Homemade Croutons

Crispy golden homemade croutons are seriously easy to make in only 30 minutes using your favorite loaf of fresh or stale bread.

Why this recipe works

Homemade croutons are good for more than just salads. I love using them when I make crockpot stuffing during the holidays or for garnish on top of creamy tomato soup. You can even crush them and use them as breadcrumbs for just about any recipe. The options are endless.

They’re crazy quick to make yourself and are great for using up that loaf of stale bread on the counter. Plus, they come together easily with a handful of herbs and seasonings. Crispy, crunchy, golden cubes of perfection using ingredients you most likely already have on hand. Why spend money on store-bought croutons when they are this easy to make?

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

BREAD – You can use most types of bread to make croutons. I used a French loaf, but in the past I’ve used Italian bread, baguettes, and even sandwich bread!

SEASONING – You will lose some of the seasoning during mixing and baking. If you want your croutons a little saltier, sprinkle a little more garlic salt on right before the croutons go in the oven. Feel free to season your croutons to your liking using your favorite combination of herbs, spices, and seasonings.

How to Make Homemade Croutons

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Preheat oven to 375 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Cut bread into cubes and place in a large mixing bowl.
3. In a small bowl combine garlic powder, pepper, garlic salt, thyme, and parsley.
4. Drizzle olive oil over the bread cubes and mix together with gloved hands. Gently squeeze and rub the cubes to spread the oil out the best you can. Be careful not to break the cubes up.
5. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the cubes and mix with your hands again.
6. Spread seasoned bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. You will likely have to work in batches.
7. Bake in preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, turning at the halfway point. Watch them carefully so they don’t burn.
   
   EXPERT TIP – For golden brown croutons bake for 12-15 minutes. If you like yours a little more well done bake for up to 20 minutes.
   
   
   
8. Remove to a wire rack and let cool.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Serving Suggestions

Aside from the obvious salad topper, homemade croutons are great for laying over casseroles, crushing into breadcrumbs, or as a fresh replacement to store-bought bread cubes when making stuffing/dressing. 

More Bread Recipes

• Dutch Oven Bread
• Homemade Italian Bread
• Homemade Multigrain Bread
• 1963 Homemade White Bread

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Homemade Croutons

A staple recipe for crispy, crunchy, golden cubes of perfection using ingredients you most likely already have on hand.

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IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!

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Course: Breads, Condiments

Cuisine: American

Servings: 36 servings (9 cups total)

30 minutes mins

Calories: 44

Author: Amanda Davis

Ingredients

• ▢ 12 ounce loaf of bread
• ▢ 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ ¾ teaspoon garlic salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• ▢ 2 teaspoons fresh parsley chopped
• ▢ ⅓ cup olive oil

Things You’ll Need

• ▢
  Large mixing bowl
• ▢
  Baking sheet

Before You Begin

• You can use most types of bread to make croutons. I used a French loaf, but in the past I’ve used Italian bread, baguettes, and even sandwich bread!
• Both fresh and stale bread will work for this recipe.
• You will lose some of the seasoning during mixing and baking. If you want your croutons a little saltier, sprinkle a little more garlic salt on right before the croutons go in the oven.
• You can use regular salt instead of garlic salt if desired. We prefer a more garlicky flavor, hence both garlic powder and garlic salt.

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Cut bread into cubes and place in a large mixing bowl.
• In a small bowl combine garlic powder, pepper, garlic salt, thyme, and parsley.
• Drizzle olive oil over the bread cubes and mix together with gloved hands. Gently squeeze and rub the cubes to spread the oil out the best you can. Be careful not to break the cubes up.
• Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the cubes and mix with your hands again.
• Spread seasoned bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. You will likely have to work in batches.
• Bake in preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, turning at the halfway point. Watch them carefully so they don’t burn.

  TIP – For golden brown croutons bake for 12-15 minutes. If you like yours a little more well done bake for up to 20 minutes.
• Remove to a wire rack and let cool.

Expert Tips & FAQs

• A serving of croutons is 2 tablespoons, which is the most unlikely scenario. That would come out to roughly 4 croutons. Therefore we calculated the nutritional values with a little more realistic measurement of 1/4 cup, which is more like 8 croutons.
• Store the fully cooled croutons in an air-tight container or sealed ziptop bag with the air removed. Keep at room temperature for 1-2 weeks in a cool, dark place such as the pantry or cabinet.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving (1/4 cup) | Calories: 44cal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Sodium: 93mg | Potassium: 16mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.4mg

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