Homemade Italian Bread Crumbs are a pantry staple that you can make anytime using stale or toasted bread! It's the perfect way to customize your dish with fresh bread crumbs.
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One of our favorite meals in the world is breaded chicken. Once I learned to make it, it became the meal we make all the time when we need something easy, but delicious.
I call it chicken parmesan, but it's basically just a thinly sliced chicken breast that is coated in bread crumbs. There have been many times that I have decided to make this for dinner, only to look in the pantry and there are no bread crumbs to be found.
The thing about bread crumbs though is they are a pantry staple that is SO easy to make.
I have a thing for making things that you can buy from a store homemade sometimes, like this pesto, so naturally adding these bread crumbs to the list of basics that I can make at home was really exciting for me.
So I decided to make my own and now it's the easiest way to make our favorite dinner recipe quickly without having to run back out to the store with a toddler in tow.
The most amazing part of making your own bread crumbs is that you can customize it for whatever recipe you're making.
You can add different spices, add cheese, or just do plain dry breadcrumbs if there are other ingredients that need to be the star of the dish.
What ingredients are in Italian bread crumbs?
- Bread (stale or toasted)
- Parmesan Cheese
- Italian seasoning (basil, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, and thyme)
- Salt & pepper
How do I make homemade bread crumbs?
If you have stale bread, you can use that. Otherwise, toast your bread first. Then pulse your bread, cheese, and seasonings in a food processor until the bread crumbs are as fine as you'd like them to be.
What tools do I need for making homemade bread crumbs?
Food Processor
Toaster
Glass Jars
If you're wondering what you might use bread crumbs for, a few ideas: Panko Crusted Chicken, jalapeño cream cheese dip, baked macaroni and cheese, zucchini fries, baked caprese dip, or these ricotta stuffed sausage meatballs.
Homemade Italian Bread Crumbs
Homemade bread crumbs are an easy substitute when you're out of the store-bought kind. Plus the flavor is fresher and more customizable!
Ingredients
- 2 slices of stale or toasted bread
- ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 2 heaping teaspoons of Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- ½ teaspoon of pepper
Instructions
- If using fresh bread, toast first.
- Combine ingredients in a food processor until bread crumbs are finely ground.
Teresa | Simply Made Fun says
I was JUST talking about homemade bread crumbs in my food allergies group! I love making my own, it's so easy. I never thought to put the cheese in the bread crumb mixture (I always add it after, if I add it at all), but that's so smart!
Erin @ The Speckled Palate says
BRILLIANT, Madison! We love breaded chicken at our home, too, and I cannot wait to make these bread crumbs!