If it’s your first time making homemade croutons, you’ll find that they have much more flavor and a lighter, crisper texture than grocery store varieties. You can customize your own croutons with fresh herbs and seasonings you have in your pantry and get creative with the type of bread you use—day old baguettes, ciabatta, gluten free bread, and even pita—all work wonderfully. Say goodbye to boring salads and soups with a scattering of these crunchy, flavorful croutons.

How to Make Homemade Croutons: Easy Crouton Recipe

Croutons are pieces of bread that are torn or cubed, then seasoned and rebaked or sauteed until crispy. Croutons are commonly used to add texture and flavor to salads, soups, and stews. The word crouton comes from the French word for crust, “croûte”, which was historically a slice of baguette brushed with oil or butter and then baked.
For the best croutons, use slightly stale bread, although fresh bread can still work. A rustic, handmade loaf works better than sandwich breads that are too soft and thinly sliced. Airier loaves, such as baguettes and sourdough work well allowing the croutons to become crispy while baking but still light and chewy in texture. Another fun way to make croutons is with leftover torn up pita bread—think of a Mediterranean salad with a crunchy finish on top. 

Here are some of the best breads to use for croutons:

- French Baguette
- [Sourdough](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-sourdough-bread-recipe-and-tips)
- Italian Ciabatta
- Pugliese
- Paesano
- Pita Bread
- Cornbread


1. __Caesar Salad__: A classic way to use croutons is in a [Caesar salad with romaine lettuce](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-caesar-salad) dressed with lemon juice, olive oil, egg, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, garlic, Dijon mustard, Parmesan cheese, and black pepper. Try using torn bite-sized pieces of croutons for this salad to ensure nooks and crannies that catch dressing and add texture.
2. __Greek Salad__: Try making a refreshing Greek salad with cucumbers, grape tomatoes, red onion, olives, feta, and capers with croutons. Toss the dressing, salad, and croutons together and let sit for 15 minutes for the flavors to meld together. Pita bread croutons would also work well in this salad.
3. __BLT Salad__: For a heartier salad, try making a BLT salad with crispy bacon pieces, halved grape tomatoes, kale, and a creamy blue cheese dressing.
4. __Tomato Soup__: Crunchy croutons pair well with smooth, pureed soups, especially tomato soup. Try making your croutons with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. This will bring you back to a childhood favorite—a rainy day meal of grilled cheese with tomato soup.
5. __Butternut Squash Soup__: A creamy, dairy-free fall soup that has subtle sweetness from butternut squash and shallots. Try topping the soup with croutons and chopped parsley.
6. __French Onion Soup__: A traditional French onion soup with caramelized onions and croutons with swiss and gruyere melted on top.
7. __Sausage Breakfast Casserole__: Croutons are great for overnight casseroles because the crunchiness of the bread keeps it from becoming soggy. Layer croutons on the bottom of a baking dish, cover in scrambled eggs, cooked crumbled breakfast sausage, heavy cream, and shredded cheddar cheese. The mixture can be covered and stored in the refrigerator overnight and baked off the next morning.
8. __Holiday Stuffing__: Skip the box mix and make your own holiday stuffing. Make croutons with fresh herbs such as thyme, sage, and rosemary. In a large bowl, toss together a mixture of sauteed onion, celery, garlic, eggs, and broth. Place in a baking dish and bake until golden brown. 
9. __Southern Cornbread Stuffing__: Try using leftover cornbread to make croutons. The pieces can be dressed with onion, stock, and eggs and baked off for a tasty side dish.
10. __Bread crumbs__: Anytime a recipe calls for bread crumbs, use a rolling pin or food processor to pulverize the croutons up into your preferred size of breadcrumbs.

Follow the easy homemade crouton recipe, then add a sprinkle of aromatics, herbs, and flavorings to punch of the taste. 

1. __Garlic croutons__: Add 1–2 grated garlic cloves to the olive oil before using. If fresh garlic isn’t available, try sprinkling garlic powder over the tops before baking. These croutons are best for garlic bread lovers.
2. __Herbed croutons__: If using dried herbs, sprinkle on after seasoning with salt. For fresh herbs, add after the first 5 minutes of baking.
3. __Parmesan Croutons__: Add Parmesan after the first 5 minutes of baking.

Store croutons in sealable plastic bags or airtight container at room temperature for up to three days or in the freezer for several weeks. 

If it’s your first time making homemade croutons, you’ll find that they have much more flavor and a lighter, crisper texture than grocery store varieties. You can customize your own croutons with fresh herbs and seasonings you have in your pantry and get creative with the type of bread you use—day old baguettes, ciabatta, gluten free bread, and even pita—all work wonderfully. Say goodbye to boring salads and soups with a scattering of these crunchy, flavorful croutons.

Croutons are pieces of bread that are torn or cubed, then seasoned and rebaked or sauteed until crispy. Croutons are commonly used to add texture and flavor to salads, soups, and stews. The word crouton comes from the French word for crust, “croûte”, which was historically a slice of baguette brushed with oil or butter and then baked.

