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After making these croutons over one hundred times in my own kitchen, I can guarantee that these are the perfect easy homemade croutons. I’ve designed this guide so you can make croutons with any bread (seriously, any type)!
save this recipe!Set aside your preconceived notion of dry, flavorless croutons from a box. These are Sarah’s Famous Croutons. Well, that’s what I call them.
These homemade croutons can be made with any bread, are cooked quickly on the stove, oven, or air fryer, and will elevate any salad recipe from good to great real quick. (They’re just begging to be added to this Vegetarian Caesar Salad!)
Reader rating
you don’t need much
- Bread: You can use just about any leavened bread in this recipe (unleavened breads, like flatbreads, won’t do as well here).
- Oil: I love olive oil for this, but you can also use vegetable oil, sunflower, coconut, or any high-heat oil to make these croutons.
- Salt: A healthy pinch of salt takes these croutons to the next level.
Let’s Talk Bread
You can use just about any leavened type of bread to make croutons.
- Loaf: You can also use a loaf of Italian bread, ciabatta, brioche, a baguette, or you can even use sandwich bread for homemade croutons.
- Crusty Bread: One of my favorites is sourdough, which has an amazing flavor when toasted.
- Soft buns: Bread like slider rolls, hot dog buns, or potato rolls. These have a light and delicate texture after sautéing.
add some flavor
While we love plain toasty croutons, you can also add some flavorful additions to match your salad, like:
- Dried Herbs: Thyme, oregano, and basil are all tasty.
- Spice Blends: You can also use mixes like everything bagel seasoning or Italian seasoning.
- The Classics: There’s nothing like a little onion and garlic powder!
How To Make Homemade Croutons (With Any Bread!)
Ingredients
- 3 heaping cups cut or torn bread, stale or fresh
- 2 to 4 Tbsp olive oil, or any flavorless high-heat oil, 30 to 60 mL
- ⅛ to ¼ tsp salt
- Optional extras: ground black pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, your favorite spice blends
Instructions
- Cut: Cut or tear bread into bite-sized chunks. You can leave the crust on or tear it off, your preference!
- Coat: Add the bread to a large bowl and drizzle with oil and desired seasoning. Toss until most of the bread is coated in oil.
- Cook Option 1 – Oven: Cook in a single layer on a baking sheet at 375°F (190°C) for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Cook Option 2 – Air Fryer: Cook in a single layer in your air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 7 to 9 minutes.
- Cook Option 3 – Stove: Cook in a large saute pan over medium/high heat, jostling the croutons occasionally to evenly cook. They are done when most sides are golden brown and crispy, about 5 to 10 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.
did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!
Yummy! It is easy to make it. Thank you
This is a great recipe. I was looking for something that used bread cubes for stuffing. They are hard already and stale. Any ideas?
You can definitely make croutons out of those! Otherwise you should make this panzanella!
When making them in a skillet, do you preheat the pan or start in a cold pan?
It doesn’t matter much with this recipe! I usually throw them into a cold pan.
You were right. This was seriously easy. Why buy them?
Made these on stovetop this evening. Super easy..won’t be throwing out ends of bread loaves anymore, and won’t be buying those pricey packages of croutons anymore either. Used olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Might add some parmesan cheese and Italian herbs next time. Thanks for telling the show how on how to do this!!
Oh yay! I’m happy this recipe could help you use up those end pieces! Enjoy!! 😀
I made this recipe I added some extra seasoning cavender’s all purpose Greek seasonings, onion powder, garlic powder we really like this recipe and will make it again
So happy you enjoyed them Debbie, happy eating!
good job
-shamalama
YUMMY IN MY TUMMY
YUMMY IN MY TUMMY, very yummy you should try and put in ceaser salad.