Air Fryer Croutons

Air Fryer Croutons are so easy and quick to make at home! Ready in under 10 minutes, perfectly seasoned, and crunchy with a chewy interior.

Turn day-old bread into flavorful croutons with a bit of help from your Air Fryer! Making croutons at home is super easy and they are so much tastier than store-bought croutons which are often stale and don’t have much flavor.

This is a simple recipe that can easily be customized with any bread you have on hand (even gluten-free bread) and seasoning! Any salad or soup tastes even better with some crunchy golden homemade croutons on top.

Ingredient notes

Here is an overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom for quantities.

• Bread – You can use any bread you have on hand but a loaf of sourdough or baguette works better than sandwich bread in my experience. You could also use cornbread to make cornbread croutons.
• Olive Oil – I use olive oil because it is easier to use than butter and adds flavor but you can also use melted butter and any other oil for example avocado oil.
• Seasoning – My go-to seasoning is dried oregano and a bit of garlic powder because it goes with everything but you can also use a combination of other seasonings depending on your taste.

How to make this recipe 

Detailed measurements and instructions can be found at the bottom of the page on the printable recipe card.

1. Prep: Start by cutting the bread into 3/4-inch cubes. This works best with a serrated bread knife.
2. Combine: Toss the bread cubes with the oil and seasonings in a large mixing bowl until everything is evenly coated.
3. Bake: Bake the croutons at 380 degrees F for 5-7 minutes until they are golden brown and crisp. Make sure to test the croutons after 5 minutes to make sure they are not too crisp.
4. Finish and serve: Pour onto a baking sheet lined with paper towels so they stay crispy or serve immediately with your favorite soup or salad.

Expert tips for success

• The bread should be day-old but not stale for the best texture. You can also use fresh bread.
• A loaf of crusty bread works best! For example, baguette, sourdough, or french bread.
• Use your favorite seasonings! We use oregano and garlic for seasoning because it goes with everything from salads to soups but seasoned salt, dried parsley, onion powder, Italian seasoning, or any other seasoning also works well.
• You can leave the crust on or cut it off if you prefer.
• Depending on your Air Fryer you might have to preheat it for the best result. Cooking times can also vary depending on your Air Fryer.
• Homemade croutons make a great topping for salads and soups but also a great snack.
• To make bread for stuffing and bread puddings, leave out the oil and seasoning and follow the same method to dry out the bread.

Recipe FAQs

Serve it with

Homemade croutons are a perfect topping for salads, especially caesar salad, and soups. We also love to snack on them. Some of our favorite dishes to serve with air-fried croutons:

• Roasted Tomato Soup
• Instant Pot Carrot Soup
• Pear Salad
• Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

Leftovers

Leftover croutons can be stored in an air-tight container and stay fresh for about a week. Make sure they have cooled to room temperature before storing them to keep the croutons crispy.

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