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    Home » Breads & Muffins » Easy Homemade Air Fryer Croutons

    Easy Homemade Air Fryer Croutons

    Published: Jan 12, 2023 by Andrea Howe · This post may contain affiliate links.

    2 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Skip store-bought and make perfectly crispy air fryer croutons at home. Ready in just a few minutes and packed with flavor, they are a delicious and affordable option to prepackaged. Add them to a variety of dishes, including this Italian Sub Salad, for an amazing crunchy add-in.

    air fryer croutons on a bowl

    I love scouring the day-old bread cart at my local grocery store. You can find leftover bread loaves that are dramatically marked down and they are perfect for things like bread pudding or homemade croutons! I love making my own in the air fryer because they cook up so fast, require minimal oil and I can adjust the seasonings very easily. Once you start making these crunchy croutons, you may never use store-bought croutons again! They are the perfect topping to my super easy Instant Pot soup recipe, or an Italian Sub Salad.

    And if you don’t have an air fryer, oven directions are included below.

    Jump to:
    • Why this recipe works
    • Ingredients
    • Easy directions for crispy croutons
    • No air fryer? No problem
    • Homemade Air Fryer Croutons

    Why this recipe works

    • Quick and easy to make. These are ready in under 15 minutes from prep to finish, and require just 3 simple ingredients (bread, oil, seasoning)
    • Perfectly crispy texture. Ever buy croutons and they’re *too* crunchy? These air-fried croutons have the perfect texture; crunchy on the outside, just a little bit soft on the inside.
    • Great way to use stale bread. No need to trash that leftover baguette; use it to make croutons instead. These homemade air fryer croutons are a great way to cut down on food waste.
    • Highly customizable with different flavor profiles. Use Italian seasoning to add to a Caesar salad, or make garlic croutons for topping your favorite soups with.
    ingredients to make air fryer croutons
    loaf of bread, olive oil and garlic powder

    Ingredients

    To make a batch of homemade croutons in the air fryer, you just need a couple of items!

    • Small loaf of your favorite type of bread. French bread, Italian bread, or sourdough bread are all a great choice. My favorite kind of bread to use is the loaf I can get on sale! I have made croutons with all the ones listed, all with great results. I prefer a heartier, crusty bread, so have never used white bread or super fresh bread. You want about 3-4 cups of bread cubes, so depending on the size of your loaf, you may use the whole thing or just half. I use a small 8 ounce loaf and it makes the perfect amount.
    • Cooking oil of choice. You can use olive oil, avocado oil or even a spray oil.
    • Favorite seasonings of choice. In a hurry, I keep it simple and use a premade seasoning mix like an Italian or garlic blend. But you can play around and try any combo of your favorites. Onion powder, parmesan cheese and garlic powder would be great. Or curry seasoning would make interesting, flavorful croutons.

    Easy directions for crispy croutons

    Begin my cutting up bread into 1 inch cubes and adding them to a large bowl. Add oil and seasonings of choice and toss well with a spoon or hands.

    Spread out cubed bread in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Air fry at 350 degrees f for 8-10 minutes, tossing or shaking basket half way through cooking.

    cubed bread spread out on an air fryer basket tray

    Let cool for a couple of minutes and then add toss in your favorite salad or top on a warm cozy bowl of tomato soup.

    air fried cubes of bread sprinkled with salt in a bowl

    These are seriously the best croutons and you will want to eat them just on their own haha!

    Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. They may lose a bit of their crunchy texture after a couple of days. To regain the crunch, just reheat in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes.

    croutons on a parchment lined baking sheet

    No air fryer? No problem

    I know not everyone has an air fryer, so here’s how easy it is to make this simple recipe in the oven. Lay out cubed bread on a baking tray and drizzle with oil. Add seasonings and toss well. Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for approximately 15 minutes.

    Italian sub salad topped with homemade croutons

    You can add these yummy croutons to a number of favorite dishes. From soups, chilis, salad or even tossed in things like stuffing and casseroles, these are a great little item to know have in your recipe arsenal. I hope you enjoy them and if you do, please consider leaving a 5 star rating on the recipe card below!

    • High Protein Italian Sub Salad
    • Roasted Pumpkin Salad with Bacon & Burrata
    • Instant Pot Chicken (or Beef) Meatball Soup
    • The Best White Chicken Chili in the Instant Pot!

    Tried this recipe? Please leave a comment and/or rating, letting me know how you enjoyed it! Connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest, and never miss a post by signing up for my weekly newsletter!

    air fryer croutons on a bowl

    Homemade Air Fryer Croutons

    Skip store-bought and make perfectly crispy air fryer croutons at home. Ready in just a few minutes and packed with flavor, they are a delicious and affordable option to prepackaged. Add them to a variety of dishes for an amazing crunchy add-in.
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 8 ounces
    Author:Andrea

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Ingredients

    • 8 ounce Loaf of bread sourdough, French or Italian
    • ½ tsp garlic powder
    • ½ tsp Kosher salt or sea salt
    • 3 tbsp olive oil
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Begin my cutting up bread into 1 inch cubes and adding them to a large bowl. Add oil and seasonings of choice and toss well with a spoon or hands.
      8 ounce Loaf of bread, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp Kosher salt or sea salt, 3 tbsp olive oil
    • Spread out cubed bread in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Air fry at 350 degrees f for 8-10 minutes, tossing or shaking basket half way through cooking.
    • Let cool for a couple of minutes and then add toss in your favorite salad or top on a warm cozy bowl of tomato soup.

    Notes

    Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. They may lose a bit of their crunchy texture after a couple of days. To regain the crunch, just reheat in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes.
    If you don’t have an air fryer, lay out cubed bread on a baking tray and drizzle with oil. Add seasonings and toss well. Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for approximately 15 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 47kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.1g | Protein: 0.03g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 0.2mg | Potassium: 2mg | Fiber: 0.02g | Sugar: 0.01g | Vitamin C: 0.003mg | Calcium: 0.2mg | Iron: 0.04mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @Howe.We.Live or tag #HoweWeLiveRecipes!
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    About Andrea Howe

    Andrea Howe is the recipe developer and photographer of Howe We Live. She is also a seasoned home cook of over 20 years, for her family of 5. Andrea has spent over 10 years in the food industry, writing for various publications including Babble and Disney. Her work has appeared in Real Simple, Taste of Home, Yahoo, Buzzfeed and ABC News.

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    Welcome to Howe We Live. I’m Andrea, a passionate home cook and mother of 3. I’ve been cooking and writing about healthy eating for almost a decade, and my number one goal here is to help you develop the tools needed to throw together a great meal at home that is both delicious, and healthy-ish. All eaters are welcome here! Read More

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