Croutons Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (2024)

By Maria Lichty

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Quick Summary

Croutons- Learn how to make homemade croutons that are crunchy on the outside, slightly chewy on the inside, and SO much better than store bought croutons. Use in salads, soups, stuffing, and more!

Croutons Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (2)

I love a good salad, especially when croutons are involved, but not any old croutons will do. I don’t care for store bought croutons, but I LOVE homemade croutons. They are SO much better and SO easy to make, I promise.

Today, I am going to teach you how to make the best croutons in under 30 minutes. You can use them in salads, as a garnish for soup, chowder, chili, in your favorite stuffing, grind them up in a food processor to make breadcrumbs, and so much more!

You will never buy croutons again…and you will want to use them in anything and everything because they are so good! Promise me you will make this Caesar Tortellini Salad. It’s our favorite!

Table of Contents

  1. Easy Ingredients
  2. How to Make Croutons
  3. How to Store
  4. More Homemade Recipes
  5. Homemade Croutons Recipe
Croutons Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (3)

Easy Ingredients

  • Bread-To make good croutons, you need to start with good bread. Use a crusty loaf of bread, like French, Italian, or Sourdough. Don’t use a regular loaf of sandwich bread. It is also best to use bread that is stale, that is at least a day or two old. So if you have stale bread sitting on the counter, don’t throw it out, make croutons! You can also use flavored breads to jazz up your croutons. Rosemary & olive oil, asiago cheese, or garlic are all great options. Don’t cut off the crust, the crust is what makes the croutons hearty and so delicious!
  • Olive oil AND Butter-I use olive oil and butter. You need to toss the bread cubes in olive oil so they will crisp up in the oven. I like to add melted butter too for added flavor. If you need the croutons to be vegan, you can use just olive oil.
  • Garlic Powder-I normally like to use fresh garlic, but with croutons, I like to use garlic powder so the garlic doesn’t burn in the oven and so all of the bread pieces are evenly coated with garlic.
  • Italian Seasoning-Italian seasoning adds great flavor to the croutons and we always have a jar in our pantry.
  • Salt and Black Pepper-Finish with salt and pepper for necessary flavor.

How to Make Croutons

You can make croutons in about 30 minutes and most of the time is oven time. The prep is easy and the results are SO delicious!

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  • Cut the loaf of bread into 3/4-inch cubes and place in a large bowl. Make sure the bread cubes are all the same size so the croutons cook evenly. You can also tear your bread if you want rustic bread cubes. I usually like to cut the bread with a bread knife to make sure they are the same size, but either way works!
  • Drizzle the bread cubes with olive oil and melted butter. Sprinkle the garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper over the bread. Toss until all of the bread cubes are well coated.
  • Spread the bread cubes onto the prepared baking sheet, making sure the bread cubes are in an even layer and not touching. If they are too close and overlapping, they won’t cook evenly and won’t crisp up.
  • Bake for 12 to 20 minutes, tossing halfway through, or until the croutons are golden brown. Check early to make sure you don’t burn them. Time will depend on how thick your bread pieces are and how your oven cooks.
  • Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Warning, it is hard to walk by the pan and not grab a crouton or two…or a handful:)

How to Store

Store cooled croutons in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days. You can also freeze croutons in a freezer bag or container for up to 6 weeks.

More Homemade Recipes

  • Homemade Pita Chips
  • Homemade Tortilla Chips
  • Homemade Pretzel Bites
  • Homemade Flour Tortillas
  • Homemade Granola Bars
Croutons Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (4)

Croutons Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (5)

Salads

Homemade Croutons

Learn how to make homemade croutons that are crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and SO much better than store bought croutons. Use in salads, soups, stuffing, and more!

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Review

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Cuisine American

Servings 20

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf crusty French, Italian, or Sourdough bread
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

  • Cut the loaf of bread into 3/4-inch cubes and place in a large bowl. Drizzle the bread cubes with olive oil and melted butter. Sprinkle the garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper over the bread. Toss until all of the bread cubes are well coated.

  • Spread the bread cubes onto the prepared baking sheet, making sure the bread cubes are in an even layer and not touching.

  • Bake for 12 to 20 minutes, tossing halfway through, or until the croutons are golden brown. Check early to make sure you don't burn them. Time will depend on the thickness of your bread and your oven. Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Notes

Store in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 187kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Fiber: 1g

Keywords croutons, homemade

Have you tried this recipe?

