50 Mouth-Watering Texas Foods You Can Make at Hone (2024)

Home Recipes Cuisines North America Southwest

Updated: Oct. 11, 2023

Get a taste of The Lone Star State with these classic Texas foods. Many come right from the recipe boxes of Texan home cooks!

1/50

Favorite Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Tart

I grew up in Louisiana where, as in most of the South, pecan pie is a staple. This tart variation is extra good because it includes chocolate. I decided to up the decadence even more by adding bourbon and drizzling some caramel on top. —Amber Needham, San Antonio, Texas

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2/50

TMB Studio

Texas Twinkies

This appetizer is similar to jalapeno poppers, but the recipe calls for meat and barbecue sauce, making the dish a bit more hearty. Texas Twinkies are a great tailgate snack, cookout app or even a side dish if you like to add heat to your weeknight dinners.

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3/50

As a child, I learned from my grandmother how to make these chicken-fried steaks. I taught my daughters, and when my granddaughters are older, I’ll show them, too. —Donna Cater, Fort Ann, New York

4/50

Pressure-Cooker Easy Pork Posole

Looking for a meal in a bowl? Sit down to a Mexican classic full of cubed pork, sliced sausage. hominy and more. It all goes into the pressure cooker, so you can come home at night and dinner is ready in a flash. —Greg Fontenot, The Woodlands, TX

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Risa Lichtman for Taste of Home

Texas Toast Garlic Bread

Why have regular garlic bread when you could have buttery, herby Texas toast instead?

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6/50

Green Chile Brunch Bake

It’s easy to make this ahead of time in a 13×9-inch pan. It is filling, is perfect for a crowd and helps out busy parents. —Trista Thinnes, Fort Worth, Texas

7/50

Slow-Cooked Barbecued Beef Sandwiches

Chuck roast makes delicious shredded beef sandwiches after simmering in a rich, homemade sauce all day. The meat is tender and juicy and takes minutes to prepare for a weeknight dinner or potluck. —Tatina Smith, San Angelo, Texas

8/50

Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home

Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites

Make Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites at home with this easy recipe that uses just a few simple ingredients.

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9/50

Dr Pepper Sheet Cake

When we visited the Dr Pepper museum in Dublin, Texas, I bought a Dr Pepper cake mix. It was so delicious that I decided to come up with my own sheet cake version. It’s become a family favorite. —Karen Daigle, Burleson, Texas

10/50

Quick Tacos al Pastor

We loved the pork and pineapple tacos from a food truck in Hawaii. My husband, a high school football referee, gives my version a thumbs-up. —Lori McLain, Denton, Texas

11/50

Favorite Barbecued Chicken

Is there a place better than Texas to find a fantastic barbecue sauce? That’s where this one is from—it’s my father-in-law’s own recipe. We have served it at many family reunions and think it’s the best! —Bobbie Morgan, Woodstock, Georgia

12/50

Daughter's Apple Crisp

My mom’s apple crisp is the best in all of Texas, honest! I tweaked it slightly, though, and now I spend less time in the kitchen and more time catching up with my spry 92-year-young mother. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

13/50

Chili con Queso

Years ago, my husband invented this gooey cheese dip. I may be biased, but I have to say it's excellent. If you like heat, rev it up with finely chopped jalapenos. —Patricia Leinheiser, Albuquerque, New Mexico

14/50

Lauren Habermehl for taste of home

Texas Roadhouse Butter

Hold the steak, hold the loaded baked potato and hold the Cactus Blossom. The real reason we go to Texas Roadhouse is for their fresh rolls and creamy whipped Texas Roadhouse butter.

