Homemade Croutons - 4 ingredients! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2024)

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3030 Minutes or LessVGVegetarian5I5 ingredients or less

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15 minutes mins

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By: Rachel GurkPosted: 03/28/2016

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Homemade croutons are so easy to make – these baked, whole grain, 4 ingredient croutons will transform your soups and salads into something completely irresistible.

Homemade Croutons - 4 ingredients! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (1)

Once you go to a homemade crouton, there’s no going back. They are a major game-changer and your salads, soups and stews will never be the same. In a very, very good way.

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Easy: These are ready in less than 15 minutes, start to finish!
  • Four Ingredients: That’s right, only four! And aside from the bread, I bet you have them all on hand!
  • Irresistible: They’re crunchy. They’re flavorful. And they’re all too easy to pop in your mouth!
  • Great use for bread that’s getting stale: If you’re looking for ways to reduce waste in the kitchen, this is a great one! Make croutons out of bread that’s starting to get stale. Win win!
  • Way better than store-bought: Seriously. Read the comments.

How to Make Croutons

All you need to do is cut the bread into cubes, toss it with olive oil, garlic powder, and salt, spread them on a baking sheet and bake.

They only take 10 minutes to bake (but if you have really fresh bread, they’ll take longer to get golden brown).

The hardest part, BY FAR, is not eating them all off the baking sheet while they’re still warm. They are an absolutely irresistible combination of chewy and crispy and make for an amazing salad topping or a soup topper.

How to Use Homemade Croutons

I’ve been loving them on top of Italian sausage stew. They star in this traditional panzanella salad and springtime asparagus panzanella salad.

Homemade Croutons - 4 ingredients! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2)

How to Make Croutons on the Stove

I often get asked how to make croutons on the stove. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat and toss the croutons around in the hot pan until they are golden brown. You can prepare the croutons exactly the same way if you’re going to make them on the stovetop, and you don’t have to increase the oil unless you want to. I prefer the oven method because it’s slightly more hands-off and frees me up to do other things.

More Salad Toppings

  • homemade reduced-fat ranch dressing
  • fresh raspberry vinaigrette dressing recipe
  • vanilla bean candied walnuts
  • savory granola (not sweet, and super crunchy with pepitas, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds)
  • pepitas (eight recipes!)
  • sweet and tangy honey mustard vinaigrette
  • olive oil roasted almonds
  • seasoned oyster crackers
  • pickled red onions

More Croutons

Can’t get enough croutons? Read my comprehensive guide on how to make croutons! Make sure to also try my Ruby Tuesday croutons – they’re the perfect copycat recipe!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Homemade Croutons - 4 ingredients! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (3)

Recipe

Get the Recipe: Homemade Croutons

4.49 from 306 votes

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 15 minutes mins

4 cups

Print Rate Recipe

Homemade croutons are so easy to make – these baked, whole grain, 4 ingredient croutons will transform your soups and salads into something completely irresistible.

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F.

  • In a large bowl, combine the bread, garlic powder, and salt. Drizzle olive oil over bread while stirring. Stir well until bread is coated by all ingredients and olive oil is absorbed.

  • Spread the bread cubes into an even layer on a sheet pan. Don’t crowd the pan. Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. If you’re using super fresh bread, they’ll take a little longer to become golden brown. If the bread is stale and dry, it maybrown faster, so keep an eye on it!

Notes

  • Serving size: 1/4 cup croutons.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 0.25cup, Calories: 66kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Sodium: 82mg, Sugar: 1g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk

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Reader Interactions

Leave a Review

  1. Felecia Bee says

    Homemade Croutons - 4 ingredients! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (11)
    Rachel,
    Thank you so much for the advice! I put them back in the oven for 4 minutes and they came perfect!
    There are no preservatives in the bread I used so it will start to show signs of mold (white spots) if left out too long. Maybe I’ll just try baking it longer from the start.
    Thank you again for saving my croutons!
    Felecia

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      I’m so glad it worked out! Thanks for reporting back!

      Reply

  2. Felecia Bee says

    Homemade Croutons - 4 ingredients! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (12)
    Help! Have made these “Homemade Croutons – 4 Ingredients!” many times and they always came great. This time, used the same bread (Italian Country Bread) but they came out different. Instead of crunchy, they almost taste stale – the bread was baked the day I bought it and I made the croutons three days later.
    Is there anyway to rescue them? Should I put them back in the oven? If yes, for how long?
    Thanks so much!

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      That’s odd! It could be the bread was just a bit fresher or more firm. I would try baking them for a few more minutes until they are crunchier – maybe in 3-4 minute increments, keeping a close eye on them.

      Reply

  3. Bonnie Tysland says

    Homemade Croutons - 4 ingredients! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (13)
    I had some few days old jalapeño cheddar bagels, that I didn’t know what to do with and I saw this recipe and it gave me a great idea. They are delicious! I took more of those bagels out of my freezer and going to make some more tomorrow. These croutons are perfect.

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      Oh yum, I bet those are delicious!

