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Ditch the store-bought and embrace the perfect crunch of homemade croutons in the oven! This super simple and totally customizable recipe is the ticket to crispy, flavorful salad croutons perfect for soups, pastas, veggies, and more. Best of all, you’ll need just 5 minutes of prep and a handful of basic ingredients to make them!

Loved this easy recipe, my 5yr old g.daughter gave it a thumbs up! She eats them like chips.

Micki
Close-up photo illustrating the crispy texture of croutons baked in the oven.

Update: This recipe was originally published in September 2019. I made updates the article below to include more information about making croutons in the oven at home.

Table of Contents

About this homemade croutons recipe

Making your own croutons is ridiculously easy! This recipe yields golden brown croutons that are crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside and all around delicious!!

Homemade croutons are the perfect way to use up any leftover bread and they taste a million times better than any store-bought brand! Not to mention, they will make your house smell amazing while they are baking!

While I seasoned my croutons with homemade Italian seasoning, garlic, freshly grated parmesan and plenty of salt and pepper, you can season them with whatever your heart desires!

Why you’ll love making your own croutons

In case you find yourself thinking “but why make croutons at home when I can just purchase one of those convenient bags at the grocery store?!”, here’s why:

  • Super Easy! Literally, it only takes 5 minutes of active, hands-on time.
  • Healthier! Say ta-ta to all those unhealthy additives and preservatives.
  • More Wallet Friendly! Making crouton at home is a great way to use up any leftover stale bread you have hanging around your kitchen.
  • Better Flavor! Homemade is always fresher and better tasting than store-bought products. 
  • Totally Customizable! Keep things traditional with garlic and parmesan flavors or shake things up and make bbq croutons, cajun croutons, or whatever tasty flavor combination your belly dreams up. The world is your figurative oyster with this homemade crouton recipe. Or instead of dicing the bread into croutons, slice it thick and make crostinis instead.
Overhead photo of a loaf of Italian bread cut into cubes

ingredients to make croutons

  • Bread: I typically use Italian bread or French bread, but any sturdy breads will work (Please scroll down to the FAQs section to read all about the different types of bread you can use to make croutons in the oven.)
  • Olive Oil: Be sure to use a good-quality olive oil here.
  • Parmesan Cheese: Be sure to buy a block and freshly grate it yourself. Please don’t use that stuff in a green bottle.
  • Garlic: I prefer to use fresh garlic cloves to make my oven croutons, but you can swap in garlic powder if you prefer.
  • Italian Seasoning: Italian spice mix is a magical blend of herbs, so one bottle holds a ton of robust flavor
  • Kosher Salt and Ground Black Flavor: For overall flavor.

Recipe variations

  • Bread Choices: Swap out the classic Italian or French bread for a different loaf, such as focaccia or whole wheat.
  • Seasonings: Swap out the Italian seasoning for a different spice blend, such as fajita or taco spices, cajun seasonings, ranch dip spices, and more.
  • Spicy: If you’re looking for a crouton with a kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or chili powder.
  • Butter: Swap out the olive oil and use melted garlic butter instead.
Action photo of a hand drizzling olive oil over cubes of bread in a bowl.

How to make croutons in oven

Salad croutons are incredibly easy to make in the oven at home and taste a million times better than the store-bought variety. Here’s how:

  • Cube or tear bread.  Either cut bread into cubes with a knife or tear bread into small chunks by hand. Pro-tip: Make sure the croutons are uniform in size so they bake evenly.
  • Toss with oil and seasonings. Place cubed bread in a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Toss the bread to evenly coat. Sprinkle with seasonings and toss again.
  • Spread croutons out on a rimmed baking sheet.  Transfer the bread cubes onto a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Pro-tip:  Make sure the croutons are spread out in a single, even layer. Avoid overcrowding the baking sheet or the croutons will not bake evenly.
  • Bake until golden brown and crispy.  Bake the croutons, tossing once halfway through baking, until the croutons are golden brown and crispy.
  • Use or store. Use croutons immediately. Or, allow the croutons to cool to room temperature and store in a zip-closure bag.

