What Is Texas Toast And Is It Actually From Texas?

Whether made into French toast or served as garlicky companions for the sauciest plates of BBQ, Texas toast is here to satisfy all your cravings for carbs. A much-loved accompaniment since the 1940s, Texas toast is among the greatest pleasures of the Lone Star State. 

One piece of Texas toast is like eating two pieces of regularly sliced bread, and these thick pieces of goodness come slathered in butter and are grilled to golden perfection. While you might be used to shoving pieces of bread into the toaster sitting on your kitchen's counter, a slice of Texas toast simply won't fit. You'll have to grill it, and that's part of its glory: A crispy, buttery texture that is both crispy and comforting to bite into.

Though the name indicates its origins, the exact history of the thick pieces of bread is a bit murky — but several sources point to a drive-through restaurant in Texas.

In 1941, Royce Hailey wanted to impress customers at the Beaumont Pig Stand drive-in. After the extra thick bread he ordered wouldn't fit into the restaurant's toaster, the slices were buttered up and slapped onto the griddle. Another account attributes the culinary mishap and resulting invention to a Pig Stand in Denton, so the precise history of the toast's beginnings is a bit unclear. Regardless of whether the thick bread was first toasted up in Denton or Beaumont, Texas has a pretty good claim on the beefy slices.

Sadly, Pig Stand has since filed for bankruptcy and closed, but the toast lives on, serving as the perfect vehicle for gravies, sauces, and runny eggs. With Texas toast in hand, eaters have the ideal tool to mop up every last bit of deliciousness from their plates. Toast lovers can also whip up their own recipes, from thick juicy sandwiches to syrupy French toast.

Because the bread to make Texas toast is cut extra thick, the exterior of the toasted slices can be cooked to a satisfyingly crunchy texture, and the inside of the bread will remain soft and spongy. These thick bread slices are perfect to use in grilled cheese, chicken fried steak, and BLT sandwich recipes. 

Texas toast is usually made from packaged white bread, but you can make your own at home by slicing your choice of bread into thicker pieces approximately one inch in width. Then, lather up each side in butter, and get ready to grill. While some Texas toast recipes will add garlic, pepper, and grated cheese, simply slathering butter on the bread will result in a toast that can be enjoyed as a snack or served alongside meals. For any dish that needs sopping up or requires a chewier, more satisfying piece of bread to bite into, Texas toast can be the answer.

If you're looking to take French toast to new levels, Texas toast can help. Golden, crispy, buttery Texas toast can soak up your favorite syrups and sides and make cleaning plates easy. For more savory dishes, adding garlic to the crust can imitate a more traditional garlic bread, and the flavorful addition can be served alongside barbecue platters, soups, and stews. Add cheese, and the toast can be enjoyed as a delicious afternoon snack on its own. Texas toast can satisfy cravings at any time of the day.

For a comforting dinner, try our diner-style chicken fried steak recipe served with Texas toast hot off the griddle, or use Texas toast to make sloppy Joe sandwiches. A breakfast of gravy and biscuits can also be mopped up with the buttery toast. Just be warned: You'll need Texas-sized resolve to keep yourself from munching on extra pieces of this crispy, chewy bread.