Learn to make Homemade Croutons from scratch in minutes with this simple, delicious croutons recipe. Easy to customize and perfect for topping salads, soups, and more!
Crunchy and delicious croutons make a tasty topping to my Best House Salad and many other salads, as well as a hearty tomato soup in the cooler months or a tangy Gazpacho in the heat of the summer! These take just minutes to make, and they taste so fresh and delicious!
Homemade croutons taste so much better than store-bought ones and are so simple, quick, and easy to make from scratch. I love that you can easily customize them based on how you are serving them! Made with just a few ingredients and ready in 10 minutes, they are an essential recipe in my house! I’ve found that kids (and many adults) eat salad more often with some tasty, crunchy croutons tossed onto a bed of greens! They couldn’t be easier to make and absolutely give that extra something special to a homemade soup or salad!
Table of Contents
How to Make Homemade Croutons Recipe
To make my homemade croutons, you’ll only need a few ingredients and can modify the seasoning for your basic croutons. You’ll need:
Ingredients
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
- sourdough bread – this is our preferred bread to use for homemade croutons. You can also use your favorite bread. Other breads that work well for croutons include a baguette, French bread, or another hearty thick-sliced bread.
- olive oil – use your favorite olive oil.
- Stone House Seasoning – My house seasoning blend is delicious in so many dishes! Alternately, you can use 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Cut the bread into cubes. Cut your bread into 1/2-inch cubes and place into a large bowl.
Toss with oil and seasoning. Drizzle olive oil on top of the bread cubes and sprinkle them with the Stone House Seasoning. Toss well to coat the bread cubes completely.
Bake until golden. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly coat it with a bit of olive oil spray. Then spread the seasoned bread cubes onto the baking sheet and bake until golden, about 8-10 minutes. Check halfway through cooking time to make sure they don’t get more done than you’d like.
Serve. Remove from the oven and serve immediately in your favorite soup and salad recipes.
How to Store
Allow the croutons to cool completely, then store them in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days.
Recipe Tips
Make Seasoned Breadcrumbs – Take some completely cooled homemade croutons, place them in a storage bag, and roll them with a rolling pin to crush them into bread crumbs.
Use Day Old Bread – Slightly stale, day or two old bread works beautifully for homemade croutons. It also cuts into cubes easier when it’s a bit stale than if it’s fresh.
Delicious Crouton Variations
- Parmesan Croutons – Add 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese to the olive oil and Stone House Seasoning. Toss all to coat the bread cubes and bake as directed.
- Chili Cheese Croutons – Add 1/4 teaspoon of chili powder and 1/4 cup of shredded Cheddar Cheese to the olive oil and Stone House Seasoning. Continue with the recipe as directed.
- Ranch Croutons – Substitute Ranch Seasoning for the Stone House Seasoning called for in the recipe. Continue with the recipe as directed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Make sure to space them out on the baking sheet so that they have room to bake evenly. If they are placed too closely together, they can become soggy.
First, make sure they are completely cooled. Warm croutons will get mushy from the moisture that may be trapped inside the sealed storage container. Completely cooled croutons sealed in an airtight storage bag should remain fresh for up to 4 days.
More Favorite Salads and Dressings
Here’s my easy Homemade Croutons Recipe. I hope you love them as much as we do!
Homemade Croutons Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups sourdough bread, cut into cubes
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Stone House Seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400º F.
- Cut sourdough bread into cubes and add to a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and add Stone House Seasoning. Toss well to coat the bread cubes on all sides.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or lightly coat the baking sheet with a bit of olive oil spray.
- Spread the sourdough bread cubes onto the baking sheet in a single layer, leaving space between the bread cubes for even crisping.
- Bake until golden, about 8 – 10 minutes, checking halfway through cooking time to make sure they are not getting too brown.
- Remove from the oven and serve immediately while warm or allow to cool completely and store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Notes
Delicious Optional Variations:
- Parmesan Croutons – Add 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese to the olive oil and Stone House Seasoning. Toss all to coat the bread cubes and bake as directed.
- Chili Cheese Croutons – Add 1/4 teaspoon of chili powder and 1/4 cup of shredded Cheddar Cheese to the olive oil and Stone House Seasoning. Continue with the recipe as directed.
- Ranch Croutons – Substitute Ranch Seasoning for the Stone House Seasoning called for in the recipe. Continue with the recipe as directed.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
I am not a big fan of sourdough. What would be a good second choice?
By the way, I love your post and I also appreciate that you do not post recipes on the Holidays except to wish us all well.
Fran
Fran, you don’t have to use sourdough for these croutons. A baguette, French bread, or another hearty thick-sliced bread work well in this recipe. I hope you enjoy!
I’ve been on a roll lately, trying Ms Stone’s recipes So many so good! This is really easy, you can use day old or sort of stale bread (including Italian, etc). also, try Trader Joe’s “Quattro Formaggio” cheese blend…very nice and tasty!
5 stars!
Thank you. I’m so glad you are enjoying my recipes.