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November 22, 2021 By Kathryn Donangelo 16 Comments

Easy Homemade Croutons (a must make recipe)

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Last Updated on December 6, 2021 by Kathryn Donangelo

This homemade Italian Croutons recipe delivers flavors that are crispy and so savory! Enjoy these easy, oven-baked seasoned Croutons with Caesar salads, soups, and much more for extra crunch and satisfaction. Garlic, butter, and olive oil create the best flavor combinations! 

PIN Homemade Croutons to try later!

crispy seasoned croutons in white bowl

SEASONED CROUTONS

The perfect balance of soft and crispy, this homemade Croutons recipe gives any recipe added texture, flavor, and buttery notes that are delicious and so tasty. Prepare these Italian croutons in the oven to serve with your favorite comforting soups and salads–you won’t regret it! 

I have a batch of these savory croutons ready to go at any time because they are so good and easy to make. If you have an abundance of bread you need to use, then turn it into this easy homemade recipe. 

Making this recipe for croutons has never been easier because it is so simple with the most straightforward steps. Just toss everything in a bowl and you’re ready to enjoy these aromatic and salty croutons with almost any meal. 

Enjoy seasoned croutons all by themselves or with different meals like Homemade Vegetable Soup, Roasted Tomato Basil Soup, or this Arugula Parmesan Salad. There are so many great recipes for these crunchy bits of goodness.

cubed bread in bowl

INGREDIENTS

Cooking Spray: You will need to make sure you have a nonstick cooking spray for the baking sheet so the croutons do not stick! 

Butter: A little bit of melted butter gives these croutons a rich buttery flavor that is tasty and delicious. Use either salted or unsalted butter.

Oil: Extra virgin olive oil is what i like to use because it is smooth, aromatic, and full of fresh flavors if you get good quality oil. Feel free to use a more neutral oil like avocado.

Italian Seasoning: A simple blend of Italian seasoning gives this recipe enough flavor. Italian seasoning usually consists of oregano, rosemary, thyme, basil, and sometimes marjoram. 

Salt and Pepper: The classic duo, flavor this recipe with as much salt and pepper you need. 

Garlic and Onion Powder: Ground garlic and onion powder are great to have around for simple recipes. These pantry-friendly staple ingredients transform any dish and add the perfect amount of savoriness to these crispy croutons.

Bread: Use any kind of bread to cut into cubes and toast in the oven. Feel free to use bread with or without seeds. I used enough bread from two small loaves or one large loaf. 

HOW TO MAKE THIS HOMEMADE CROUTONS RECIPE

STEP ONE: First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil and spray it with nonstick cooking spray. Set the baking sheet aside. 

STEP TWO: Next, in a bowl, whisk together the butter, oil, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder until fully combined. You can use mix the ingredients together with a fork. 

STEP THREE: Gently, fold the cubed bread into the bowl with the oil mixture. Stir the bread cubes until they are fully coated with the seasonings and oil. 

bowl of croutons with oil, butter, and seasoning

STEP FOUR: Place the croutons on the prepared baking sheet and bake them for fifteen minutes. Flip and bake the croutons for another seven to nine minutes until fully toasted. 

Carefully, remove the homemade croutons recipe from the oven and use them immediately or store them in an airtight container. 

close view of crispy baked homemade croutons recipe on baking sheet

VARIATIONS

  • Make gluten-free croutons by using your favorite homemade or storebought gluten-free bread. 
  • For vegan croutons, use dairy-free butter. 
  • To make croutons in the air fryer, pour the seasoned croutons in an air fryer basket and air fry for seven minutes or until they are crispy. 
  • Make parmesan croutons by tossing the bread cubes with olive oil, garlic powder, and freshly grated parmesan cheese. 
  • Add a little bit of spice to this recipe by mixing in red chili flakes. 

croutons on baking sheet with wooden spoon

TIPS FOR THIS HOMEMADE CROUTONS RECIPE

  • Use Italian or French bread or white bread. All types of bread will work! 
  • Make your own Italian seasoning or use a storebought blend.
  • The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the bread cubes so keep this in mind as you bake the croutons. 
  • Allow the croutons to fully cool before transferring to an airtight storage container. 

WHAT DOES CROUTON MEAN? 

A crouton is simply sautéed or baked bread that is created to give texture and flavor to salads, soups, stuffings, or casserole recipes. The word crouton is derived from a French word, croûton, and means “crust”. Croutons are most popular on Caesar salads with leafy greens. 

homemade crispy croutons with salad in bowl

STORING LEFTOVERS

Store the leftover homemade croutons recipe in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. 

Freeze the croutons by placing them in a freezer-safe bag and storing them in the freezer for up to four months. 

Allow the croutons to thaw in the refrigerator before reheating in the oven. 

top view of homemade croutons recipe on bed of greens with parmesan

MORE EASY RECIPES YOU WILL LOVE

  • Antipasto Skewers
  • Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Muffins
  • Easy Caprese Salad
  • Olive and Herb Focaccia
  • Zucchini Cheese Bread

CAN’T GET ENOUGH?

