I started making these Air Fryer Croutons as a way to use up leftover bread, and now I honestly prefer them over store-bought croutons every single time. They’re so quick, ridiculously easy, and the flavor is just better when they’re homemade. They’re crispy on the outside, slightly chewy in the center, and perfectly seasoned. I love that I can customize them however I want, depending on what I’m serving, and the air fryer makes the whole process effortless. Once you make homemade croutons, it’s really hard to go back.
Why You Will Love These
- No need to waste stale bread, this is the perfect recipe to use it in.
- The versatility is incredibly vast for these crispy croutons. See below for tons of ideas.
- Cleanup is a cinch with the air fryer, and there’s no need to heat the house up with the oven.
- These crunchy croutons will bring any salad or soup to life in a whole new way.
- Make them gluten-free and dairy-free, with no extra thought required.
Ingredients You Will Need
- Bread: I love to use a sourdough loaf, cut into small bite-sized pieces, but any type of bread will work.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: This is my favorite oil, but avocado oil works wonderfully as well.
- Butter: Adds a nutty richness to accompany the oil.
- Spices and Herbs: Kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, dried basil, and dried oregano make these perfect in any salad. See below for spice variations.
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Air Fyer
- Bread Knife or Serrated Knife
- Small Bowl
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Spatula
Tips For The Best Air Fryer Croutons
- Cut the bread slices into uniform, similar-sized cubes so they toast evenly and at the same rate.
- Day-old, stale bread crisps up better and will give you the best results.
How to Make Air Fryer Croutons
- Preheat the air fryer for five minutes.
- In a small bowl, stir together the olive oil, melted butter, and spices and herbs.
- Add the cubed bread to a bowl and drizzle the mixture over the top. Toss the bread so that each cube is evenly coated.
- Transfer the cubed bread to the air fryer and spread it out in an even layer.
- Cook for 4-5 minutes in the air fryer, open and shake the air fryer basket halfway through cooking. The croutons are done cooking when they are golden brown and crunchy.
How to Modify
- Use French bread, whole wheat bread, white bread, homemade bread, or store-bought bread; the options are endless!
- The spice variations for homemade air fryer croutons are vast:
- Garlic Parmesan: Add finely grated parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning for a classic savory crouton.
- Lemon Herb: Use dried basil, parsley, oregano, and a little lemon zest for a bright, fresh flavor.
- Ranch: Season with ranch seasoning mix for a classic, super-flavorful, salad-friendly option.
- Everything Bagel: Use everything bagel seasoning with a little garlic butter for crunchy, savory bites.
- Taco: Add taco seasoning and lime zest for a fun topping for taco salads or soups.
Dietary Restrictions
- Dairy-Free: Use all olive oil, or use vegan butter in place of regular butter.
- Gluten-Free: All those end crusts of gluten-free bread have been dreaming of their chance to shine!
Serving Suggestions
Oh, the salad suggestions for croutons: Farro, Arugula, Salami, and Almond Salad, Southwest Chicken Salad, Greek Chicken Gyro Bowl, Honey Mustard Chicken, Bacon, and Avocado Salad, or Grilled Kale Caesar Salad are just some of my favorites.
If you love croutons on soup, try Creamy Tomato Basil Soup, Spiced Carrot and Lentil Soup, Roasted Carrot Soup, or Beef Taco Soup are great options.
Common Questions
Sourdough, French bread, ciabatta, or plain white, homemade bread work especially well because they crisp up beautifully.
Stored in an airtight container or zip-top bag, they’ll stay fresh for about 4-5 days. Be sure to allow them to cool to room temperature before storing them away.
The basket may be overcrowded, or they may need a bit more time to fully crisp up. Be sure to keep an eye on them, though, so they don’t burn.
Yes! Store them in a freezer-safe bag and re-crisp in the air fryer if needed.
Absolutely! Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Toss bread cubes with oil, melted butter, and your seasonings. Spread them out in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10-15 minutes, stirring halfway through, until golden and crispy.
More Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love…
- Air Fryer Crispy Artichokes
- Crispy Air Fryer Gnocchi
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges
- Korean Air Fryer Chicken
- Sesame Crusted Air-Fryer Tuna Steak
If you make these Air Fryer Croutons, let me know in the comments section below. I would love to hear what you think or take a photo and tag me (@everylastbite_) on Instagram. I love seeing your photos!
Air Fryer Croutons
Ingredients
- 4 oz loaf of bread cut into small bite sized cubes should equal approx 5 cups
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp melted butter
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees fahrenheit for 5 minutes.
- In a small bowl stir together the olive oil, melted butter, salt, garlic powder, basil, oregano and black pepper.
- Add the cubed bread to a bowl and drizzle the oil and herb mixture overtop. Use a spatula to toss the bread so that each cube is evenly coated in the mixture.
- Transfer the cubed bread to the air fryer and spread it out in an even layer.
- Leave the bread cubes to cook for 4-5 minutes in the air fryer, open and shake the basket half way through cooking to ensure the bread is all cooking evenly. The croutons are done cooking when they are golden brown in color and crunchy, be careful as they can go from golden to burnt quickly.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried This Recipe?
Leave a comment below and let us know how it was!