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15/50

Texas Stew

I love to experiment with many different types of recipes. But as a mother of young children, I rely on family-friendly ones more and more. Everyone enjoys this stew. —Kim Balstad, Lewisville, Texas

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Maple Glaze for Doughnuts

Cider doughnuts are a tradition in Vermont, but here in Texas, we love maple flavors, too. Our maple glaze of choice features delicious maple syrup. —Barbara Elliott, Tyler, Texas

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Texas Jalapeno Jelly

A jar of this sweet and spicy jelly is always warmly appreciated. To add an extra southwestern accent, I trim the lid with a snappy bandanna print fabric. —Lori McMullen, Victoria, Texas

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Easy Shrimp Tacos

I love preparing these easy shrimp tacos. Hatch chiles are a staple ingredient in my home state of Texas, and this was the very first recipe that I conquered with them. Mix and match your favorite toppings—salsa and avocado would be perfect additions. —Deborah Jamison, Austin, Texas

19/50

Texas-Style Lasagna

With its spicy flavor, this dish is a real crowd-pleaser. It's wonderful with side servings of picante sauce, guacamole and tortilla chips.— Effie Gish, Fort Worth, Texas

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Baked Chicken Chalupas

I wanted an easy alternative to deep-fried chalupas, so I bake them with filling on top. —Magdalena Flores, Abilene, Texas

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Fresh Lime Margaritas

This basic fresh margarita recipe is easy to modify to your tastes. Try it frozen or with strawberries. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Texas Black Bean Soup

This hearty meatless stew made with convenient canned items is perfect for spicing up a family gathering on a cool day. It tastes as if it's made with love and yet it requires so little time and attention. —Pamela Scott, Garland, Texas.

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Buttermilk Pecan Pie

This is the treasured "golden oldie" that my grandmother made so often whenever we'd come to visit. Grandma grew her own pecans, and we never tired of cracking them and picking out the meat when we knew we'd be treated to her special pie! —Mildred Sherrer, Fort Worth, Texas

24/50

Pecan Raisin Bread

We love raisin bread and also enjoy the nutty flavor of pecans, so I decided to combine the two for this delectable loaf. It smells terrific and the taste…oh-so good! —Lora Sexton, Wellington, Texas

25/50

Texas Taco Dip Platter

When I'm entertaining, this colorful dish is my top menu choice. My friends can't resist the hearty appetizer topped with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and olives. —Kathy Young, Weatherford, Texas

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Texas Chicken Spaghetti

This recipe for Texas chicken spaghetti was given to me years ago by a favorite sister-in-law, a wonderful cook. My whole family has the recipe and enjoys it too. It is easy to freeze or it can be made the day before and kept in the fridge. You can use two cans of cream of mushroom soup instead of one mushroom and one chicken. —Virginia Chamblin, Youngsville, Louisiana

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Chocolate-Peanut Butter Sheet Cake

I love peanut butter and chocolate, so I combined recipes to blend the two. This chocolate peanut butter cake is heavenly served plain or topped with ice cream. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas

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Grilled Steak Fajitas

This tasty main dish is as quick and easy to assemble as tacos. Marinating the meat overnight makes it very tender. We like the hearty and flavorful steak slices. I serve the fajitas with Spanish rice, refried beans and a gelatin dessert. —Pamela Pogue, Quitman, Texas

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Old-Time Custard Ice Cream

I think my most memorable summertime dessert for get-togethers has always been homemade ice cream. This recipe is so rich and creamy and is the perfect splurge on a hot summer afternoon. —Martha Self, Montgomery, Texas

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Albondigas

My Grandmother Trinidad loved making this albondigas recipe. We like to serve it over tostadas sprinkled with raw cabbage. —Wanda Knutson, Waco, Texas

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Salsa Roja

Preparing homemade salsa lets you alter the flavor to fit your palate. Whip this easy snack together and serve with fresh veggies or. my favorite, lime tortilla chips. —Amber Massey, Coppell, Texas

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Handy Sausage Biscuits

These are similar to old-fashioned biscuits made from scratch, but they're even better thanks to the tasty sausage throughout. It's almost impossible to stop eating them. I like to serve these biscuits with an egg dish or soup. —Nancy Parker, Seguin, Texas

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Smooth Sweet Tea

A pinch of baking soda eliminates bitterness in this smooth and easy-to-sip tea and it has just the right amount of sugar so it's not overly sweet. —kelseylouise, Taste of Home Community Member

