Homemade Croutons
Say goodbye to the stale store-bought croutons that taste like cardboard. Homemade croutons are one of the easiest things to make and are a great way to use up bread. These crunchies will take your salads and soups to the next level. From now on, you can have crispy croutons for (almost) free!
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Homemade Croutons Recipe
I am always looking for ways to jazz up an ordinary garden salad. I started making sourdough bread a few years ago, and I've been making my own croutons with the day old bread. Let me tell you, my leafy green salads have never tasted better.
I like to make a big ol' grilled chicken salad and topping it with a heaping serving of crunchy and flavorful fresh croutons and a drizzle of whatever dressing I have on hand. It tastes exactly like something I would order at a mom-and-pop restaurant, and that just brings a smile to my face!
Making a fresh batch of homemade croutons will forever ruin you for anything else. So fair warning! Once you make these, you just can't go back. (But that's okay because they're incredibly easy to throw together.)
Why You'll Love this Recipe
Here are just a few of the reasons why this recipe is worth making:
Considering how expensive groceries are, you'll appreciate that this recipe eliminates food waste. You can make croutons with day-old or even partially stale bread!
Of course, the flavor and texture of homemade croutons is so much better than store bought.
If you have dietary restrictions, you'll really appreciate this recipe! You can make sure you use ingredients that fit your preferences and/or allergies.
Ingredients
These simple ingredients are all you need to make this easy crouton recipe. Five ingredients and a few kitchen tools to make the most tasty croutons: bread, oil, salt, black pepper and some kind of seasoning.
Bread: For the bread, it doesn't matter if you use homemade bread or bread from the store. It works with sandwich bread, ciabatta rolls or an artisan boule. Whatever you have is good! It can even be on the stale side.
Oil: Instead of olive oil, you can use any neutral-tasting oil such as avocado oil or vegetable oil. Melted butter is also delicious.
Seasonings: Try other flavors of herbs and spices to make these your own. Feel free to use dried herbs or some finely chopped fresh herbs (like rosemary, oregano, parsley or basil) in this recipe too.
Flavored croutons
Italian croutons: If you have Italian seasoning, you can use that to season the croutons. Homemade pizza seasoning would be good to season these crunchy little bites too! You could also throw in some Parmesan cheese for a little bite.
Garlic croutons Make garlic croutons by adding some garlic powder or fresh garlic into the mix when tossing the cubes of bread with oil and seasoning.
You can use either fresh bread or stale bread to make fresh croutons. Just make sure to check leftover bread for mold before using it.
How to Make Homemade Croutons
Scroll down to the recipe card for the full instructions! ⬇️
Jump to Recipe
- Before you start, turn on your oven so it can preheat, then line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper. Now, use a knife to cut the bread into evenly sized cubes. Don't worry if they're perfect cubes or not - the point is to make them all close to the same size.
- Now, place the bread cubes into a large bowl and toss them with olive oil, salt, pepper, and any other seasoning you want to use.
- Dump the seasoned cubes of bread onto your lined baking sheet.
- Use your hands to spread them into a single layer. If a couple of them overlap that's fine. Now, pop the pan into the oven and bake until each bread piece is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
- Top your favorite salad with fresh crunchy croutons and enjoy!
Storing
Allow croutons to cool completely to room temperature before storing. Transfer leftover croutons to an airtight container or zip top plastic bag. Store at room temp in a cool, dry place for up to 2 weeks.
You can also freeze homemade croutons! Store in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to two months. Allow to thaw before eating.
Uses for Homemade Croutons
Of course, you can always use these crispy cubes of bread on a garden salad, but I especially love them on grilled chicken salad (pictured here). Pair them with any of your other favorite salad toppings.
My kids love to add them to fresh tomato soup or loaded baked potato soup. They'd be tasty in minestrone soup too!
If your homemade croutons are nearing the end of their shelf life, throw them into a food processor and make some delicious bread crumbs!
Madison's Pro Tips
Making croutons is very easy, but here are my tips to ensure that they turn out perfectly for you:
- Spread out the seasoned bread pieces into a single layer on the prepared baking sheet so that they bake evenly.
- If you do not have parchment paper, then grease the baking sheet well with non-stick cooking spray.
- Buy discounted day-old bread. A French baguette that is a day or two old will make perfect homemade croutons! Not to mention, you'll save a bit of money. Look in the bakery section of your grocery store.
FAQs
To keep the fresh croutons crispy and crunchy, make sure they are stored correctly. If you store in a plastic bag, be sure to squeeze all of the air out first. Storing in an airtight container will likely keep the croutons fresh a little longer.
If you end up with croutons that have not crisped up, you likely had too many cubes of bread on one baking sheet. Make sure that your sheet pan is large enough to spread the unbaked croutons out and leave space between them. If you don't, then the build up of heat could steam the bread keeping it soft and making the croutons soggy.
Did you make this recipe?
If you make and love this recipe, please leave a ★★★★★ review below! It means so much to me when you try my recipes, and I'd love to know how it goes. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions.
Homemade Croutons
Ingredients
- 2 cups cubed bread about ¼ standard loaf or 6 ounces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning or pizza seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (20°C) and line a baking sheet in parchment paper.
- Slice your favorite bread into cubes using a sharp knife.
- Place the bread into a mixing bowl and add Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and olive oil.
- Toss the bread until evenly coated.
- Spread the unbaked croutons onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- Allow to cool, then serve on top of your favorite salad or soup!
Equipment
Nutrition
Other Salads and Salad Toppings
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