Homemade Croutons
on Jul 22, 2024, Updated Aug 14, 2024
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Add a savory crunch to your next salad with these Homemade Croutons! These croutons are coated in a flavorful blend of spices and toasted to perfection in no time.
Who doesn’t love croutons? They are one of the best things about any salad bar, and with this recipe, you can throw them together in minutes! Using a loaf of old bread and a handful of pantry staples you can create the perfect crispy topping for your next Caesar salad, chef salad, shaved Brussels Sprout Salad, or grilled chicken salad!
We love being able to customize this recipe with a variety of oils and spices to get a new and exciting flavor. Whether you use our spice blend or your own, these croutons are sure to be a big hit!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- The buttery biscuits compliment the rich filling perfectly.
- You can use any combination of veggies in your filling.
- This dish comes together in under an hour.
Recipe Ingredients
- Bread—We like to use French bread, but any kind of bread will work.
- Olive Oil—Helps the seasonings adhere to the bread. You can also use coconut or avocado oil.
- Slice Blend—A flavorful blend of Italian seasoning, sea salt, and garlic powder.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Croutons
Step #1. Preheat your oven and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step #2. Dice your bread into small pieces and place them in a large mixing bowl along with the olive oil and spice blend. Fold until combined.
Step #3. Fill the baking sheet with croutons and bake until golden brown and crunchy.
Step #4. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
Feel free to use whatever bread you have on hand! Making a batch of homemade croutons is a great way to repurpose a loaf of bread that is close to expiring. Our favorite kind of bread to use is French bread, but wheat bread is a close second. Since you are going to dice the bread into small cubes, you can use anything from sandwich bread to leftover dinner rolls. As long as the bread will absorb the olive oil and crisp up in the oven then you are good to go.
Make sure that your bread is evenly coated in oil before throwing your pan in the oven. The olive oil helps give the croutons that beautiful golden brown color and delicious crunch that you are looking for. If your bread is not evenly coated in oil then it will not crisp up very well. You also want to make sure that your oven is completely preheated. The high temperature of the oven will help ensure your croutons crisp up quickly.
If your croutons have gone stale then don’t worry! You can still save them. Throw your croutons back on a baking sheet and throw them in the oven for 4 minutes at 400°F. This will help crisp your croutons without cooking them anymore.
How to Store Your Croutons
One of our favorite parts about these croutons is how easy they are to store! Simply allow your croutons to cool down completely and then throw them in an airtight container or Ziploc bag. Make sure that they are completely cool to the touch. If they are warm when you store them then the moisture will cause your croutons to soften a little bit and prevent them from lasting as long.
Expert Tips
- Feel free to use these croutons as soon as they come out of the oven or allow them to cool. If you want to help them cool down faster, you can transfer your croutons to a wire rack.
- Don’t worry about overcrowding the baking sheet with bread. If the croutons start to spill over the sides of the sheet then you can cook them in two separate batches or use two baking sheets at once.
- Other seasonings you can use include dried basil, onion powder, and grated parmesan cheese.
- If you don’t have olive oil then you can use canola, vegetable, avocado, or coconut oil. Avocado or coconut oil will make the best substitute if you have them available.
- For an extra crunchy crouton, you can broil them on high for 2-3 minutes once they finish baking.
- French bread and wheat bread work the best in this recipe, but feel free to use whatever you have on hand!
Salad Recipes To Consider
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Homemade Croutons
Ingredients
- 5 cups diced bread
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Make sure that your bread is cut into small pieces. We like to cut the bread into one inch cubes. Transfer your bread to a large mixing bowl and add the olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt, and garlic powder. Use a large spoon or spatula to fold the ingredients together until the bread is evenly coated.
- Spread your bread out over the baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, or until the croutons are golden brown.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- The croutons will finish crisping up as they cool down to room temperature.
- Your croutons don’t need to be spread into one layer on the baking sheet. If they are spilling over the sides of the pan then you can use two sheets instead.
- Other seasonings you can use include dried basil, onion powder, and Parmesan cheese.
- You can store these croutons in a Ziploc bag or airtight Rubbermaid container for up to a week on the counter.
- For an extra crunchy crouton, you can broil the croutons for 2-3 minutes after they finish baking.
