These air fryer croutons are tossed with oil and a garlic-herb seasoning blend, then air fried to golden brown perfection. Get ready to step up your soup and salad game!
Don’t have an air fryer? Make these 3-ingredient baked croutons instead.
Air Fryer Croutons Video
How To Make Air Fryer Croutons
This recipe for homemade croutons is so simple, you’ll never want to buy them from the store again. Plus, they’re ready in under 15 minutes!
- Cut the bread into cubes: Cut the slices of bread into one-inch cubes.
- Season the bread cubes: Place the bread cubes in a bowl and toss them with the oil and seasonings until evenly coated.
- Air fry the croutons: Preheat the air fryer to 380°F. Arrange the croutons in a single layer in the basket and cook for 6-8 minutes, shaking halfway through.
Best Kinds of Bread To Use
Making croutons is the perfect way to use up stale bread — and just about any kind of bread works! Here are our favorite loaves for truly artisanal homemade croutons.
- Sourdough: The tang and airiness of sourdough bread is unmatched. Go with a whole wheat sourdough for more heartiness.
- Miche: Miche (country bread) is an all-around favorite for its classic yeast flavor.
- French bread: Use a loaf of French bread for extra-crusty croutons.
Ingredient Variations
Croutons are incredibly simple and versatile. Experiment with any of these ingredient swaps to adjust the flavor of the croutons to your liking.
- Oil: We love the fruitiness of extra virgin olive oil, but feel free to use avocado oil for a more neutral flavor. If you want to get fancy, try a drizzle of truffle oil.
- Butter: Substitute the oil for melted butter for rich and buttery croutons.
- Seasoning: Get creative with a mix of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or ranch seasoning. For herby croutons, use freshly chopped parsley, thyme, or rosemary. Or, keep it simple with salt and pepper.
- Cheese: Add umami flavor with grated Parmesan cheese.
Tips for the Best Homemade Croutons
These croutons are unlike any store-bought croutons you’ve tried — perfectly crunchy without breaking your teeth. Follow these tips to ensure your croutons (and teeth) stay in one piece!
- Use day-old bread. Although it may seem contradictory, stale bread makes the freshest-tasting croutons. Slice up that loaf that’s been sitting on your counter to guarantee a satisfying crunch.
- Opt for thick slices. For perfectly cubed croutons, aim for one-inch thick slices of bread. Thin slices work too — just keep in mind that the cook time will decrease.
- Tear the bread by hand. This is a trick for extra-crispy, rustic croutons. Instead of slicing the bread into cubes, rip it by hand to create uneven edges which hold onto the seasoning and crisp up wonderfully.
- Avoid overcrowding the basket. Air fryers use hot air circulation to cook food, so it’s imperative to allow enough room between croutons for even crisping. Place the croutons in a single layer in the basket and if needed, air fry them in multiple batches.
Ways To Serve
Crunch away on these air fryer croutons as a snack, or use them to top your favorite soups and salads. They’re delicious in a bowl of tomato basil soup, creamy chicken wild rice soup, or salmon chowder. Are you in the mood for a salad? Sprinkle the croutons over a classic garden salad, Caesar salad, or arugula Caprese salad.
Hot tip: Throw leftover croutons in a food processor to make homemade seasoned bread crumbs!
Storage
Homemade croutons are best enjoyed within a few days. If you don’t quite manage to finish them all in that time, don’t fret — these croutons stay fresh for up to two weeks! Allow the croutons to cool completely, then store at room temperature in an airtight container or ziplock bag.
Hot tip: Refresh stale croutons by heating them in the oven at 400°F for a few minutes.
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Bacon — Perfectly crispy and mess-free
- Air Fryer Apple Chips — An addicting healthy snack
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries — Smoky, garlicky, and crispy
- Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs — Tasty and foolproof
Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 slices artisan bread thicker slices
- 2 tbsp oil olive or avocado
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic parsley salt adjust to preference
Instructions
- Cut the slices of bread into 1-inch cubes. Place in a medium bowl.
- Drizzle the olive oil over the bread cubes and toss together. Then, add the Italian seasoning and garlic parsley salt. Toss again to evenly coat the bread.
- Place the croutons in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd.
- Set the air fryer to 380°F and cook the croutons for 6-8 minutes, or until they reach your desired crispiness. Shake the croutons about halfway through cooking. Enjoy!
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