Homemade Croutons (easy!)

Homemade Croutons have the perfect flavor, and crunch for almost anything! Use these to add to salads, top soups, or even to snack on.

They’rere the perfect addition to an Italian salad or great to top a creamy soup (like our favorite Butternut Squash Soup).

scoop full of Homemade Croutons

Ingredients

Croutons are versatile, and the recipe can be changed to fit whatever you’re adding them to. Some of my favorite additions include:

Bread  Sourdough, leftover rolls, stale bread; anything goes in this recipe

Seasonings We start with onion and garlic powder, add your favorite herbs!

Butter Nothing is better, butter adds great flavor and helps these croutons crisp perfectly. No butter? No problem, a great olive oil is delish too!

Add-Ins Croutons are perfect for add-ins… lemon zest, fresh herbs, spices. Add whatever you’d like!

ingredients to make Homemade Croutons on a baking sheet

How to Make Croutons

To make these delicious crunchy bits:

  1. Dice the bread into cubes and place in a bowl. You can use any kind of bread here, even leftover french bread or sliced breads will work!
  2. Toss with melted butter, seasonings and parmesan cheese.
  3. Bake until golden.

Serve on a tossed salad, greek salad, or your favorite soup or stew recipes!

Homemade Croutons on a baking sheet

What to Do With Croutons

Dried Croutons will last on the counter for about a week. If you’re keeping these longer, you can freeze homemade croutons. No need to defrost first, they can be added directly to your favorite dishes and salads! You can re-crisp them by putting them in the oven for a few minutes if needed.

Add homemade croutons to:

Homemade Croutons on a baking sheet

Homemade Croutons

Homemade croutons are the perfect size, flavor, and crunch! They're a great addition to any soup or salad.
Course Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 12 cups
Calories 51
Author Holly Nilsson

Ingredients

  • 12 cups cubed bread about 12 slices
  • ⅓ cup butter melted
  • 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese shredded
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • ½ teaspoon seasoned salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Cut bread into ¾" cubes and place in a large bowl (or freezer bag).
  • Pour the melted butter evenly over the bread cubes and toss very well with your hands until the bread coated on all sides.
  • Toss with seasonings and cheese until the seasonings adhere to the bread.
  • Bake approximately 10 minutes and stir. Bake an additional 2-6 minutes or until crisp and lightly golden.
  • Serve on top of a salad, soup or in a bowl as a snack!

Notes

For a lighter version, spray bread cubes with cooking spray in place of melted butter.
Croutons can be stored at room temperature for 3-4 days. 
For extended storage, keep croutons in the freezer. Remove from the freezer 15 minutes before use to warm to room temperature.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 51 | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 112mg | Potassium: 29mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 41IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg
Homemade Croutons with a scoop of croutons with writing
close up of Homemade Croutons with writing
Homemade Croutons in a scoop and jar with a title
Homemade Croutons on a baking sheet and in a jar with a title


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