The crisp, golden exterior gives way to a soft, fluffy, steamy inside flavored with garlicky compound butter and herbs. Whether you’re preheating the oven, firing up the grill, or cracking out the air fryer on a busy weeknight, our Texas toast garlic bread recipe has you covered.
The Best Texas Toast Garlic Bread
5 ingredients. You only need 5 ingredients (plus salt and pepper) and about 20 minutes to make this savory and versatile side dish. 3 ways. We include three easy methods for making the best Texas toast garlic bread: on the grill, in the oven, or in the air fryer! Easy to prep. Making your own garlic butter is a walk in the park. You can even make it ahead of time! Spread a thick layer over your toast slices and bask in the garlicky, savory flavors as they melt into the bread. Better than store-bought. This homemade Texas toast is miles better than any frozen version from the store. It’s made with real butter and fresh ingredients and hits your table freshly toasted. Unbeatable!
Is Texas Toast the Same as Garlic Toast?
Technically, Texas toast garlic bread is a variation of traditional garlic toast. Texas toast is bread that’s been sliced to double the thickness of regular bread slices. Since this recipe is called Texas toast garlic bread, we highly recommend getting your hands on the real deal! If you can’t find Texas toast in your grocery store, however, any white bread cut to three-quarters of an inch thick will do the trick. You can also buy an uncut loaf and slice it yourself at home.
Ingredient Notes
On a scale of 1 to 10, how amped are you to whip up a batch of garlicky Texas toast?
Texas Toast – You’ll find Texas toast sold in the bread aisle at most major grocery stores, or you can check your local bakery. The compound butter in this recipe tastes delicious on just about any thick-cut sandwich bread, too (see above). Butter – Unsalted butter, softened to room temperature so that it’s easier to mix. Garlic and Parsley – We use a combination of freshly minced garlic cloves and garlic powder to really up the flavor of our compound butter, plus chopped parsley for a pop of green. Dried parsley flakes also work. Salt and Pepper – If you use salted butter, eliminate the added salt, or add to taste.
How to Make Texas Toast Garlic Bread
You’ll start by turning a half-stick of butter into the most mouthwatering compound butter. Afterward, it’s a matter of preparing this Texas toast garlic bread using your preferred cooking method, outlined below. Let’s get started: Prepare the compound butter. It’s as easy as mashing together softened butter with fresh garlic, garlic powder, parsley, salt, and pepper. Butter the toast. Spread both sides of your Texas toast generously with garlic butter, thicker on one side and thinner on the other. Then, your Texas toast is ready for the oven, grill, or air fryer! See below.
Texas Toast In the Oven
Arrange the toast slices on a rimmed baking sheet and bake at 375ºF for about 15 minutes, flipping the bread halfway through. Keep an eye on the garlic bread and take it out when it’s a crispy, golden brown.
Grilled Texas Toast
Get your bread slices ready while the grill heats up. When the temperature reaches 350ºF, place the toast slices directly onto the hot grill. Leave the grill open and let the bread cook for a couple of minutes per side, until hot throughout and toasted on the outside.
Texas Toast In the Air Fryer
Place the buttered bread slices into the air fryer at 380ºF for 4 minutes, flip, and cook for a couple of minutes longer until browned.
Recipe Tips
Keep the following tips in mind when preparing your Texas toast garlic bread:
Use room-temperature butter. It will be easier to combine with the garlic and herbs, and easier to spread on the bread. Cook the bread with the heavily buttered sides facing upwards to start. This lets the top layer of butter melt down into the bread while the bottom crisps up. To prepare the compound butter ahead of time, store it airtight in the fridge for up to 3 days. We don’t recommend storing it for longer due to the fresh garlic in the recipe but it does save time and comes in handy for smaller batches of garlic bread. (See garlic butter for more detailed information and additional ways to use homemade garlic butter.) Make a double batch. This Texas toast recipe stores and freezes well. You won’t regret doubling the batch!
Recipe Variations
Texas toast garlic bread is super customizable! It’s easy to change up the flavors in this recipe to suit any dish or occasion. Here are some variations to try:
Make cheesy garlic bread. Sprinkle the top of your crunchy, garlicky Texas toast with parmesan cheese or shredded cheddar at the very end, and pop it under the broiler until melted. Or, spread slices with creamy whipped feta! Try different fresh or dried herbs, like chopped rosemary, thyme, oregano, or Italian seasoning. Get creative with seasonings. Try flavoring your garlic butter with all-purpose seasoning or homemade ranch seasoning mix. You can even add a hint of spice with crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne. For more flavor and crunch, sprinkle your toast with homemade everything bagel seasoning. For a whole wheat version (made from scratch!), make this recipe with easy no knead whole wheat bread.
Serving Ideas
Garlic bread is a classic southern BBQ side. Serve slices next to fall-off-the-bone slow cooker ribs, served with corn ribs, creamy coleslaw, and potato salad. Or, pair it with tasty dishes on game day, like garlic butter steak bites, BBQ chicken wings or cheesy baked corn. In addition to BBQ dishes, you can serve Texas toast garlic bread wherever you would enjoy classic garlic bread! Texas toast garlic bread pairs perfectly with homestyle dinners like this hearty beef stew or cozy beef chili with beans. It’s just as wonderful to serve alongside family-friendly, Italian-inspired pasta recipes like one-pot pasta amatriciana, or classic spaghetti with slow-simmered homemade spaghetti sauce.
Storage & Reheating
Storage/Reheating: Cool the bread completely before storing in a resealable bag or container. Texas toast garlic bread will stay fresh at room temperature for up to 3 to 4 days, or longer if refrigerated. Cool the bread completely before storing in a resealable bag or container. To reheat, warm slices in the toaster or in the oven. Freeze: Store leftover garlic bread slices in freezer-safe bags and freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw the bread in the fridge before reheating.
