Texans are rightfully proud of their heritage, their history, and of course, their food! Comfort food in Texas looks a bit different than most other places, and we can thank our lucky stars for that! The dishes that were born here are like a big, friendly hug on a plate. Texas simply does comfort food like no other. When you’re in the mood for a little culinary comfort, try one of these recipes from chefs and food bloggers who call Texas home.
Cheese Enchiladas from Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen in Houston
This recipe from Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen in Houston will give you all the feels. The gooey cheese, the rich gravy, and the layers of flavor come together for the perfect comfort meal any time of day. Sylvia Casares, also known as the Enchilada Queen, says, “Combined with my amazing chili gravy, this is the quintessential Tex-Mex enchilada.” For these cheese enchiladas, yellow cheese, such as cheddar, is the traditional choice.
Hatch Green Chile Chicken Spaghetti
If you aren’t cookin’ with hatch green chiles, are you even a Texan?! This creamy, savory meal comes from My Texas Kitchen, a food blog out of Central Texas. This recipe takes traditional spaghetti to a whole new level. It’s given a true Texas makeover by using southwest sauce instead of marinara, a heap of Mexican cheese, potent hatch green chiles, and two full cups of shredded chicken.
Frito Pie with Texas Chili
Is there anything more Texan than Frito pie? We know you’ve eaten this beloved Texas treasure before, but how often do you make it yourself? For comfort food on the go, try this recipe from Lisa Fain from Homesick Texan. Fain is a James Beard award-winning writer and seventh-generation Texan from Dallas. Her one-hour Texas chili is made with ancho chiles, morita chiles, and plenty of spice. The homemade chili is great, but it’s not too fancy to pour right into a bag of Fritos. Dig in!
Chicken Fried Steak from Lambeau’s America in Dallas
Chicken-fried steak is a Texas staple, and we were lucky enough to snag the recipe for one of the best versions in the state from Lambeau’s America near Dallas when we visited this restaurant last year. This is not your average chicken fried steak—the Angus beef cutlet is dipped in a batter made with a local blonde ale and a Cajun spice blend. Yum!
Texas Sheet Cake
You can never go wrong with a Texas sheet cake. Beloved by the young and old, this is a true taste of Texas and the perfect dessert for a crowd. This recipe from Serene Herrera with Dallas-based food blog House of Yumm, is easy and delicious. She uses brewed coffee in the cake to enhance the chocolate flavor. You can also top it with chopped pecans. A tip from Herrera: Pour the icing over the cake while the cake is still warm. She writes, “This is crucial to ensure that the icing soaks into the cake nicely. The end result will be a rich, fudgy cake texture.”
Connie’s Queso from Craft Grill in Tomball
Craft Grill in Tomball serves up classic southern dishes with a Texas twist. This queso is named after Connie, the wife of one of the owners. Many of the dishes at Craft Grill come from the hours that Connie spends pouring over old Southern recipes that she localizes with a Texas twist. This queso uses 12 ounces of white American cheese and four ounces of your choice of Monterey Jack, fontina, gouda, or provolone. It’s a winner!
King Ranch Casserole
Thanks to store-bought rotisserie chicken and ready-made pico de gallo, this king ranch casserole will be a weeknight favorite. This recipe from A Pleasant Little Kitchen, a food blog in Dallas curated by Rebecca White, calls for a homemade bechamel that only adds about 10 minutes to the prep time. White omits canned soup and uses fresh ingredients instead, which makes this comfort food star a little healthier. Her advice for a dish you’ll want over and over again is to hold back on the cheese. Too much will make it greasy. She writes, “The star of this casserole should be the flavors of the pico, chicken, and tortillas.”
Ancho Fudge Pie from Z’Tejas in Austin
When we featured Z’Tejas in Austin on Goodtaste back in 2018, we didn’t know we’d still be talking about their ancho fudge pie five years later. But here we are! This rich, decadent dessert from Z’Tejas is for all you chocolate lovers out there, but you gotta’ like a little spice too … because the ancho chili in this pie gives it a Texas-sized kick! The pecans add yet another layer of Texas flair. This one is a showstopper!
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