These homemade croutons are inspired by my mother-in-law, who makes the absolute best croutons. After trying hers, I knew I wanted to make my own. Now I don’t why I ever used store-bought croutons before!
Once You Try Homemade Croutons, You’ll Never Buy Store-Bought Again
Have you ever noticed how most store-bought croutons are so hard they could practically break your tooth? Well, homemade croutons are perfectly crispy without the tooth-chipping hardness. Plus, they’re a great way to use stale bread!
My mother-in-law makes hers with Rye bread, but you can use french bread, sourdough bread, a french baguette, or even sandwich bread! Day-old bread is perfect for making crispy baked croutons.
Ingredients for Homemade Croutons
Another great thing about this easy recipe is that it just takes a few ingredients, and is the perfect way to use up left-over or stale bread. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil (or avocado oil, if you prefer)
- About 4 cups of stale bread, cut into cubes
- Garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper (to taste) – Or, use whatever seasonings you prefer (see more ideas below)!
How to Make Easy Croutons at Home
My easy homemade crouton recipe is so simple, once you do it once you’ll probably have it memorized. Plus, once you try flavorful homemade croutons, you’ll be hooked! Here are the easy steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- In a large bowl, combine the cubes of bread, olive oil and seasonings (season generously). Toss to coat. I like to do this part with my hands to really work the olive oil and seasonings into the bread.
- Move the croutons to the prepared baking sheet and arrange in a single layer. Don’t over-crowd your baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes or until you have golden brown croutons. The timing will vary depending on your oven, the type of bread you use, and how dark/crispy you like your croutons, so keep a watch on them!
Tips for the Best Crispy, Flavorful Croutons at Home
For best results, follow these tips:
- Don’t use fresh bread: You can use any kind of bread you want, but it needs to be a little stale. Leftover bread is best (like day-old bread), however you can also let any fresh bread sit out to get a little stale before you make the croutons.
- Cut uniformly – Try to cut the bread into even-sized cubes so they bake evenly.
- Season generously – Garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, or even grated Parmesan are great options.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan – Give the bread cubes space on the baking sheet so they crisp up rather than steam.
- Flip halfway through – Stir or flip them once while baking for even browning.
Seasoning Ideas for Homemade Croutons
Another great thing about this recipe is that you can customize to any flavors or seasonings you like. Here are ideas for different seasonings:
- Garlic + Sea Salt – Simple and universally loved. Use garlic powder or fresh minced garlic in olive oil.
- Italian Herb Blend – Oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, and a touch of Parmesan.
- Rosemary + Black Pepper – Earthy and fragrant—perfect for soups.
- Onion + Chive – Savory with a hint of sharpness.
- Smoked Paprika + Chili Flakes – Smoky, spicy, and a little sweet.
- Cajun or Creole Spice – Great on salads with ranch or blue cheese.
- Buffalo-Style – Toss in melted butter + hot sauce, then bake—so good with chili.
- Taco Seasoning – Perfect for Tex-Mex salads or tortilla soups.
- Parmesan + Garlic – A crowd-pleaser. Add cheese after baking if you want it melty.
- Nutritional Yeast – For a dairy-free cheesy flavor with umami.
- Everything Bagel Seasoning – Salty, garlicky, oniony goodness in every bite.
- Lemon Zest + Thyme – Bright and fresh—great for spring salads.
- Curry Powder – Warm, earthy, and pairs well with lentil soups.
- Za’atar – Middle Eastern flair with sesame, sumac, and herbs.
- Ranch Seasoning – Homemade or store-bought—kids love this one!
What Kind of Bread to Use for Croutons
The best bread to use is a hearty one, like a crusty loaf of bread (which is why I like to use french bread), but any bread will work. Here are some ideas:
- Sourdough
- French bread
- Ciabatta Bread
- Whole grain bread
- Rye
Ways to Use Homemade Croutons
There are so many things you can do with homemade croutons, including:
- Include in caesar salad, green salads, or any other salad you make at home
- Top tomato soup (or any other soup)
- Crush leftover croutons to make homemade bread crumbs.
- Panzanella salad – A bread salad that celebrates croutons.
- Mac and cheese topper – Crunchy croutons instead of breadcrumbs = yes please.
- Stuffing shortcut – Use croutons as the base for an easy homemade stuffing.
- Topping for casseroles – Adds texture and flavor to dishes like baked pasta or chicken casserole.
- Charcuterie board add-on – Serve croutons with dips like hummus, spinach dip, or tapenade.
Storing Homemade Croutons
- Cool completely – Let them cool fully before storing so they stay crispy.
- Store airtight – Keep them in an airtight container at room temp for up to a week.
- Freeze for later – Freeze in a zip-top bag for up to a month; just pop them in a hot oven for a few minutes to re-crisp.
More Recipes You’ll Love:
Homemade Crouton Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil, if you prefer
- About 4 cups of stale bread cut into cubes
- Garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper (to taste) – Or, use whatever seasonings you prefer
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- In a large bowl, combine the cubes of bread, olive oil and seasonings (season generously). Toss to coat. I like to do this part with my hands to really work the olive oil and seasonings into the bread.
- Move the croutons to the prepared baking sheet and arrange in a single layer. Don’t over-crowd your baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes or until you have golden brown croutons. The timing will vary depending on your oven, the type of bread you use, and how dark/crispy you like your croutons, so keep a watch on them!
Hi, I’m Jessica! I am wife to Chris, and mom to Kaip, Alana and Koa. I am a website developer and blogger. In this space, I share about everything from parenting, making money from home, recipes, mom lifestyle, and things for kids! Learn more about me here.