      Reply

Older Comments

Homemade Croutons - 4 ingredients! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2024)

FAQs

Why are my croutons not crispy? ›

Spread the bread cubes onto the prepared baking sheet, making sure the bread cubes are in an even layer and not touching. If they are too close and overlapping, they won't cook evenly and won't crisp up. Bake for 12 to 20 minutes, tossing halfway through, or until the croutons are golden brown.

Why are my homemade croutons soggy? ›

They should not be chewy when they come out of the oven. Bake croutons in a single layer on the baking sheet to crisp up the bread, rather than steaming it. Why are my homemade croutons soggy? It could be that you stored your croutons before they were fully cooled.

What are caesar salad croutons made of? ›

Homemade Croutons:
  • ½ (1 pound) loaf sourdough bread, cut into 1-inch cubes.
  • ¼ cup olive oil.
  • ¼ cup butter, melted.
  • 2 cloves garlic, pressed.
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt.
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper.
Jul 6, 2023

Can you freeze homemade croutons? ›

Croutons: Yes, you can freeze them! Cube stale bread and toast it for a few minutes. Then, place the croutons into a resealable freezer bag and stow in the freezer. You can also freeze the uncooked bread cubes and toast them at a later time.

How to keep homemade croutons crispy? ›

The best is to store them air tight and prevent any moisture from coming in. Moisture is the main enemy of croutons, making them lose their sogginess. If they do become a little soft, heat them again in a pan to crucnh them back up.

How long will homemade croutons keep? ›

How long do croutons last? The expected shelf-life for homemade croutons is about two weeks. Moisture encourages mold, so make sure your croutons are completely dehydrated during the bake and let cool completely at room temperature before storing them away in an airtight container.

Is it cheaper to make or buy croutons? ›

Homemade croutons are less expensive than storebought; they're also ten times tastier. They enhance every salad on which they are sprinkled, and can also be used as a garnish for soups, or crushed with a rolling pin and sprinkled on pasta or used as a filling for an omelet.

How to soften croutons for salad? ›

To refresh stale croutons, bake for 3 to 4 minutes at 400 degrees.

What temperature do you dehydrate croutons? ›

Directions
  1. 1Cut the bread into small cubes.
  2. 2Place in the dehydrator and dry for 4-6 hours at 155 degrees F until crisp.
  3. 3Optional: Add garlic salt, onion salt, parmesan cheese, or herbs for an exciting flavor.

What are Olive Garden croutons made of? ›

Our croutons are made with Romano cheese, seasoned with garlic, Italian herbs & spices, and baked to a delicious golden brown.

What to use instead of croutons in Caesar salad? ›

10 Healthy Alternatives to Croutons
  1. Roasted chickpeas. These offer a satisfying crunch and can be seasoned in various ways to mimic the flavor profile of croutons. ...
  2. Chopped nuts. ...
  3. Whole grain pita chips. ...
  4. Seeded crackers. ...
  5. Parmesan crisps. ...
  6. Toasted quinoa. ...
  7. Roasted pumpkin seeds. ...
  8. Sunflower seeds.

What bread is croutons made of? ›

For the best croutons, seek out a crusty loaf of bread with great flavor. I love to use my favorite whole grain sourdough from our local bakery. French bread works very well. You could even use a loaf of rye bread or homemade cornbread if its unique flavors will complement your meal.

Can you vacuum seal homemade croutons? ›

They will always be handy for game night! Grains – Rice, Oats, Homemade Breading, Homemade croutons- Seal open containers for extended freshness.

How to stop croutons from going soggy? ›

If you're baking your croutons, make sure they are well-spaced-out on a shallow tray to ensure they crisp evenly and they don't steam, causing them to become soggy. They also need to be in a single layer and not touching.

How long will vacuum sealed croutons last? ›

Shelf Life of Baked Goods
Baked Goods
FoodsStored InVacuum Shelf Life
Cookies (homemade)Pantry2 Weeks / 2 Years
Pancake MixPantry1-2 Years
CroutonsPantry1 Year
5 more rows
Aug 22, 2022

How do you revive soggy croutons? ›

The method for reviving croutons involves lightly coating them in oil and baking them until they are golden and crispy again. This not only re-crisps them but also provides an opportunity to infuse additional flavors through seasonings such as garlic, herbs, or Parmesan.

How to fix stale croutons? ›

Let croutons cool in a single layer on the baking sheet. Use immediately or keep in an airtight container for up to 2 days. To refresh stale croutons, bake for 3 to 4 minutes at 400 degrees.

Are you supposed to crush croutons? ›

If a recipe calls for dry bread crumbs but you don't have any on hand, use packaged croutons. Place them in a resealable bag and smash them with a rolling pin. Crumbs made from seasoned croutons add extra flavor!

Are croutons meant to be crunchy? ›

Let me explain: Most croutons are crunchy through and through, but these are designed to be crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle–far better for munching out of hand (or as a complement to tender salad leaves) than the hard, desiccated store-bought kind.

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