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? ›

Cut bread into cubes, drizzle with olive oil and melted butter, and sprinkle with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Toss to coat. Bake the coated bread cubes, tossing them halfway through. Allow them to cool before enjoying them.

How do you keep homemade croutons crispy? ›

Store the homemade croutons at room temperature for up to 1 week. Put the croutons in your pantry and that's it. Most croutons will be crunchy and crisp for up to a week, but the sooner you use them, the better. Croutons won't become moldy, but they will become soft or chewy once they're old.

How long do homemade croutons last? ›

The expected shelf-life for homemade croutons is about two weeks. Moisture encourages mold, so make sure your croutons are completely dehydrated during the bake and let cool completely at room temperature before storing them away in an airtight container.

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.

Why aren t my croutons crunchy? ›

3 Answers. It's easy to make croutons crunchy: Just dry the bread pieces in a dehydrator or low-temperature oven (around 125°C) for a couple of hours. This should be done before adding oil or seasonings, since the process would cook off a lot of their flavor.

Why are my croutons not crispy? ›

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.

Why are my homemade croutons soggy? ›

How do you get homemade croutons crispy? The key to crispy croutons is making sure that they're fully dried out in the oven and crunchy all the way through. They should not be chewy when they come out of the oven. Bake croutons in a single layer on the baking sheet to crisp up the bread, rather than steaming it.

Why do croutons not go bad? ›

Croutons don't expire in the sense that they become dangerous to eat. There simply isn't enough moisture in them to feed an spoilage bacteria and other such organisms.

Do homemade croutons go bad? ›

Typically, homemade croutons remain fresh for up to two weeks if kept in an airtight container at room temperature. Their longevity hinges on how dry and crispy they are initially; the drier the croutons, the longer they can be preserved without losing their quality.

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. Try all of Olive Garden's signature ingredients.

Are croutons healthier 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.

What is healthier than croutons? ›

Almonds, walnuts, or pecans add a delightful crunch to salads and are rich in healthy fats and protein. They provide a nutrient-dense alternative to croutons, supporting heart health and satiety.

Can I vacuum seal homemade croutons? ›

Yes! Allow baked croutons to cool completely. Place in airtight packaging and freeze up to 3 months, or longer if vacuum sealed.

Can you vacuum pack croutons? ›

Keep the croutons out at room temperature and they'll stay crispy for 2 to 3 weeks. If you're using a food vacuum, make sure to NOT suck out all out air. You'll want to leave enough air in the bag where the croutons can still shake around.

Do bagged croutons expire? ›

When does crouton expire? 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.

How do you store homemade croutons so they don't get soggy? ›

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 do you store freshly made croutons? ›

Depending on how dry and crisp your croutons are, they will last for up to a week in an airtight container, but will be at their best for the first two days. You can refresh them in the oven for a few minutes to crisp up again if you like.

Why do croutons get soggy? ›

Soggy croutons often happen with leftover salad or prepackaged salads that have been sitting for a while. But they can also occur if you've prepped your salad too early and let it sit in the bowl for too long; the croutons take on moisture, and the crisped-up bread goes soft.

How do you fix soggy croutons? ›

There are a few methods you can use to re-crisp croutons: Oven method: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Spread your croutons out in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 5-10 minutes, or until they are crisp and lightly browned.

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