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Super light and perfectly crispy, these air fryer croutons are ready in just 10 minutes with 5 ingredients! What’s not to love? Use them as a topping for warming soups, incorporate them in green salads, or enjoy them as a savory snack!
⭐️ Why You Should Try It
- A great way to use up stale bread. Wondering what to do with that loaf of stale bread sitting on your kitchen counter? This homemade croutons recipe is the solution! It doesn’t matter what kind of bread you have. You can make these crispy bites with what you have on hand.
- One bowl and minimal ingredients. No fancy ingredients are required here! Bread, oil, garlic, and a couple of seasonings are all you need.
- Air-fried to perfection. Say goodbye to burned croutons made on the stovetop. The air fryer creates perfectly golden brown croutons every single time. They are crispy all the way through and taste even better than the store-bought ones!
- Versatile. Croutons can be incorporated into many dishes, from hearty soups to stews, salads, and pasta, enhancing your meals with another layer of texture.
📘 What Are Croutons
Croutons are small pieces of bread, usually cubes, coated in oil and seasonings and toasted or baked until crispy and golden brown. While the origin of croutons is unclear, its name is derived from the French word “croûton,” which refers to the ends of a baguette.
Croutons are typically used as a topping for soups and salads to add a crunchy texture.
🥖 Ingredient Notes
This recipe requires easy-to-find ingredients you most probably already have on hand. Here is what you will need:
- Bread – Basically, any type of bread will work. I recommend using day-old bread for the best results. Not only it will be easier to dice, but it will also absorb the oil better. Regarding the best type of bread to use, I have a preference for sourdough or French bread. Due to their airy crumb, it will yield a crispier texture.
- Olive oil – Virgin olive oil adds a fruity aroma to the croutons. You can use avocado, grapeseed, or canola oil if you don’t have olive oil.
- Garlic – Preferably fresh garlic for the optimal flavor. Dried garlic or garlic powder tends to burn more easily.
- Salt and pepper– To season.
🥣 How to Make It
- Dice the bread. Using a serrated knife, cut your bread into 1-inch cubes. You want to use about 2 cups of diced bread.
- Toss with olive oil. Transfer the diced bread to a mixing bowl and drizzle with the olive oil. Use your hands to toss the bread with the oil.
- Add the garlic and seasonings. Add the minced garlic, salt, and pepper, and toss again to combine. At this point, feel free to play with the seasonings!
- Preheat your air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 390°F (200°C).
- Spread the croutons into an even layer. Arrange the diced bread into an even layer in the air fryer basket. I recommend leaving some space between each crouton for even browning.
- Air fry until golden brown. Finally, air fry the croutons for 5-6 minutes, shaking the basket once, halfway through air frying.
📔 Tips
- Use day-old bread. I highly recommend using day-old bread that has dried a bit for the best results. You will be able to cut it into cubes more easily and it will absorb the oil better, resulting in an extra crispy texture.
- Make smaller croutons. If you prefer smaller croutons (1/2-inch), air fry them for only 3-4 minutes.
- Use half olive oil and half melted butter. For a buttery flavor, you can replace half of the oil with melted butter.
- Do not overcrowd the basket. Leave space between each crouton to allow even browning. If needed, cook the croutons in two batches, but do not overfill the basket.
🌿 Variations
Want to customize your croutons? Here are a few ideas:
- Herby: Add 1/2 teaspoon of Italian herbs or your own combination of dried rosemary, thyme, and/or oregano.
- Spicy: Add 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes for a kick of heat.
- Curry: After air frying, sprinkle your favorite curry powder on top of the croutons and toss to coat. This will prevent the spices from burning during the air frying process.
🍲 What to Serve It With
You can enjoy croutons as a savory snack, serve them with some drinks as an appetizer, or use them as a topping for:
- Soups: Especially hearty soups like pumpkin soup or sweet potato soup.
- Salads: Garnish your salads with crispy croutons for extra texture. They go particularly well with this green lentil salad or this kale and carrot salad.
📦 Storing Leftovers
Once cool, transfer the croutons to an airtight container and store them at room temperature. Croutons will stay crispy for up to 7 days.
💬 FAQ
There is no need to cut off the crust. It contributes to the crunchiness of the croutons.
Yes, sandwich bread will work as well. Be aware, though, that sandwich bread absorbs oil very easily, so you may have to increase the amount of oil a bit. One more thing: croutons made with sandwich bread tend to have less crunchiness and are not as rustic as the ones made with French bread.
Yes, I recommend taking a look at the 4-minute mark and air fry for a few more minutes if needed. Sandwich bread, for example, browns much quicker than other types of bread.
Air Fryer Croutons
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups diced bread
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 clove of garlic minced
- 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/8 tsp salt
Instructions
- Dice the bread. Using a serrated knife, cut your bread into 1-inch cubes. You want to use about 2 cups of diced bread.
- Toss with olive oil. Transfer the diced bread to a mixing bowl and drizzle with the olive oil. Use your hands to toss the bread with the oil.
- Add the garlic and seasonings. Add the minced garlic, salt, and pepper, and toss again to combine. At this point, feel free to play with the seasonings!
- Preheat your air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 390°F (200°C).
- Spread the croutons into an even layer. Arrange the diced bread into an even layer in the air fryer basket. I recommend leaving some space between each crouton for even browning.
- Air fry until golden brown. Finally, air fry the croutons for 5-6 minutes, shaking the basket once, halfway through air frying.
- Croutons will stay crispy for up to 7 days, stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
Notes
- Use day-old bread. I highly recommend using day-old bread that has dried a bit for the best results. You will be able to cut it into cubes more easily and it will absorb the oil better, resulting in an extra crispy texture.
- Make smaller croutons. If you prefer smaller croutons (1/2-inch), air fry them for only 3-4 minutes.
- Use half olive oil and half melted butter. For a buttery flavor, you can replace half of the oil with melted butter.
- Do not overcrowd the basket. Leave space between each crouton to allow even browning. If needed, cook the croutons in two batches, but do not overfill the basket.
Nutrition
About the Author
Thomas Pagot is the founder, photographer, and recipe developer behind Full of Plants. He created the blog in 2016 as a personal cookbook for vegan recipes. Through years of recipe development, Thomas has successfully grown Full of Plants into a trusted resource for plant-based recipes.
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Looks appetissant! I’ll try it on sunday for my family.