What Is a Crouton?

For the best croutons, use slightly stale bread, although fresh bread can still work. A rustic, handmade loaf works better than sandwich breads that are too soft and thinly sliced. Airier loaves, such as baguettes and sourdough work well allowing the croutons to become crispy while baking but still light and chewy in texture. Another fun way to make croutons is with leftover torn up pita bread—think of a Mediterranean salad with a crunchy finish on top. Here are some of the best breads to use for croutons:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">French Baguette </li><li class=""><a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-sourdough-bread-recipe-and-tips' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-sourdough-bread-recipe-and-tips","linkCopy":"Sourdough","category":null}'>Sourdough</a> </li><li class="">Italian Ciabatta </li><li class="">Pugliese </li><li class="">Paesano </li><li class="">Pita Bread </li><li class="">Cornbread </li></ul>

What’s the Best Bread for Croutons?

<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Caesar Salad: A classic way to use croutons is in a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-caesar-salad' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-caesar-salad","linkCopy":"Caesar salad with romaine lettuce","category":null}'>Caesar salad with romaine lettuce</a> dressed with lemon juice, olive oil, egg, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, garlic, Dijon mustard, Parmesan cheese, and black pepper. Try using torn bite-sized pieces of croutons for this salad to ensure nooks and crannies that catch dressing and add texture. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Greek Salad: Try making a refreshing Greek salad with cucumbers, grape tomatoes, red onion, olives, feta, and capers with croutons. Toss the dressing, salad, and croutons together and let sit for 15 minutes for the flavors to meld together. Pita bread croutons would also work well in this salad. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. BLT Salad: For a heartier salad, try making a BLT salad with crispy bacon pieces, halved grape tomatoes, kale, and a creamy blue cheese dressing. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Tomato Soup: Crunchy croutons pair well with smooth, pureed soups, especially tomato soup. Try making your croutons with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. This will bring you back to a childhood favorite—a rainy day meal of grilled cheese with tomato soup. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Butternut Squash Soup: A creamy, dairy-free fall soup that has subtle sweetness from butternut squash and shallots. Try topping the soup with croutons and chopped parsley. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. French Onion Soup: A traditional French onion soup with caramelized onions and croutons with swiss and gruyere melted on top. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 7. Sausage Breakfast Casserole: Croutons are great for overnight casseroles because the crunchiness of the bread keeps it from becoming soggy. Layer croutons on the bottom of a baking dish, cover in scrambled eggs, cooked crumbled breakfast sausage, heavy cream, and shredded cheddar cheese. The mixture can be covered and stored in the refrigerator overnight and baked off the next morning. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 8. Holiday Stuffing: Skip the box mix and make your own holiday stuffing. Make croutons with fresh herbs such as thyme, sage, and rosemary. In a large bowl, toss together a mixture of sauteed onion, celery, garlic, eggs, and broth. Place in a baking dish and bake until golden brown. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 9. Southern Cornbread Stuffing: Try using leftover cornbread to make croutons. The pieces can be dressed with onion, stock, and eggs and baked off for a tasty side dish. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 10. Bread crumbs: Anytime a recipe calls for bread crumbs, use a rolling pin or food processor to pulverize the croutons up into your preferred size of breadcrumbs. </li></ol>

10 Recipe Ideas For Using Croutons

Follow the easy homemade crouton recipe, then add a sprinkle of aromatics, herbs, and flavorings to punch of the taste. <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Garlic croutons: Add 1–2 grated garlic cloves to the olive oil before using. If fresh garlic isn’t available, try sprinkling garlic powder over the tops before baking. These croutons are best for garlic bread lovers. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Herbed croutons: If using dried herbs, sprinkle on after seasoning with salt. For fresh herbs, add after the first 5 minutes of baking. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Parmesan Croutons: Add Parmesan after the first 5 minutes of baking. </li></ol>

3 Variations on Croutons

Store croutons in sealable plastic bags or airtight container at room temperature for up to three days or in the freezer for several weeks.

How Long Do Homemade Croutons Last?

Easy, Homemade Crouton Recipe

If it’s your first time making homemade croutons, you’ll find that they have much more flavor and a lighter, crisper texture than grocery store varieties. You can customize your own croutons with fresh herbs and seasonings you have in your pantry and get creative with the type of bread you use—day old baguettes, ciabatta, gluten free bread, and even pita—all work wonderfully. Say goodbye to boring salads and soups with a scattering of these crunchy, flavorful croutons.

If it’s your first time making homemade croutons, you’ll find that they have much more flavor and a lighter, crisper texture than grocery store varieties. You can customize your own croutons with fresh herbs and seasonings you have in your pantry and get creative with the type of bread you use—day old baguettes, ciabatta, gluten free bread, and even pita—all work wonderfully. Say goodbye to boring salads and soups with a scattering of these crunchy, flavorful croutons.