Subscribe and I’ll send all my newest and FREE recipes to your inbox!  You can also keep up with me on Pinterest, Instagram, and  Facebook. If you make this recipe, please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram so I can see and feature you!

one bowl of crispy garlic croutons

Homemade Croutons Recipe

This homemade Italian Croutons recipe delivers flavors that are crispy and so savory! Enjoy these easy, oven-baked seasoned Croutons with Caesar salads, soups, and much more for extra crunch and satisfaction. Garlic, butter, and olive oil create the best flavor combinations! 
5 from 16 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bread croutons, croutons, croutons recipe, homemade croutons, how to make croutons, salad croutons
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 22 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Author: Kathryn Donangelo

Ingredients

  • 8 cups cubed bread; (with or without seeds) 1 large loaf or 2 small
  • ¼ cup butter; melted
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ¾ teaspaoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly coat with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Whisk together the butter, oil, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder until combined.
  • Gently fold in the cubed bread until evenly coated. Place the croutons on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, then flip and bake for another 7-9 minutes. Let cool and use croutons immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Find Kathryn's Kitchen Blog on Instagram!Mention @Kathryns.Kitchen.Blog or tag #kathrynskitchen!

Notes

Tips

  • Use Italian or French bread or white bread. All types of bread will work!
  • Make your own Italian seasoning or use a storebought blend.
  • The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the bread cubes so keep this in mind as you bake the croutons.
  • Allow the croutons to fully cool before transferring to an airtight storage container.

Leftovers

Store the leftover homemade croutons recipe in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. 
Freeze the croutons by placing them in a freezer-safe bag and storing them in the freezer for up to four months. 
Allow the croutons to thaw in the refrigerator before reheating in the oven. 

 

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    Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
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    Cheesy Garlic Bread
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Filed Under: Salads

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. homemadeandyummy@gmail.com'Gloria says

    November 22, 2021 at 8:25 am

    5 stars
    OMG, I need to try this ASAP. I always buy croutons. Now I can make them instead!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Donangelo says

      November 22, 2021 at 9:09 am

      5 stars
      I hope you love them and get a chance to try them soon!

      Reply
  2. bernice@dishnthekitchen.com'Bernice says

    November 22, 2021 at 10:47 am

    5 stars
    This is such a handy recipe to have on hand. We felt like a caesar salad last night and these croutons were the perfect fit!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Donangelo says

      November 23, 2021 at 3:30 pm

      5 stars
      I am so glad you made them and loved the croutons. Thank you Bernice!

      Reply
  3. kaydimaggio@gmail.com'Kayla DiMaggio says

    November 23, 2021 at 6:52 am

    5 stars
    Loving how easy these homemade croutons are! So simple and delicious!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Donangelo says

      November 23, 2021 at 3:29 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you so much, Kayla!

      Reply
  4. lauren.vavala@gmail.com'Lauren Michael Harris says

    November 23, 2021 at 3:44 pm

    5 stars
    What a great way to us to use up leftover bread. We eat a lot of salad and these homemade croutons are way better than store bought!

    Reply
  5. info@veronikaskitchen.com'Veronika says

    November 26, 2021 at 10:17 am

    5 stars
    Made these croutons last week with some leftover bread and it came out so delicious! They were perfect with homemade soup!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Donangelo says

      November 26, 2021 at 10:19 am

      So glad to hear that, thanks Veronika! 🙂 I love eating these with soup too!

      Reply
  6. patricia@azgrabaplate.com'patricia says

    November 26, 2021 at 4:12 pm

    5 stars
    Oooo! I could eat these as a side dish! Lol! They really are so perfect for salads and soups. They’re pretty addictive (my dog likes croutons, too)!

    Reply
  7. jennysg@me.com'Jenny says

    November 27, 2021 at 7:41 am

    5 stars
    What a wonderful recipe! I usually buy croutons, and this time, I decided to make them, and wow, they came out so good! Will never buy again. I served them on my caesar salad and a red sauce spaghetti for dinner, and were such a hit!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Donangelo says

      November 27, 2021 at 7:43 am

      Thank you so much Jenny! I love how you served these croutons and thanks for trying my recipe 🙂

      Reply
  8. thepastaproject.com@gmail.com'Jacqueline Debono says

    November 27, 2021 at 9:41 am

    5 stars
    Until now, I’ve been a bit lazy and always bought ready made croutons. But these look and sound so much better. Next time we’re having soup or salad, am going to make my own.

    Reply
    • Kathryn Donangelo says

      November 27, 2021 at 11:09 am

      5 stars
      I hope you enjoy them as much as we did! Love them in both soup and salad too 🙂

      Reply
  9. lori@thekitchenwhisperer.net'Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says

    November 27, 2021 at 5:08 pm

    5 stars
    So simple yet so delicious! We love croutons in our salads and these are so scrumptious! I love them on not only a salad, but soup and as a crunchy snack!

    Reply
  10. sweetsilllysara@gmail.com'sara says

    November 28, 2021 at 7:17 am

    These homemade croutons look fantastic. I love to buy the bagged ones and have them as a snack sometimes (like when I really crave bread!) but I have a feeling these would be even better.

    Reply

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