How to make homemade croutons from scratch with just a few simple ingredients. This recipe is so simple to make and so much better than the store-bought kind! Croutons add a delicious crunch to salads, soups and so many other recipes!
I hope you enjoy this recipe! ❤️ If you give it a try, please let me know how it turned out for you in the comments section at the bottom of the page or share a pic of your om noms on Instagram and tag @dishesanddustbunnies! ❤️
What kind of bread is best for making homemade croutons?
You can use any kind of bread that you like when making homemade croutons; however, I find it's best to use day-old bread. Day-old bread tends to soak up the butter and the seasonings best.
I like to make croutons from any kind of bread I have leftover. I've made croutons from baguettes, sourdough, Ciabatta, multigrain and from plain white bread. If it's bread, it'll work as croutons! 😋
Be sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for full ingredients & instructions!
How do you make seasoned croutons from scratch?
Homemade seasoned croutons from scratch are super easy to make and are a great way to use up leftover bread.
All you have to do is cut the bread into cubes, toss them in melted butter and whatever seasonings you prefer, then pop them in the oven to bake until they're golden and crispy. Let them cool, and then they're ready to use as a topping for your soup or salad. Or since they're so darn addictive, snack on them like I do!! lol
How to Store Homemade Croutons
To keep croutons fresh and crispy, it's essential to make sure they're stored properly.
First, make sure that before you store them, the croutons have cooled completely. If you place them into a sealed container while they're still warm, any steam that releases will become trapped and make your croutons soft, which is the opposite of what you want!
Aside from allowing the croutons to cool completely, the only thing you need to worry about is making sure to store them in an air-tight, sealed container or zip lock baggie. If the container keeping them in is not entirely air-tight, you'll likely end up with stale, soft croutons.
Be sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for full ingredients & instructions!
Can I Freeze Homemade Croutons?
Yes, so long as they're in an air-tight container or zip lock baggie, you can store them in the freezer. When you're ready to use them, I recommend putting them in the oven at 300°F for about 10 minutes on a baking sheet to thaw and crisp up again.
How long do homemade croutons last?
Croutons should be fresh for about 2 weeks, so long as they're stored properly. In the freezer, they'll be good for about 2 months.
Crouton Flavour Variations
In this post, I've included my basic recipe for homemade seasoned croutons, but there are also many other flavourful combinations you can try! Below are a few ideas, and I'll be adding to this list as I try more variations. 😊
Along with butter (as in the recipe at the bottom of the page), try these seasonings:
- garlic and thyme
- rosemary and sea salt
- curry powder
- parmesan cheese
- instead of butter, try using a little leftover bacon fat!
Please let me know if you've tried any variations that aren't listed here, and I'd love to add them to this list!
Ways to use Croutons
Croutons are most commonly used as a topping for soups and salads, but there are so many other ways you can use them. Here are a few more ideas on how to use croutons:
- on soups and salads – they're great on the classic Ceasar Salad!
- As a snack – depending on how you season them, they can make an amazing crunchy snack just as they are!
- Chili – next time you make cornbread, try cutting some up into cubes and making them into croutons! Cornbread croutons are amazing on chili!
- Casseroles – makes an amazing crispy topping for casseroles in place of bread crumbs typically called for in recipes.
- Mac and cheese – croutons are amazing on top of homemade baked mac and cheese! Consider trying them on top of my recipe for Bacon Jalapeño Macaroni and Cheese!
- In place of breadcrumbs – for most any recipe that calls for breadcrumbs as a binder (ex. meatloaf), you can use croutons!
- Turn them into breadcrumbs – use a food processor to process them into breadcrumbs.
If you can think of any other creative ways to use homemade croutons, please let me know in the comments section at the bottom of this post! I love hearing from you! ❤️
Other Recipes You'll Enjoy:
How to make Homemade Croutons
- Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 loaf bread – day old is best
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsps melted butter
- 2 tsps Italian seasoning
- 1 1/2 tsps garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Cut the bread into cubes and drop into a large mixing bowl. (You can also tear apart the bread rather than cut)
- Pour melted butter over the cubes and toss using a large spoon (or your hands – which is what I do!). Make sure all the cubes have some butter on them.
- Sprinkle Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper over the cubes and toss again. Make sure the seasonings are evenly distributed so each crouton gets some yummyness!
- Spread the croutons evenly over a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Don't worry if they seem crowded since they'll shrink a bit while baking.
- Bake for 15-25 minutes or until golden. To get even crispness, make sure to stir around the croutons about 1/2 way through baking AND once more in the last 10 minutes in the oven.
- Allow to cool.
- Use as a topping for salads, soups or anything else that needs a little yummy crunch!
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Method: Oven
