These easy homemade sourdough bread croutons are crunchy, buttery, and insanely delicious in under 10 minutes. Choose your favorite sourdough bread, with the option of making these croutons gluten-free and vegan. Perfect for salads and soups!
The best croutons made from sourdough bread
Homemade sourdough croutons are the ultimate game-changer in the kitchen—they're a hundred times better than any bland store-bought counterpart and bursting with natural flavor. The best part? It takes just 10 minutes to make in your oven or air fryer!
These croutons are so customizable. You can use gluten-free bread or any slightly stale bread lying around. While I went for sourdough (my absolute favorite), feel free to choose any bread that strikes your fancy.
This sourdough crouton recipe isn't your grandma's traditional approach or any online recipe. We use both butter and olive oil to amp up the flavor and achieve that extra-crispy magic. It's my secret trick, and now it's yours too!
These croutons are crisp, buttery, crunchy, and just a hint of garlicky goodness. I've been tossing them into soups and salads, and let me tell you, they're the perfect crunchy sidekick. I love this homemade tomato soup and pumpkin sweet potato soup. I cannot wait to hear what you think!
Why you'll love this easy recipe:
- Quick & Easy: Ready in 10 minutes.
- Buttery Crunch: They are buttery, crisp, and delicious.
- Bread Options: Works with gluten-free or regular, stale or fresh sourdough.
- 3 Ingredients: Such an easy way to use leftover sourdough bread.
- Versatile: Perfect for salads and soups.
- Vegan Option: Easily Make these croutons vegan with 1 substitution.
- Meal Prep: Croutons last for weeks and are perfect for meal prepping!
- Air Fryer Option: You can air fry or oven-bake sourdough croutons.
- Serve these homemade croutons with this delicious tomato soup!
Ingredients needed
Homemade sourdough croutons are made with five simple ingredients, including salt and pepper. Best of all, you can use any fresh or stale sourdough bread. Here is a list of ingredients so you are prepared:
- Sourdough Bread: Choose your favorite brand of sourdough bread, whether it's gluten-free or regular, to create the base for these croutons.
- Butter: Melt 1 tablespoon of vegan or regular butter for that unbeatable taste. It's the secret weapon for getting those bread cubes crispy and oh-so-delicious.
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Mix in 2 tablespoons of olive oil with the butter to make these croutons super crisp and crunchy. If you're feeling fancy, avocado oil works too.
- Garlic Powder: Just a dash of garlic powder brings in that amazing Italian flavor. It's the little something that makes these sourdough croutons pop!
- Salt & Black Pepper: Season it up to your preference.
Kitchen tools needed:
Here is a list of all the kitchen utensils you'll need to make these crunch sourdough croutons from scratch successfully:
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Mixing bowl
- Knife + Cutting Board
- Oven
How to make croutons with sourdough bread
These homemade sourdough croutons are so easy to make in under 10 minutes! Each crouton is crunchy, buttery crisp, and coated in olive oil, butter, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. You can easily make them gluten-free and vegan too! Here are detailed step-by-step instructions with pictures for any level cook:
Step 1:
To start, preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2:
Now, cut up the sourdough bread into 1-inch bite-sized pieces and add them to a mixing bowl.
Step 3:
Then, combine melted butter, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Drizzle over the bread and toss to combine.
Step 4:
Finally, evenly arrange bread across the lined baking sheet and bake for 8 - 10 minutes until golden brown and crisp. Enjoy them on top of a salad or in a soup!
Expert recipe tips:
- Stale Bread Hack: While fresh bread works, using slightly stale sourdough enhances crispiness. If your bread is too fresh, leave it out for an hour or three before cubing.
- Uniform Cubes: Ensure you cut the bread into uniform 1-inch cubes for even cooking.
- Make them Vegan: Use dairy-free butter rather than regular butter to make these croutons 100% vegan.
- Storage Tip: Store leftover croutons in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. While best enjoyed within the first few hours for optimal crispiness, proper storage helps retain their flavor and texture. Avoid refrigeration, as it can make croutons lose their crunch.
How to make homemade air fryer croutons:
You can quickly air fryer sourdough croutons instead of baking them. Here's how to do it:
- Preheat: Set air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- Prepare Cubes: Cut bread into 1-inch cubes.
- Coat and Season: Toss with oil, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Load Basket: Arrange in a single layer, avoiding overcrowding.
- Air Fry: Cook for 5-8 minutes, shaking halfway.
- Check Crispiness: Golden brown and crispy. You can add up to 3 - 5 minutes more if needed.
- Serve or Cool: Use immediately or cool before storing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use fresh bread instead of stale for croutons?
Yes, fresh bread works, but slightly stale sourdough can enhance crispiness. If your bread is too fresh, leave it out for an hour or three before making them.
What to serve croutons with?
Serve croutons with any salad or soup! Personally, I love them on Caesar salads or in tomato soup. Alternatively, you can serve them with this pumpkin sweet potato soup, butternut squash soup, salmon quinoa salad, or strawberry goat cheese salad.
Can I make them gluten-free?
These buttery and crisp homemade croutons can be made 100% gluten-free using gluten-free sourdough or your favorite gluten-free bread. The best part about this recipe is that it is super customizable with your bread!
Can I double or triple the recipe?
Certainly! Feel free to double or triple the recipe if you're cooking for a crowd. Ensure the croutons are spread in a single layer on the baking sheet(s) to avoid overlap, which can affect crispiness. You might need multiple sheets or bake in separate batches for the best results.
Can I make these croutons vegan?
Absolutely! Use dairy-free butter instead of regular butter to make these croutons 100% vegan.
How to store leftover croutons:
Croutons are best enjoyed within the first few hours. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. Avoid refrigeration to maintain their crunchiness.
If you loved this recipe, try these next!
- Salmon Caesar Salad
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
- Greek Spinach Salad
- Balsamic Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
- Salmon Quinoa Salad
- Kale Crunch Salad
- Dairy-Free Tomato Soup
- Carrot and Butternut Squash Soup
- Cauliflower Leek Potato Soup
Did you make this recipe?
If you make this recipe, be sure to comment and rate it down below. Also, don't forget to tag me @healthfulblondie on Instagram and use the hashtag #healthfulblondie so I can see your delicious creation and share it with my followers!
📖 Recipe
Sourdough Bread Croutons
Ingredients
- 2 - 3 large slices of sourdough bread, about 3 cups cubed, gluten-free or regular
- 1 tablespoon melted butter, vegan or regular
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut the sourdough bread into 1-inch bite-sized pieces. Add to a mixing bowl.
- Combine melted butter, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Drizzle over the bread and toss to combine.
- Evenly arrange bread across the lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 8 - 10 minutes until golden brown and crisp.
- Enjoy on top of a salad or in a soup!
Notes
Nutrition
I only recommend products I love and use myself. In full disclosure, I may receive a small compensation for purchasing a product I recommend. Thank you for supporting Healthful Blondie!
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Liz says
Very simple and yummy. Made exactly like it reads
Nettie says
They were so easy to make! And I couldn’t mess it up! I just used some burnt sour dough buns that I backed last time so it worked out well! I can’t wait to try more recipes🙂🙂
Ashley says
SO GOOD AND CRISPY! Love them.
Rachel says
I usually like to have a little crunch on salads so these croutons were perfect! Super easy to make and taste delicious! Plus gluten free - amazing! Need to make a huge batch of these to always have.
Alana says
My roommate is gluten free and she misses croutons so much so we decided to make these last week to put in a Caesar salad and it was so good!! I will be making this again.