Expert tips for the best salad crouton

  • Try using different types and varieties of bread. Sourdough, whole wheat, multigrain, and seeded (plus more!) are all good options to use.
  • Don’t forget the oil! Not only does the olive oil prevent the bread croutons from sticking to the baking sheet, it provides rich flavor and encourages browning.
  • Experiment with different seasonings on your croutons. Everyone’s palate is different, making croutons in the oven at home ensures these crispy bread salad toppers are seasoned to YOUR liking.  
  • To achieve perfectly crispy croutons, be sure you don’t overcrowd the baking sheet. Overcrowding will cause the bread to steam, versus bake and crisp.
  • Don’t walk away during baking. Be sure to periodically check on the croutons as they bake in the oven to make sure they don’t burn. 

FAQs: frequently asked questions

Got questions? I’ve got answers! If you ever run into an issue, have a question, or need any clarification – please feel free to drop them in the comments section. I’m happy to help when I can! 

How to season croutons?

Aside from the fresh, delicious taste, the best thing about homemade croutons is that they are highly customizable!

  • Use fresh herbs – basil,  thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano, parsley
  • Add dried spices or spice mixtures – crushed fennel, curry powder, chile powder, Italian Seasoning, Greek Seasoning, Cajun Seasonings, or Ranch Spices.
  • Toss croutons with finely grated cheeses – parmesan, pecorino, asiago, grana padano . Pro-tip: Make sure you uses a hard cheese that has a low moisture content.
  • Try making sweet croutons – Use a fruit, nut or raisin bread and toss the cubes in butter instead of oil. Use a mixture of cinnamon and sugar to season the cubes of bread.

What type of bread is best for making croutons?

To make great homemade croutons you should use a sturdy artisan bread with a soft, airy center. Look for a loaf of bread that has plenty of air pockets throughout. Bread with a light, airy center will produce crispier croutons while dense bread will produce harder croutons.

For the best results, make sure you use stale bread that is a day-old when making this or any crouton recipe.

  • French Bread
  • Sourdough
  • Baguette
  • Ciabatta
  • Boule
  • English Muffins

What oven temperature to bake croutons?

Baking croutons in the oven – instead pan-frying them in a skillet with butter – is not only healthier, but baking ensures evenly browned cubes of bread!

For the crispiest homemade croutons, bake them in an oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

How to keep a crouton crispy?

To keep croutons crispy, make sure they are properly stored!

  • Transfer leftover croutons in a zip-closure bag with all the air removed from the bag before sealing. Air or humidity will cause the croutons to become stale.
  • Store from scratch croutons at room temperature. While you can store croutons in the refrigerator, moisture will cause the croutons to become less crispy.
Action photo of a hand sprinkling freshly grated parmesan cheese on a bowl of bread croutons.

How to use oven croutons

Crisp, buttery Italian croutons from scratch are the perfect way to add crunchy texture to a variety of dishes!

10 ways to use salad croutons at home

Close-up, angled photo of oven croutons cooling on a baking sheet.

Storing this oven croutons recipe

Store your homemade croutons in a zip-closure bag or airtight container at room temperature. To keep croutons fresh, remove as much air as possible from the bag before sealing.

Properly stored from scratch croutons will stay fresh for up to two weeks at room temperature.

Can you freeze homemade croutons?

Crouton toppings can be stored in the freezer! Place cooled croutons in a zip-closure freezer bag and store in the freezer for 4 to 6 weeks.

To use frozen croutons, thaw them on a paper towel at room temperature for 1 hour. Heat on a baking sheet at 250 degrees Fahrenheit until crisp.

Overhead photo of a house salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and salad croutons.

Versatile and extremely easy to make, this recipe for homemade croutons is a million times better than any store-bought brand! Step up your soup and salad game with these perfectly crispy croutons!

