made with a baguette or Italian loaf that stays crunchier all the way through.

Can I use pre-sliced sandwich bread?

Yes, but go for the thickest slices you can find. Standard thin sandwich bread can brown too fast and feel a little brittle. If thin bread is what you have, lower the oven temp to 400°F and start checking at 6 minutes.

Do I have to use fresh garlic?

No, but it is the fastest path to that unmistakable garlic punch. If you only have garlic powder, use 1 teaspoon garlic powder total and skip the fresh garlic. Still delicious.

How do I keep the garlic from burning under the broiler?

Two ways: mince the garlic very finely so it sits in the butter, and broil briefly, like 30 to 90 seconds, watching the whole time. If your broiler runs hot, skip broiling and just bake a minute or two longer.

Can I make Texas toast in a skillet?

Yep. Toast it butter-side down in a skillet over medium heat until golden, then flip for a quick kiss on the second side, about 30 to 60 seconds. Skillet Texas toast is extra crisp and slightly chaotic in a good way.

Can I make Texas toast in an air fryer?

Yes, and it is fast. Air fry at 370°F for 4 to 6 minutes, buttered-side up. Start checking at 4 minutes because air fryers run hot and bread can go from golden to very tan in a hurry. For extra crisp, flip and air fry 30 to 60 seconds more.

Cheesy air fryer tip: Add cheese during the last 1 to 2 minutes so it melts without over-browning the toast.

Do not crowd: Cook in a single layer with a little space so the air can do its job.

A rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment holding buttered thick bread slices ready to bake

Texas toast is my default side when dinner feels like it needs a hype man. Soup night, pasta night, grilled chicken that turned out a little too responsible. One buttery, garlicky slice and suddenly the whole meal has a plan. I started making it at home because the frozen stuff is either perfect or weirdly dry, and I prefer my outcomes slightly more dependable than a coin flip.