These melt-in-your-mouth Homemade Croutons are perfectly crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and seasoned to perfection! A million times better than store-bought croutons, enjoy them in salads, soup, and more.
Homemade Crouton Recipe
Fact—homemade croutons are a million times better than anything you can buy from the grocery store. Of course, I didn’t always know this. My parents never made homemade croutons, so until recently, fresh-baked crispy croutons were a specialty reserved for fancy restaurants.
Homemade croutons are the best way to use up unwanted bread scraps. They taste amazing with soups, stews, and salads, especially the classic Caesar salad. And these delicious little golden nuggets take less than 30 minutes to make!
Key Ingredients
Find the printable recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.
- Bread – I love using French bread, but any bread will work. Day-old bread is best.
- Olive oil – Choose an olive oil that tastes good rather than the most expensive one on the shelf. If preferred, you can use melted butter or a combination of butter and olive oil.
- Fresh garlic – Garlic adds so much flavor. Substitute with garlic powder if preferred (approximately 1/4 teaspoon).
- Italian seasoning – I love adding classic Italian seasoning whenever I am making a big batch of croutons. Feel free to have fun with the seasoning and add different spices and flavors.
- Salt and black pepper – to taste.
- Red chili flakes – For a little heat, if desired.
What Type of Bread is Best for Croutons?
Croutons can be made with just about any type of bread – French, sourdough, rye, gluten-free, sandwich rolls, you name it, any bread works.
For best results, use bread that is 1-2 days old. In other words, bread that isn’t soft, fluffy, and fresh out of the oven. Fresh bread is still filled with moisture which is great for soft and moist sandwiches, but the complete opposite of what we want for croutons.
How to Make Croutons
1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and line a large baking sheet (or two) with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. Cube the bread: Carefully slice bread into small cubes, approximately 1 inch in size. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
3. Season: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and garlic. Drizzle the bread cubes with the garlicky olive oil, and season with Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red chili flakes (if using). Gently toss well to coat.
Recipe Tips
Making your own homemade croutons is super easy. Here are a few tips to make them the very best!
- The cooking time depends on the type of bread you use. For example, a fluffy white sandwich bread will take less time than a denser, heartier bread such as sourdough or rye.
- Allow your croutons to cool before serving for ultimate crispiness.
- Keep the seasoning simple or have fun with different combinations of salty, sweet, and savory.
- Croutons have finished cooking once they’re golden and slightly brown. Avoid over-baking as they will continue to cook after you remove them from the oven.
- Add some Parmesan cheese and make cheesy croutons!
How to Make Croutons on the Stovetop?
- Prepare the bread.
- Heat a large pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add approximately 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil or butter (or a combination of the two). Once warm and melted, add the bread in a single layer, working in batches if necessary.
- Sprinkle with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, and gently mix to coat.
- Allow the croutons to cook undisturbed until the bottoms are golden and toasted. Once they turn golden brown, use a spatula to gently toss the croutons, allowing them to toast on another side.
- When the croutons are toasted on at least 2-3 sides, remove from the pan and repeat as needed. Allow them to cool completely.
This method works best with bread that is at least 1-2 days old.
How to Store Homemade Croutons
Leftover croutons can be stored on the countertop, in the refrigerator, or in the freezer.
In each case, allow your croutons to cool completely before transferring them to a large ziplock bag or airtight container with as much air removed as possible or to a sealed storage container. Stored at room temperature on the countertop, homemade croutons will stay fresh and crunchy for one week. They can also be stored in the refrigerator for up to two to three weeks and in the freezer for up to one month.
For best results, I recommend storing croutons at room temperature. They may not last as long, but they are less likely to turn stale.
More Homemade Recipes,
- Mayonnaise Recipe
- Homemade Pesto Recipe
- Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup
- How to Make Hollandaise Sauce
- How to Make Sauerkraut
- Homemade Applesauce Recipe
If you try making Crouton Recipe, please leave me a comment and let me know! I always love to hear your thoughts.
RECIPE CARD
Homemade Crouton Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 loaf bread - cut into 1-inch cubes (leftover or stale bread is best)
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic - minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red chili flakes - (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line a large baking sheet (or two) with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Slice the bread – Carefully slice the bread into small cubes, approximately 1 inch in size. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- Season and combine – In a small bowl mix together the olive oil and garlic. Drizzle the cubed bread with the garlic olive oil, then season with Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red chili flakes (if using). Toss well (but gently) to combine.
- Bake – Transfer the seasoned bread cubes to the prepared baking sheet and spread them into a single layer with space between each cube of bread. Transfer to the oven and bake until golden, turning them once during cooking to ensure all sides are cooked evenly, approximately 15 minutes.
- Remove, cool, and serve – Remove the croutons from the oven and allow to cool thoroughly before adding them to your favorite soups and salads.
Jessica’s Notes
- The total cooking time depends on the kind of bread you use. Fluffy bread will take less time than denser, heartier bread.
- Allow your croutons to cool before serving for ultimate crispiness.
- Keep the seasoning plain or have fun with different combinations of salty, sweet, and savory.
- Croutons have finished cooking once they’re golden and slightly brown. Avoid over-baking as they continue to cook after you remove them from the oven.
Nutritional Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)
They came out fantastic!! So crunchy yet flavorful!