Homemade Crouton Recipe
These melt-in-your-mouth Homemade Croutons are perfectly crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and seasoned to perfection! A million times better than store-bought croutons, enjoy them in salads, soup, and more.
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 loaf bread cut into 1-inch cubes (leftover or stale bread is best)
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red chili flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line a large baking sheet (or two) with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Slice the bread - Carefully slice the bread into small cubes, approximately 1 inch in size. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- Season and combine - In a small bowl mix together the olive oil and garlic. Drizzle the cubed bread with the garlic olive oil, then season with Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red chili flakes (if using). Toss well (but gently) to combine.
- Bake - Transfer the seasoned bread cubes to the prepared baking sheet and spread them into a single layer with space between each cube of bread. Transfer to the oven and bake until golden, turning them once during cooking to ensure all sides are cooked evenly, approximately 15 minutes.
- Remove, cool, and serve - Remove the croutons from the oven and allow to cool thoroughly before adding them to your favorite soups and salads.
Notes
- The total cooking time depends on the kind of bread you use. Fluffy bread will take less time than denser, heartier bread.
- Allow your croutons to cool before serving for ultimate crispiness.
- Keep the seasoning plain or have fun with different combinations of salty, sweet, and savory.
- Croutons have finished cooking once they're golden and slightly brown. Avoid over-baking as they continue to cook after you remove them from the oven.
Nutrition
Calories: 293kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 589mg | Potassium: 167mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 48IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 129mg | Iron: 3mg
