Texas Toast Recipe

Bring butter to soften

Remove butter from the refrigerator about 15–20 minutes before starting so it softens for easy mixing. If short on time, cut butter into small pieces to speed softening.

Preheat oven or skillet

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) if baking. Alternatively, preheat a large cast-iron skillet or nonstick pan over medium heat if cooking on the stove.

Mince the garlic very fine or grate it on a microplane. In a medium bowl, combine the softened unsalted butter and olive oil and whip with a fork until smooth and spreadable.

Stir in the minced garlic, chopped parsley, grated Parmesan, salt, black pepper, and optional crushed red pepper until evenly distributed. Taste and adjust salt/pepper as needed.

Arrange the 8 slices of Texas-style bread on a cutting board or sheet tray, butter-side up. Using a spatula or an offset knife, spread about 3/4 to 1 tablespoon of the garlic-butter mixture evenly over one side of each slice so the entire surface is coated.

If making cheesy Texas toast, sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of shredded cheese over each buttered slice, pressing lightly so the cheese adheres to the butter.

Oven method (recommended for even browning)

Line a baking sheet with parchment or aluminum foil. Place the buttered bread, spread-side up, on the baking sheet. Bake in the preheated 425°F (220°C) oven for 6–9 minutes, watching closely, until the edges are golden and the top is bubbly and browned to your liking. For extra crispness, switch the oven to broil for the last 1–2 minutes — watch carefully to avoid burning.

Skillet method

Heat a large skillet over medium-low to medium heat. Add the slices buttered-side down into the dry skillet (no additional butter needed). Cover the skillet with a lid to help melt the butter/cheese and keep moisture in. Cook 3–5 minutes until the bottoms are crisp and golden and the tops are heated through; if cheese was added, place a lid on to help it melt. Flip once if you want both sides toasted (optional) and cook an additional 1–2 minutes.

Remove the toast from the oven or skillet and let rest 1 minute. If you used Parmesan in the spread, you can sprinkle an extra pinch of grated Parmesan and chopped parsley for garnish.

Serve hot, optionally with lemon wedges on the side for a bright finish (lightly squeeze over the toast just before eating if desired). Texas toast is great alongside pasta, BBQ, soups, or as a snack.