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Texas Trash Pie is a sweet-and-salty Texas dessert loaded with chocolate, pecans, coconut, pretzels, and caramel. Bake it in the oven or smoker for an unforgettable pie that’s perfect for cookouts, potlucks, church suppers, and family gatherings.

Texas Trash Pie

Some desserts are elegant.

Texas Trash Pie is not one of them.

And that’s exactly why I love it.

Growing up near the Texas border, I learned that Texans don’t spend much time worrying about whether a recipe is fancy. We care about whether it tastes good, feeds a crowd, and leaves people asking for seconds.

Texas Trash Pie checks every box.

This pie reminds me a lot of those “everything but the kitchen sink” recipes that somehow become family favorites. It’s got chocolate, pecans, pretzels, coconut, caramel, graham crackers, sweetened condensed milk, and a flaky pie crust holding it all together. On paper, it sounds like chaos. In reality, it’s one of the most delicious desserts you’ll ever pull from the oven.

The best part? No two Texas Trash Pies are exactly alike.

The batch I made included leftover caramel bits from another project, mini chocolate chips, and a homemade pie crust passed down through my wife’s family. Grandma Shirley is no longer with us, but her simple pie dough recipe still finds its way onto our table. That little piece of family history made this pie even more special.

Texas Trash Pie feels right at home at backyard cookouts, church potlucks, tailgates, family reunions, and holiday gatherings. It’s rich, sweet, salty, crunchy, chewy, and just plain fun. In fact, I think this might be the most conversational dessert I’ve ever made.

Set it on a dessert table and somebody is guaranteed to ask: “What all did you throw in there?”

The answer is simple. A little bit of everything. And somehow, that’s what makes it so Texas.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Sweet, salty, crunchy, and gooey all at once
• Great way to use pantry staples and leftovers
• Easy to customize
• Perfect for potlucks and family gatherings
• Delicious at room temperature
• Can be baked in the oven or on a smoker
• Pure Texas comfort food

Ingredients

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here’s a look at what you’re going to need. These are simple ingredients you might already have on hand in your pantry or refrigerator.

• 1 deep-dish pie crust
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup chopped pretzels
• 1 cup graham cracker pieces
• 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
• 1 cup pecan pieces
• 1 cup caramel bits
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• ½ cup melted butter

Note: Follow the link above to get Grandma Shirley’s pie crust recipe!

How to Make Texas Trash Pie

This comes together so easily. Whether you bake it in the oven or on the smoker, you’ll be surprised as how easily this one bakes up.

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Make sure your cast iron skillet is greased and ready. Place a round of parchment paper on the bottom. I made mine slightly larger and clipped slits into the edge so that it would go up the sides an inch or so.

If you’re making the pie crust from scratch, this is the time to get it ready. You’ll find our great family recipe here. (This pie takes about 2/3 of this dough so you’ll have plenty left over for another project.)

Make sure the dough is rolled out and ready.

Place it into the prepared cast iron skillet. Crimp edges and poke the bottom with the tines of a fork.

Combine chocolate chips, pretzels, graham crackers, coconut, pecans, and caramel bits in a large mixing bowl.

Stir in sweetened condensed milk and melted butter until evenly coated.

Spoon mixture into prepared pie crust.

Bake for 35-45 minutes or until golden brown and set.

Cool before slicing and serving.

Cast Iron Skillet vs. Pie Dish

Since this is Backyard Texas Grill, I decided to bake my pie in a 10-inch cast iron skillet. If you prefer a deep dish pie plate, have at it!

I love the rustic presentation and the way cast iron develops a beautifully golden crust. But I had one concern: sticking.

This pie contains sweetened condensed milk, chocolate, caramel, and plenty of sugar. Those ingredients create the rich, gooey texture that makes Texas Trash Pie famous, but they can also become sticky as they bake.

As I mentioned above, to give myself a little insurance, I placed a round of parchment paper in the bottom of my skillet before pressing in the pie crust. The parchment won’t affect the bake, but it makes serving much easier.

For those planning to bake this pie on a smoker, I especially recommend using parchment in a cast iron skillet. The extended cooking time can encourage even more caramelization around the bottom edges.

Smoker Method

One of my favorite things about this pie is that it can be made outdoors.

