How To Make Homemade Croutons (With Any Bread!)
These easy homemade croutons are perfectly crispy and customizable—tested 100+ times to work with any bread you have on hand!
Servings: 6 servings
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.
Video
Notes
Breads good for croutons: Italian bread, sourdough, ciabatta, brioche, a baguette, or the everyday kind of sandwich bread.
If using very fresh bread (as opposed to stale), you may need to cook them a little longer.
Store croutons in the fridge in an airtight container with a paper towel. You can store croutons for 5 to 7 days (may need to be thrown back in the pan right before eating to become crispy again).
To freeze, place croutons in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. When ready to eat, throw them back in the pan to reheat for a few minutes. This is my preferred way of storing them!
To make croutons with less oil, use a spray bottle to evenly coat the pieces.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving (1/2 cup) | Calories: 86kcal | Carbohydrates: 7.7g | Protein: 2.4g | Fat: 5.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.8g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 139mg | Potassium: 46mg | Fiber: 1.3g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 0.5mg
