Easy Homemade Croutons from Leftover Bread

I had some homemade bread left over and there was no way I was going to let it go to waste. Growing up, we never wasted bread in our house either. My mom would soak older bread in milk when she was making ground beef cutlets, or dry it and make breadcrumbs. There was always another use for it.

That is probably why I still hate throwing bread away today. This time, homemade croutons were the answer.

If you have leftover bread sitting around, don’t toss it. Turn it into homemade croutons instead.

This is one of those easy kitchen tricks that takes almost no effort, uses ingredients you probably already have, and gives you something you can use all week on salads, soups, and casseroles.

I make mine very simply with olive oil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and a little Parmesan cheese. Nothing fancy, but they come out crispy, flavorful, and so much better than store-bought.

Why Make Homemade Croutons?

Homemade croutons are one of the easiest ways to use leftover bread before it goes to waste.

You can use almost any kind of bread, and you can season them however you like. They are also a great way to use bread that is starting to get a little dry.

And yes, I may grab a few straight from the pan before they ever make it to the salad. 🤪

What Kind of Bread Can You Use?

Almost any bread works for homemade croutons.

You can use:

• Italian bread
• French bread
• Sourdough
• Sandwich bread
• Rolls
• Baguettes
• Homemade bread

Bread that is a day or two old actually works beautifully because it is already a little dry.

Ingredients

• Leftover bread
• Olive oil
• Garlic powder
• Italian seasoning
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper, optional

There really are no exact measurements needed for this recipe. I season mine by eye.

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How to Make Homemade Croutons

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Cut the bread into bite-size cubes and spread them onto a baking sheet.

Gently drizzle the bread with olive oil. You only need enough to lightly coat the cubes. You don’t want them soaked in oil.

Sprinkle with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and a little Parmesan cheese.

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Add salt and pepper if you like.

Gently toss everything together so the seasoning is evenly distributed.

Spread the bread cubes back into a single layer.

Bake for about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring once during baking, until the croutons are lightly golden and crispy.

Keep an eye on them toward the end because bread can go from golden to too dark pretty quickly.

Allow the croutons to cool completely before storing.

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Perfect for Fall and Thanksgiving

Homemade croutons are especially handy during the fall and holiday season. Serve them with soups, add them to salads, or use them anywhere you want a little extra crunch.

How Do You Know When Croutons Are Done?

They should feel dry and crisp on the outside and have a light golden color.

If you prefer them extra crunchy, leave them in the oven for another few minutes, checking often so they don’t burn.

How to Store Homemade Croutons

Once the croutons are completely cool, store them in an airtight container.

They should stay crisp for several days as long as no moisture gets into the container.

Ways to Use Homemade Croutons

Of course they are perfect for salads, but I also love them with soups.

They are especially good on creamy soups, tomato soup, onion soup, and even sprinkled over casseroles.

You can also crush leftover croutons and use them as seasoned breadcrumbs.

Easy Flavor Variations

Once you know how easy homemade croutons are, you can change the seasoning depending on what you are serving.

Try:

• Garlic and Parmesan
• Italian seasoning
• Ranch seasoning
• Rosemary and garlic
• Onion powder and Parmesan
• Cajun seasoning
• Everything bagel seasoning

Just remember to keep the oil light so the bread gets crispy instead of greasy.

Don’t Throw Away That Leftover Bread

This is one of my favorite easy ways to use bread that might otherwise end up in the trash.

A few minutes of prep and a short trip to the oven turns ordinary leftover bread into something you can use in salads, soups, and plenty of other meals.

And once you taste homemade croutons warm from the oven, you may start saving that leftover bread on purpose.

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Other easy recipes on my blog

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