Texas Toast Garlic Bread

At a glance

What stands out: You’ll love crispy Texas toast garlic bread made from thick-cut bread slices slathered with garlic butter and toasted until golden. Make this from-scratch garlic bread recipe using the oven, grill, and air fryer! Garlic toast is a straightforward side dish that wins everyone over at the dinner table.
How long it takes: about 20 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: a baking sheet or an air fryer, depending on which method you choose
Servings: 6

Crispy and crunchy Texas toast garlic bread is a standby thing since, well, sliced bread. If you love classic garlic bread, just wait until you sink your teeth into this straightforward spin! Everything about this recipe is so satisfying. It’s speedy to make and reliable for any season.

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.

A standby 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 straightforward methods for making a standby Texas toast garlic bread: on the grill, in the oven, or in the air fryer!

Straightforward 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 from-scratch 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 toastgarlic 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.

What goes in

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 rich on just about any thick-cut sandwich bread, too (see above).
• Butter – Use 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 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 it comes together

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 straightforward 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 from-scratch garlic butter.)
• Make a double batch. This Texas toast recipe stores and freezes well. You won’t regret doubling the batch!

Ways to change it

Texas toast garlic bread is customizable! It’s straightforward 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 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. If you have an abundance of chives, our chive bread is similar to garlic bread but with a milder garlic flavor.
• Get creative with seasonings. Try flavoring your garlic butter with all-purpose seasoning or from-scratch ranch seasoning mix. We often flavor it with our from-scratch pizza seasoning, especially if we're serving the garlic bread with an Italian-style dinner.
• For more flavor and crunch, sprinkle your toast with from-scratch everything bagel seasoning.
• For a whole wheat version (made from scratch!), make this recipe with straightforward 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. Pair garlic bread 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 evenly 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 from-scratch spaghetti sauce.

Keeping leftovers

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.

• Yield: 6
• Prep: 5 minutes
• Cook: 15 minutes
• Total: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 6 slices Texas toast (see note)
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened ( 1 stick)
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt (omit if you're using salted butter)
• ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

Method

1. In a small bowl, mix together the softened butter, minced garlic, garlic powder, chopped parsley, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
2. Spread the garlic butter mixture on both sides of each slice of bread, spreading it slightly thicker on one side and thinner on the other side.
3. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
4. Place the bread slices on a rimmed baking sheet, with the heavily buttered side facing up.
5. Bake for 7 minutes, flip, and cook for another 7 to 8 minutes or until the bread is golden brown.
6. Heat grill to medium heat (350°F).
7. Place bread directly on grates, with the heavily buttered side facing up, leaving grill open (you want to keep an eye on it!). Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side or until warmed through with grill marks.
8. Set air fryer to 380°F.
9. Place bread in air fryer, with the heavily buttered side facing up, and air fry for 4 minutes. Flip bread and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown.

Notes

Bread choices: You can use any bread, thickly sliced (about ¾ -inch). Whole wheat bread can be used, if you prefer. Nutrition information will vary based on the type of bread used.

Make-ahead tip: This compound butter will keep for up to 3 days when stored airtight in the fridge. Because this recipe is made with fresh garlic, it should not be stored longer than that. It can be used on potatoes, vegetables, pasta, or whatever you like. Bring to room temperature to soften before using.

Variations: If you want to store the compound butter longer, increase the amount of garlic powder (to taste) and omit the fresh garlic. Change up the flavor of your bread by using different seasoning. Try our pizza seasoning, especially if you’re serving the garlic bread with an Italian-style dinner. All-purpose seasoning works well, too.