If you’ve never made your own homemade croutons before, you are really in for a treat. These little bread cubes are tossed in rich olive oil and seasonings, then baked to create the perfect crispy yet slightly chewy texture. A must-have crunchy topper for Caesar Salad or Tomato Soup, I make these often at home. Use leftover bakery bread to make your own. Want to make croutons in the Air Fryer? Find my Air Fryer Crouton Recipe here!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredients in Homemade Croutons
Bread. Use a bakery style bread or rolls, rather than sliced sandwich bread. Sourdough and ciabatta are my favorites to use. French baguette or crusty Italian bread would be delicious too. I sometimes make a loaf of no-knead artisan bread just to turn it into these tasty croutons! Cut the bread into ¾ inch / 2cm cubes, and try to cut it into similar sized pieces for even baking.Olive Oil. This is what makes the bread tasty again, adding moisture and allowing it to crisp up. Make sure that the bread cubes are well coated in oil to help them crisp up evenly.Seasonings. Salt is a must, along with garlic powder and oregano. Homemade Italian Seasoning works perfectly too.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
How to Make Homemade Croutons
Just two steps in this simple recipe!
Variations
You can mix and match seasonings and oils to create different types of croutons, or find the perfect flavor that you love.
Swap the Oil: Use all butter or half and half butter and olive oil to change the flavor. Try chili oil or other infused oils too. Add Cheese: Grated parmesan cheese adds a nutty, salty flavor. More Spices: Try onion powder, or dried herbs like parsley, rosemary, chives, or dill.
What to Eat With Homemade Croutons
Caesar Salad: Try Caesar Salad, Chicken Caesar Salad, or these delicious Chicken Caesar Wraps. I love caesar salad so much, I even turned it into a Caesar Pasta Salad! Other Salads: Don’t stop there. Burrata Salad is made extra special with some crunchy croutons on top. Add them to a simple tossed green salad too. Panzanella Salad and this Copycat Olive Garden Salad also use these croutons. Soups: Just like crackers are delicious in soups, so are seasoned croutons. Try topping Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Jerusalem Artichoke Soup, or Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup with these crispy bits. Master this simple recipe for homemade croutons and you’ll be a culinary star every time you serve a salad! © Little Sunny Kitchen
