Homemade Croutons
Updated Aug 26, 2025
It's quick and easy to make homemade croutons. Seasoned with garlic powder, they are browned and crispy and great for soups and salads.
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Make homemade croutons!
If you have stale bread or bread that’s about to go stale, don’t toss it, but turn it into homemade croutons! You have just to cut it into cubes, toss it with oil and seasoning and bake it in the oven until golden. And the best part is you’re in control of the oil and seasoning, so you know exactly what your croutons are being made with.
Easy and quick to make, homemade crouton are such a great way to avoid waste, but also save money on buying croutons. You can make them ahead of time to add to soups, salads and main meals. And they last weeks in the fridge!
Happy Cooking!
– Yumna
Homemade Crouton Ingredients
- Bread: I like sourdough, but you could use any leftover crusty bread like baguette, Italian bread or even focaccia.
- Olive oil: Olive oil adds a nice flavor, but you can use avocado oil if that’s what you have. You can aso swap for melted butter.
- Seasoning: I use garlic powder, salt and pepper. Sometimes I’ll also add dried herbs like oregano or basil or even za’atar .
How to Make Homemade Croutons
Homemade Croutons
Video
Ingredients
- 1 bread loaf about 12 ounces, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment.
- Place the bread cubes in a large bowl. Drizzle the olive oil on top and sprinkle the garlic powder, salt and pepper. Use your hands to toss gently until well-combined.
- Transfer the bread cubes to the prepared baking sheet, and spread out into a single layer. Bake until golden, turning once halfway through cooking, for 20-25 minutes.
- Allow to cool completely to help them crisp up, and then used as desired.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Recipe Variations
- Parmesan Croutons: Add ¼ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese in when you add the seasonings.
- Everything Bagel Style Croutons: Add 1 tablespoon of Everything Bagel Seasoning in when you toss the bread cubes with oil.
- Lemon Herb Croutons: In addition to the other seasonings, add the zest of one lemon and ½ teaspoon of dried thyme.
- Ranch Croutons: Add 1 tablespoon dry homemade ranch seasoning (or store bought) and swap the olive oil for melted butter.
Recipe Tips
- Cut the bread into similar sized pieces. This way they bake evenly in the oven without some being undercooked and others possibly burning.
- Make sure the bread cubes are fully coated in the oil. I like to use my hands to make sure they are oiled all over so they crisp up evenly.
- Let the croutons cool completely before serving. This will help them to crisp up all the way through. If you serve them straight out of the oven, they will likely be soft in the middle.
- Turn the heat down if your croutons start to brown too quickly. Be sure to flip them halfway through cooking so that they brown on all sides.
Serving Ideas
- Serve on top of a salad: Add the homemade croutons on top of a Caesar Salad, Mixed Greens Salad or a
- Toss into pasta salads: Try my Greek Orzo Salad, Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad or Italian Pasta Salad
- Serve with soups: I especially like it with blended soups like my 5 Ingredient Tomato Soup, Potato Leek Soup or Asparagus Soup that could use more texture and crunch.
