Favorite Croutons
Transform your salads, soups, or snacks with these irresistible homemade croutons, affectionately known as "Favorite Croutons." Perfectly crunchy and bursting with flavor, this recipe starts with day-old crusty bread—like French or sourdough—which is tossed in a fragrant blend of olive oil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and a touch of black pepper. The bread cubes are then baked to golden perfection in just 15 minutes, ensuring a satisfying crunch in every bite. Quick to make and endlessly versatile, these croutons are the ultimate kitchen staple for elevating everyday dishes. Plus, they’re a great way to reduce food waste by giving leftover bread a delicious second life!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 4 cups Day-old bread (French, sourdough, or any crusty bread)
- 3 tablespoons Olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Dried Italian seasoning
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cut the day-old bread into 1-inch cubes, ensuring the pieces are roughly the same size for even cooking.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Whisk until fully blended.
Add the bread cubes to the bowl and toss until all pieces are evenly coated with the seasoning mixture.
Spread the coated bread cubes in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Avoid overcrowding so each piece becomes crisp.
Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, tossing halfway through, until the croutons are golden brown and crunchy.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the croutons cool completely before serving or storing.
Serve immediately over salads, soups, or as a standalone snack. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
486 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 11.9 g | 15% | |
| Saturated Fat | 1.8 g | 9% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 946 mg | 41% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 78.9 g | 29% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 4.4 g | 16% | |
| Total Sugars | 2.2 g | ||
| Protein | 14.4 g | 29% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 165 mg | 13% | |
| Iron | 5.9 mg | 33% | |
| Potassium | 200 mg | 4% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