Leave a comment below and share a photo on Instagram. Tag @twopeasandpod and hashtag it with #twopeasandtheirpod

Croutons Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (2024)

FAQs

Croutons Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod? ›

Homemade croutons will keep fresh for weeks when properly stored, so they're great for making ahead. To Store: Once the baked croutons have cooled completely to room temperature, transfer them to an airtight container or large zip-top bag. Store them on the counter for up to 2 weeks.

How long do homemade croutons last? ›

Homemade croutons will keep fresh for weeks when properly stored, so they're great for making ahead. To Store: Once the baked croutons have cooled completely to room temperature, transfer them to an airtight container or large zip-top bag. Store them on the counter for up to 2 weeks.

Are croutons healthy? ›

Why is it unhealthy? Croutons can add some delicious crunch to your salad, but they can also add calories. You might be surprised to learn that just a cup of croutons can add an estimated 120 calories to your salad, and that number goes up to 180 if they are the seasoned variety.

Can I freeze homemade croutons? ›

Croutons: Yes, you can freeze them! Cube stale bread and toast it for a few minutes. Then, place the croutons into a resealable freezer bag and stow in the freezer. You can also freeze the uncooked bread cubes and toast them at a later time.

What are croutons made of? ›

Croutons are made from toasted or fried bread, including white, wholemeal, sourdough and granary. Use them for a crunchy texture in salads, soups and more. Any kind of piece of bread that has been toasted or fried to crunchy crispness counts as a crouton.

How to stop croutons from going soggy? ›

If you're baking your croutons, make sure they are well-spaced-out on a shallow tray to ensure they crisp evenly and they don't steam, causing them to become soggy. They also need to be in a single layer and not touching. If you're frying the croutons, toss the pan regularly to make sure they crisp evenly.

Why are my croutons not crispy? ›

Using too high heat. You want golden-brown croutons — not blackened ones. Tossing the bread cubes into a super-hot pan means they'll burn instead of toast. Instead, cook the croutons over medium to medium-high heat.

Are croutons better for you than bread? ›

A. Regarding nutritional value, croutons and bread are practically identical. Therefore, croutons, especially those made from whole-grain bread, might provide limited health benefits. Moreover, most croutons have more sodium than your store-bought bread.

Can diabetics eat croutons? ›

Select fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid pickles, canned or marinated vegetables, cured meats, seasoned croutons, cheeses, and salted seeds. Order salad dressings on the side, and use small amounts of them.

What is a healthier alternative to croutons? ›

10 Healthy Alternatives to Croutons
  • Roasted chickpeas. These offer a satisfying crunch and can be seasoned in various ways to mimic the flavor profile of croutons. ...
  • Chopped nuts. ...
  • Whole grain pita chips. ...
  • Seeded crackers. ...
  • Parmesan crisps. ...
  • Toasted quinoa. ...
  • Roasted pumpkin seeds. ...
  • Sunflower seeds.

Why do store bought croutons last so long? ›

Commercially packaged croutons, due to their preservatives and packaging, can last significantly longer. They can often be stored at room temperature for several months without any noticeable degradation in texture or flavor.

Can you vacuum seal homemade croutons? ›

They will always be handy for game night! Grains – Rice, Oats, Homemade Breading, Homemade croutons- Seal open containers for extended freshness.

Can croutons mold? ›

Rancid croutons may also have a slight discoloration or mold, which is a definite sign they should not be consumed. Store croutons in an airtight container or resealable bag to keep air and moisture out. Keep them in a cool, dry place to avoid moisture buildup, which can lead to mold.

Is it cheaper to make or buy croutons? ›

Homemade croutons are less expensive than storebought; they're also ten times tastier.

What are Olive Garden croutons made of? ›

Our croutons are made with Romano cheese, seasoned with garlic, Italian herbs & spices, and baked to a delicious golden brown.

What do Italians call croutons? ›

Of course we eat croutons. They're called crostini. The difference is we don't put them in salads but in soups. It used to be a way of using stale bread and add a bit more calories to the meal (soups-vegetable soups- were originally a poor man's dish), now we make them purposely out of fresh bread.

Do salad croutons go bad? ›

Store-bought croutons, when unopened, can last for up to 6-8 months past the printed date on the package. Once opened, they can stay good for 1-2 weeks if stored properly. Homemade croutons have a shorter shelf-life, lasting about 1 week.

Can you refresh stale croutons? ›

To refresh stale croutons, bake for 3 to 4 minutes at 400 degrees.

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