Learn how to make Texas toast garlic bread with homemade garlic butter! Easy instructions for the oven, air fryer, or skillet for a perfect crunch every time.
The Quick Guide to 3-Way Garlic Toast:
The Air Fryer: The fastest way to get a golden-brown finish without heating up the whole kitchen.
The Skillet: Perfect for a soft, pillowy center with a buttery, toasted exterior.
The Oven: The best choice for feeding a crowd and getting a uniform, extra-crunchy snap.
Jump to:
- How to Cook Texas Toast (3 Easy Methods)
- Ingredient Notes
- How to make the garlic butter
- How to make homemade Texas toast garlic bread
- How long to bake garlic toast in the oven
- How long to cook Texas toast garlic bread in air fryer
- How long to cook Texas toast garlic bread on the stove-top
- Tips
- Variations
- Storage and reheating
- Try these easy recipes too!
- Homemade Texas Toast Garlic Bread (3 Ways)
This post was originally published in May 2024. It was most recently updated in April 2026 with optimized cooking instructions and new tips.
How to Cook Texas Toast (3 Easy Methods)
Since we love using Texas toast to make French toast, we thought it would be great to take our homemade garlic toast to the next level. We adore freshly made garlic bread, especially with pasta dishes (like Cheesy Italian Shells or One Pot Meaty Marinara), and I like having options for how to cook it. So I thought you might appreciate these options too!
These cooking methods will result in bread that is a slightly different texture and crunchiness.
- The skillet method yields the softest inside with a toasty outside.
- The oven method results in an extra crunchy outside leaving the middle not quite as soft as the skillet method.
- The air fryer method is somewhere in between the oven and skillet methods.
I like all of these options and decide which one to make based on where I have the most space. So if I have a pasta dish in the oven I will go ahead and make this on the stove-top. Or, if I am short on space on the stove-top I will pop these into the oven.
We make them in the air fryer a lot in the warmer months so we don’t have to heat up the kitchen by turning the oven on. The stove top method and air fryer method will have to be cooked in batches.
Ingredients
See recipe card for exact amounts.
Ingredient Notes
Bread: We use thick-sliced white bread. You should be able to find a couple of different options on the bread aisle of your grocery store. We can easily find Wonder Texas Toast or Sara Lee Artesano Bakery style bread.
Butter: There are options here too! You can use softened butter, salted or unsalted. If you use salted you will want to cut the amount of salt you add. You can use margarine, like Parkay or Imperial. Plus, you can use plant based butter like I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter. The beauty of margarine or plant based butter is you don’t have to let it come to room temperature before you make the garlic butter.
Garlic Powder: We make this as easy as possible so the powder is the way to go.
Dried Parsley: Truth is, I use this to give my Texas garlic toast a fancy restaurant quality look. It’s the little things like this that impress my family and friends.
Salt: I typically use fine sea salt but regular table salt can be used.
How to make the garlic butter
If using real butter it will need to be softened. Take it out of the refrigerator an hour or two before you want to mix it up. It can be made up to a week in advance.
Mix butter, garlic powder, dried parsley and salt together in small bowl.
Store leftover garlic butter mixture in an airtight container for up to a week.
How to make homemade Texas toast garlic bread
Butter one side of the bread, place buttered side down onto the pan or air fryer basket, then butter the other side.
How long to bake garlic toast in the oven
Total cook time is 10-12 minutes: place buttered bread on a rimmed baking sheet and bake in a 375° oven for about 6-7 minutes on the first side, turn over and bake an additional 4-5 minutes, or until golden brown. When checking for doneness be sure to check the sides of the bread that is face down.
How long to cook Texas toast garlic bread in air fryer
Total cook time is 6-8 minutes: air fry at 380° for 4-5 minutes, flip it over and cook another 2-3 minutes until golden brown.
See how to air fry frozen store-bought garlic bread.
How long to cook Texas toast garlic bread on the stove-top
Total cook time is 4-6 minutes: cook in a preheated non-stick skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side. Rotate the slices if necessary to get even browning.
Tips
- This amount of butter will coat 8 pieces on both sides.
- You can line the baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easier clean up but it isn’t necessary.
- For the air fryer and skillet methods subsequent batches will cook a little faster.
Variations
- Make cheesy garlic bread – add shredded Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese or cheddar cheese to the top for the last couple of minutes.
- Use fresh garlic instead of garlic powder, up to 4 cloves. Note that the shelf life will only be about 3 days in the refrigerator with fresh garlic.
- Add a couple of tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, or other fresh herbs, instead of dried parsley.
Storage and reheating
Allow to cool completely before storing. Store leftovers in an airtight container or zip top bag for 3-4 days at room temperature, longer in the fridge. For best results reheat in the toaster, oven or air fryer.
Try these easy recipes too!
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Homemade Texas Toast Garlic Bread (3 Ways)
Ingredients
- 8 thick slices of bread
- ½ cup butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Garlic Butter
- Mix butter, garlic powder, dried parsley and salt together in small bowl.
Butter the bread
- Butter one side of the bread, place buttered side down onto the sheet pan, air fryer basket, or skillet, then butter the other side.
Bake
- Place buttered bread on a rimmed baking sheet and bake in a 375° oven for about 6-7 minutes on the first side, turn over and bake an additional 4-5 minutes, or until golden brown. When checking for doneness be sure to check the sides of the bread that is face down.
Air Fry
- Place buttered bread into the air fryer basket in a single layer, air fry at 380° for 4-5 minutes, flip it over and cook another 2-3 minutes until golden brown.
Pan Fry
- Preheat a large skillet over medium heat, put buttered bread in and cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side.
About Mindy
Mindy has been cooking for over 30 years, starting as a young mother who learned how to create delicious meals on a budget. Today, she shares approachable recipes made with everyday ingredients that are easy, affordable, and family-friendly. Her goal is to show that great food doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive.