The Thirsty Feast

Easy Homemade Croutons

Easy homemade croutons, perfect for soups and crispy salads! Use any leftover bread but my favorite crouton bread uses pretzel buns. 

homemade croutons in a blue bowl

There is no need to buy croutons at the store anymore.  Nope.  Sorry crouton companies but they are so easy to make that you had best just make them yourself.

I may be saying that because I’ve become the girl who makes pickles  so she doesn’t have to buy them (they taste better by the way).  But I’m okay with that.  It’s actually become something I’m proud of.

I love buying pretzel buns and breadsticks at the store and turning them into croutons.  They are an easy way to add some great flavor to soups and salads.  And these croutons are so good I have eaten them on their own.

But enough about that – lets talk about making them.

pretzel buns

Easy Homemade Croutons

Start with leftover bread.  You really can use any bread but as I said above, bread of the pretzel variety is my crouton bread of choice. French bread and challah bread are other goat options.

Start by taking a serrated knife and cutting pieces that are the same size.  I would say cut pieces that are about 1/2 inch squares.

Toss them in a bowl with your olive oil and make sure the oil evenly coats all of the bread chunks.  Then throw in your seasoning and spread them out evenly on a foil lined baking pan.  Put the pan in the oven and bake.

So. Darn. Easy.

pretzel buns cut into chunks

pretzel buns cut into chunks and tossed with olive oil and spices

Who doesn’t want to top soup with croutons? Or a caesar said?

Store your croutons in an air-tight container and they should stay good for a few weeks. You’ll find yourself eating them often so I doubt they will last that long. And then you’ll have an excuse to make croutons again!

homemade croutons on a bowl of soup

picture of homemade croutons

Easy Homemade Croutons

Easy Homemade Croutons

Easy homemade croutons, perfect for soups and crispy salads! Use any leftover bread but my favorite crouton bread uses pretzel buns. 

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of cubed bread, sliced in 1/2 inch cubes
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • pinch of salt
  • pinch of pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
  2. Put the bread in a medium bowl and toss in the olive oil. Add the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper and toss.
  3. Pour the bread cubes on the baking sheet evenly and bake for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through.
  4. Store in an air-tight container.

Notes

 

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 553 Total Fat: 31g Saturated Fat: 5g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 591mg Fiber: 5g Sugar: 7g Protein: 13g
© Jenny Bullistron
Cuisine: American / Category: Condiments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  8. I LOVE this! I used to make croutons all the time but seemed like they were stale before using, so now I can just make part of an easy batch. Thanks.

    Reply

  10. I’ve made croutons although it was many years ago. It was so easy and tasted so much better than bought. I’ve never thought of purchasing reduced bakery breads such as pretzel. Thanks for a great idea!

    Reply

  13. I love croutons! It never occurred to me that I could make my own. I bet they are so yummy when they are homemade. I have to try this.

    Reply

  15. Thank you for your crouton recipe that is a nice savory one I like using a mixture of fresh garlic and herbs out of the garden and day old, if there is any left, bread it is so good you eat them as they come out of the oven, very good and tasty! I also make a sweet crouton that I use 5 Spice Powder in it goes great with chocolate and cheese fondues and custards plus if you sprinkle a little sugar on them just before they come out of the oven very delicious!! 🙂

    Reply

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