My family is totally smitten with these homemade croutons! They’re crisp, crunchy, herby and garlicky!
Level up your salads with these Homemade Croutons
Whenever my kids see leftover French bread on our counter, they ask if I can make these homemade croutons! These croutons are so much better than anything you can buy at the store. And homemade croutons are unbelievably easy to make. The hardest part is not eating them all off of the pan before they make it onto our salads!
My croutons recipe uses just a handful of pantry ingredients: bread, olive oil, fresh garlic, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. With no funny ingredients or preservatives, these croutons taste so fresh and flavorful. They’re garlicky, herby and so crunchy!
If, like me, you love making everyday staples from scratch, try my recipes for Sandwich Bread, Salad Dressings and Taco Seasoning next.
Best Bread for Croutons
This recipe is a great way to use stale bread, since croutons are best made with day-old bread. I recommend using a French baguette, French bread, sourdough or a thick country bread. Just avoid a basic thin-sliced sandwich bread for best results.
How to Make Croutons
Here’s an overview of the recipe steps. Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
Season the bread cubes. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Add the bread cubes and stir them together with the oil and seasonings until evenly coated.
Bake. Spread the seasoned bread cubes out in an even layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350° F for 12-16 minutes, until golden brown and crisp. Flip the croutons over half way through the bake time to help them brown evenly on all sides.
Storage Instructions
You can store these croutons at room temperature for a few days, but my favorite way to store them is in the freezer. Sometimes I’ll make a double batch just so I can stock my freezer with these. They’re so nice to have on hand to add to soups and salads!
- Room Temperature: You can store these croutons in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- To Freeze: Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. They will thaw quickly at room temperature.
My Favorite Ways to Use Homemade Croutons
Besides snacking on them (they’re just too good!), here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy these homemade croutons:
- Add them to salads. I always add them to my Caesar Salad. We also love them in a Green Salad and in this Italian Salad.
- As a soup topper. Croutons add a delicious crunch to Potato Soup, Broccoli Cheddar Soup, or almost any of these soup recipes!
- Add them to a breakfast casserole. Put a layer of croutons in the baking dish before pouring in the egg mixture in my Breakfast Casserole recipe.
Easy Homemade Croutons
Ingredients
- 6 cups 1-inch bread cubes, from a French baguette, French bread, thick country bread or similar (1 day old bread is best)
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Add the bread cubes and stir them together with the oil and seasonings until evenly coated.
- Spread the bread cubes out in an even layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 12-16 minutes, until golden brown and crisp, flipping croutons over half way through the bake time.
Notes
- Croutons can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
I originally shared this recipe in April 2015. Post updated March 2025 with a retested, improved recipe, new photos and more helpful information.