Until Thursday, friends, cheers – to adding these crunchy toppers to everything!

Cheyanne

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Overhead photo of homemade croutons on a large baking sheet.

Homemade Croutons In the Oven

Author: Cheyanne Holzworth
Total Time: 25 minutes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Ditch the store-bought and embrace the perfect crunch of homemade croutons in the oven! This super simple and totally customizable recipe is the ticket to crispy, flavorful salad croutons perfect for soups, pastas, veggies, and more. Best of all, you'll need just 5 minutes of prep and a handful of basic ingredients to make them!

Equipment

  • 1 Large Bowl – for seasoning bread
  • 1 Sheet Parchment Paper – for lining baking pan
  • 1 Large Baking Sheet – for oven baking croutons

Ingredients 

  • 1 loaf French Bread – (about 10-12 ounces)
  • 6 TBS Olive Oil
  • 3 TBS Finely Grated Parmesan – plus more for dusting croutons if desired
  • 2 small Cloves Garlic – roughly chopped
  • 2 tsp Italian Seasoning (Click ingredient for Homemade Italian Seasoning recipe)
  • To Taste Kosher Salt & Ground Black Pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat Oven and Prep Pan: Adjust the oven rack to center position and the preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and then set it aside.
  • Cube or Tear Bread: Either cut bread into ¾ inch-cubes with a knife or tear bread into small chunks by hand. Make sure the croutons are uniform in size so they bake evenly.
  • Toss Bread Cubes with Oil and Seasonings. Place cubed bread into a large bowl and drizzle the bread with the oil. Use your hands or a spoon and toss to coat the cubes of bread in the oil. Then, sprinkle the parmesan, garlic, and Italian seasoning over the bread. Season with ½ teaspoon kosher salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Then gently toss to evenly coat the bread in the spices.
  • Arrange Bread Baking Sheet: Dump the bread cubes our onto the prepared baking sheet. Use your hands to spread the bread out into an even, single layer across the baking pan.
  • Bake in Oven: Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven and bake the bread cubes, tossing once halfway through baking, for 15-20 minutes, or until the croutons are golden brown and crispy.
  • Season Again and Cool: Remove the croutons from the oven and place the pan on a wire cooling rack. Season the oven croutons with kosher salt and more parmesan cheese. Then, allow the croutons to cool slightly on the pan.
  • Enjoy or Store for Later: Use your homemade bread croutons immediately on soups, salads, and more. Alternatively, allow the croutons to cool completely before storing in a zip-closure bag.

Notes

  1. Do NOT overcrowd the baking sheet. You want the croutons in a single layer with some space left between each cube of bread.
  2. Baking time will vary depending on the size of your croutons and how moist your bread is.
  3. To Store Croutons:  Croutons should be stored in a zip-closure bag at room temperature.  To keep croutons fresh, remove as much air as possible from the bag before sealing.  Croutons will keep for up to 2 weeks.
  4. Croutons can be frozen for up to 4 to 6 weeks.  To use frozen croutons, thaw them on a paper towel at room temperature for 1 hour.  Heat on a baking sheet at 250 degrees Fahrenheit until crisp.
  5. Got questions? I’ve got answers! If you ever run into an issue, have a question, or need any clarification – please feel free to drop them in the comments section. I’m happy to help when I can! 
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and the nutrition facts are an estimate based upon 12 servings. Exact information will depend upon the brands of ingredients and precise measurements used.

Nutrition

Calories: 137kcal    Carbohydrates: 14g    Protein: 3g    Fat: 8g    Saturated Fat: 1g    Cholesterol: 1mg    Sodium: 142mg    Potassium: 34mg    Fiber: 1g    Sugar: 1g    Vitamin A: 15IU    Vitamin C: 1mg    Calcium: 31mg    Iron: 1mg
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American, Italian

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Close-up photo of homemade croutons made in the oven.