Croutons Recipe

Homemade croutons are just about the easiest thing ever to make, and a million times better than anything you can buy at the store. They’re also easy to customize with whatever seasonings you might be craving, they can be made with any kind of bread that you have on hand (including gluten-free), and they’re easy to make as large or small, soft or crispy, plain or seasoned as you might prefer. Plus, if you’re trying to eat more greens in your life, I’m convinced that having a fresh batch of croutons around is one of the best motivators to toss together a quick salad. Or they’re also delicious for topping a fresh bowl of tomato soup or gazpacho (<– new recipe coming tomorrow, stay tuned!) this time of year.

How To Make Homemade Croutons

Learn how to make homemade croutons from scratch with this simple, customizable croutons recipe.

Prep: 5min

Total: 25min

Yield: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 loaf of bread (about 12 ounces), cut into 3/4-inch cubes
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, homemade or store-bought
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instruction:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, evenly drizzle the olive oil over the bread chunks. Then evenly sprinkle the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper over the bread. Toss gently until well-combined.
3. Spread the bread cubes out in a single layer on a baking sheet.
4. Bake until golden, turning once halfway through cooking in order to brown all sides of the croutons. Cooking time will depend on the thickness of the cubes, so watch to be sure that they do not burn. (Mine generally take between 15-20 minutes.)
5. Remove from oven, and let cool completely. Use immediately, or store in an air-tight container for up to 1 week.

Homemade Croutons

Make your own croutons and take your salads to the next level! This crouton recipe is easy to make with bread, olive oil and basic seasonings. Recipe yields enough croutons for 4 to 6 side salads.

Prep: 5min

Total: 15min

Yield: 4

Serving Size: 1 of 4 servings

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 of 4 servings, calories 151 calories, Sugar 1 g, Sodium 349.9 mg, Fat 7.6 g, Saturated Fat 1.1 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Carbohydrate 17.8 g, Fiber 0.9 g, Protein 3.7 g, Cholesterol 0 mg

Ingredients:

• 2 large slices of crusty bread, about ¾-inch thick (about 4 ounces)
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon fine salt
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instruction:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean-up. Line a plate with a paper towel and set it aside (we’ll use it to absorb excess oil from the baked croutons later on).
2. To prepare your bread, use a serrated knife to gently slice the bread into ¾-inch cubes (or if it’s easier, use your fingers to gently tear the bread into pieces about that size). For reference, you should end up with about 3 cups of cubed bread.
3. Place the cubed bread on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with the salt, garlic powder, and several twists of black pepper. Gently toss the bread with your hands until it’s lightly coated in oil, then arrange the bread evenly across the baking sheet.
4. Bake, tossing every 5 minutes, for about 10 to 12 minutes, until the croutons are turning golden brown but still offer a bit of chew in the center.
5. Remove the croutons from the oven and transfer them to the lined plate to absorb excess oil. Once cool, season to taste with additional salt and pepper, if desired. Croutons are best enjoyed within a few hours of baking, as they can become a bit tough over time, but will keep in a sealed bag for several days at room temperature.

How to Make Homemade Croutons

Use a sturdy white bread like sourdough or an Italian pugliese and add your own favorite seasonings, herbs or spices—garlic and herb is my favorite—and you’ll find yourself making these bread bites all of the time, too.

Prep: 5min

Total: 15min

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 197 kcal, Carbohydrate 14 g, Protein 3 g, Fat 14 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Sodium 292 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 2 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 4 cups bread cubes (cut into 3/4 inch squares from a sturdy bread like sourdough)
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves (thinly sliced)
• 2 tablespoons Italian parsley (minced)
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instruction:

1. Preheat the oven to 375° F.
2. Place the bread cubes in a large bowl and set aside. Heat the olive oil and garlic in a small saucepan over medium heat until the garlic begins to turn golden and becomes fragrant, about 4-5 minutes. Be careful the garlic doesn’t burn or it will taste bitter. Strain or pick the garlic cloves out of the oil and discard or save for another use.
3. Drizzle the oil over the bread cubes and toss to coat. Scatter onto a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until the bread cubes are golden, flipping the cubes occasionally. Remove from the oven and add back to the bowl. Toss with the parsley and salt and pepper and set aside to cool. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Andrew Zimmern Cooks: Garlic & Herb Croutons