Texas Toast

By Lidey Heuck

Published Dec. 19, 2023

Texas Toast
Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
20 minutes
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Rating
4(133)
Notes
Read community notes

Thickly-sliced and buttery, this extra-large toast is believed to have been created, in 1941, at the Pig Stand, a drive-in restaurant in Beaumont, Texas. Owner Royce Hailey felt the bread slices they offered were too thin, so he asked his supplier for a thicker cut. The new size didn’t fit in the toaster, so the cooks brushed the slices with butter and toasted them in the oven instead, resulting in a crisp and buttery exterior and a fluffy interior. The “Texas toast” concept stuck — you can even buy it premade in the frozen food section — but it’s almost as easy to slice a loaf of bakery white bread and make it at home. Here, a combination of melted butter and olive oil provide  flavor and a golden-brown hue. Feel free to skip the garlic and parsley if you’re looking for just plain toast.

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Ingredients

Yield:6 servings
  • 6slices thick-sliced white bread (at least ¾-inch thick)
  • 6tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 3tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • ¼teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal), plus more for serving
  • 1tablespoon minced fresh parsley (optional)
  • 1teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

243 calories; 20 grams fat; 8 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 8 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 14 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 2 grams sugars; 3 grams protein; 140 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat the oven to 375 degrees and arrange the bread slices on a sheet pan. In a small bowl, combine the butter, olive oil and salt, as well as the parsley and garlic powder, if using.

  2. Step 2

    Brush each piece of bread generously on both sides with the butter mixture. Bake until the bottoms are golden brown, 8 to 12 minutes. Flip and bake until the second side is toasted, 3 to 5 minutes more. (It will not take as long as the first side.)

  3. Step 3

    Sprinkle the pieces of toast lightly with salt and serve hot, sliced in half, if desired.

Ratings

4 out of 5
133 user ratings
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Cooking Notes

Steve

Wow, what a treat to see this! I was born and raised in Beaumont and knew the Pig Stand well. Sadly, it is no longer. Happy to know the origin of Texas Toast, and that the memory of the Pig Stand lives on!

tleece

I have always loved fat, crispy, squishy Texas Toast. Glad to see it codified. :) Never had wheat Texas Toast, or a Texas Toast with minced garlic. But if that's what you prefer, go for it! The food police will not come knocking on your door. Alas, no one will give you an award for pointing out white bread isn't healthy (or is it just trashy?) or fresh garlic exists. We know. Holiday cheers to the moderators. I can't imagine sifting through "processed cheese is murder" for the 1000th time.

N. Sinha

How about fresh minced garlic?

Ongbundt Magilicuddy

This was a great Texas toast recipe but I swapped out the bread with branzino and swapped out the butter, garlic powder and parsley with rice pilaf, haricot verts, and an 8x10 glossy of Mickey Rooney. Otherwise followed the recipe exactly and it came out great!!

Lauren

This was easy and delicious. As another person commented, I too will double the butter/olive oil mixture. This is going in the rotation!

Cleveland

Maybe it's just me, but I ran out of the butter/oil mixture after brushing one side. Next time I'm going to double the mixture. The worst that can happen is I have to make more pieces.

Kathy Cooper

A better toast is inch thick somewhat dense white bread slathered with butter and a mixture of parmesan cheese then toasted on a flat grill ala Sizzler Toast.

C Park

Booooooo.! Do we really need a recipe for toast? So sad. Is the entire food staff on an extended holiday? Thanks for the inspiration NOT! Feels like we’ve stepped back 40+years with this one. To end on a quasi positive note… (I do agree with another commenter about using fresh garlic. )

Burt R.

Why does it have to be white bread?

Richard

Because Texas Toast was made with white bread. You may use any bread you want.

Ongbundt Magilicuddy

This was a great Texas toast recipe but I swapped out the bread with branzino and swapped out the butter, garlic powder and parsley with rice pilaf, haricot verts, and an 8x10 glossy of Mickey Rooney. Otherwise followed the recipe exactly and it came out great!!

Lori Mordaunt

Love your recipe however I used an 8x10 glossy of Emeril Lagasse so I could say BAM when I added it.

Tiaraclub

In Texas, Texas toast is a type of thick-sliced white bread from the bread aisle. It isn’t frozen sliced French bread topped with garlic and cheese. If you order Texas toast instead of a biscuit with your breakfast, you get thick-sliced white bread (bakery or store-bought) grilled with butter. Still, though, I always have some of the frozen stuff on hand because it’s good, cheap, and easy, and it would only be improved by making it from scratch with this recipe.

Ann L

Memories of Gen X childhood on spaghetti night. Simply good, always gone.

tleece

I have always loved fat, crispy, squishy Texas Toast. Glad to see it codified. :) Never had wheat Texas Toast, or a Texas Toast with minced garlic. But if that's what you prefer, go for it! The food police will not come knocking on your door. Alas, no one will give you an award for pointing out white bread isn't healthy (or is it just trashy?) or fresh garlic exists. We know. Holiday cheers to the moderators. I can't imagine sifting through "processed cheese is murder" for the 1000th time.

Steve

Wow, what a treat to see this! I was born and raised in Beaumont and knew the Pig Stand well. Sadly, it is no longer. Happy to know the origin of Texas Toast, and that the memory of the Pig Stand lives on!

N. Sinha

How about fresh minced garlic?

Richard

How about it? It's not how traditional Texas Toast was made. You may use it if you prefer it. It might be harsh.

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