Homemade Crouton Recipe (how to make croutons in any flavor)

Making homemade croutons is super easy, and a great way to use up extra bread. My quick and simple recipe will not only show you how to make the perfect croutons every time, but also how to make them in any flavor you want!

In my opinion, croutons are great and, frankly, don’t get as much recognition in the kitchen as they should.

Not only are they great for topping salads and soups, but they also make the perfect crunchy topping for homemade casseroles, and can easily be crushed to make breading for chicken, pork, and fish!

For those reasons and many more, I’ve always loved a good crouton, especially since I can’t eat a salad unless it has some kind of crunch. And more often than not, I find myself wondering why it is we never seem to have croutons at home.

A question that has two very important answers: 1, because I’m not spending money on seasoned toast when I already have all the ingredients at home.

And 2. because any time I do get around to making croutons, everyone eats them as soon as I get them out of the oven. 

Of course, there is nothing wrong with buying store-bought croutons, but why buy them when you can easily whip them up at home in less than 15 minutes, and in any flavor you want? Not to mention they taste better than anything you’ll find at the store. 

This homemade crouton recipe couldn’t be simpler to make, takes only a handful of ingredients, and can easily be made with any bread you have on hand.

Store-bought, homemade, sourdough, or fresh-milled breads all work great. And while croutons are best made with day-old or stale bread, they can just as easily be made with fresh bread, too!

So be sure to give this simple recipe a try, and if you’re not convinced, here are a few more reasons you should be making croutons at home. 

Why you should make your own croutons

1. Homemade croutons are cheaper than store-bought. Given the fact that they are almost always going to be made with whatever you happen to have on hand, they are practically free. Why pay extra for something when you’ve already bought all the ingredients to make it?
2. It’s a great way to get the most out of your food. As someone who loves to bake bread, and then forget about it, and also has a habit of making too much at once. Making croutons is a great way to use up leftover bread, stale bread, or unwanted bread ends. You can even make them over-baked, dry bread. It’s a great way to limit food waste and turn that unwanted bread into something your family will actually eat. 
3. It’s a great way to start making food from scratch. If you’re just starting down the road of cooking most of your own food at home, or know someone who is, this recipe is a great place to start. It’s easy, simple, cheap, and can easily be made with things you already have in the house.
4. They come in any flavor you want. Probably my number one reason for making your own croutons at home is that you can make them in literally any flavor, even ones you can’t get in the store!
5. It’s healthy. Making croutons at home means you get to be in complete control over what goes into them. You can easily make them gluten-free, sugar-free, with seasonings and spices you know your family will enjoy, and you can make them with literally any kind of bread!

How To Make Homemade Croutons

I’ve listed out the rough measurements I use, as well as my favorite seasonings. I usually make these with whatever leftover bread I happen to have on hand, so the measurements are a bit rough, and you can easily make this recipe with more or less bread than is listed. And of course season them any way you want!

Ingredient

• bread of choice, cut into 1/2 inch cubes, or to your desired size. Any kind of bread works well. White bread, sourdough bread, homemade bread, whole wheat bread, fresh milled bread, gluten-free bread, etc.
• ​melted butter, you can also use extra-virgin oil or avocado oil, but I prefer butter.

My favorite Crouton Flavors

• Salt & Pepper: Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Garlic: Garlic salt and dried parsley. If you don’t have garlic salt, you can also use sea salt and garlic powder
• Italian: Sea salt and Italian seasoning 

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Place your cubed bread into a mixing bowl(if you are making more than one flavor, divide the bread equally into separate bowls)

Pour the melted butter over your cubed bread, followed by your seasoning of choice, and toss until all of the bread is coated well in the butter and seasoning.

Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet, keeping all the bread in a single layer. And place in the oven.

Bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. The bread will still feel slightly soft; that’s okay, the croutons will get crunchy as they cool.

Allow your croutons to cool for 15-20 minutes before serving.

Homemade croutons can be eaten immediately or transferred to an airtight bag or container until ready to use

Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Homemade croutons can be stored in a zip-top bag or an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days.

For easy clean up, you can also line your baking sheet with parchment paper, but I never do. 

If you’re looking for more easy and delicious crouton flavors to try, be sure to check out these!

• Cheddar Garlic Croutons: Season with shredded cheddar cheese and garlic salt. ( or sea salt and garlic powder)
• Garlic Parmesan Croutons: Season with shredded Parmesan cheese, sea salt, and garlic powder.
• Spicy Italian Croutons: Season Italian seasoning, sea salt, and crushed red pepper flakes
• Ranch Croutons: Season with your favorite homemade or store-bought ranch seasoning

Homemade croutons can be seasoned with anything you like to create the perfect snack or pairing for any meal. You can even season them with Cajun Seasoning, BBQ spice mix, and more!

Looking for the perfect recipe to serve these croutons with? Be sure to check out these!

Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad

Chopped Greek Salad

Chopped Caesar Salad Pizza

Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

Cabbage Roll Soup

Creamy Tuscan Tortellini Soup

Vegetable Harvest Soup