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Homemade Croutons are so easy to make! With just a handful of ingredients and a few minutes, you can make croutons that are perfectly seasoned and taste better than store-bought.
Croutons are the obvious addition to a Copycat Olive Garden Salad, a Homemade Caesar Salad, or Copycat Panera Greek Salad, but they also add a nice crunch to soups like Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Soup and Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup.
Why Homemade Croutons Work
My family can't get enough croutons. We add them to salads, soups, and even pop them as a snack (especially my husband). But instead of always buying a bag from the store, I often make them at home for several reasons.
- You can control ingredient quality. Use gluten-free, whole-grain, or sugar-free bread to suit your dietary needs.
- Great use for stale or leftover bread. You can even use more than one type of bread if you want.
- Completely customizable. If you love garlic, add more. Hate garlic? Omit it! Want to add cheese? Go crazy! You get the idea.
Notes on Ingredients
- Bread: Use any variety of bread you like, such as Italian bread, whole wheat bread, gluten-free bread, and even cornbread to make delicious croutons. This is also a great time to use stale bread.
- Olive Oil: I highly recommend using olive oil over canola or vegetable oil for the best flavor.
- Seasonings: Use any combination of dried seasonings you like. I personally opt for garlic powder, dried oregano, dried parsley, and onion powder, which mimic the flavor of store-bought Italian-seasoned croutons.
Recipe Modifications
- Cheesy Croutons: Add ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese to the seasonings, then proceed as directed.
- Allergy-Friendly: Check the label carefully if you need egg-free, soy-free, dairy-free, and/or corn-free. My recipes for Honey Whole Wheat Bread and Homemade Italian Bread are both nut-free, corn-free, egg-free, soy-free, and dairy-free.
How To Make Homemade Croutons
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the ingredient quantities and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Cut the bread into bite-sized chunks. Aim for ½-inch thick cubes.
- Season. Place the cubed bread onto a large-rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and add seasonings.
- Toss. Use your hands to toss the bread with the seasonings and oil until evenly seasoned, then spread the croutons into an even layer on a large baking sheet. Leave enough space so the croutons crisp up instead of steaming and getting soggy in the oven.
- Bake. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove the pan and shake it, or flip the croutons with a spatula. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes or until the croutons are golden.
Storage Instructions
After baking, let the croutons cool completely. Then store them in an airtight container in a cool pantry for up to 2 weeks.
Serving Suggestions
Homemade Croutons are a delicious, crunchy addition to salads and soups, but you can also use them in a variety of creative ways.
- Use the croutons to top salads, such as Copycat Olive Garden Salad, BLT Salad, or a Copycat Panera Greek Salad.
- Top soups, such as Instant Pot Tomato Soup, with a generous serving of croutons to add crunch and texture.
- Instead of drying out bread for stuffing, use croutons as a base for Homemade Stuffing.
- Grind up leftover croutons and use them in any recipe calling for seasoned breadcrumbs or to bread Homemade Chicken Tenders.
- Replace the hash browns and omit the salt in Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole, and use 4 cups of croutons for a delicious, savory, seasoned breakfast casserole.
Air Fryer Croutons
- Cube and season the bread as directed.
- Spread the cubed bread in a single layer (you will likely need to work in batches) in the air fryer basket and toast for 3 minutes at 400 degrees F.
- Remove the basket, shake, and toast for 3 more minutes.
- Check that the bread is evenly toasted; if not, return it to the air fryer for 1-2 minutes.
More DIY Favorite Recipes
- Homemade Ranch Dressing
- Homemade Taco Seasoning
- Caesar Salad Dressing
- Homemade Enchilada Sauce
- Instant Pot Chicken Broth
- Pickled Red Onions
- Chili Seasoning
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Homemade Croutons
Ingredients
- 8 cups cubed bread
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ (175℃).
- Cut bread into ½-inch thick cubes. You can remove the crusts if desired. I find they add a nice texture.
- Place the cubed bread onto a large rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, and parsley. Using your hands, toss to coat the cubes evenly with the seasonings, then spread them out in a single layer on the sheet pan. Try not to overcrowd the pan so the croutons can brown evenly. Use two pans if you have to.
- Let the bread cubes sit for 2 minutes to absorb the flavor, then bake for 10 minutes. Remove the pan and flip the croutons or give the pan a good shake. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until the croutons are browned.
- Let the croutons cool to room temperature, then use immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Since I started making these homemade croutons, I have no need to get store bought croutons! Homemade are so much better!!
Glad to hear you agree Jennifer!
Who knew how easy these are to make? I will never buy the from te stroe again. Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! It's really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
Thanks so much Allyssa!
I love how simple making homemade croutons is! This was a great way to do it, will be saving this recipe for sure!
We eat a lot of salads and making our own will be awesome. Thank you for sharing.