Little beats the flavor of homemade croutons when it comes to adding them to soups, salads, or simply enjoying them by the handful as a snack. My delicious and easy crouton recipe is prepared with cubes of sourdough bread and flavored with a combo of melted butter, garlic, herbs and a sprinkle of parmesan for a crisp texture and irresistibly savory flavor!
A Delectably Savory Topper For Soups and Salads
With the amount of soups and salads that my hubby and I eat in our household, we've become quite the experts on which little add-ins and tasty bells and whistles take these offerings over the top when it comes to flavor, as well as texture.
Homemade croutons are a simple yet fantastic topping to add to our most beloved soups and salads, not to mention a great little savory-salty snack to pour into a little ramekin and crunch on when we're craving something buttery, herby, cheesy, and cozy.
Super easy to season and bake up to golden, toasty, crispy deliciousness, these homemade croutons make any spread just a little bit more special.
Prepared with flavorful sourdough bread cubes, plus a drizzle of melted butter for richness, a sprinkle of dried herbs, plus garlic and grated parmesan, this crouton recipe brings far more flavor than store bought croutons!
My Recipe for Homemade Croutons with Butter, Garlic, Herbs and Parmesan Cheese
What I really love about homemade croutons is that the possibilities are pretty endless when it comes to flavor profiles and seasonings.
For my recipe here, I'm keeping things pretty straightforward flavor-wise, so that these croutons will work well as a savory topper for just about any soup, stew, or salad recipe you'd like to serve up.
I like to use sourdough bread not only because it's extra flavorful, but because it creates a lighter, crisper and more “airy” crouton rather than denser one, which we love.
I also use a touch of rich, unsalted, melted butter infused with fresh garlic for flavor, and add a sprinkle of dried Italian herbs as well as parmesan before baking these off.
Here's a sneak peek at how I make my homemade croutons: (or just jump to the full recipe...)
- To get started, I cube my sourdough bread into medium-size cubes, then toss them with my melted butter and the rest of my seasonings, then spread them on a large baking sheet in a single layer.
- Next, I bake the croutons at 425° for roughly 16 minutes (12 to 15 minutes if the croutons are smaller), stirring them a few times to help all sides become golden and toasted.
- I allow the croutons to cool completely on the baking sheet before serving. (I enjoy some fresh, and then store any uneaten croutons in an airtight container for up to a couple of days.)
Recipe
Homemade Croutons
by Ingrid Beer
These homemade croutons made with sourdough bread are deliciously buttery, garlicky and savory, and terrific toppers for soups and salads!
Category: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Yield: 8 cups of croutons
Nutrition Info: 52 calories per ¼ cup serving
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 16 minutes
Total time: 31 minutes
Ingredients:
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press
- 12 ounces sourdough loaf (1-2 days old), cut into roughly 1 inch cubes, or desired size
- Salt
- Black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon finely minced parsley, for finishing garnish (optional)
- Begin by gathering and prepping all of your crouton ingredients according to the ingredient list above to have ready and organized for use.
- Preheat the oven to 425°, and line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
- Place the butter into a small sauce pan or in the microwave, and add to it the garlic. Gently heat the butter with the garlic, and once melted, pour the garlic butter over the cubed sourdough bread and toss to evenly coat.
- Sprinkle over a couple of generous sprinkles of salt and pepper, plus the Italian seasoning and the grated parmesan, then gently toss once more to incorporate.
- Pour the seasoned sourdough cubes onto your prepared baking sheet in an even layer, and bake for roughly 16 minutes (12 to 15 minutes if the cubes are smaller), or until golden-brown and crisp, stirring a few times during the baking for even toasting.
- Allow the croutons to completely cool on the baking sheet, and then sprinkle with the finely minced parsley, if using. Use immediately, and store any leftover croutons in an airtight, zip-top bag or container.
Tips & Tidbits for my Homemade Croutons recipe:
- Sourdough bread cubes for flavor and light texture: Since we love sourdough bread in our household, we like to use this when making these homemade croutons as it makes for more flavorful, crispier croutons. Other good bread is French loaf or baguette, ciabatta bread, or other light rustic breads. Avoid very dense breads as they tend to not get as crisp, and take longer to toast.
- Unsalted, melted butter or olive oil: I like to use unsalted, melted butter for these croutons for rich flavor, and also so that I can control the level of salt that goes in. But you can substitute olive oil, or use a combo of butter and olive oil, if you prefer.
- Dried herbs for savoriness: Because I like a mix of herbs when it comes to my croutons, I use Italian seasoning which includes a mix of oregano, rosemary, marjoram, thyme, basil and sage. You could also use Herbes de Provence for a slightly different mix of herbs, yet quite delicious as well.
- For cheesy flavor, add a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese: While these croutons are delicious without the addition of parmesan, I like to add about ¼ cup just to give these homemade croutons some added cheesy, savory flavor. If you're not a fan, or prefer to keep these a bit more traditional, feel free to leave out the parmesan.
- How to store homemade croutons: While homemade croutons are best eaten freshly prepared, you can store any leftovers in an air-tight, zip-top bag or covered container for a couple of days. You want to keep air and moisture away from them, as this causes them to lose crispness. However, you can easily revive less-than-crispy croutons by placing them into your toaster oven on a small baking sheet, and gently toasting for a few minutes to re-crisp.
Craving some tasty recipes to add your croutons to? Check out this Tomato Basil Soup, this Butternut Squash Soup, this Honeycrisp Apple Salad, this Greek Salad, this Split Pea Soup, this Harvest Stew with Smoked Sausage, or this Lentil Soup!
Pat Clifford
I make my croutons with half butter, half EVOO, parmesan, garlic and a squeeze of anchovy paste...with or without herbs, this is so good...I use day old sourdough baguette...nothing like homemade croutons !
The Cozy Apron
Thanks for sharing, Pat! Homemade croutons are the best.
Linda Betz
It has never occurred to me to make my own croutons! Thank you for the idea. I made some with a French Boule I had and they were wonderful. Thank you for the recipe. xo
The Cozy Apron
Hi Linda, these are so easy and fun to make...hope you enjoy your crouton making! 🙂 xoxo