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Chunky Chipotle Pork Chili

My leftover pulled pork chili recipe is a busy cook’s dream. Make it ahead and reheat later—it’s even better the second day. —Peter Halferty, Corpus Christi, Texas

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Flavorful Green Rice

Green onions and parsley give this green rice its name, but the appealing flavor is what makes it memorable. —Karin Bailey, Golden Colorado

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Texas Pecan Pralines

My pecan praline recipe is special to me for I received it from my mother, who was an excellent cook! I also am a Texas Aggie Mom and I use pecans from a South Texas Aggie grower that our Aggie Mom's club has purchased from for many years. The quality is outstanding and far better than you will find in any grocery store. —Carol Jones, Blue Ridge, Texas

37/50

Texas-Style BBQ Sauce

We love a Texas BBQ sauce with all the right moves: ketchup, mustard, lemon juice, chili powder, Worcestershire and brown sugar. —Sandy Klocinski, Summerville, South Carolina

38/50

Chicken Tamales

I love making these homemade tamales. They take a little time to make but are so worth the effort. I usually make them for Christmas, but my family wants them more often, so I freeze a big batch. —Cindy Pruitt, Grove, Oklahoma

39/50

Homemade Tortillas

I usually have to double this flour tortilla recipe because we go through them so quickly. The homemade tortillas are so tender and chewy, you’ll never use store-bought again after learning how to make tortillas. —Kristin Van Dyken, Kennewick, Washington

40/50

Texas Tumbleweeds

Tumbleweeds blow across the roads in some parts of Texas, and I think these cute stacks look like them. I've been making these sweets with my sister for years. —Karen Lemay, Seabrook, Texas

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Frito Pie

Frito pie is legendary in the Southwest for being spicy, salty and cheesy fabulous. Here’s my easy take on this crunchy classic. —Jan Moon, Alamogordo, New Mexico

42/50

I made these pickles while growing up and love them because you can eat them with just about anything. Now, both of my children love these pickles too. I think you'll enjoy them as much as we do! —Linda Weger, Robinson, Illinois

43/50

Texas-Style Brisket

This is the quintessential Texas-style brisket. Even my husband’s six-generation Texas family is impressed by it! Grilling with wood chips takes a little extra effort, but I promise you’ll be glad you did. Each bite tastes like heaven on a plate. —Renee Morgan, Taylor, Texas

44/50

Tangy Texas Salsa

I'm a "transplant" from Wisconsin currently living in Texas. Even after 20 years, I can't get enough of our wonderful local citrus. This is one way to work it into a main dish. The combination of tangy fruit, spicy jalapeno and distinctive cilantro is perfect over any meat, poultry or fish. We also dip into it with chips. —Lois Kildahl, McAllen, Texas

45/50

Tex-Mex Dip

Sit back and relax with your family while enjoying this creamy dip. Colorful and festive, it's easy to put together ahead of time, which makes it perfect for game day. — Mary Anne McWhirter, Pearland, Texas

46/50

Pecan-Cornbread Dressing

Plenty of pecans and bacon give this stuffing a unique flavor, while using a packaged mix cuts down on the preparation time. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

47/50

Bohemian Kolaches

This kolache recipe was given to me by my mother-in-law, who received it from her mother! It was a standard treat in their family, made nearly every week. Now I make these kolaches for my own family for special occasions. —Maxine Hron, Quincy, Illinois

48/50

Chipotle Chicken with Spanish Rice

Chipotle peppers add smoky heat to this zippy chicken and rice dish. Chop up leftovers and stuff into bell peppers for a tasty twist. —Carolyn Collins, Freeport, Texas

49/50

Beef 'n' Bean Torta

This zesty dish is a favorite of mine because it has a wonderful Southwestern taste and is easy to prepare. I serve it on nights when we have only a few minutes to eat before running off to meetings or sports events. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

50/50

Classic Texas Caviar

I adapted this texas caviar from one in a cookbook I received a long time ago, and now, I can't imagine a get-together at my house without this quick and healthy appetizer. —Becky Oliver, Fairplay, Colorado

Originally Published: August 29, 2017