To bake Texas Trash Pie on a pellet grill or smoker:

• Preheat smoker to 350°F.
• Place pie over indirect heat.
• Bake for approximately 40-50 minutes.
• Loosely tent the crust with foil if it begins browning too quickly.
• Remove when the filling is bubbling and the top is golden brown.

The smoke flavor will be subtle, but it adds a little extra backyard character to an already great dessert.

How to Serve Texas Trash Pie

While you can serve this pie warm, I actually prefer it after it has cooled.

As the pie rests, the caramel, chocolate, and sweetened condensed milk settle into a chewy, gooey texture that’s hard to beat.

That’s one reason Texas Trash Pie is such a great dessert for summer cookouts. You can bake it earlier in the day, let it cool on the counter, and serve it whenever everyone is ready for dessert.

Of course, if you want to go full Texas, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

What to Expect from this Pie

It’s kind of hard to know where to begin, describing this one, folks. It’s rich. Very, very, very rich. And it’s loaded with texture. The pecans and pretzels bake up with an amazing crunch. The chocolate chips? Man, that might be the best part. They melt, of course, as the pie bakes. And it kind of oozes out all over the rest of the ingredients.

I wasn’t sure how the graham crackers would work, but they might have been my favorite part. They merged forces with the sweetened condensed milk and served as a glue to hold everything else together.

Could I eat this every day? No. It’s too rich for that. But, could I have a piece after a bit plate of BBQ?

You betcha.

Variations

The beauty of Texas Trash Pie is that it’s flexible.

Try adding:

• Toffee bits
• White chocolate chips
• Butterscotch chips
• Peanut butter chips
• Chopped peanuts
• Additional pecans
• Crushed vanilla wafers
• Biscoff cookies (in place of graham crackers)

Use what you have on hand.

That’s part of the Texas Trash Pie tradition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use mini chocolate chips?

Absolutely. Mini chocolate chips distribute evenly throughout the filling and melt beautifully. Use whatever chocolate you have available.

Can I use milk chocolate instead of semi-sweet?

Yes. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or a combination of chocolates all work well.

Should Texas Trash Pie be served warm or cold?

I think it’s best served at room temperature after it has cooled completely. The filling sets up beautifully while remaining chewy and rich.

Can I bake Texas Trash Pie in a 9×13-inch pan?

Yes. This recipe works well in a 9×13-inch baking dish and can be cut into bars after cooling. It’s a great option for potlucks, church suppers, and feeding a crowd.

Is Texas Trash Pie similar to Magic Bars?

Very much so. Both desserts combine sweetened condensed milk with a variety of sweet mix-ins. Texas Trash Pie adds a distinctly Texas twist with pecans, pretzels, caramel, and a pie crust.

Can I freeze Texas Trash Pie?

Yes. Wrap tightly and freeze for up to three months.

More Texas-Inspired Desserts You’ll Love

If you enjoy Texas Trash Pie, be sure to check out some of our other favorite Texas desserts:

• Texas Sheet Cake
• Texas Sheet Cake Cookies with Fudge Pecan Icing
• Texas Sheet Cake Skillet Brownies
• Old-Fashioned Cowboy Cookies
• Fudgy Pecan Pie
• Easy Caramel Pecan Pralines
• Easy Skillet Cookie on the Grill
• Cast Iron Peach Dump Cake on the Grill

Texas may be famous for brisket and barbecue, but we’ve got a sweet tooth, too.

Final Thoughts

Texas Trash Pie isn’t fancy. It’s better than fancy. It’s the kind of dessert that gets passed around at church potlucks, carried to family reunions, shared at backyard cookouts, and talked about long after the last slice disappears. A little bit sweet. A little bit salty. A little bit messy. And completely Texas.

Thanks for stopping by. If you make this pie and love it, please leave a comment or review. Before you go, why not pin some photos to your Pinterest boards?

About Zach

Zach may be best known around here for firing up the grill, but he believes every great meal deserves a great dessert. Whether he’s smoking a brisket, grilling burgers for the family, or sharing one of his favorite sweet treats, Zach loves simple recipes that bring people together. His approach is straightforward: good food, quality ingredients, and plenty of time spent around the table with family and friends.