You can make your own croutons at home with just a few easy ingredients and 20 minutes time! They have the best crunch, the best flavor, and are so much better than store bought!
These homemade seasoned croutons are so easy to make, and add such an nice crunch of flavor to your favorite salads.
Have an loaf of French Bread you forgot to dig into? It might be hard to believe it – but these homemade croutons will make you want to forget a loaf of bread on purpose again 😉 Or just make these because they’re worth it!
They’re perfect for topping on your favorite salads, I love a good Caesar salad that always needs some crunchy croutons on top. They’re also great on wraps, or on a bowl of creamy soup.
Why Make Homemade Croutons?
- Customizable Flavors – You can customize the seasonings and flavors of your croutons with a variety of herbs and seasonings depending on what you like.
- So Easy to make – Homemade croutons are so much easier than you’d think with only a handful of ingredients, and ready to go in less than 30 minutes!
- Crunchy Texture – These have the best texture with a crunchy outside, slightly chewy inside are did I mention they’re so much better than store bought.
Ingredients Needed
This is a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this Italian Crouton Recipe. Specific measurements and full recipe instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
- French Bread – The perfect way to use up a loaf of bread that is a day or two old. You’ll want a high quality bread like French Bread, Italian Bread, Country Bread, or Sourdough.
- Olive Oil – try an infused oil to add flavors, like chili infused or garlic infused
- Dried Basil, Oregano, and Parsley – or use your favorite Italian Seasoning
- Parmesan Cheese
- Salt
Recipe Variations
- Customize the seasonings – Try a variety of seasonings for different flavors. Other herbs like dill, chives, or thyme would be delicious.
- Add a spicy kick – Add a dash or two of paprika or red pepper flakes to add a little heat to your croutons
How to make Italian Croutons?
Step 1. Cut up the Bread. Cut the bread into slices, then into cubes, you want each to be between 1/2 inch and 3/4 cup inch.
Step 2: Drizzle with olive oil. Drizzle the bread cubes all over with the olive oil in a medium sized bowl and toss it with your hands or a couple rubber spatulas to coat them all over.
Step 3: Season the bread cubes. Mix the seasonings, parmesan, and salt in a small bowl and sprinkle it over the top of the bread. Stir it all together to coat the bread pieces evenly in the seasoning.
Step 4: Bake. Sprinkle the bread cubes into a single later on a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Bake until they are lightly golden, flipping and stirring once half way through the baking. Let the croutons cool and enjoy.
Tips and Tricks:
- Day Old Bread – This is the perfect way to use up your bread that has seen better days, and is a few days old.
- Types of Bread – You want to use a good high quality bread for the best flavor and results, like a loaf of French Bread, or Sour Dough, but even old hamburger buns, or white bread will work if that’s what you have on hand.
- Uniform Cubes – Cut the bread into even sized cubes to make sure the bread bakes evenly, for a nice even crispness.
- Don’t Overlap the Cubes – Don’t over crowd the bread pieces on the baking tray or they will not crisp up nicely. Make sure they all have a little space on the sheet, and are in a single layer.
Storage Instructions
Let the croutons cool completely, then they can be used, or they can be transferred into an airtight container and stored at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
I’ve literally made these with old hot dog buns, french bread, rolls, etc. You’ll just want something thick to make the best croutons.
Ways to use Croutons
These croutons are so yummy, you might just want to snack on them – but here are some of my favorite ways to use them.
- Green Salads – They add such a nice crunch to a fresh green salad with your favorite dressing. I especially love them with a spring mix, fresh chopped veggies, and homemade ranch dressing.
- Soups – Sprinkle them on top of a bowl of your favorite creamy soups like tomato soup, or butternut squash soup for a nice crunch on top.
- Casseroles or Baked Pastas – Crumble up the croutons and sprinkle them on top of your favorite casseroles like chicken and rice casserole, or baked mac and cheese instead of using store bought bread crumbs.
- Meatloaf – Process the croutons into crumbs and use them in your favorite meatloaf recipe. Yum!
- Stuffing or Dressing – Use these croutons as the base for your homemade stuffing for the holidays. It’ll make the best stuffing you’ve ever had!
- In Wraps – Turn your favorite salad into a wrap by stuffing it in the middle of a spinach wrap, or large tortillas, they add a nice crunch.
These homemade croutons are perfect for taking your salads and soups to the next level. They’ve got such a nice flavor, crunch and are sure to be a hit!
More Salad Recipes
- Cranberry Almond Spinach Salad
- Mandarin Salad Spinach
- Chicken Berry Salad
- Berry Salad Recipe
- Chicken Fajita Salad
- BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad
If you make these Italian Seasoned Croutons, please leave a comment and 🌟 rating letting me know what you think! If you post the photo on Instagram, please tag me – I’d love to see what you’re making!
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Italian Seasoned Croutons
Ingredients
- 1 loaf french bread (about 12 oz)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tsp grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp dried parsley
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice up the bread into half inch to 3/4 inch pieces.
- Put the bread pieces in a medium sized bowl drizzle the olive oil over the top. Toss the bread to coat it in the oil.
- Combine the parmesan, basil, oregano, parsley and salt in a small bowl. Sprinkle the mixture over the bread and stir to coat it evenly in the seasonings.
- Spread the croutons evenly in a single layer onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for about 10 to 14 minutes, flipping half way through. Bake until the croutons are crisped and lightly golden.
- Let cool for a few minutes, and enjoy immediately, or store until ready to use.
Notes
- Day Old Bread – This is the perfect way to use up your bread that has seen better days, and is a few days old.
- Types of Bread – You want to use a good high quality bread for the best flavor and results, like a loaf of French Bread, or Sour Dough, but even old hamburger buns, or white bread will work if that’s what you have on hand.
- Uniform Cubes – Cut the bread into even sized cubes to make sure the bread bakes evenly, for a nice even crispness.
- Don’t Overlap the Cubes – Don’t over crowd the bread pieces on the baking tray or they will not crisp up nicely. Make sure they all have a little space on the sheet, and are in a single layer.
Nutrition
These homemade croutons were first posted on September 1, 2011. The photos and blog text were updated for clarity on April 24, 2024.
laurie says
I love crutons and this looks like a great recipe! I'm a new follower!
danadu101 says
Aw, Aimee.. that's how I feel now, too.. I'm going on two years there (in January), and while there are days I come home super upset, most of the time I love it there. Great food, great people, and a great place to work 🙂 Thanks for posting the recipe!
Erin says
The 2 years I went to BYU I never once ate at legends grill… However I totally understand the smelling like french fry grease. I worked at Sonic in High School and in the summer between 3 college school years. I'll never miss smelling like grease.