Not only are homemade croutons a great way to use leftover stale bread, but I consider them practically a must-have meal topper for a classic Caesar salad, creamy tomato soup, and other salads and soups to add a much-needed crunchy element. Learning how to make homemade croutons is so easy, too. It can be done with almost any bread, only takes 20 minutes, and can be adapted in several ways with different herbs and seasonings. This time, I’ve gone for my tried-and-tested garlic croutons with Italian herbs and optional (but HIGHLY recommended) parmesan. Wow-ee, the flavor! They’re SO much better than hard-as-rock, filling-breaking, often flavorless croutons from grocery stores. These homemade garlic croutons are soft inside, crisp outside, and loaded with flavor. Plus, you can bake the croutons in the oven, in an air-fryer, or pan-fry them (all methods below). In fact, the only issue is trying not to eat them all straight from the jar. Luckily, these homemade croutons are a simple way to add crunch and flavor to soups, salads, and casseroles – so you’ll never run low on ways to enjoy them!
Ingredients
Bread: Use day-old open-crumb bread for the best results, like French baguette, ciabatta, or sourdough. However, white/brown bread (and flavored bread) will also work. Use gluten-free bread if preferred. Olive oil: Use good quality olive oil or other neutral cooking oil. Ghee or melted butter will work, too, for non-vegan croutons. Garlic: Fresh garlic is perfect for infusing the homemade garlic croutons with flavor, though garlic powder will work in a pinch. Italian seasoning: Alternatively, just use one – oregano, thyme, or rosemary. Salt & black pepper: It’s best to use sea salt rather than table salt. Parmesan: (Optional) While optional, adding parmesan cheese helps take these salad croutons to the next level. Nutritional yeast works as a vegan option.
Refer to the Recipe Card Notes for several delicious, flavored crouton suggestions.
What Bread Is Best for Homemade Croutons?
Homemade croutons (along with French toast and bread pudding) are a great way to use up 1-2 day-old stale bread. Technically, almost any bread you have to hand will work – white loaf, whole meal, sourdough, etc. However, I prefer making croutons with French baguette, Italian ciabatta, and sourdough bread. The open crumb structure means plenty of crevices for the seasonings to cling. They also become wonderfully crispy yet not overly hard.
How to Make Homemade Croutons
First, preheat the oven to 350°F/175ºC, moving an oven rack to the middle position. Then mince the garlic and combine it with the oil, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Stir well. Next, cut the bread (using a serrated knife) into even-sized cubes between 1/2 and 3/4 inch in size. This will be harder with rounded loaves but try to get the pieces as even as you can to avoid some under and some over-cooking. While it’s possible to tear the bread to create lots of crevices, the pieces won’t be even and may not cook evenly. Next, mix the cubed bread and seasoning in a large bowl and toss to combine OR spread the bread across a baking sheet (in a single layer), drizzle with the oil mixture, and toss. Bake the croutons for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway, until they’re dry and lightly browned. The cube size, type of bread, and batch size can affect the cooking time slightly, so monitor them in the last few minutes. They will continue to crisp up as they cool. So don’t make the mistake of overbaking them – otherwise, they can become rock-solid. If you’re using parmesan, toss the croutons with them while they’re still warm, then spread them out to thoroughly cool.
Tips for Making Perfect Croutons
Choose the right bread: It’s best to use 1 or 2-day-old bread with a fairly open crumb, like baguette or sourdough. If the bread isn’t dry/stale enough, bake it for 5-10 minutes at 200ºF/95ºC before proceeding with the recipe. For the crispiest croutons: It’s imperative to use enough oil and high enough heat. Monitor the croutons while baking: The size, dryness of the bread, batch size, and your individual oven can all affect the baking time. So monitor them starting at about 12 minutes to avoid burn. 15-20 minutes is the general sweet spot. Allow them to completely cool: Before serving or storing. They will crisp up further as they cool, making them the correct level of sturdiness. Excess heat when storing could also cause steam and premature spoilage. Experiment with flavors: Refer to the Recipe Card Notes below for flavor options. To air fry the croutons: Spread in a single layer and air fry 375ºF/170ºC and cook until crispy and golden brown (usually 6-8 minutes), flipping halfway. To pan-fry croutons: Yes, you can cook them on the stovetop, too. Coat the pan with oil and/or butter and cook over medium heat until crusty and golden all over.
Did you know you can keep bread scraps in a large bag in the freezer until you’re ready to thaw it and make croutons?
How Can I Enjoy Croutons?
There are several ways you can make use of this homemade croutons recipe:
Salads: Anywhere you want to add crunch. I.e., a Caesar salad, Cobb salad, etc. Wraps: Like a Caesar salad wrap. Soups: Creamy tomato soup, gazpacho, Minestrone soup, etc. Scrambled eggs: ditch the toast for a handful of these croutons instead. Stuffing/casseroles: For poultry and during the holidays. As breadcrumbs: Crush up these garlic croutons instead and use them like breadcrumbs to crust proteins, in/over casseroles, sprinkle over pasta, fondue, etc.
How Should I Store Croutons to Keep Them Fresh?
First, make sure they cool COMPLETELY before you store them. Otherwise, residual heat can cause steam and premature spoilage. Once cool, store the croutons in an airtight container (air-free, moisture-free!) at room temperature for 7-10 days. Avoid refrigeration, as that can cause them to become soggy/soft sooner. You can freshen up slightly stale croutons with a few minutes in the oven/air fryer or pan-fry them with a little oil/butter and extra seasonings. You can also freeze the garlic and parmesan croutons for up to 3 months. Then bake them from frozen at 300ºF/150ºC until thawed and crisp once more.
More Bread Recipes
Easy No-Knead Dutch Oven Bread (Crusty Bread) Turmeric Rosemary No-Knead Focaccia Bread Lebanese Markouk Saj Bread Easy Homemade Brioche Bread Recipe
If you try this easy homemade croutons recipe, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
