How to make Homemade Croutons with just 4 simple ingredients. This crouton recipe is so much better than store bought! Use in salads, soups, stuffing or just eat them straight off the pan.
Like just about everyone else in the country right now, I’ve been hunkered down baking a lot of bread. I finally got my sourdough starter to take off, and since then, I’ve been pulling it out of the fridge weekly, feeding it, and baking up two loaves of bread every Sunday. It’s become my new normal, and I’m kind of loving it.
I mean, nothing beats the smell of fresh baked bread, right?
If you’re anything like me, and you have loads of bread on your hands, or even if you just have a few nubs of a store-bought loaf, you should definitely be making these homemade croutons. This crouton recipe is the perfect way to use up stale bread. And it’s super simple too.
The hardest part of this crouton recipe may be trying not to eat them all straight off your baking sheet. You can use these homemade croutons for caesar salad, tomato soup, cold cucumber soup and chili. They also make a killer stuffing. Or, give them a few pulses in your food processor to make breadcrumbs.
Homemade croutons ingredients:
To make this simple crouton recipe, you’ll need these ingredients:
- Bread
- Olive Oil
- Italian Seasoning
- Garlic Powder
- Salt and Pepper
The best bread for croutons:
You can use any bread that you have on hand to make homemade croutons. Ideally, it will be a day or two old. A hearty loaf, with an airy crumb, like sourdough, makes for extra crispy croutons. But you can also make these croutons with a french baguette, ciabatta, dinner rolls, even hot dog buns. Whatever bread you use, don’t cut off the crust, that’s what gives those croutons their great texture.
How do you make croutons from scratch?
- Dice your bread. Cut bread into ¾-inch cubes with a serrated knife. Aim for your pieces to be similar in size so that they’ll cook at the same rate.
- Toss with olive oil. Toss bread cubes in olive oil to coat evenly, this will ensure your spices stick.
- Sprinkle on spices. Sprinkle spices on the oiled bread cubes and toss to combine.
- Spread on baking sheet. Arrange bread cubes on a parchment paper lined baking sheet in a single layer.
- Bake until crispy. Bake 10-15 minutes, tossing halfway through.
How to make seasoned croutons:
As written, this crouton recipe is delicious. However, if you’d like to add more flavor to your croutons, here are some great add-in ideas:
- Parmesan cheese
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Parsley
- Cumin
- Nutritional yeast
- Lemon zest
- Red pepper flakes
- Sesame seeds
How to store homemade croutons:
- Let croutons cool completely then store in a sealed container or ziploc bag.
How long do homemade croutons last?
- Homemade croutons will keep for up to two weeks.
Can I freeze homemade croutons?
- Yes! Freeze croutons for up to two months. To use, bake in a 300 degree oven until thawed and crispy.
Substitute Crushed Croutons for Bread Crumbs
- Give croutons a few pulses in a food processor or blender to create breadcrumbs. Then use them in tasty recipes like these Turkey Swedish Meatballs, Shake N Bake Pork Chops, Stuffed Artichoke Hearts, Radicchio Salad or Easy Tuna Casserole.
More homemade recipes:
- Easy Homemade Naan Recipe
- Homemade Baked Tortilla Chips
- Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing Recipe
- Homemade Pretzel Bites
- Homemade Energy Bars with Dark Chocolate
- Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing Recipe
- Homemade Shake N Bake Pork Chops + VIDEO
Crouton Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups bread (cut into ¾ inch cubes)
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add bread cubes to a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Toss to coat. Sprinkle in Italian seasoning, garlic power, salt and pepper. Toss to coat.
- Spread the bread cubes out in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Bake until golden, tossing halfway through, about 15-20 minutes, keeping an eye on them so they don’t burn.
- Remove from oven, and let cool.
Notes
- Let croutons cool completely then store in a sealed container or ziploc bag.
- Homemade croutons will keep for up to two weeks.
Equipment
Nutrition
Watch the homemade crouton web story here.
These croutons are so easy to make and are yummy with so many salads! Love that they freeze well too!
Can there be a single recipe made after January 2020 that doesn’t remind me how stupid and gullible the general population is to allow themselves to be locked up and suffocated for over a year?
This is truly a stupid comment.
Wat
Wow! Fantastic croutons! Easy and quick too!
Delicious and flavorful! I actually made them in the air fryer and they turned out fantastic. Thank you for a great recipe.
That’s a great idea Sarah!
These are the best! I will never buy croutons again. Everyone that has tasted them love them. I would just watch the time on them. Mine have cooked in under 15 minutes. So easy make.
Thanks Lynn!
Thanks for an easy and flavorful recipe!
You’re welcome Shelly!
These became a staple in our house immediately! I don’t know how I ever lived without them!
Thanks Jody!
Easy and delicious! Great way to use up day old bread or ends of a loaf!
Thank you Denise!
What kind of bread do you recommend ?
Hi Shylee – You can use any bread that you have on hand to make homemade croutons. Ideally, it will be a day or two old. A hearty loaf, with an airy crumb, like sourdough, makes for extra crispy croutons. But you can also make these croutons with a french baguette, ciabatta, dinner rolls, even hot dog buns. Whatever bread you use, don’t cut off the crust, that’s what gives those croutons their great texture.
Mine turned out wonderfully on the first try. I had been making homemade bread faster than we could eat it so tried this. Will definiy make again and again!
Dean C.
Mesquite, TX
Thank you Dean!