These Homemade Croutons are crunchy, perfectly seasoned, and so easy to make. Add them to your favorite salads and soups for an extra layer of crunch!
Looking for ways to use these croutons? Try it in my Caesar Salad recipe!
About This Recipe
Lately, I've been tossing these homemade croutons into every salad I make. I especially love them in Caesar salads. Something about that crunch with the lettuce and creamy dressing tastes so good. Growing up, we used to buy them in bags from the grocery store, but now I realize how easy they are to make at home. Plus, it's a great way to use up leftover bread!
At its core, croutons are just bread cubes toasted with fat and seasoning. They get super crunchy after a short bake, and you can use them to add a layer of crunch to salads or soups. You can also use them to make your Thanksgiving stuffing!
I find store-bought croutons to be very dry and bland. The best part about homemade croutons is that you can customize them exactly to your own taste. For example, I love adding extra fat to mine to give them a bit more richness. I also like baking them for a slightly shorter amount of time so they don't get too dry. Store-bought ones basically have all their moisture removed so they can stay on the shelves forever, but that means they end up being really dry.
Key Ingredients
Bread: You can use any type of bread you like. I personally just use whatever I have on hand, whether that is a homemade sourdough or even just white Wonderbread.
Olive oil: Olive oil gives richness to the croutons and helps them crisp up in the oven. You can also use melted butter for a richer flavor, but I like olive oil because it's healthier.
Italian seasoning: This is a blend of spices like thyme, marjoram, basil, oregano, and rosemary.
Dried parsley: You can substitute this with more Italian seasoning.
Salt: To make all the flavors pop.
Black pepper: Freshly cracked will give the best flavor.
Garlic powder: You can also skip the salt and use garlic salt instead.
Instructions
STEP 1: Add the bread cubes to a large bowl and drizzle with the olive oil.
STEP 2: Sprinkle with the seasonings and toss to coat evenly.
STEP 3: Spread the bread cubes in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
STEP 4: Bake for 15-20 minutes, stirring halfway through, until golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pan.
๐ Recipe
Easy Homemade Croutons
Ingredients
- 6 cups bread (cut into ยพ-inch cubes)
- โ cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ยฝ teaspoon each of salt and black pepper (or more to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375โ. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the bread cubes to a large bowl and drizzle with the olive oil. Sprinkle with the seasonings and toss to coat evenly.
- Spread the bread cubes in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, stirring halfway through, until golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pan.
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