Easy Homemade Croutons Recipe
Crunchy and flavorful homemade croutons made from day-old rustic bread, seasoned with garlic, herbs, and optional Parmesan cheese. Perfect for salads, soups, or snacking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: About 4 cups of croutons 1x
- Category: Snack, Salad Topping
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, Italian-inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 4 cups cubed day-old bread (French, sourdough, or any rustic bread)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (oregano, thyme, basil mix)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Wet Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil or melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the croutons.
- Cube the Bread: Cut the day-old bread into small, even-sized cubes, about 3/4 inch thick, to ensure uniform baking.
- Coat Bread Cubes: In a large mixing bowl, toss the bread cubes with olive oil or melted butter until they are evenly coated.
- Add Seasonings: Sprinkle the garlic powder, onion powder, dried Italian herbs, salt, and black pepper over the bread cubes. Toss again thoroughly to distribute the seasonings evenly.
- Optional Cheese: If desired, add the grated Parmesan cheese and toss once more to combine.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet: Spread the seasoned bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to ensure even crisping.
- Bake the Croutons: Bake in the oven for 12–15 minutes, tossing the cubes halfway through the baking time to promote even browning and crispness.
- Cool and Store: Remove from the oven and allow the croutons to cool completely. Store them in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to one week.
Notes
- Using day-old bread helps the cubes dry out, resulting in crispier croutons.
- Feel free to substitute fresh herbs or other seasonings like smoked paprika or chili flakes for a different flavor profile.
- Parmesan cheese adds a savory, cheesy kick but can be omitted for a dairy-free option.
- Store croutons in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them crisp.
- These croutons can be made gluten-free by using gluten-free bread.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup (about 15g)
- Calories: 80 kcal
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: homemade croutons, easy croutons, baked croutons, salad topping, garlic croutons
Find it online: https://lucabites.com/easy-homemade-croutons-recipe/
